IFFI 2024, 17: Exposure, partial and full
Continuing and concluding my experiences of watching films at IFFI 2024, and walking out usually, after 30-40 minutes.
MEETING WITH POL POT France, Cambodia (Kampuchea), Taiwan, Qatar, Turkey
Three persons credited with the Screenplay, one of them being the author of the book, When the War was over: Cambodia and the, Khmer Rouge Revolution, by Elizabeth Becker, which must have been the basis of the film. Directed by Rithy Panh.
It was nothing like I had expected from the tile and the synopsis. Well into the film, there was only talk-talk and drive-drive, and no Meeting with Pol Pot. Unable to hold on any longer for a glimpse of the Cambodian dictator, I parted company with the auditorium and took a break.
Naturally, no rating.
DRY SEASON Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia Screenwriter and director: Bohdan Slamà
This film was the Closing Film, and used three languages: Czech, Slovak and English.
About two families, one a small farmer and the other a local agri-business overlord, whom the farmer hates. The feelings are mutual. The film became a Romeo and Juliet story about the son of the overlord returning from studying abroad and renewing his love for the daughter of the small farmer. The girl constantly tries to push the boy into a conflict with his father over his unscrupulous methods of exploiting farmers. This happens every few minutes, and I got bored at the repetitive nature of the film, which moved at a snail’s pace. Exit.
MOON Austria Screenplay and direction: Kurdwin Ayub
Another film in which three or more languages are used. Here they are German, English and Arabic.
Set in Jordan, it narrates the tale of a former martial arts practitioner from Austria, Sarah, who is hired to train three sisters of one family in her area of expertise. But the sport does not interest the three girls, so why has she been hired? Indeed, why? The question rebounded and rebounded in my mind as I left the auditorium about 25 minutes into its 92 minutes’ duration. Rating? Not possible.
ALGIERS Algeria, Tunisia, France, Canada Screenplay not credited Directed by Chakib (pronounced Shakib, a Muslim name) Taleb Bendiab.
Using Arabic and French, this was one of the better films screened at the festival, and one which I could sit through till the end. A psychiatrist and a Police Inspector investigate the kidnapping of a young girl. At 92 minutes, it held my attention. Bendiab is one of the writers on the British spy series, Go Dark.
Rating: ** ½
FOTOGENICO France Screenplay not credited Directed by Marcia Romano and Benoît Sabatier
A girl dies in Marseilles. Her father arrives in the city and tries to locate persons she knew or hung out with. In the process, he discovers that she was part of a girl band and had cut a disc with them. He decides to bring the band together, as some kind of tribute to his daughter.
The man and his performance are weird, and the film, though only 94 minutes long, failed to interest me. Rating is out of question.
PUSHER 1996 Restored Classics Denmark Screenplay not credited Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn
Drugs, drug barons and drug dealers form the thrust of the story. A heroin deal turns sour and the Pusher is indebted to the Balkan drug baron, Milo. This is no restored ‘classic’, from my perspective. A narrow and limited panorama made things dull, although the subject was drug-related. The film had possibilities, but its hazy, jerky, handheld camera and slow narration forced me to leave after I had seen about two-thirds of the film. I will hazard a
Rating:
Marge Liiske presents the awards ceremony in Tallinn during PÖFF | Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival 2024.
Marge serves as the Head of Industry at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival.
After an exciting week of networking, presentations, panel discussions, and meetings, Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event celebrated the most outstanding projects with the award ceremony. 17 awards were handed out to film projects at various stages of scriptwriting, development, or post-production, with an additional two awards recognizing promising producers.
For the first time, the guests have had the opportunity to vote for their favourite projects in each category. The winners of the public favourite award were awarded with 2.000€ worth of Yamdu subscription credit for any annual Yamdu plan or Yamdu add-on (valid thru 31.12.2025).
European Genre Forum
The European Genre Forum was given to the most promising project receiving a 25,000 euro award by ATM Virtual, consisting of one day rental of an LED stage, preceded by one day of pre-lighting for the production of a selected film.
Winner: The Dark Architect
Director and writer: Risto Tuominen
Producer: Ilkka Matila
Production company: MRP Matila Röhr Productions OY (Finland)
Co-production company: Taska Film (Estonia)
The winner was selected by ATM Virtual representatives, who also decided to give out a special mention award, who receives an option for one day of testing in Virtual Production (stage and service of VP).
Special mention award winner: Vrykolax
Director: Achilleas Gatsopoulos
Writter: Geoff Dupuy-Holder
Producers: Minos Nikolakakis, Vassilis Economou
Production company: APSHALT (Greece)
Public Favourite Award winner: Neighbour
Director and screenwriter: Oskar Lehemaa
Producer: Evelin Penttilä
Production company: Stellar Film (Estonia)
Script Pool
Script Pool Award was given to the most promising project receiving an exclusive opportunity to attend The Write Retreat in Mallorca, presented by Law Firm TGS Baltic.
Winner: Kingpins
Director and writer: Kristians Riekstins
Producer: Alise Rogule
Production company: Mima Films (Latvia)
Jury comment: “We are delighted to attribute the Script Pool Award to Latvian director/-producer duo Kristians Riekstins and Alise Rogule for KINGPINS, recognising an ambitious young team, who are bringing a promising genre project to the market. We are confident the Mallorca Writers Retreat will help them take the script to the next level, to reach its full market potential at home and abroad.“
The winning project was selected by the jury, including Moritz Peters, Director Marketing & Acquisitions at Plaion Pictures GMBH, Fabien Westerhoff, CEO and Partner at Film Constellation and Margrit Stärk, Director Acquisitions & Coproductions Feature Films ZDF.
The Public Favourite Award winner: Read more
By Kate Elfatah
The
45th Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) has been a resounding success, attracting huge audiences and presenting the spectrum of cinematic talents. I recently sat down with CIFF Program Director
Essam Zakaria to discuss the festival’s triumphant re-entry, its commitment to international cinema, and its plans for the future.
A Resurgence of Cinema Passion
Zakaria was overjoyed by the popular response to this year’s festival. "I’m a little bit taken aback by how much the crowd has come out this year," he admitted. Even the less popular movies were booked, and the crowds were eager to see them on the big screen. This enthusiasm has even spurred the addition of additional screenings to the program.
This year’s victory is even more poignant given the fact that the 2023 edition was postponed for humanitarian reasons in solidarity with the Palestinians. Despite the political landscape, Zakaria spoke of the festival’s ongoing importance as an international forum. This did not prevent us from conceiving of the festival as an international venue," he said. "We ultimately tried to make it an international festival."
A Truly Global Perspective
More than 200 films representing 73 countries made CIFF 2024 a truly international festival. Zakaria is especially proud of the festival’s inclusion of films from nations rarely represented in the mainstream. "We’ve got a lot of movies this year from many different nations... from far away and unknown to Egyptian audiences," he said.
This commitment to plurality goes further than defying censorship standards. Even as he noted the limits, Zakaria highlighted the festival’s ability to bargain with governments for access to films that could not otherwise be screened in public theatres. International festivals are not like this, he said. Quite a few films were turned down due to content this year, and CIFF’s focus on breaking boundaries and offering a broad variety of cinematic voices was evident this year.
Promoting Young Artists & Old School Movies.
Zakaria loves to help up-and-coming filmmakers. "Festivals are [a] playground for wannabe, emerging filmmakers," he said. This year’s line-up includes several first-time directors from Egypt, the Arab world and beyond.
In addition to fresh finds, CIFF celebrates cinematic masters. This year the festival hosts retrospectives of Satyajit Ray and Sergei Parajanov, in recognition of their storied legacy.
The Future is Here: A People’s Festival
Zakaria dreams of CIFF becoming even more an essential element of Cairo’s cultural identity in the future. He hopes to take the festival beyond the city centre, bring the cinema into the city’s suburbs and entice more people. He also wanted to investigate new kinds of theatre designs, like open-air theatres, to make a cinematic experience truly immersive.
A Collaborative Spirit
Zakaria called for a partnership between regional film festivals. Instead of seeing other festivals as competition, he sees them as collaborators in championing Arab cinema and film culture.I couldn’t agree more!
Quality and Accessibility: CIFF’s Commitment to Quality and Accessibility.
Zakaria and his staff are committed to bringing in quality films and releasing them to a wide range of audiences. They are constantly pushing distributors to lower scr
By Kate Elfatah
The
45th Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) has been a resounding success, attracting huge audiences and presenting the spectrum of cinematic talents. I recently sat down with CIFF Program Director
Essam Zakaria to discuss the festival’s triumphant re-entry, its commitment to international cinema, and its plans for the future.
A Resurgence of Cinema Passion
Zakaria was overjoyed by the popular response to this year’s festival. "I’m a little bit taken aback by how much the crowd has come out this year," he admitted. Even the less popular movies were booked, and the crowds were eager to see them on the big screen. This enthusiasm has even spurred the addition of additional screenings to the program.
This year’s victory is even more poignant given the fact that the 2023 edition was postponed for humanitarian reasons in solidarity with the Palestinians. Despite the political landscape, Zakaria spoke of the festival’s ongoing importance as an international forum. This did not prevent us from conceiving of the festival as an international venue," he said. "We ultimately tried to make it an international festival."
A Truly Global Perspective
More than 200 films representing 73 countries made CIFF 2024 a truly international festival. Zakaria is especially proud of the festival’s inclusion of films from nations rarely represented in the mainstream. "We’ve got a lot of movies this year from many different nations... from far away and unknown to Egyptian audiences," he said.
This commitment to plurality goes further than defying censorship standards. Even as he noted the limits, Zakaria highlighted the festival’s ability to bargain with governments for access to films that could not otherwise be screened in public theatres. International festivals are not like this, he said. Quite a few films were turned down due to content this year, and CIFF’s focus on breaking boundaries and offering a broad variety of cinematic voices was evident this year.
Promoting Young Artists & Old School Movies.
Zakaria loves to help up-and-coming filmmakers. "Festivals are [a] playground for wannabe, emerging filmmakers," he said. This year’s line-up includes several first-time directors from Egypt, the Arab world and beyond.
In addition to fresh finds, CIFF celebrates cinematic masters. This year the festival hosts retrospectives of Satyajit Ray and Sergei Parajanov, in recognition of their storied legacy.
The Future is Here: A People’s Festival
Zakaria dreams of CIFF becoming even more an essential element of Cairo’s cultural identity in the future. He hopes to take the festival beyond the city centre, bring the cinema into the city’s suburbs and entice more people. He also wanted to investigate new kinds of theatre designs, like open-air theatres, to make a cinematic experience truly immersive.
A Collaborative Spirit
Zakaria called for a partnership between regional film festivals. Instead of seeing other festivals as competition, he sees them as collaborators in championing Arab cinema and film culture.I couldn’t agree more!
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Yesterday evening, the winners of the TV Beats Co-Financing Market—now in its fourth year—were announced.
The international jury selected Finnish drama series project The Women I Think about at Night (Producer: Liisa Karpo, production company: napafilms) as the most promising project. The winner was handed out the Series Co-Production Development Award, worth 50,000 euros, intended to foster creative collaborations in series co-production and empower independent producers. The award forms a part of the Pilot Programme for series co-productions, an initiative of the Council of Europe, and is open to independent producers from all Eurimages member states.
Jury comment: “The jury selected a project that seamlessly combines AI and live action, archival material and fiction, tackling universal themes in a bold and impactful way. It explores identity and self-discovery from a female lens, highlights the power of learning from diverse cultures, and draws inspiration from brave and curious historical women.”
Altogether, ten projects seeking collaborative partnerships took part in the TV Beats Co-Financing market. The international jury, who selected the winner, included Clémentine Trolong-Bailly, Representative of the Pilot Programme for Series Co-production of the Council of Europe, France, Christian Wikander, Producer, Sweden and Remi Tereszkiewicz, Development Executive, BetaSeries, France.
For the first time, all the projects took part in a public voting. Altogether close to 460 votes were given on Votemo platform during the TV Beats Co-Financing market pitches. The Public Favourite Award in the TV Beats Co-Financing market category will be handed out to a German project In Paradise (producer: Corinna Poetter, production company: eitelsonnenschein GmbH). The project was awarded with 2.000 euros worth of Yamdu subscription credit for any annual Yamdu plan or Yamdu add-on (valid thru 31.12.2025).
During the TV Beats award ceremony, also the Honorary TV Beats Producer Award, launched in 2024, was handed out to Ukrainian independent producer Kateryna Vyshnevska. “This award is meant to spotlight a prominent and inspiring figure from our region, covering the Nordics, Baltics and Central Eastern Europe, who has made a significant impact in the field of TV Drama production. Kateryna Vyshnevska’s role in building and growing the internationalisation of Ukraine’s Film.UA has been remarkable, culminating in executive producing the show Those Who Stayed, a contemporary landmark series co-produced and financed with several European countries,” Petri Kemppinen and Roosa Toivonen, Co-Heads of TV Beats Forum commented.
Congratulations to the winners!
From 11-16 November 2024 www.3kino.cz
11th edition of 3Kino FilmFest 2024
3Kino FilmFest has been bringing the best of Central European culture to the Czech Republic for 11 years. Film, art, music, exhibitions, theatre, workshops, personal meetings with leading creators, world premieres.
3KinoFilm Fest is a competitive film festival which takes place in the historic center of Prague and for 10 years it has focused exclusively on the cinematography of the countries of the Visegrad region. There are many film festivals in the V4 capitals, but no other is focused exclusively on the cinema of the region in such a breadth and context. The uniqueness also lies in the organization of festival echoes that bring the culture of the V4 region to the Prague-Bratislava-Warsaw-Budapest axis. The echoes fulfill the notion of Visegrad as an independent region with a common historical and cultural basis.
Movies in the main competitive section are awarded in the following categories: Best Film Award, Golden Debut (Best Feature Debut Award), Special Award (Special Jury Award).
The main goal is to draw attention to the high quality of the cinematography of the entire region and to stimulate the interest of mainly young people in the contemporary culture of Central Europe. The program board of the festival (CZ, PL, SK, HU) nominates 18 films for the competition in the feature film category every year. Subsequently, an international jury will select the three best films of the region. An important part of the festival is also the accompanying program, which presents important personalities from the field of culture. The added value of the festival is the linking of film and art of the Central European region.
This year’s 11th edition will take place on November 11-16 in the cinema halls of the Municipal Library in Prague.
The opening ceremony is taking place on November 11 in the exclusive premises of the Lord Mayor’s Residence of the city of Prague on Mariánské náměstí. At the opening evening in Prague, we will reveal unknown/rediscovered painting to the public. The curator is a historian prof. Ivo Barteček (CZ).
The closing ceremony with the announcement of the winners and the presentation of prizes is taking place on November 16 in the Clam-Gallas Palace in Prague.
The long-term goal of the 3KFF is to present the cinema of the V4 region in an attractive way so that it is appealing enough to the young audience. Our aim is to combine film and other art forms in order to reach not only the young generation but also the general public in an adventurous way. Therefore, in addition to the main competition section, we present individual personalities-thinkers-visionaries of the V4 region and show them from a current point of view. We have simplified a rather complicated philosophical topic by asking the general public a poll question: What was visionary Karel Čapek mistaken about?, which allows us to present V4 culture in a broader context.
In 2025, defiance will be brought sharply into focus at the Göteborg Film Festival. Under the heading Focus: Disobedience, the power of civil resistance will be explored, as well as questions like: when does rebellion become a moral obligation? When can it go too far? And is the flouting of laws and regulations a reasonable price to pay for change in a democratic society?
History is made up of acts of disobedience, both big and small, that started chain reactions of consequences. One man who said "no" when everyone else was saying "yes"; a woman who refused to give up her seat on the bus; a girl who started a school strike on Fridays, and another who kept going into class. In a world which has become characterized by increasing polarization, tendencies towards authoritarianism, and the climate crisis, unruliness has become a decisive factor on the global agenda.
In a world marked by increasing polarization, authoritarian tendencies, and climate crisis, civil resistance has become a crucial factor in the global conversation. In this context, the line between protest and lawful resistance can blur, as acts of resistance often require a certain degree of disobedience.
The history of cinema also contains countless stories of people who dared to break the rules, question authority, and stand up for their convictions: even when the risks in doing so were great. And film has always been a powerful medium through which we can challenge norms, question authority, and process the currents that shape society.
"During the 48th Göteborg Film Festival, we will explore the concept of disobedience by showing contemporary films that explore the theme, and highlighting their significance in society. We look forward to discussing, problematizing, and mobilizing our defiance during the festival," says Pia Lundberg, artistic director of the Göteborg Film Festival.
Read more
The 28th edition of the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival will present a tribute programme to Georgia's independent filmmakers, who stand for a free society and democratic values. The 5-part programme opens with the world premiere of Irine Jordania's Air Blue Silk. Among other films, 96-year-old Lana Gogoberidze will present her film Mother and Daughter, or the Night Is Never Complete.
Dedicated to the work of filmmakers protesting against restrictions on freedom of expression, the programme is entitled Flowers Are Not Silent. Independent Voices from Georgia: A Spotlight on Georgian Cinema.
The programme will be screened in cooperation with the Georgian Film Institute. Founded in 2019 by a collective of visionary filmmakers who recognized the imperative of establishing the Georgian Film Institute, this non-profit organization operates on the bedrock of independent governance. Its objectives and values are meticulously crafted by the filmmakers themselves.
According to PÖFF founder and director Tiina Lokk, PÖFF stands always with the independent filmmakers. "It's not just dictator countries like Belarus that are trying to muzzle their filmmakers - the ambition of politicians in power to control who makes films and what they are about is increasingly evident elsewhere. It is our duty to draw attention to this and to support all filmmakers who stand up for their independence." she said.
Read more about the Spotlight programme and the Georgian independent cinema here.
The spotlight programme kicks off with the world premiere of Air Blue Silk, directed by Irene Jordania. The film includes diverse components where documentary material is integrated into a fiction form.
Deeply shaken, Eka isolates herself when her aunt, who often calls for one-way chats via voicemail, commits suicide abroad. Niko builds an AI ‘friend’ immersing himself in his apartment. These two worlds touch briefly, only to pull apart into self-imposed loneliness.
"The relationship among humans as well as the relationship of humans with the external world is whole and unified, encompassing both pain and joy, and we must face it. Isolation beyond dividing lines is not a solution, as everything and everyone is interconnected. While working on the film, for me as the director, the most interesting and main challenge was how to weave all these components into a single cohesive fabric of the film," said Jordania.
"It is a pleasure to host emerging and independent contemporary Georgian filmmakers, whose films address issues that affect us all in the modern world. For us, it's important to show those new cinematic voices to the world, and we're proud to open this year's very special spotlight with this particular film," added Tiina Lokk.
A highlight of the Spotlight programme is a Q&A screening of Mother and Daughter, or the Night Is Never Complete, presented by the 96-year old renowned Georgian director, Lana Gogoberidze. The film is a tender and heartfelt tribute to her mother, Nutsa Gogoberidze, whose 1934 film Uzhmuri was the first feature film directed by a woman in the entire Soviet Union and who was sent to Siberia as the wife of an enemy of the people.
In the festival's Old Gold: Classic Films Come To Life programme,
This Year’s Annual Fundraiser Supporting SFFILM’s Mission-Driven Initiatives Will Honor Denis Villeneuve with the Irving M. Levin Award for Film Direction, Demi Moore with the Maria Manetti Shrem Award for Acting, Malcolm Washington with the George Gund III Award for Virtuosity, and Jason Reitman with the Nion McEvoy & Leslie Berriman Award for Storytelling
From L to R: Denis Villeneuve, Demi Moore, Malcolm Washington, Jason Reitman . Photos courtesy of rights holders.
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Today, SFFILM announced their honorees for the annual 2024 SFFILM Awards Night: Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Denis Villeneuve; award winning global superstar Demi Moore; emerging filmmaker Malcolm Washington; and Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Jason Reitman.
The celebratory event honors exemplary achievement in film craft and is a fundraiser with proceeds from the event supporting the organization’s mission to discover, nurture, and showcase the next generation of film artists. The annual dinner and awards presentation event is well established in film industry awards season schedules and philanthropic social calendars. SFFILM Awards Night will take place on Monday, December 9, 2024 at San Francisco’s Gateway Pavilion at Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture.
“For 67 years, SFFILM has provided a gateway for bold voices in film to thrive and reach discerning audiences who embrace the experience of going out to the movies,” said SFFILM’s Executive Director, Anne Lai. “SFFILM Awards Night is not only a celebration of the year's most trailblazing artists, but also an opportunity to honor distinctive talent who inspire the next generation of filmmakers who will enrich our lives and communities in the years to come."
“We are so proud to honor this group of individuals as we close out 2024. Their craft and artistry elevates the cinematic experience and reminds us why we collectively love the power of film,” said SFFILM Director of Programming Jessie Fairbanks. “Denis, Demi, Malcolm, and Jason are all intrepid, tenacious, and imaginative creatives. We look forward to honoring their work at SFFILM’s annual fundraiser.”
Irving M. Levin Award for Film Direction: Denis Villeneuve
The Irving M. Levin Award for Film Direction is presented each year to one of the masters of world cinema and is given in memory of the founder of the San Francisco International Film Festival in 1957. Past recipients include Greta Gerwig (2023), Ryan Coogler (2022), Jane Campion (2021), Chloé Zhao (2020), Marielle Heller (2019), Steve MᶜQueen (2018), Kathryn Bigelow (2017), Mira Nair (2016), Guillermo del Toro (2015), Richard Li
This Year’s Annual Fundraiser Supporting SFFILM’s Mission-Driven Initiatives Will Honor Denis Villeneuve with the Irving M. Levin Award for Film Direction, Demi Moore with the Maria Manetti Shrem Award for Acting, Malcolm Washington with the George Gund III Award for Virtuosity, and Jason Reitman with the Nion McEvoy & Leslie Berriman Award for Storytelling
From L to R: Denis Villeneuve, Demi Moore, Malcolm Washington, Jason Reitman . Photos courtesy of rights holders.
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Today, SFFILM announced their honorees for the annual 2024 SFFILM Awards Night: Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Denis Villeneuve; award winning global superstar Demi Moore; emerging filmmaker Malcolm Washington; and Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Jason Reitman.
The celebratory event honors exemplary achievement in film craft and is a fundraiser with proceeds from the event supporting the organization’s mission to discover, nurture, and showcase the next generation of film artists. The annual dinner and awards presentation event is well established in film industry awards season schedules and philanthropic social calendars. SFFILM Awards Night will take place on Monday, December 9, 2024 at San Francisco’s Gateway Pavilion at Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture.
“For 67 years, SFFILM has provided a gateway for bold voices in film to thrive and reach discerning audiences who embrace the experience of going out to the movies,” said SFFILM’s Executive Director, Anne Lai. “SFFILM Awards Night is not only a celebration of the year's most trailblazing artists, but also an opportunity to honor distinctive talent who inspire the next generation of filmmakers who will enrich our lives and communities in the years to come."
“We are so proud to honor this group of individuals as we close out 2024. Their craft and artistry elevates the cinematic experience and reminds us why we collectively love the power of film,” said SFFILM Director of Programming Jessie Fairbanks. “Denis, Demi, Malcolm, and Jason are all intrepid, tenacious, and imaginative creatives. We look forward to honoring their work at SFFILM’s annual fundraiser.”
Irving M. Levin Award for Film Direction: Denis Villeneuve
The Irving M. Levin Award for Film Direction is presented each year to one of the masters of world cinema and is given in memory of the founder of the San Francisco International Film Festival in 1957. Past recipients include Greta Gerwig (2023), Ryan Coogler (2022), Jane Campion (2021), Chloé Zhao (2020), Marielle Heller (2019), Steve MᶜQueen (2018), Kathryn Bigelow (2017), Mira Nair (2016), Guillermo del Toro (2015), Richard Li
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