Chat Cinema talks to filmmakers Tom Berkeley and Ross White about their ROY. The duo give us insight on making the timely film starring David Bradley.
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Reaching Out
Tag: filmmakers
Stay tuned for the podcast conversations with the creative teams of some two acclaimed short features.
Femme 
Roy
For this episode of Chat Cinema, a conversation with Film Director Martin Strange-Hansen about his short film ON MY MIND. A personal story drawn from real life experience. The Danish work received a nomination in the Best Short Film category for the 94th Academy Awards.
One question asked, “how did he come with the one sheet tag line?” If you want to know the answer, click below.
The Academy Awards winners are announced on March 27th.
This episode of Chat Cinema talks to Danish multi-hyphenate Nicolaj Kopernikus about his work “Stenofonen”. The actor, director and writer explains his inspiration for a making a film based on a family story.
Stenofonen has been short listed for Oscar in the Best Short Fiction Film category.
I screened THE ISLAND for the International Film Festival Rotterdam. The description of the animated feature read “Non traditional storytelling”. I have to agree. Romanian filmmaker Anca Damian made a film with some outlandish scenes combined modern commentary.
A Black and Paper interview with Director Anca Damian.
What is the human condition of the story?
The film aims to go into depth of humanity: we are all on an island, even if it is a planet- is an island in the Universe – we are all reflecting into each other, we are searching for Paradise, we are all alone… So obviously we are somehow facing a kind of dead end to our civilization, so we have to search our human values, our connections to nature, in order to continue to be.
How did you you come up with the animation style?
I wanted the reality of the film to be immersive, so the space was developed in 3D, with added fluid elements developed in Houdini – the sea, the clouds. The concept was that everything that is man-made doesn’t integrate in the nature, so we have real textures for plastic, metal, fabric. The same texturing we applied also for the cloth of the characters that are in 2D.
In my concept, only what is made by nature remains painted.
Color wise everything is beautiful, like in a Hawaii holiday, but there is also some malaise, a sick feeling behind the chemical pink of the clouds and the green-blue of the sea.
Were you a fan of Robinson Crusoe?
I can’t say I am a fan of Robinson Crusoe; I am a fan of humankind; Exploring Robinson and Friday connection in a setup of nowadays, allowed me to explore a version of Robinson who has the best of intentions, but who is saving who, that’s another story.
The language of the film was playful, then dashing, did I get this right?
Yes, you got it right: the child in us is paying and telling the truth, I always listen to the child me, and keep him close. I wanted the audience will do the same, go in playful way straight forward to the so much needed truth.
The Island screens in The Big Screen Competition of the International Film Festival Rotterdam 2022.
Stay tuned for our podcasts with award winning directors on their works.
The International Film Festival Rotterdam starts on January 26th. There are some interesting works on the 50th anniversary slate.
Below are some titles we are looking forward to watching.
Black and Paper will attend the festival virtual. Stay tuned for the interviews and reviews.
IFFR runs from January 26th to February 6th.
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The Compellingly Divine
A seemingly straightforward two-hour documentary of Pope Francis, Francesco otherwise manages to compel. Directed by Evgeny Afineevsky, the film is noteworthy for mostly competent direction and production values.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1936. He is the first Pope to be born outside Europe since Gregory III (731–741). As the new Pope he took the name of Francis. His untimely succession to Pope Benedict XVI was the result of the former’s ill health. Francis was also following a conservative Pope with outspoken and often controversial values.
A Pope Who Questions the Institutional Status Quo
Francesco follows Fernando Meirelles’s dramatization The Two Popes (2019). Jonathan Pryce played Pope Francis, and Anthony Hopkins was Pope Benedict XVI. The Two Popes imagined a bromance of sorts between the outgoing conservative and incoming liberal. There was also Wim Wenders’ documentary Pope Francis: A Man of His Word (2018). This film lauded Francis’ concerns with issues such as the climate crisis, refugees and inequality. Likewise, Francesco shows he is an outspoken critic of unbridled capitalism and free market economics, consumerism, and over development. Since 2018, he has also been an opponent of populism. At the same time, he has welcomed tolerance for the LGBT community in the Church.
On the global stage, Pope Francis has helped to restore full diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba. He also supported the cause of refugees during the European and Central American migrant crises. Furthermore, he has tackled child abuse, particularly a case in Santiago, Chile. Juan Carlos Cruz wrote to the Pope detailing his abuse from Father Fernando Karadima. After initially dismissing this claim, Francis eventually defrocked Karadima and apologized to Cruz.
Francesco also remains respectably (or, perhaps, forcibly) distanced. At times it raises the question of how much the director had direct access to his subject. For example, included is some footage of Francis talking to someone off-camera. There are also excessive drone shots, and Francis only seemingly gives interviews to friends and colleagues.
On the whole, Francesco is a worthwhile and at times enigmatic portrait of Pope Francis. Despite occasional editing flaws and questionable one-sidedness, it opens a window on the head of the Catholic Church.
By Steve Yates
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Bentonville 2021 Picks
I have been covering the Bentonville Film Festival this year, virtual of course. Not being familiar with the event, perspective or type of works to expect, my expectations were toned down Celebrating Diversity, underrepresented storytellers is the Arkansas based fests theme. 75% of the films selected were made by women.
The 2021Winners:
Narrative Film Award: 7 Bigs, Director: Roshan Sethi
Documentary Film Award: Kili Big, Director: Ida Joglar
Short Film Narrative Award: Americanised, Director: Erica Eng
Episodic Award: Now With Norma Director: Fiona Dawson
The films I liked:
Wakiki,Special Mention, by director: Christopher Kahunahana, The first time I saw a film exploring the darker side of paradise. When we think of Hawaii images of beaches and surfing comes to mind, not violence and cultural repression. Mr. Kahunahan takes chances in the story telling department.
The Daphne Project,by Zora Iman Crews and Alec Tibaldi. How to endure social justice, cancel culture, entitlement and ambition with complete self awareness with unlikeable characters? A rockumentary on some not so pleasant people producing a play.
The Zeitgeist Movement in the wrong hands.
I’ll Be Fine, by Kelley Kali and Angelique Molina tells the story of trying to faking normal while being homeless in LA. Timely and poignant portrayal of life in avacuumof uncertainty.
Stairs, a short film from Mongolia, deserves attention. I ended up feeling good at the end of the piece.
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Bentonville Fest
Our first Bentonville Film Festival. The Arkansas event started in 2015 continues it’s tradition of championing diversity and inclusion in the cinema field.
Keep checking back here for news and reviews.
