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@collectablestories
Three days, few children, a glass frame and couple of POSCA markers .... resulted in this fun animation workshop. Wonderful experience created during the 1st Ushi Film Festival for kids. Participants: Aleko, Dara, Gergana, Kaloyan and Yoana-Maria Mentor: Vessela Dancheva, Ivan Bogdanov / Compote Collective
Dieter Deswarte: I´VE ALWAYS BEEN TRYING TO TAKE A VERY SIMPLE IDEA AND TURN IT INTO AN INTERESTING FILM
Dieter Deswarte embarked on a voyage and by doing so allows us to understand his take on the world and experience the same as he did with a car that many consider the very worst. Read on what the first winner of BLACK SEA COMPETITION had shared us before IN THE PALACE 2014.
Tell us about your film. What inspired you, or led you, to create this short film?
This film was part of an international competition. 7 Filmmakers were selected to participate in the documentary project called Cinetrain. Each of us was asked to make a different short film about a Russian Stereotype. In my case I was assigned the “LADA”. The project was inspired by the Russian Filmmaker Medvedev, who travelled by train through the country to document life in his country. As him we embarked on a month long journey by train through Russia stopping in several towns with the aim to have by the end of it a short film that represented our stereotype. The whole project took place during the month of January. In deep winter we travelled from Murmansk, the largest city in the Arctic Circle through to Siberia where we spend our last few days on the island of Olkhon, a small island on Lake Baikal. When I learned about this project I was completely appealed by the challenge of trying to make a film within one month while travelling through a country that was largely unfamiliar to me. As a filmmaker I’ve always been interested in trying to take a very simple idea and turn it into an interesting film. With this project I was able to do exactly that.
How would you describe your artistic approach in your work as a director?
In my work I value strongly the intimacy between me and my characters. I always try to observe human nature in its most pure form. I never try to hide my presence as a filmmaker but try to let the viewer see a new world through my gaze. For this film in particular I wanted to have the majority of the film take place on the inside of the LADA car, as if the viewer was riding along with the different characters that I met across my journey in Russia. Through my edit I really wanted to play with the uniformity of the car and edit the film in such a way as if everybody was travelling in the same vehicle.
How long did it take you to make your film?
As the aim was to complete our film during the period of the Cinetrain project, the film was near completion upon our arrival back in Moscow. We edited the movie on the Trans-Siberian express on the way back to Moscow, which took five days. The film was then screened upon arrival for a first time to a large audience at the documentary center in Moscow. Afterwards, we worked for a few weeks still on adjusting the edit, doing audio postproduction and color grading.
Where would you go and on which set of wheels?
At the moment I’m really keen to discover China. Once there I’d try to get around by public transport. Being on a bus or a train with strangers for a long time is often a very good way to meet people. I’m also very keen to return to St-Helena, which is a small island in the South Atlantic that can only be reached by boat. I’m currently making my first feature about a few inhabitants of this island.
Have you ever been to Bulgaria before? Is this your first time running for this Festival? What do you know about this Festival?
I have to been Bulgaria several times before. I have a good friend in London, who’s from Sofia and I’ve had the luck to visit the country on a few occasions. However, I had never had the chance to attend the festival and don’t know much about it.
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Lada
/dir. Dieter Deswarte / Documentary / Russian Federation / 2013 / 18’ 40’/
Synopsys - A movie about an iconic vehicle and a few of its last remaining drivers, “Lada” takes you on a Russian journey. It explores people’s affinity to a vehicle that is stereotypically considered as one of the worst in the world. A humorous and intimate insight told from behind the steering wheel.
Director´s Bio - Dieter Deswarte is an independent documentary filmmaker who graduated in 2010 with a distinction for an MA documentary degree at the Goldsmiths University of London. Since his graduation he has been working on a range of projects, such as directing documentary films for children, working as a freelance editor and director of photography, creating a multi-screen documentary installation and conducting documentary workshops across London. He is experienced at making films with hugely diverse groups of people including children, homeless teenagers and elderly people suffering from dementia. He has worked for the national Belgian television station ʻCanvasʼ and has screened his worked at different festivals and art galleries in Europe. He is a self-shooter and editor who owns his own equipment.
Lovely sunset. One more day #inthepalace
Ms. Mussel's reception #outthepalace #dulboka #musselfarm #kazanonakratko
Free kick for Belgium with #stellaartois (at In The Palace Sff, Balchik)
Is the screening starting? #kazanonakratko #inthepalace
Day 1 IN THE PALACE
Opening Gala on the move. Interesting characters were found on the beach. Day 1 IN THE PALACE.
Captain Planet - Tsanko Vassilev and IN THE PALACE Festival Director - Valentina Bojichkova gave the start of the festival in the Stone Hall of the Palace of Balchik.
The Jury is very excited.
The first ones on the beach - Ms. Mussel and the Turkish Mermaid.
Come by and take a photo with our star. Miss Mussel is at the Info point.
at In The Palace Sff, Balchik
Brian Smith @Music Palace Fest (at Balchik Palace)
Opening gala on the move! #inthepalace #kazanonakratko #stonehall (at In The Palace Sff, Balchik)
Abbe Robinson: I WANTED THIS FILM TO REFLECT VENICE, TO BE DREAMY AND TIMELESS
Abbe Robinson is inspired by the story of the first woman gondolier in Venice, trying to present it just like the city – dreamy, timeless and quite intimate.
Tell us about your film. What inspired you, or led you, to create this short film?
The film is about a young Venetian girl, Carla, who wants to become a gondolier like her father. The idea came to me when I was visiting Venice on holiday and I heard on the news that a woman had received a license to work as a gondolier. It was very controversial - there had never been a female gondolier in the 900 year history of gondoliers, and the men weren't very happy about it!
How would you describe your artistic approach, ever so present, in your work as a director?
I approach every film differently but I have a team of people that I work with regularly. I think it's important to have people who share your artistic vision and can bring their talents to the process. I wanted this film to reflect Venice, to be dreamy and timeless. I wanted to shoot intimately in order to become part of Carla's world.
How long did it take you to make your film?
It took quite a long time. We shot the film in 4 days because that was all we could afford, but in the end I had to return almost 6 months later with a very, very small crew to shoot some pick-ups.
Did you ever have to go through everything and everyone to pursue your dreams?
I think most filmmakers, unless they have a lot of money, have to go through a lot to make their dreams a reality. I was lucky to have some previous short films funded by the UK Film Council, but you still have to ask a lot of favors from people in order to make it work.
What are your main goals in your own future?
I love to make short films and I have a two more short projects happening at the moment. But I suppose like most filmmakers my ultimate ambition is to make a feature film. I have a couple of scripts in development so I hope to be shooting one in the next few years.
Have you ever been to Bulgaria before? Is this your first time running for this Festival? What do you know about this Festival?
I've never been to Bulgaria and I would love to visit. One of my previous short films “Private Life” played at the festival a few years ago but I couldn't attend because I was filming another project. It was a shame because the festival has a great reputation and it's in a beautiful place.
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The Girl and the Gondola /dir. Abbe Robinson / Fiction / UK, Italy / 2013 / 11’ 42’/
Synopsys - 10 year old Carla dreams of becoming a gondolier like her father. However, 900 years of Venetian tradition and the disapproval of her parents stand in her way.
Director´s Bio - Abbe Robinson studied Film Production at the International Film School, Wales, and has worked as an Assistant Director in Film and TV in the UK for over 12 years. Abbe has also been commissioned twice as a Writer/Director by the UK Film Council and Screen Yorkshire. Her previous short film “Private Life”, a 1950's period drama, played at over 150 international film festivals and won 19 awards. Abbe is currently working on two feature film scripts.
Starring:The Cast and The Outcast
Starting in 3 days. In The Palace.
The People In: Kiro.bg
1. Why are we talking to you?
Hell, don’t know. I suppose I was famous once, for fifteen minutes.
2. What do you have to do with “In The Palace”?
The people at the festival know me as the guy that is always there and nobody knows why. May be I’m just a wannabe film maker. Or I’m stalking young directors for a part and young actresses for parties.
3. What is your #collectablestory from the fest?
It’s the sad story of my best friend T. He got so drunk the last night that he felt asleep in the garden, so some guys brought him back to the hotel. On the other day he woke up around noon just to find out that all the people from the festival had gone. He had no money so he tried to hitchhike to Varna with a terrible hangover. Unfortunately the car left him in the suburbs where is almost impossible to reach the bus station by hitchhiking and he had no money for bus ticket. He was saved by a taxi driver and his prostitute friend that drove him to the bus station. With a ticket bought online form his friends he managed to take the bus to Sofia, just to get off from it on the first rest point and take back the bus to Varna by mistake. My favorite festival story. Most of them are like that one and of course a little love between the drinks.
4. What is your favourite spot in Balchik and why?
Some magical beaches around and some hidden places in the palace. I will never reveal them but magic happens when I’m there.
5. How would you define the people of the Palace – the guests, the artists, the staff?
Bunch of nice people and friends having extremely good party for a week. All of them are weirdoes and in the same time professionals. Damn, I’ll start to make movies again.
6. #kazanonakratko* the fest for you is:
What happened yesterday?
7. Favourite short movie so far:
I have such a short memory for titles. I remember just one Sunless - because I’m starring in it.
8. Favourite quote from your “In The Palace” experience:
“Аре / Are” - it’s in Bulgarian, it means “C’mon” but much shorter. It’s something between me and Ina Nikolova - yeah, the cute and talented young cartoonist and actress.
9. Why are you coming to “In the palace” this year again? Who are you bringing with you?
I’ll bring my short budget and a large smile. And I’ll bring a short friend - Ina. I already told you ‘bout her.
*in Bulgarian this means “long story short”
Free Accreditation. Free entrance for all films "In The Palace" Just come by the Info Point in Balchik.
1001 condoms are waiting for you #inthepalace #sexwell
Luise Hüsler: TOM AND JERRY HAVE A REAL LOVE-HATE RELATIONSHIP
Luise Hüsler presents a parallel universe for a renowned duo. An animation in a documentary style capture the elderly lives of Thomas and Jeremiah. Or just Tom and Jerry. You remember them right?
Tell us about your film. What inspired you, or led you, to create this short film?
As a child I was a big fan of Tom and Jerry, identifying with the cute little Jerry. Some years ago I looked again at the old Tom and Jerry films, still adoring the animation, the colors, the music. I started analyzing the relationship of the two characters and found out that they function like a couple in a love-hate relationship. They are absolutely co-dependent. I was inspired to imagine how these two characters interact once they have grown old, what kind of relationship they are leading nowadays.
How would you describe your artistic approach, ever so present, in your work as a director?
I tell the story from the perspective of a young video journalist from a local TV, looking at Thomas and Jeremiah through her camera. The film we see is the raw (unedited) footage of the interview she made. I took the decision of doing it in this journalistic style to have a clear contrast to the old times/ the old cartoons and to pretend it as if it were real. In terms of animation this was a big challenge. There is nearly no cut at all and the camera position remains the same.
In the middle of the film, there is a break and we go back in time. Jeremiah tries to save Thomas who has suffered a heart attack. He makes the journalist put on the music. Jeremiahs movements are now synchronized to the music. He changes the frame format of the frame from 16/9 to the old cinema format of 4/3 by pulling the curtain on both sides of the frame. He tries to tease and hit his friend in order to get him back into the world of the old Cartoons where they couldn’t die. This second part of the film is made with the old technique; each image is drawn by hand, 12 images per second. The first part of the film is done with cutout animation on the computer.
How long did it take you to make your film?
The starting point of this project was 7 years ago, in 2007 as I won a prize from canal+ at the scenario competition CITIA in Annecy.
The production took very long. At first I planned to make a co-production with France, which didn’t work out.
Finally the film was entirely produced and made in Switzerland. The animation was done by three very talented animators, who were closely part of the whole process and accepted the difficult production situation.
Did you ever get tired of chasing something?
I often got tired during the process of chasing this film. Especially because the fundraising took such a long time. It’s very hard to keep the initial flame of the idea alive through a long period of time, and not to start doubting too much. Thankfully I was surrounded by good people, who helped me stick to finish the film.
Like Thomas and Jeremiah, they had a difficult time in their earlier years, to say the least. Did you ever have a tumultuous relationship, at first that progressed into being a good one?
The relationship I’m having now has a pretty turbulent past. Simon and I met, as we were 8 years old in primary school in 1982. I fell immediately in love with him as this skinny pale blond boy with beautiful blue eyes entered the room, but he didn’t even notice it, even though my secret passion lasted for a long time. As we were teenagers it was his turn to fall in love, but I was not available and so we became very good friends, chatting for hours on the phone, discussing the sense of life and our favorite discussion-subject: sex. We then lost contact until two years ago, both of us came back to live in Zurich, the city we grew up in. And finally we both fell in love simultaneously, we got married and our little daughter Mira was born 6 month ago! I hope to get old next to him like Thomas and Jeremiah, united in deep love and daily quarreling.
Have you ever been to Bulgaria before? Is this your first time running for this Festival? What do you know about this Festival?
No, I haven’t. But I would love to visit Bulgaria. It’s the first time I’m running for this festival.
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From here to immortality
/dir. Luise Hüsler / Animation / Switzerland / 2013 / 9’ 53’/
Synopsys - Two former cartoon stars, Thomas and Jeremiah – a cat and a mouse – are now leading a quiet life far from the media. Their earlier sadomasochistic relationship has now been replaced by daily disputes. They allow themselves to be interviewed for the first time in many years.
10 days to #inthepalace! #kazanonakratko #funwillbe