Montreal film festival partners with Red Cross. Virtual reality to give viewers every stage of the Syrian refugee experience – from the destruction of home-town, dangerous travel with children, violent hostility, police abuse incited by media and right wing politicians in certain western countries. Viewing to generate funds for Syrian refugees

 In the face of increasing hostility and violence meted out to ever larger numbers of refugees fleeing violent conflict zones (especially Syria), the Montreal International Animation Film Festival (MIAFF) seeks to reach out to the broader society in a meaningful way.

“I think a film festival should not be about irrelevant snobbery, idle gossip, and cocktail parties, but about how we as artists, can contribute to the cause of humanity”, said MIAFF’s founder and CEO, Laurie Gordon. 

Referring to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s documentary, The CalaisJungle, City of Dreams and Lost Hopes, Gordon said, “In light of the increasing official violence directed at refugees fleeing war zones to countries such as France,  in the face of fear and hate mongering from certain media syndicates, so-called conservative politicians, and ultimately, neo Nazi groups – even here in Canada, I think it is important for everybody to experience what it means to have to flee absolute devastation, dispossession, destitution, only to face violent hostility and rejection in Europe.” Gordon continued, “I think as Canadians who have extended a warm welcome people fleeing such tragedies, we should be proud, while also providing the public – particularly those falling prey to fear-inducing diatribes - with the opportunity to FEEL the refugee experience. The best way we can, is through virtual reality.”

Gordon continued, “I was delighted at British virtual reality specialist Neil Bell’s production of Migrant’s Journey, and even more so, at Mr. Bell’s willingness to contribute this most important virtual reality piece to the Montreal International Animation Film Festival” She added, I think that the crisis is of such big proportions, the refugees’ plight so tragic, that I am very happy to b teaming up with the International Committee of the Red Cross’ Montreal branch, as well as certain Syrian outreach community organizations in order to both, showcase what a refugee family experiences, AND to fundraise in order to help people in such distress.”

In addition to Migrant’s Journey, the MIAFF’s partnership with the ICRC extends to the showcasing of the film, Junod, about [Swiss] Dr. Marcel Junod’s heroic provision of medical relief to Hiroshima in the wake of that cit’s destruction by nuclear bombing.

Junod receiving Animation that matters award in cannes

Migrant Journey’s premier, and associated fundraiser is set for August 19^th, but the installation whereby anyone wanting to experience it, will be able to do so until 6 p.m. on Sunday, August 20^th.

Japanese Americans, with a population in excess of 1.4 million, are an important part of the fastest-growing multi-cultural segment of the Asian American population and share with the other Asian-American groups high educational achievements and the highest mean household income($90,000 in 2017). Japanese Americans have strong ties with their cultural heritage as expressed by their access to Japanese films through digital media in the United Sates. They are not, however, as well presented in theatrical distribution.  Data from Mojo covering 417 foreign language films with a box office of 1 million or more from 1980 – 2017 lists four Japanese films (Shall We Dance 1977, Kagemusha 1980, Departure 2009, The Blind Swordsman 2004), whereas Chinese language films, films from India and productions from France and Germany scored higher in theatrical distribution. Films from China and India do best by far outranking France and Germany.  The Japan External Trade Organization emphasizes in an overview of Japanese Film and Television that the content of Japanese productions influence the American entertainment industry through adaptations (Godzilla), source material from manga (Edge of Tomorrow), acquisition of rights to popular Japanese bestselling stories and live action content. Netflix is identified as an active player.  Whereas Japan’s films do not play a dominant role in the United States, the Japanese market is important for American productions since Japan is the 3^rd largest global film market after North America and China. In 2014 615 Japanese and 569 imported films were released generating a box office of $1.9 billion. Since 2008 more Japanese than foreign films have been shown each year yet US films retain their leading position. Of the 15 most popular films last year, ten were American.

Japan Cuts presented this year its 11^th edition from July 13-23, a program including 28 feature films and 6 shorts. None of the films had been shown before in New York City and 13 were international and North American premieres. An enthusiastic audience took advantage of a rare opportunity to encounter the best and boldest new Japanese cinema enhanced by long Q&A sessions for each production with participating directors, actors and special guests.  Several parties completed the viewing experience and a relatively large part of the audience had attended earlier editions of Japan Cuts and proved familiar with the Japanese visual culture and language.  The 2017 Cut Above Award for Outstanding Performance in Film was presented to Joe Odagiri the “remarkably talented box office golden boy and matinee idol of Japan”.

The 2017 Japan Cuts selection covered a broad range of themes and issues reflecting the complex layers of Japanese culture and the evolving identities as well as recuperating relevant stories from the past. Old master filmmakers such as Kiyoshi Kurosawa and Sion Sono presented their latest films tackling issues of anxiety and the supernatural and the subversion of the Japanese pornographic genre. Other features dealt with the complicated Japan US relationship and the quest for an LGBTQ identity in an oppressive urban environment. In the Classics: Rediscoveries and Restauration rarely screened productions were presented like The Ondekoza by Tai Kato, Once Upon a Time by Kei Shichiri and a gem of avant-garde cinema Sijun Suzuki’s Zigeunerweisen. The documentary section focused on Japanese Americans in WWII internment camps, dolphin hunting in Taji and idol culture in Japan. Two features in Experimental Spotlight explored cinematic forms and an unconventional impressionistic take on fantasy, memory and reality. The Short showcase by new and established film makers  was devoted to a  sexual triangle between a couple and a male lover and its absurd climax, the conflicts experienced by a production intern, an encounter of a white color obsessed t-shirt wearer with a contract killer, and the chase of an asthmatic young man after his deceased boyfriend’s ghost.

The festival was curated by Aiko Masubuchi, Kazu Watanabe, and Joel Neville Anderson who note that, ”…  JAPAN CUTS reveals a cinema contending with crisis and breaking boundaries of form and content, complicating   traditional gender roles and sexuality, addressing traumas of war and racism, uncovering buried histories, and revealing the potential for social resistance”

Daguerrotype, Kiyashi Kurosawa, France 2016 

As an international coproduction produced in France and co-funded by the European arte consortium Daguerreotype is for the festival program an unusual film. It is a French language thriller subtitled in English with a Japanese director and European actors. An established fashion photographer Stephane is obsessed with the daguerreotype process and with the image of his wife who killed herself. Their daughter Marie looks like his wife and he gets her image close to perfection in hour long sessions, as if to give immortality to his wife. A young assistant. Jean, helps but falls in love with Marie and designs a plot to sell Stephan’s house and elope with Marie, a plot with disastrous consequences for all evolved.  Supernatural elements such as Stephan’s visions of his deceased wife and the disappearance of Marie add tensions to this superbly executed thriller.

At the Terrace, Kenji Yamauchi, Japan, 2016

A night-time party is given by a company director and his wife for some friends and employees. Reminiscent of a piece of theater the action is confined to the terrace of the director’s home.  Rapid verbal exchanges between the guests and the hosts soon reveal characters hidden behind their normal appearance and socially expected behavior.  Keeping the action to one place with one set only and restricting it to seven actors permits revealing hidden motivations and desires. The result is a comedy with sarcastic overtones. We learn about sexual desires, the interest in the wives of others, rivalries, embarrassing and shaming behavior, secrets of the hosting couple as revealed by their son Teruo who is also attracted to the wife, of one guest, and homosexual desires by two men known to be straight otherwise. Hosts and guests consume more liquor and the social rituals, stratification and masks they adhere too in everyday behavior are abandoned. The unmasking and abandon of constraints so typical for Japanese society is convincingly conveyed by the performance of the seven actors.

Over the Fence, Nobuhiro Yamashita, 2016 

Introduced by Joe Odagiri who also plays the principle male role the film received the Tama Cinema Award for best film and best actor (Joe Odagiri) and best actress (Yu Aoi). Over the Fence is an accomplished character study of individuals living at the fringes of society and set in the decaying northern port city of Hakodate, a small city.  Unemployed Shiraiwa joins a vocational carpentry program to ensure getting continued unemployment benefits and meets numerous other young trainees facing the same condition. Recently divorced he left wife and a young child. He lives by himself and seems introverted and withdrawn. Through a co-worker he meets Satoshi, who seems to be his opposite. She is temperamental, extroverted and prone to emotional outburst. She works in a bar and has a job taking care of small animals in a zoo with a special sentiment for birds. No matter what the location may be, she enacts the animals’ behavior imitating mostly birds.  In spite of their differences they are drawn to each other.  Yoshio stays reserved not openly showing emotions while Satoshi seems unable to control hers. Both have insecurities and have been damaged by past experiences. Yoshio is traumatized by his marital experience and is beset by guilt and Satochi is distrustful of those close to her. Over the Fence is an outstanding example of minimalistic Japanese film making.

Claus Mueller

filmexchange@gmail.com

Pardo d'oro to MRS. FANG by WANG Bing © Locarno Festival

The 2017 edition, the fifth under Carlo Chatrian as artistic director, has ended successfully and has been crowned by the Pardo d’oro for the film MRS. FANG directed by WANG Bing.

261 films in 11 days, 16 under the open sky in the Piazza Grande and 18 in the Concorso internazionale. Among great guests attending this year feature unforgettable greetings to the Piazza by Todd Haynes and by Jean–Marie Straub, the toast by Mathieu Kassovitz, Michel Merkt’s roar and a touched Adrien Brody. José Luis Alcaine, Nastassja Kinski, Aleksander Sokurov have also appeared along with them on stage for the section dedicated to Locarno70 and the Premio Cinema Ticino awarded to Esmé Sciaroni.

Tributes to great artists who have passed on, such as Jeanne Moreau, Hans Hurch and George Romero, have not been forgotten.

In the context of this evening’s Award ceremony on the Piazza Grande, it was announced that the Prix Public UBS is awarded to THE BIG SICK, by Michael Showalter.

Carlo Chatrian, Artistic Director: ”Locarno70 is about to end, and the first provisional assessment is positive. The magical moments that characterised the evenings on the Piazza Grande have been many, just like the guests who offered the public precious moments, or the films that occasioned a full house, or the proposals which aroused interest in the press and professionals. Locarno has confirmed itself as a hub for discerning what direction the currents of independent cinema are taking, but also as a meeting venue between those who create cinema and those who enjoy it, between those who come from very far away and those who on the other hand represent a territory. Seeing the queues outside the new PalaCinema, or the GranRex cinema packed in every one of its rows for a retrospective which has hit its target, fills us with joy and makes us look towards the future with optimism.”

Mario Timbal, Chief Operating Officer: “According to our intentions, this edition wished to be both a celebration for the seventieth anniversary and a springboard for the next years of the Festival at the same time. The rising attendance and the many positive feed-backs we received clearly indicate that our targets have been met. The new screening rooms have consolidated the basic infrastructure of the event, and the meeting areas and many collateral events have demonstrated a great potential which can be developed further over the coming years, allowing the Festival to look confidently towards the future.”

The Awards PDF may be downloaded here.

The evening on the Piazza Grande will end with the official awards and the screening of the closing film GOTTHARD – ONE LIFE, ONE SOUL by Kevin Merz.

The 71st Locarno Festival will take place from 1 to 11 August 2018.

The Schedule

FILM LISTINGS 

SHORTS

EXPERIMENTAL

FEATURES

VIRTUAL REALITY 360º

 JUNOD

  INTERNATIONAL STUDENT FILMS

PANELS 

NETWORKING INDUSTRY & PITCH

Virtual Reality Installations

Virtual Reality (VR) 360º Films 

Garden
by Daniel & David Holechek
USA
2:08

A young woman browsing through an art gallery makes a connection and unlocks a stunning world inside of her imagination.
Garden blends fully stereoscopic live action and CG environments to create an imaginative and immersive VR short film experience. The film explores what it means to connect to a piece of art, in a way that that is unique to the virtual reality medium.

The Holechek brothers are veteran filmmakers and mixed media producers who have won awards such as the CINE Master’s Series Award, The Heartland Film Society Crystal Heart Award and from major competitons. Their film careers began in 2008, helming the Peacearch and A&E IndieFilms feature “305,” the first ever feature whose source material was based on a viral video. In 2010 the brothers formed Duality Filmworks which is a multifaceted production company. In 2014 Duality Filmworks co-produced “Ragamuffin,” a biopic based on the life of renowned singer/songwriter Rich Mullins. The twins produced and directed the short “A Finger, Two Dots Then Me” which has screened at over 80 film festivals around the world and won over 35 awards. Daniel and David currently serve as the Heads of Production and Post Production at oVRture, a virtual reality production company.

Melody of Life
by Melissa Schoeller
USA
6:49

Melody of Life is a 360-degree animated short that tells the story of the search for identity through cultural music and dance.

No artist biography.

Micro Giants
by Xiaodai Wang
China
6:08

Microgiants tells the story of insects and plants in microecosystem with vivid detail and elaborate design. 360 animation brings the secret world in forests and under grass back to life. The world is magnified by hundreds to thousands of time and presented to audience through VR. Insects, leaves and drops, in meticulous details, paint a spectacular picture.

No artist biography.

360° Gladiators in the Colosseum (VR)
by Philipp Clermont
Germany
9:27

Rome: 80 AD. You are standing in the arena of the extravagantly decorated Colosseum surrounded by 50,000 cheering spectators.
You witness a bitter fight between two gladiators directly in front of you. This is a fight to the death: you are in the middle of it.
This VR-film brings a never before seen intensity to the extravagance, emotion, but also brutality of the Roman world.
Through an in-house developed camera system for capturing live footage, the viewer can not only experience the virtual world in 360° and stereo 3D, but also surround himself with live actors in a fashion yet to be experienced in VR. A very intense and visceral experience.

No artist biography.

Snowball (360° + 3D sound)
by Amaury Campion & Campion Cerles
France
2:00

The snow is falling, it’s cold. A gruff lumberjack goes to cut wood for the winter.
But living in this environment is not without consequences.

No artist biography.

Voices of a Fugue
by Theodore Allen
USA
5:16

Inspired by Bach’s Fugue in G minor, BWV 578 – this experimental music video explores the parts and the whole in an abstract 360 VR experience. This music video also demonstrates motivated 360 audience ‘guidance’ as well as seamless transitions.

Theodore Allen is an award winning filmmaker based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has worked for the past ten years as a cinematographer, editor, and director on projects all around the world. In an ever changing media world he quickly adapts to new digital technology, but never forgets the essentials of traditional film-making. When not working commercially, he dedicates much of his time to working for non-profit organizations. Using his creative and technical abilities, he strives to promote positivity in the media, telling real stories about human compassion and adversity.

DO NOT Push The Red Button!
by Peter Spence
Norway
1:45

If you’re planning on playing an annoying concertina solo and a large robot arm puts a red button in front of you, DO NOT push it. Particularly if you’re a small, animated, red blob named Stig. It could potentially set off a Rube Goldberg machine resulting in dominoes falling, balls rolling, anvils crashing, and a very flattening finale.

Peter Spence was born in the UK and studied at the internationally renowned Falmouth College of Arts. He moved to Norway in 1999 where he set up his company Putty Studios, and has been working in the film and television industry since. Notable productions include his first short animation film “Remote Descendants” which won a Royal Television Society award, his Amanda-winning work on the series of “Knerten” films as Visual Effects Supervisor, and the internationally successful television shows “DAG” and “Lilyhammer”.

Ninja 360° Attack
by Chon-Dat Nguyen
Germany
3:43

In this short film an angry stranger summons a dozen ninjas who proceeds to attack the protagonist, however a mysterious samurai decides to get involved.

Chon-Dat Nguyen was born in Bielefeld, Germany on July 13 1987. He did a 1 year internship in 2010 at ‘Vogelsänger Film’ in Düsseldorf.   Afterwards he started his vocational training at ‘Bavaria Film’ in Munich. He completed his 3 years of training and is a qualified Audio-Visual Media Designer since July 2014. Now he’s a Motion Graphic Artist at the Bavaria Film in Munich.

The story of film in Melbourne could not be written without MIFF.

MIFF is a not-for-profit organisation that has been continuously running since 1952, making it the leading film festival in Australia and one of the world’s oldest film festivals, alongside Cannes and Berlin. Presenting a curated global program of innovative screen experiences and the world’s largest showcase of exceptional Australian filmmaking, MIFF is an accessible, iconic cultural event that provides transformative experiences for audiences and filmmakers alike.

MIFF is an Australian cultural icon which has had an essential role in putting Melbourne on the national and international cultural map. It has also been a key player in building a sense of community and connectedness in Melbourne. The festival has an innate appreciation of its famously loyal audience, all of whom come to MIFF for bold, entertaining and adventurous programming, the delight of the shared festival experience, and to discover something new about themselves, or the world around them.

The Melbourne International Film Festival’s vision for the future builds on MIFF’s role at the centre of Melbourne’s cultural life and in particular its success in generating both social and economic capital for Melbourne and Victoria. Complementing MIFF’s highly anticipated festival program is MIFF's renowned industry program that includes an investment fund (the Premiere Fund) and the director's development program (Accelerator). MIFF's finance market (37°South) brings the national and international screen industry to Melbourne during the festival and celebrates Melbourne as a centre for screen business. MIFF also supports emerging arts and culture writers through its annual Critics Campus program, and takes the film festival experience to regional Victoria through the MIFF Travelling Showcase.

MIFF will continue to innovate and build on its decades of achievements to ensure that Melbourne remains the cultural capital of Australia, and that MIFF continues to be Australia’s largest and most significant film festival in terms of international profile, audience size, the quality and breadth of its festival and industry programs.

The festival will include full-length and short film competition program, out-of-competition screenings, business forum of film and media content, sport events and meetings with Russian and foreign cinema and sport celebrities. 

All events of BRIDGE of ARTS are aimed at building creative environment that will allow participants to contribute to film industry development, learn about new film content creation and feel the vibes of the Russian southern capital. Both tourists and viewers will have a chance to attend spectacular events. Film lovers will be offered a unique selection of motivational films.  

Jury for the BRIDGE of ARTS:

Roger Christian (Canada), director, scriptwriter, producer, set decorator will preside over the jury of the upcoming III International Motivational Film Festival BRIDGE of ARTS. 

Jurors will also include Milcho Manchevski, a director, screenwriter (Macedonia-USA), an actress Maria Golubkina (Russia), producers Nick Powell (Great Britain) and Massimo Cristaldi (Italy). 

Press release III International Motivational Film and Sport Festival BRIDGE of ARTS you can find in the attachment.

Visual materials (image poster, logo, photos): https://drive.google.com/open?id=0By__4jc0AFNCQjFKcTJWamVpRUE

For more information and upcoming film screenings visit official site www.imff.ru 
and social networking groups:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bridgeofarts/?pnref=story
Vkontakte: https://vk.com/bridge_of_arts            
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bridge_of_arts_2017/

III International Motivational Film and Sport Festival BRIDGE of ARTS, which will take place at Rostov-on-Don from 23 till 27 August 2017, announced full-length films competition program. The program consists of films produced only in 2017. Filmmakers out of 11 countries will compete for the main prize.

Main competition program includes 10 films produced in 2017, 6 of them will be screened in Russia for the first time. Two Russian films and those produced in France, Slovakia (co-production), Czech Republic, Mexico, Spain, Germany, Italy, Brazil, Iran and Japan constitute the program.

«Films differ from each other in their storytelling, genre and director’s vision, but all of them make up a complex pattern of a kaleidoscope symbolizing modern outlook on life, people’s self-identification, expectations of miracles and ways of achieving their goals. Italian senior citizens, a German lad and a Russian women’s facility guard inspire viewers not to give up and to live up to the hilt. The power for creation is always within ourselves and the film selection is aimed to remind viewers about it and motivate them», – Elena Larionova, program director of BRIDGE of ARTS stated.

Competition screenings will take place on 24-27 August. Roger Christian (Canada), director, scriptwriter, producer and set decorator, will preside over the main competition jury. Director Milcho Manchevski (Macedonia, USA), actress Maria Golubkina (Russia), producers Nick Powell (United Kingdom) and Massimo Cristaldi (Italy) will be jurors.

During the festival, the stars of world and Russian cinema will visit Rostov-on-don: French actors Samy Naceri ("Taxi", "Taxi 2", "Taxi 3", "Patriots", "Free fall", "Regret") and Salim ("Adele’s Life ", "Criminal lovers", etc.), Oleg Taktarov, Kirill Pletnev, Elena Zakharova, Fedor Dobronravov, Agniya Kuznetsova, Maria Golubkina, Evklid Kyurdzidis, Irina Bezrukova, Dmitry Dibrov and others.

Besides the main competition III International Motivational Film and Sport Festival BRIDGE of ARTS will feature two more competition programs: Short Film Competition and Travel and Tourism Film Competition «Russia Inspires!». Non-competition screenings are categorized into several programs: «World cinema», «Documentary films» (supported by WWF Russia), «Retro», «Family films», «Short film nights». A five-day festival will include 109 screenings.

Short Film Competition comprises 14 films: 4 from Russia, the rest from Indonesia, Hungary, Jordan, China, Egypt, Israel, France, USA, Japan. 20 films will constitute non-competition program. Detailed program will be announced on 27 July.

Russian National Travel and Tourism Film Competition «Russia Inspires!» will award the best films in the following categories: «Region», «Landmark», «Event», «Impression», «Location» and «Year of Ecology». The selection committee watched over 180 films out of 48 regions of Russia. 36 films out of 28 regions became finalists.

Non-competition Short Film Program is run in partnership with World Wildlife Fund. Viewers will be offered three films produced in 2016-2017. They are depicting vital issues of wild nature protection in France, Russia, Spain-Germany-United Kingdom (joint project). For instance, Russian film «Tigers and Humans» produced by Sergey Yastrzhembsky is selected for VII Environmental Film Festival which will take place in New York on 19-29 October, 2017.

Retro Films Program of 2017 is marked by leading filmmakers – Milcho Manchevski and Roger Christian. Legendary award-winning professionals agreed not only to be jurors but also to motivate and inspire attendees sharing their personal success stories. So, for example, Roger Christian will show his iconic film Nostradamus and Milcho Manchevski will present Before the Rain which is ranked by New York Times as one of 1000 best films ever made. The latter received Oscar nomination in Best Foreign Language Film category and won multiple awards in Venice and got Warsaw IFF prize.

Family Films Program is essential for the festival. It will be accompanied by numerous social events held by BRIDGE of ARTS. Matinees will include four films: Tale About a Magical Pencil (Russia), Angel of the Lord (Czech Republic), animation film Throne of Elves (USA, China) and Retter Raffi! (Germany). The latter is considered one of the best children’s films in Germany and it was selected for about 30 international film festivals.

Non-competition Full-length Program will include best works of 2016-2017 that were not selected into the competition program for various reasons but are really worthy. Many of them will be event films of BRIDGE of ARTS. «World Cinema» program will feature 20 films from Europe, Asia and North America. Some Russian films will be premiered here. For example, world premiere of Romans starring Orlando Bloom took place on 20 July and Rostov will be the first Russian city to screen it. Lumière! by Thierry Frémaux, director of the Cannes Film Festival and the Institute Lumière, will be also screened at the festival. Frémaux unique project united 108 restored short films of Auguste and Louis Lumière. Film about a legendary football player Pelè, Berlinale award-winning On Body and Soul (2017) by a famous Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki and The Other Side of Hope will also be a part of the program.

Last Wednesday, 19 July, festival forum organizing committee held a meeting. It was announced that festival programming team had prepared 20 various events, 10 film events and 25 unique screenings. Business forum is an essential constituent of the festival. It will include film economics discussions, BRIDGE of ARTS Film School and a series of pitchings. Hockey match «Healthy nation» and celebrity football game in Azov will be played within the frameworks of sport program. Final festival day will be devoted to a big children’s film event with celebrities’ participation held in Rostov-on-Don and to a beautiful performance «Umbrella morning» honoring legendary Faina Ranevskaya in Taganrog.

 – The festival has excellent development dynamics that is a clear evidence of professional collaboration, deputy chairman of organizing committee BRIDGE of ARTS 2017, deputy governor Igor Guskov said in a statement. Every year the festival is attracting more and more guests and becomes a professional platform for industry-experienced filmmakers. BRIDGE of ARTS promotes Rostov region transformation into a cultural, art and sport center. As previously reported, the festival’s budget equaled 67 million roubles, 10 million come from local budget and the rest come from off-budget sources.

BRIDGE of ARTS 2017 full-length film competition program includes:

White Nights

Russia, 2017

Directors: Tatyana Voronetskaya, Andrey Bogatyrev
Scriptwriters: Vyacheslav Durnenkov, Andrey Bogatyrev, Tatyana Voronetskaya

Producer: Tatayana Voronetskaya
DoP: Sergey Baskoev
Cast: Olga Stashkevich, Dmitry Sergin, Andrey Bogatyrev, Vyacheslav Shihalev, Victor Tihomirov

Film is based on the similarly named novel of Fyodor Dostoevsky. Petersburg alongside with main characters becomes a participant of events. Petersburg streets bring together a humble lonely dreamer and a sophisticated romantic girl. The film shows four white nights of love, Petersburg and Dostoevsky. Everything becomes silent in anticipation of miracle.

Survival Family

Japan, 2017

Director: Shinobu Yaguchi

Scriptwriter: Shinobu Yaguchi

Producers: Takashi Ishihara, Minami Ichikawa, Kiyoshi Nagai

Music: Takashi Nomura

Cast: Wakana Aoi, Masashi Arifuku, Fumiyo Kohinata, Yuki Izumisawa, Eri Fukatsu

At first sight Survival Family joins the chain of apocalyptic narratives. The film starts with a horrifying power outage. All electrical devices stop functioning. Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is in ruins and life has drastically changed. Head of the family, Fumiyo Kohinata, makes a decision to evacuate his family to his native town of Kagoshima. This is when the director’s talent of humorous storytelling reveals itself. Yaguchi makes fun of his characters but at the same time together with viewers he feels affection and compassion. Shinobu Yaguchi ridicules absurdity of urban civilization and criticizes modern people unpracticality.

Zhgi! (Rock it!)

Russia, 2017

Director: Kirill Pletnev

Scriptwriter: Kirill Pletnev

Producers: Ruben Dishdiyan, Vadim Goryainov

DoP: Sergey Mikhalchuk

Cast: Inga Oboldina, Victoria Isakova, Anna Ukolova, Vladimir Ilin, Alexey Shevchenko and others.

Alevtina Romanova is a women's facility guard. She looks correspondently strict but her opera-like voice ruins her austere image. She gave up the idea of becoming a singer in her childhood and now she sings only for herself. Romashka (the nickname given by her friends) tried to sing secretively but one inmate manages to record her singing on her phone and upload it to the Internet. Video becomes a sensation. Alevtina is invited to Moscow to partake in the main national vocal competition. The character is delighted at the perspective but is not ready for the competition. The only person who lends her a helping hand is the inmate who recorded her voice, she used to be a singer herself.

YELLOW

Iran, 2017

Director: Moastafa Taghizadeh

Scriptwriter: Moastafa Taghizadeh

Producer: Kamran Madjidi

Cast: Bahram Radan, Sareh Bayat, Mehrdad Sedighian, Bahareh Kian Afshar, Shahram Haghighat Doust and others

Shahab, Nahal, Khamed, Faramarz and Niki are young, talented scientists trying to immigrate from Iran to Europe to continue their research. They have ideas, plans and perspectives. But a few days before their trip Khamed was down with serious disease. He needs urgent organ transplantation. The friends face a challenge whether to give up their idea and save a life or not. What is more precious a life-long dream or a life? As the situation develops main characters reveal their inner self and make their most important choice in life.

This is a drama about people’s relations, goals and their achievement. This film poses a question: what each of us would do and choose if we were in the Iranian scientists’ place?

LIVE FOR ME

Mexico, Spain, 2017

Director: Chema de la Peña

Scriptwriters: Chema de la Peña, Juan Manuel Romero, Enrique Urbizu

Producers: Rafael Cuervo, Alejandra Cárdenas

Music: Miguel Marín

DoP: Alberto Anaya Adalid

Cast: Margarita Rosa de Francisco, Martha Higareda, Tenoch Huerta, Tiaré Scanda, Rafael Inclán, Juan Manuel Bernal

One night a young man dies in a car crash. In several hours Ana, Valentina and Chayo receive a phone call. They are informed about a long-awaited donor emergence and they get thrilled at the idea of prospective transplantation. Characters get acquainted and attached to each other because common grief is a unifying factor. But they have to face the fact that only one of them will get a transplant. Who will become the lucky one? Will the rest be able to share joy? Chema de la Peña Live for Me depicts characters inner conflict and considerations.

JOAO – O MAESTRO

Brazil, 2017

Director: Mauro Lima

Scriptwriter: Mauro Lima

Producers: Paula Barreto, Rômulo Marinho Jr.

DoF: Paulo Vainer
Cast: Alexandre Nero, Davi Campolongo, João Pedro Germano, Rodrigo Pandolfo, João Carlos Martins, Giulio Lopes
 

This film is based on Joao Carlos Martins true story. The pianist had poor health and spent most of his childhood in isolation. Piano was his embodiment of the world. Love and fame come to the young virtuoso. Trauma received during a game of football ruins his perfect career. His beloved dies. His whole life falls apart but the character keeps fighting and becomes a left-handed pianist. His left hand tumour is shocking but eventually leads to the characters’ rebirth into a director.

ICE MOTHER

Czech Republic, Slovakia, France, 2017

Director: Bohdan Sláma

Scriptwriter: Bohdan Sláma

Producers: Pavel Strnad, Petr Oukropec

Music: Michal Holubec, Marek Piaček

DoP: Divis Marek

Cast: Zuzana Kronerová, Pavel Nový, Daniel Vízek, Václav Neužil, Tatiana Vilhelmová and others.

67-year-old Hana is the heart and soul of family that gathers weekly for dinner. Hana’s husband died several years ago and she started taking care of the house on her own. She looks after grandchildren and support her sons with money.

Same routine lasted for decades. Hana has some household problems but her children are too busy to help her. Having a walk with her grandchild she notices a drowning man and she pulls him out of icy water. This unexpected encounter changes her life completely. Hana falls in love with the saved man but this fact displeases her sons. But the mother knows what she needs.

MY BLIND DATE WITH LIFE

Germany, 2017

Director: Marc Rothemund

Scriptwriters: Oliver Ziegenbalg, Ruth Toma, Saliya Kahawatte

Producers: Yoko Higuchi-Zitzmann, Tanja Ziegler, Stefan Gärtner

Music: Michael Geldreich, Jean-Christopher Ritter

DoP: Bernhard Jasper

Cast: Kosja Ullman, Nilam Farooq, Anna Maria Mühe, Rouven Blessing, Ludger Pistor

Young and optimistic Saliya dreams of joining a team of a luxury hotel staff. He fits in perfectly: he is good-looking, well-educated and charming. But his poor eyesight is a hindrance. But such drawback can’t stop him from getting his dream job. He manages to conceal this fact during an interview. Innate optimism and a close friend help him overcome difficulties and unveil a new world. He travels, does sports and leads a life unachievable for many well-sighted people. This film is based on a true story.

NOSOTROS

Spain, 2017

Director: Felipe Vara de Rey

Scriptwriter: Hugo Mas, Felipe Vara de Rey

Producers: Rafael Alberola Rubio, Carmen Alonso, Guillermo Benet

PoP: Federico Cesca

Music: Victor Magro

Production designer: Miguel de Cruz, Gema Siveroni

Cast: Antonio Mayans, Felipe Vara de Rey, Andres Lima, Antonio de Cos, Juli Mira and others

Spain of December 2015, Nosatros’s setting, is suffering from a severe political and economic crisis. Five days are left before the presidential elections; citizens’ votes will determine the country’s destiny. But prospective voters are busy with their own matters. One character got entangled into his daily routine, the other is fighting with his ex-wife for his daughter and one of them can’t accept the reality of his parents’ aging. Presidential elections are as important as their life and relationships. The five friends meet together on the election weekend and voice their decisions: «I don’t know what is going on. None of us does. It is fear. – Sara, I have never seen you scared. – But I was. We all know that feeling. That’s why we are waiting for something to happen. Maybe we should quit waiting? …»

IL CRIMINE NON VA IN PENSIONE

Italy, 2017

Director: Fabio Fulco

Scriptwriter: Fabrizio Quadroli

Producers: Claudio Bucci, John Cesaroni

Music: Franco Eco

DoP: Dario Germani

Cast: Stefania Sandrelli, Orso Maria Guerrini, Ivano Marescotti, Gianmarco D’Angelo, Ivano Marescotti, Gianmarco Tognazzi, Maurizio Mattioli

Residents of Santa Margarita retirement home decide to help their friend who lost all her savings in a flash. They plan to …rob a Bingo club. Senior criminals’ gang is well-organized and careful. But their plan went wrong because of contingence. The editorial debut of Fabio Fulco is filled with warm sense of humour.

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III International Motivational Film and Sport Festival BRIDGE of ARTS will take place in Rostov-on-Don on 23-27 August, 2017. Festival will feature competition and non-competition screenings and Business Forum of film and media content. Special project of BRIDGE of ARTS 2017 Russian National Tourism and Travel Film Competition «Russia Inspires!» will be conducted within the festival’s framework.

II International Motivational Film and Sport Festival BRIDGE of ARTS 2016 received the grand prize at RussianEventAwards 2016 in category «Best tourist event dedicated to the Year of Cinema» and became a laureate at RussianOpenEventExpo 2016, Russian national event tourism competition, in «Innovative event project» category.

The festival’s organizing committee announced that French and American actor, Highlander star, Christopher Lambert will become a special guest of the III International Motivational Film and Sport Festival BRIDGE of ARTS.

Christopher Lambert is French and American actor and producer. In 1986 he received César Award for his role in Subway by Luc Besson.  Lamberts’ film credits include over 40 movies. Among them are Why Me?, Arlette, psychological and intellectual films The Sicilian, To Kill a Priest and others. But he is best known for Fortress, Mortal Kombat, Mean Guns and others.  Highlander became his career climax where the actor starred as immortal Connor Mcleod. Co-starring Lambert and Sean Connery, storyline, skillful directing and «Queen» music amazed the world audience.  

The special BRIDGE of ARTS 2017 guest actively participates in multiple TV and film projects. A Claude Lelouch philosophical comedy Chacun sa vie starring the actor premiered this spring. In 2018 Christopher Lambert will appear in Bel Canto based on Ann Patchett's similarly-named book. He also partook in Russian projects such as Mata Hari serial and drama Sobibor by Andrey Malykhov which will be released in May, 2018.

The actor does sports, goes in for tennis and diving. He will join press events, business forum roundtables and autograph sessions of the III International Motivational Film and Sport Festival BRIDGE of ARTS.

- BRIDGE of ARTS this year will host wonderful guests, one of them is Christopher Lambert. It is great honour for us and the marker of BRIDGE of ARTS growing prestige. Christopher Lambert starred in several Russian features, he knows and loves our country that is why he will not only be an invited star but will be engaged as a film industry expert. We are sure that Rostov-on-Don will always stay in Christopher Lambert’s memory, - Fyodor Krat, BRIDGE of ARTS general producer said about the world star’s participation.

Russian and world film stars’ visits were  previously announced by the festival programmers. Samy Naceri (France, known for Taxi, Taxi 2, Taxi 3, Indigenes, L'aîné des Ferchaux, La repentie), Kirill Plentnyov, Elena Zaharova, Fyodor Dobronravov, Agnia Kuznetsova, Evklid Kurdzidis, Irina Bezrukova, Dmitry Dibrov and other stars will come to Rostov-on-Don.  Main competition program comprises ten films produced in 2017, six of them will be premiered in Russia. Two Russian features entered into the program, the rest are form Belgium, Brazil, Germany, Iran, Spain, Italy, Slovakia, France, Czech Republic and Japan.

Screenings will take place on August, 24-27. Main competition jury foreman is Rodger Christian (Canada). Milcho Manchevski, director, scriptwriter (Macedonia-USA), actress Maria Golubkina (Russia), producers Nick Powell (UK) and Massimo Christaldi (Italy) will join the jury.

Along with main competition the III International Motivational Film and Sport Festival BRIDGE of ARTS will feature two more programs: short film competition and tourism and travel film competition. Non-competition screenings are composed of different programs: «World Films», «Documentary Films» (in cooperation with WWF Russia), «Retro», «Family Films», «Short Film Nights». 119 films will be screened during the five-day event.

Short film program comprises 20 films. Four pictures are from Russia and the rest were produced in Indonesia, Hungary, Germany, Jordan, China, Egypt, Israel, USA, Japan, Greece, Italy, Korea. 22 more films will be screened in non-competition program. 

Russian national Tourism and Travel Film Competition «Russia Inspires!» will choose the best works in  «Region», «Landmark», «Event», «Impression», «Location» and «Year of Ecology» nominations. The selective committee reviewed about 180 films form 48 Russian Federation regions and chose 36 finalists out of 28 regions.

Non-competition documentary film program is supported by World Wildlife Fund.  Three films produced in 2016–2017 (France, Russia, Spain-Germany-UK) depicting vital issues of environmental protection will be presented to the audience. So Tigers and Humans by Sergey Yastrzhembsky entered into VII Environmental Film Festival that will be running through 19 to 29 October, 2017 in New York.

Retrospective screening program is tightly connected with two main competition jurors of BRIDGE of ARTS 2017 – Milcho Manchevski and Roger Christian. Legendary filmmakers and award-winning directors will not only judge this time. They are ready to tell what hardships they came through to reach the tsars of the world film industry. So, for example, jury foreman Roger Christian will bring a world classic Nostradamus and Micho Manchevsky will present Before the Rain. The New York Times listed the latter as one of 1000 best films ever made, it got Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Film and received numerous awards in Vienna and got a prize at Warsaw IFF.

Family films are of special importance for the festival. An array of BRIDGE of ARTS social initiatives will be centered around them. Matinees will offer four films: Tale About a Magical Pencil (Russia), Angel of the Lord (Czech Republic), The Battle of the Drones (China-USA) and My Friend Raffi (Germany).

 Non-competition program will feature best films of 2016–2017, that for certain reasons did not join the competition are worth presenting at BRIDGE of ARTS, many of them will become event films.  «World Films» program unites 20 films form Europe, Asia, North America and Russia. Lumière! by Tierry Frèmaux, director of the Institute Lumière and Cannes Film Festival. In his unique project Frèmaux united 108 restored short films of Louis and Auguste Lumière. The film about legendary Pele, Berlinale-winner On Body and Soul, new film (2017) The other Side of Hope by famous Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki and many other will be screened.

As previously reported the festival will feature 20 various events, 10 film events, 25 unique screenings. Special attention is drawn to business forum where economics and film industry issues will be raised. BRIDGE of ARTS film school and a series of pitching will await their attendees. Hockey match «Healthy nation» and celebrity football game held in Azov are dedicated to sports promotion. The final festival day will feature a big children’s event in Rostov-on-Don and a beautiful performance «Umbrella Morning» celebrating the birthday of legendary actress Faina Ranevskaya in Taganrog. 

***

III International Motivational Film and Sport Festival BRIDGE of ARTS will take place in Rostov-on-Don, August 23–27. The festival will include full-length and short film competitions, non-competition screenings, business forum of film and media content. Russian National Tourism and Travel Competition «Russia Inspires! is a special project of BRIDGE of ARTS 2017.

You can get more information and up-coming event announcements at www.imff.ru
and via official social groups and mobile application.

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Who are we? Why are we here? Where are we going? How are we connected? What power do we have over it all? These are questions the human race has been asking for eons. Are we at a point in our evolution to find the answers? Come take a journey of inquiry, discovery and empowerment with us at the ILLUMINATE Film Festival Retreat in the verdant redwood forests of northern California.

Set aside 4 days in early October to immerse yourself in inspirational films, meaningful ceremonies, thoughtful discussions, healthy eating and serene personal time. Explore the miles of hiking trails and experience healing in nature. Connect with like-minded souls, and let's dive deep into these questions.

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At ILLUMINATE, we believe that the language of film is universal and a dynamic force in carrying messages to the masses, and to that end we strive to showcase the best of conscious media to uplift, inspire and transform - to raise awareness and human consciousness. To that end, we've designed this powerful program for you at the Retreat: