Two Russian Films Race For Rotterdam Awards

Two Russian films are in Official Selection of the Rotterdam International Film Festival (January 26–February 6, 2011).

Rotterdam. January 16, 2011. Russian drama Gromozeka by Vladimir Kott is in the lineup of Tiger Awards Competition for full-length feature films. Three friends, former schoolmates – policeman Gromov, cab-driver Mozerov and doctor Kaminsky – who performed in a school band called Gromozeka meet again at the school reunion 25 years later.

A 26-min documentary Bread For Bird by Aleksandra Strelyanaya about Russian village in the autumn runs for The Rotterdam Tiger Awards Competition among 28 short films by young talents.

Both films were obviously selected for its artistic value and, regretfully, both present a depressing picture of contemporary Russia – a tongue-in-the-cheek tradition among most Russian film-makers who take part at global film festivals.

The Jury of the Main Tiger Awards Competition comprises Lucrecia Martel, filmmaker, scriptwriter and film producer (Argentina); Sandra den Hamer, director of the EYE Film Institute Netherlands and former IFFR director; filmmaker Andrei Ujica (Romania); Wisit Sasanatieng, filmmaker (Thailand) and Lee Ranaldo, vocalist, guitarist, composer and co-founder of noise rock band Sonic Youth (USA). They will announce the winners among full-length feature films at the Tiger Awards Ceremony on February 4.

The Rotterdam Jury for Short Films comprises Fiona Tan, an artist known for her audiovisual installations, films and photographic works (The Netherlands), Anocha Suwichakornpong, filmmaker and Tiger Award winner for MUNDANE HISTORY and Thom Andersen, filmmaker, film critic and lecturer (USA). The Award Ceremony to announce winners among short-film directors will be held on January 31.

Tiger Awards Competition for first and second feature films 2011

GROMOZEKA, Vladimir Kott, Russia, 2010, 104’, international premiere. Contemporary drama: three old school friends meet again 30 years later to see tragic changes in their current life. Second feature film of director Vladimir Kott.

CHITRA SUTRAM / THE IMAGE THREADS, Vipin Vijay, India, 2010, 104’, European premiere. A tale about a computer teacher, a black magician and a cyber creature who are predestined for online and offline encounters. The story oscillates between Indian mythology, surrealist personal symbolism and the cyber world. First feature film of Vipin Vijay.

VETE MAS LEJOS, ALICIA / ALICIA, GO YONDER, Elisa Miller, Mexico, 2010, 67’, International premiere
A moving and visual portrayal of the excitement, alienation, and loneliness nineteen-year old Alicia experiences when she leaves her parental home in Mexico for Buenos Aires with the ambition to become an acrobat. First feature film of Elisa Miller.

PASUGGUN / BLEAK NIGHT, Yoon Sung-Hyun, South Korea, 2010, 116’, International premiere. The film focuses on the subdued aggression and explosive relationships among friends in Korea’s often repressive school system. First feature film of Yoon Sung-Hyun.

FINISTERRAE, Sergio Caballero, Spain, 2010, 80’, international premiere. It portrays two lost ghosts who take the Way of Saint James to the end of the world (Finisterra), this hypnotizing road movie is a treat for eyes and ears. It draws inspiration from Philippe Garrel’s THE INNER SCAR. First feature film of Sergio Caballero.

WASTED YOUTH, Argyris Papadimitropoulos & Jan Vogel, Greece, 2011, 98’, World premiere & Opening Film. During a hot summer in Athens, the lives of two protagonists unexpectedly cross paths: a passionate teenage skater and a policeman in his midlife crisis. Second feature film of Argyris Papadimitropoulos and first feature film of Jan Vogel.

FASL-E BARAN-HAYE MOOSEMI / RAINY SEASONS, Majid Barzegar, Iran, 2010, 86’, European premiere. The story of an urban teenage boy trapped between his parents’ divorce and his own troubles. It reveals a seldom shown side of Iranian society – middle class urban youths that have the same problems as everywhere around the world. First feature film of Majid Barzegar.

HEADSHOTS, Lawrence Tooley, Germany, Austria, 2010, 92’, international premiere.
A female photographer makes her way through 21st century Berlin, a city full of artistic and complicated people. Second feature film of Lawrence Tooley.

O CEU SOBRE OS OMBROS / THE SKY ABOVE, Sérgio Borges, Brazil, 2010, 72’, international premiere. Blurring borders between documentary and fiction: it portrays a few moments from the lives of three men from Belo Horizonte: a transsexual prostitute and academic, a Hare Krishna soccer fan and a would-be writer. Winner of five awards at the Festival of Brazilian Cinema. First feature film of Sérgio Borges.

FUYU NO KIMONO / LOVE ADDICTION, Uchida Nobuteru, Japan, 2010, 92’, international premiere. Four characters, co-workers have complicated relationships during and after working hours. Second feature film of Uchida Nobuteru.

IGILLENA MALUWO / FLYING FISH, Sanjeewa Pushpakumara, Sri Lanka, 2011, Hubert Bals Fund, 125’, world premiere. This story from northern Sri Lanka captures the madness in a land where the psychology of war is omnipresent. Three parallel stories deal with the attempts of ordinary village people to lead a normal life in abnormal circumstances. First feature film of Sanjeewa Pushpakumara.

TEE-RAK / ETERNITY, Sivaroj Kongsakul, Thailand, 2010, Hubert Bals Fund, 105’, European premiere. After his death, a man returns to the landscape of his childhood and relives the relationship that was meant to last forever. Eternity is a romantic and spiritual film as well as a meditation about the death of a loved one. First feature film of Sivaroj Kongsakul.

TODOS TUS MUERTOS / ALL YOUR DEAD ONES, Carlos Moreno, Colombia, 2010, 90’, international premiere. On Election Day a Colombian farmer finds a pile of dead bodies in his corn field, however, local politicians however have other things on their mind than dealing with the crime. Second feature film of Carlos Moreno.

MUSAN IL-GY / THE JOURNALS OF MUSAN, Park Jung-Bum, South Korea, 2010, 127’, European premiere. A North Korean defector trys to adapt to South Korea’s capitalist society. First feature film of Park Jung-Bum, who plays the lead himself.

Rotterdam Tiger Awards Competition for Short Films 2011

KHLEB DLYA PTICY / BREAD FOR BIRD, Aleksandra Strelyanaya, Russia, 2010, 26’

1989 (DEN GANG JEG VAR FEM ÅR GAMMEL) / 1989 (WHEN I WAS FIVE YEARS OLD), Thor Ochsner, Denmark, 2010, 11’

SLOW ACTION, Ben Rivers, United Kingdom, 2011, 45’, World premiere

PLAYERS, Pilvi Takala, Finland, Netherlands, 2010, 8’

PASTOURELLE, Nathaniel Dorsky, USA, 2010, 16’, European premiere

I LUPI / THE WOLVES, Alberto De Michele, Italy, 2011, 17’, World premiere

A SHORT FILM ABOUT WAR, Jon Thomson, Alison Craighead, United Kingdom, 2010, 10’

END TRANSMISSION, James T. Hong, Chen Yin-Ju, Taiwan, Netherlands, Germany, 2010, 17’, International premiere

LESSER APES, Emily Vey Duke & Cooper Battersby, Canada, 19’, World premiere

STARDUST, Nicolas Provost, Belgium, 2010, 20’

THESE HAMMERS DON’T HURT US, Michael Robinson, USA, 2010, 13’, European premiere

MASKA, Brothers Quay, Poland, 2010, 24’

BEYOND-ISM, Sun Xun, China, 2010, 8, International premiere

MARIA THERESIA UND IHRE 16 KINDER / MARIA THERESIA AND HER 16 CHILDREN, Roland Rauschmeier & Ulu Braun, Austria, Germany, 2010, 30’, International premiere

VERSIONS, Oliver Laric, Germany, North Korea, 2010, 9’

TSE / OUT, Roee Rosen, Israel, 2010, 34’

JAN VILLA, Natasha Mendonca, USA, India, 2010, 20’

A HISTORY OF MUTUAL RESPECT, Gabriel Abrantes, Daniel Schmidt, Portugal, 2010, 23’

HOME MOVIE, John Price, Canada, 2010, 27’

MERCURIO / MERCURY, Sandro Aguilar, Portugal, 2010, 18’

AFTER EMPIRE, Herman Asselberghs, Belgium, 2011, 52’, World premiere

LUBABEN, Eva Pervolovici, France, Romania, 2011, 30’, World premiere

OTOLITH III, The Otolith Group, United Kingdom, 2010, 49’

THE STORY OF ELFRANKO WESSELS, Erik Moskowitz & Amanda Trager, USA, Canada, 2011, 16’, World premiere

MIRAGES, Emanuel Licha, Canada, France, 2010, 19’

IT, HEAT, HIT, Laure Prouvost, United Kingdom, 2010, 6’

IMMORTAL WOMAN, Jakrawal Nilthamrong, Thailand, 2010, 9, European premiere

LA DAME AU CHIEN / THE LADY WITH THE DOG, Damien Manivel, France, 2010, 16’