Paper Trail is a top-down puzzle adventure that follows the adventures of Paige, an astrophysicist in the making. We meet her as she leaves home and her worried parents to pursue her dream. Here, players fold the world like origami in order to solve a series of challenging and fun levels. This is a story about creating your own path, metaphorically and literally! Developed by Newfangled Games, this captivating title won Best Game at our first-ever Games Lab in 2023. We caught up with Henry Hoffmann, a BAFTA-winning game designer and founder of the studio, to learn more about Paper Trail’s unique gameplay mechanic, the origins of the plot and what’s next for this exciting indie studio.

ASFF: Could you tell us a bit about yourself and your journey as a Game Designer so far?
HH: I’ve been making games in some form since I was 9 years old! That was when we got our first family computer and I got a copy of this drag and drop game making tool called Klik & Play. After making hundreds of 2D games using that, I upgraded to Blender and made hundreds more 3D games! I then went to University to study videogame art and design, where I founded my first company and made the game Mush. We got a publishing deal with Microsoft, won a BAFTA, and had great fun – all before graduating University! Since then I’ve started a number of indie game studios and worked on games including QUBE, Mortar Melon, Hue and now my most recent game Paper Trail!

ASFF: Paper Trail follows the protagonist Paige, who, against the wishes of her parents, runs away from home to study astrophysics at university. How did you come up with the plot?
HH: Well, it went through many iterations as the idea for the game developed. Originally, we were thinking about what kinds of narrative could be informed by the mechanic, this idea of folding the world and instantly travelling between realms. The idea of being in two places at the same time, that was the seed for our earliest versions of the story. That led us down a bit of a dark path. We had a story about a girl whose parents were going through a divorce, whilst her grandma hides a growing illness – you try to fix both by being in two places at the same time, but ultimately fail to solve anything. This one explored hard lessons about prioritising yourself, understanding your limits and forgiving your inner child. Needless to say, that isn’t the direction we ended up taking.

We instead drew on some personal experiences around feeling trapped in our hometown, of longing for adventure and broader horizons, of being among the first of our peers to leave and about making peace with our pasts too. We were in a small town in Suffolk, dreaming of going to university and leaving home – itching to get out there and start experiencing life. Paige is much the same! In fact the town which Paige grows up in is called Southfold. A play on the seaside town Southwold in East Anglia, where we used to go on holiday as a family.

ASFF: There’s a unique gameplay mechanic that involves players folding paper to create new paths and solutions. Could you tell us more? For instance, how did you come up with the idea?
HH: Yeah! So the folding mechanic is what makes Paper Trail really unique. The world is set out on these individual pieces of paper with levels on the fronts and the backs of the papers. What’s cool is that you can fold these papers, effectively merging the two levels where the front and back meet. You can then seamlessly pass through this rift where you’ve folded paper, as if you&

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The six new faces of La Résidence of the Festival : Molly Manning Walker ©️ Billy Boyd Cape, Ernst De Geer ©️ Per Larsson, Daria Kashcheeva ©️ Gabriel Kuchta, Deník N, Danech San ©️ Prum Ero, Anastasiia Solonevych ©️ DR, Aditya Amhad ©️ DR

Welcome to Molly, Aditya, Daria, Danech, Ernst and Anastasiia ! From March 15 to July 31, 2024, these young filmmakers will work in the heart of Paris on their first or second feature film project. For 4 and a half months, they will benefit from a personalized script development program and a collective program of meetings with directors, professionals and representatives of film institutions.

In the historically rich neighborhood of Paris's 9th arrondissement, the six new residents took up residence following the last session, comprising Meltse Van Coillie, Diana Cam Van Nguyen, Hao Zhao, Gessica Généus, Andrea Slaviček, Asmae El Moudir. These two sessions will be reunited for the 77th edition of the Festival de Cannes to be held from May 14 to 25.

Since the reorganization of La Résidence in 2022, filmmakers are now selected both by call for applications and by invitation, with Stéphanie Lamome in charge of the project. Created in 2000, La Résidence has played host to over 250 directors from around 60 countries. A number of these directors, invited to the biggest festivals around the world, have had international success: Lucrecia Martel, Kornél Mundruczó, Sebastián Lelio, Antonio Campos, Karim Aïnouz, Jonas Carpignano, etc.

After passing through La Résidence, the Romanian Corneliu Porumboiu received the Caméra d’or in 2006 for 12:08 East of Bucharest, the Mexican director Amat Escalante won the Award for Best Director at Cannes in 2013 with Heli, while his compatriot Michel Franco was awarded the Best Screenplay Award in 2015 for Chronic, screened In Competition. The Hungarian László Nemes won the Grand Prix at Cannes in 2015, as well as the Oscar and Golden Globe for best foreign language film in 2016 for Son of Saul, the Belgian Lukas Dhont got the Caméra d’or in 2018 with Girl, and the Lebanese director Nadine Labaki won the César and the Oscar for best foreign film in 2019 with Capernaum. After having received the G

BAFTA-winning developers State of Play took part in our inaugural Games Lab with their beautiful title, South of the Circle. Here are more projects from a studio known for making eye-catching animations and lovingly-crafted games.

Lume

In this prequel to Lumino City (see below), players meet inquisitive youngster Lumi. One day, she discovers that the power to her grandad’s house has failed. What’s more, he’s nowhere to be seen, but has left behind some intriguing clues. Solve perplexing paper puzzles to help restore the power through ingenious eco-technology, and uncover a deeper mystery behind the blackout.

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Kami

KAMI, named after the Japanese word for paper, is deceptively simple. Players fold out coloured paper to fill the screen in as few moves as possible. Each tile was crafted using real paper, resulting in a beautiful aesthetic that maintains the feel of working with real paper. This carefully-made game will drop you into a state of calm as you attempt to complete each puzzle perfectly.

Learn more

Lumino City

Lumino City is the BAFTA award-winning puzzle adventure game made entirely by hand using paper, card, wood, miniature lights and motors. Following the adventures in Lume, we discover Lumi’s grandfather has been kidnapped. To find him, Lumi must explore the city, figure out the mechanisms that power it and uncover the mysterious secrets of the city.

Learn more

South of the Circle

South of the Circle is a narrative adventure telling the story of Peter, a Cambridge academic who finds himself fighting for survival in Antarctica during the 1960’s Cold War. Peter flashes back to his life at the university and his relationship with a fellow lecturer, Clara. As the he battles against the harsh conditions and tries to escape, the past and the present begin to blur. 

Learn more

Inks.

This is pinball for the new generation. INKS deconstructs your objective into over a hundred unique, tactical challenges. Burst your way through each canvas as you attempt to win without losing the golden ball whilst layers of ink record a visual history of your progress. Complete the level in the fewest number of hits po

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WORLD PREMIERE OF ONE OF THE FUTURE WORLD BLOCKBUSTERS

March 6th - IN THE PRESENCE OF THE FILM CREW

The Floor Plan – Junichi Ishikawa -110´- ( Japan ) CF/OE- WORLD PREMIERE- horror fantastic , vo, leg english , leg port

Amemiya is a Youtuber who specializes in the occult . When your _ advisor him brings a house plan to observe , notice that the house presents compartments that do not they are logical , as if the owners they wanted to hide some thing dark or someone . Who? What ? _ The imagination is on the loose . However , the neighborhood start counting _ stories and a woman , Yuzuki , contacts the Youtuber . Together will reveal the mystery of the house. The horror Japanese in your better .

ROOM 1

IN THE PRESENCE OF THE DIRECTOR

15:15 Supporting Actors - Árpad Sopsits – 110' (Hun) - Retrospective Visions of Hungarian Cinema | SR- drama , vo, leg ingl , leg. port

Árpád Sopsits

Director Árpád Sopsits _ studied at the Theater and Cinema Academy . Your first feature film was “Shooting Gallery ” (1989) which had debuted in the Directors ' Fortnight at the Cannes Festival where it was awarded . Others followed , such as “ Videoblues ” (1992) and “ Abandoned ” (2000), equally awarded . After came , among other films, “The Seventh Circle” in 2009, Best Film at the Amsterdam Festival , and “ Strangled ” (2016) which features it is Retrospective Hungarian . In competition in Fantas 2024 Two Directors ' Week .

This social drama tells the stories parallels of 3 families in modern - day rural Hungary . We follow the stories of Árpad , a rich business man , woman _ Franciska , Babita's daughter , a photographer called Gábor , the artist ceramics his girlfriend , Edina, and a priest who works at the prison . Yours _ destinations they are connected . Many live still or lived in the same city and their lives are determined by the secrets and crimes that are revealing over a period of ten years .

 IN THE PRESENCE OF THE DIRECTOR AND THE PRODUCER

17:30 - Papa Mascot – King Palisoc - 94' (Philippines) SR/OE- drama, vo, leg engl, leg port

Nicole, 7 years old , has leukemia . The father, Nico, who clearly adores the child , seeks help to cure his daughter who is in the hospital . And when stops having money , withdraws it at hidden . Pursued by the police , the girl recovered , it is concluded that the child was kidnapped there is years . Portraits of revenge and tenderness , even per ways tortuous . Another Luisito film Lagdameo , director awarded at Fantasporto for “Laut” (2016) and “ School Service” (2019).

AFTER VENICE 2023 WHERE THE CRITICS AWARD WON

19:15 Shadow Of Fire - Shinya Tsukamoto - 95' ( Japan ) SR/OE- drama , voice, leg English , leg port

Shinya Tsukamoto

Director Japanese , known and awarded at Fantasporto which has already presented about one _ ten of his films, including “ Tetsuo : the Iron Man” (1989), “ Tetsuo : Body Hammer” (1992), in the presence of the director , “ Ichi the Killer” (2001), “Vital” (2004) and “A Snake of June” ( Best Award ) Actress and Jury in 2003). Also known for “Tetsuo: The Bullet Man” (2009), “Killing” (2018), “Fires on

Honoree Bradley Cooper, Carey Mulligan, and Brad Pitt pose with the Outstanding Performer of the Year Award during the 39th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival at The Arlington Theatre in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for SBIFF).

Bradley Cooper was honored on Thursday, February 8, 2024 for his critically acclaimed portrayal of Leonard Bernstein in MAESTRO from Netflix.

Bradley Cooper, born in Philadelphia, is an acclaimed actor, filmmaker, writer, and producer. A nine-time Oscar nominee, Grammy winner, and Tony nominee, Cooper’s directorial debut A STAR IS BORN, which he co-wrote, produced, starred and directed garnered 8 Oscar nominations. Following the success of his producorial work, Cooper started his production company Lea Pictures in 2020, which includes his much-anticipated film MAESTRO.

“Nine-time Oscar® nominee Bradley Cooper has proven to be an actor of incredible range and versatility.  What has impressed me the most is that he has grown to be one of the most indelible directing voices .  He’s a renaissance man - an outstanding performer indeed!” SBIFF’s Executive Director Roger Durling noted.

MAESTRO is a towering and fearless love story chronicling the lifelong relationship between Leonard Bernstein and Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein. A love letter to life and art, MAESTRO at its core is an emotionally epic portrayal of family and love.

The Outstanding Performer of the Year Award recognizes select individuals who have distinguished themselves with exceptional performances in film. Past recipients of the award include Cate Blanchett, Will Smith, Aunjanue Ellis, Sacha Baron Cohen, Adam Driver, Rami Malek, Margot Robbie and Allison Janney, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, Brie Larson and Saoirse Ronan, Steve Carell, Cate Blanchett, Jennifer Lawrence, Viola Davis, James Franco, Colin Firth, Penelope Cruz, Angelina Jolie, Helen Mirren, Heath Ledger, Kate Winslet and Charlize Theron.

Photo by Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images for SBIFF

When accepting his award, Bradley Cooper stated: “People made movies, I watched them, they changed me, inspired me, kept me alive. Now that I get to do these things, the thing I benefit from is the doing. Seeing these projects that I've been a part of, these memories, magical made up stories, it’s such a privilege. In life, I’ve been so privileged, so blessed.”

• After coming onstage, Bradley Cooper said: “I just have to give it up to Roger Durling and what he just did. This is incredible Roger, very unorthodox. It’s very Leonard Bernstein.”
• Bradley Cooper shared: “I auditioned for it [Sex and the City]. At that time, I didn’t even realize you could get the job. I remember when I got the call to do it, I was terrified. What do you mean I have to do it?”
• On whether he always wanted to be an actor, Bradley Cooper stated: “Always, since I was like 11. There was a movie theater, my backyard was train tracks and a movie theater. I watched movies like The Godfather, Popeye, and I just knew then. and television. I always knew I wanted to do it, but I was terrified, I was shy. But I knew I wanted to do it.”
• Bradley Cooper said: “We didn’t know what we were making, and weren’t even sure if it was a comedy. We were staying at Caesars Palace in Vegas. I had tiger claws on my neck and no one even looked at us.”
• Bradley Cooper shared: “I don’t know if you need to have empathy [to play a character

With striking landscapes, muted pastels, and the juxtaposition of a season filled with both hardship and hibernation, winter often integrates itself uniquely into visual stories. Whether becoming a silent character, enhancing a film’s themes or the  thoughts of the protagonists, or providing a silent, snowy moment of reflection for the audience, filmmakers have used the icy months to create compelling, layered, and memorable work over the years.

As we lean into the wintry season, Full Frame looks back at an eclectic mix of short and feature film alums that spotlight the landscapes and feelings of this time.

Full Frame 2015

While not necessarily in winter, Meru is an adventure story like no other; a cinematic study in perseverance of mind, body, and spirit. The snowy peak of Meru in the Indian Himalayas is 21,850 feet above sea level. To scale it is the objective of a team of climbers: Conrad Anker, the troupe’s enigmatic leader and a climbing legend; Jimmy Chin, the film’s co-director and heart of the expedition; and Renan Ozturk, the gifted and soulful newcomer. Beginning with the trio’s 2008 attempt to ascend the peak via the unconquered and perilous Shark Fin’s route, the film skillfully weaves together multiple stories, intercutting past and present with personal histories and recollections of friends and family, accompanied by commentary from renowned chronicler of the sport and its sacrifices, Jon Krakauer. True to the mission and each other, the team faces challenge after unbelievable challenge, both on and off the mountain, with tragedy seeming more likely than triumph every treacherous step of the way.

Full Frame 2014

In Lapland, one thousand miles north of Moscow, a young woman spends the winter days alone. Olga is the sole occupant of a modest supply post where reindeer herders store their supplies until spring. Though she has to deal with bitter temperatures and periodic threats of theft, she is happy on her own, tending to chores, holding down the post, with only a cat to keep her company. Olga grew up in an orphanage, and when she was eventually reunited with her mother, found that she faced even further isolation—she didn’t speak her family’s native language and was ill-equipped to handle their struggles with alcoholism. On the tundra, she wanders freely in her thoughts and moves at her own pace, without the friction she sometimes feels around other people. When word comes that the “reindeer brigade” post may be closed, she grows concerned about what will become of her, and the existence she has carved out for herself. Incredible textures—the crunch of snow underfoot, the rush of running reindeer—complement this endearing portrait of a unique individual and the peaceful place where she’s found home.

Full Frame 2018

In this beautifully composed documentary, we first see an eccentric old woman taking care of a herd of reindeer in the northern part of Sweden. Gradually, it becomes clear that this wise and highly charismatic person is Sami actress and artist Maj Doris, a folk legend who has traveled all over the world to promote the cultural legacy of her people. We follow her daily existence in the arduous environment of her small cottage, beginning in December 2016 and ending as the re

CINEQUEST FILM & CREATIVITY FESTIVAL
COMBINES INNOVATION AND THE ARTS WITH 2024 THEME “UPLIFT”
March 7-17, Silicon Valley 

SILICON VALLEY — The Cinequest Film & Creative Festival returns this March 6-17th promising an extraordinary cinematic experience that merges the worlds of storytelling and technology. Returning to its palatial San Jose venues and flagship time of year, the program is a testament to Cinequest's 2024 theme of "Uplift" through the potent combination of innovation, the arts, and community.

Continuing its commitment to showcasing the latest and greatest film artists, Cinequest will unveil 217 films from 37 countries — chock-full of comedies, inspiring artistry, and diversity of culture and thought. Cinequest’s groundbreaking AI Town Hall (launching the festivities on March 6th) will bring AI luminaries together with San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, to address the powers and mitigate the pitfalls of AI for communities and the world of creativity. Cinequest opens its lineup of World and U.S. Premieres with the invigorating thriller The Island Between Tides and closes with Maverick Spirit Award recipient Matthew Modine’s Hard Miles. Cinequest’s Silent Cinema Event will present Douglas Fairbank’s The Mark of Zorro and Buster Keaton's Our Hospitality, accompanied by the breathtaking music of organist Dennis James. Creativity further uplifts before screenings via comedians, dancers, and poets.
 
Cinequest Festivals, a dynamic blend of both in-person and virtual celebrations, have been steadfast beacons of joy and affirmation for individuals and entire communities. Cinequest fans can enjoy selections from the festival from the comfort of their homes immediately following the festival on Cinequest’s virtual platform, Cinejoy from March 21-31st. Cinejoy continues to evolve beyond a film festival that streams movies to an experience that translates the fun, excitement, and power of live film events to global audiences online. In addition to online screenings available to stream 24/7 during the event, Cinejoy will include live spotlight events, interactive passports, group share, and screening party experiences.
 

SPECIAL EVENTS

Cinequest AI Town Hall: Preceding the festival, on March 6th at the Hammer Theatre, Cinequest hosts a meeting of the minds, politicians, and creatives to tackle the opportunities as well as the potential issues of AI for communities. It’s fitting that Cinequest, a trusted organization, would host a seminal gathering in the epicenter of AI, the Silicon Valley, and expand the conversation beyond the normal approach of mainstream media. A keynote address will precede two forums: 1) “The Good, Bad, and Ugly of AI — What Communities and Policymakers Need to Know, Address, and Utilize in the Realm of AI&am

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