Last month, the ICO’s Duncan Carson and Sami Abdul-Razzak headed to Bologna for this year’s Il Cinema Ritrovato – the Cineteca di Bologna’s annual festival showcasing the latest restorations and rediscoveries from archives and film laboratories around the world. In this blog, they share a few of their highlights.

Watching Kleber Mendonça Filho’s cinephilic paean Pictures of Ghosts (2023) last year, the director, reflecting on a lifetime of self-documentation and cinema-going, notes that photographs only unburden themselves as time passes, that the latent parts of an image only emerge with the passing of time. Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors [Tini zabutykh predkiv, 1965] is the film that Sergei Parajanov viewed as his breakthrough into the lyrical, lively, queer space he mapped out in his later work. Like many films at Il Cinema Ritrovato, their meanings are only now on view: not ahead of their time, but ahead of our understanding.

Listening to Daniel Bird and Olena Honcharuk speak about the process of restoring the film with the Oleksander Dovzhenko National Centre (Ukraine’s home for its cinematic heritage), it was hard to ignore the reason for making work like this and perpetuating its access. Parajanov was imprisoned and fettered in his time by the USSR, and it’s both hard and easy to see why: his work sings loudly about the power of the hyper-regional and untamed spirit, using every cinematic trick to build a language that is adequate to the true wildness of life off the bureaucrat’s map. Yet a line-by-line censors dissection would struggle to locate this in dialogue.

Watching the film in the newly refurbished, undiluted elegance of Cinema Modernissimo – a space I have visited during previous editions in states of decay and renovation –  held a glimmer of hope that what seems ghostly or in retreat can be revived and rebuilt. Parajanov, with his joyful, resistant, inventive spirit, opens up these possibilities, for Ukraine and for the world.

Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors is available in a new restoration from The Film Foundation and tickets are available for the UK premiere of the restoration at Cinema Rediscovered in Bristol next week.

Director Charles Burnett, a venerable figure among the L.A. Rebellion filmmakers, has never made films with a continuity of genre or tone. Besides focusing with deep humanity on predominately African American lives, his films glide from the social realism of Killer of Sheep to the folkloric To Sleep with Anger to the gritty The Glass Shield. The Annihilation of Fish (1999) is a lightly madcap, near screwball comedy. James Earl Jones is Fish, a Jamaican gent who in the film’s opening scenes is booted from long-term residential psy

Rolling Pictures, Good Films Collective, and Concourse Media have partnered on WORDS OF WAR, which will launch worldwide sales in Cannes. The new political drama/thriller features an award-winning ensemble cast lead by Maxine Peake, Ciarán Hinds and Jason Isaacs, and is further bolstered by Ian Hart, Naomi Battrick, Harry Lawtey, Ellie Bamber, Agni Scott, Alec Newman, and Ben Miles. The film was written by Eric Poppen and is directed by James Strong (BROADCHURCH). The cast alone has combined box office earnings that surpass the $9 billion mark worldwide.

WORDS OF WAR is produced by Mark Maxey and Miriam Segal. Sean Penn is executive producer, along with Stefanie Scott, Rick Crumly, Matthew Shreder, Grant Mohrman, Simon Fawcett, Andrew Wing, David and Alexandra Bell and co-executive producers Brett Nemeroff and John Pettit. 

War of Words is based on the real-life story of American-Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya’s pioneering, brave crusade, fighting for an independent voice in Russia in the late 1990s and early 2000s. For seven years, she refused to give up reporting on the Second Chechen War despite numerous acts of intimidation and violence and was then assassinated in 2006. She gained widespread international renown for her criticisms of Russia and stands as a pillar of press freedom. The film and Anna significantly represent a microcosm of a global epidemic of a staggering number of journalists being silenced and murdered in the pursuit of uncovering and exposing the truth.

Concourse Media has acquired world rights for WORDS OF WAR and will be presenting the film to buyers in Cannes for the first time.

The relevance of Anna’s story in today’s evolving geopolitical landscape is striking, and it’s more important than ever to ensure her story is told,” states Concourse CEO, Matthew Shreder. “Words of War is a gripping political thriller filled with intensity that will intrigue and enlighten audiences.”

“Before making this film, I was unaware this was an actual epidemic,” said producer Mark Maxey, reflecting on the shocking number of journalists who have been killed in recent years. Executive producer Sean Penn stated journalists are as “essential to all our freedoms as air.” Maxey added “Every journalist should have the right to report what is happening in the world without fear of death or reprisal.” 

“Making this important film couldn’t come at a more appropriate time in history, given world events. Its relevance and significance show the cultural power of filmmaking. We have gathered an amazingly talented and acclaimed cast and an award-winning director, and we feel sure that we’re making something that pays fitting tribute to Anna and her courage; a film that strikes a balance between mould-breaking, dynamic entertainment and an inspiring, engaging homage to a true heroine of the 21st century.” Said Segal.

Maxine Peake plays Anna Politkovskaya, the title role. Peake is an English stage, radio, film and television actress, best known to American audiences for playing Steven Hawkings’ nurse and wife, Elaine Mason, in The Theory of Everything. Peake made her name in Europe as

April, an idealistic lawyer dedicated to lost causes, agrees to defend Cosmos, a dog that has bitten three people, leading to the first canine trial. She has no choice but to win the case, as otherwise, her unusual client will be put down.
A courtroom comedy with a lively cast that raises questions about our relationships with animals

Directed by : Laetitia DOSCH
Year of production: 2024
Country: Switzerland, France
Duration: 85

CREDITS
LAETITIA DOSCH
Director
LAETITIA DOSCH
Screenplay
ANNE-SOPHIE BAILLY
Screenplay

CASTING
LAETITIA DOSCH
AVRIL LUCCIANI
FRANÇOIS DAMIENS
DARIUCH MICHOVSKI
JEAN-PASCAL ZADI
MARC
ANNE DORVAL
ROSELINE BRUCKENHEIMER
ANABELA MOREIRA
LORENE FURTADO
MATHIEU DEMY
THE JUDGE
PIERRE DELADONCHAMPS
JEROME

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Rick Prickett, Competition Director

858-779-9544

BestShorts.net

Info@BestShorts.net

La Jolla, CA, April 2024 – The Best Shorts Competition is proud to announce the latest winners. The Best Shorts Competition puts filmmakers first and provides a direct opportunity for recognition and publicity for high quality productions. It is international in scope and has granted awards to producers in Australia, Bahrain, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, China, Columbia, Cuba, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, India, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Malta, Martinique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Republic of Mauritius, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Taiwan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the United States.

Paul Hendy (United Kingdom), The Choice, Film Short – Paul Hendy’s astute direction brings depth to “The Choice,” a haunting psychological drama about a famous TV personality whose life unravels when confronted by a mysterious visitor. Rita Simons (EastEnders, The Krays) delivers a powerful performance, while BAFTA-nominee Alex Macqueen’s portrayal of pure evil adds chilling depth. The film keeps audiences guessing until the end, making it a compelling and relevant story that explores themes of favoritism, identity, and the consequences of our choices. BAFTA-winner Whitnall’s compelling script, coupled with Hendy’s nuanced direction, creates a captivating narrative that lingers long after the credits roll.

Marko Bosanac (Serbia), New Idea, Animation – A whimsical animated short that dives into the inner workings of creativity. Pensilio, Loopito, and Lensio, embodying creativity, research, and production, embark on a quest for a new idea. Their journey is fraught with obstacles mirroring the creative process – from distractions to self-doubt. The twist comes as the adventure unfolds within a teenage girl’s mind, adding layers to the narrative. With utterly charming characters, brilliant animation and universal themes, “New Idea” is a delightful exploration of creativity’s complexities, leaving audiences inspired and uplifted.

Jaclyn Lehrer (USA), Johnny Johnny, Film Short – A darkly comedic short follows a homeless comedian seeking revenge on those he deems unfunny. It delves into friendship and resilience in a society overlooking those in need. Lehrer’s deft direction blends humor with shocking twists, challenging stereotypes. Engaging performances by Sencere Tucker and Alexandria Sanders add dep