RIHLA // Gerbrand Burger // 2009 // Netherlands // 11 min // experimental // English subtitles
Rihla means “travel in search of wisdom and knowledge” and it is the story of
a man who travels from East to West. The film shows a kaleidoscopic view of
the West and reflects on Occidentalism and mutual cultural perception. The
story is based on fragments of literature, from Arabic and Islamic countries,
describing cities and countries of the West and the literature used originates
from the 14th century till today. Different times and perspectives mix and
intersect all coming together in the narrative of the main character.
THE MAIN GOSSIP // Branka Prezelj // 2009 // Slovenia // 17 min // documentary // English subtitles
Presenting current happenings in the town called Cerkno, this film is striving to show the relationship between the locals and seasonal workers that come from all over the Former Yugoslavia, bringing along their culture and costumes.
SALLAM ALEYKUM COPENHAGEN // Sašo Niskač // 2008 // Slovakia/Slovenia/Denmark // 19 min // documentary // English subtitles
Salaam Aleykum Copenhagen is a short documentary about Haluk, Allan
and Iman – two young boys and a girl with Turkish, Kurdish, Lebanese
and Danish backgrounds living in Copenhagen. How do they confront their lives with the atmosphere of Copenhagen, their home? The film is a
portrait of their attitudes towards the questions of immigration and
integration, their daily problems and challenges, family values, their view
on Danish society and Copenhagen itself. While presenting their worlds
they are opening the doors towards understanding of Copenhagen itself.
They are part of Copenhagen and Copenhagen is part of them.
MATCHSTICK / DRVCE OD KIBRIT // Tony Radevski // 2009 // Australia // 12 min // drama/experimental
Sometimes when you collapse, you can never get up.
ABOUT FISH AND THE REVOLUTION/OVER VIS EN DE REVOLUTIE // Margien
Rogaar // 2008 // Netherlands // 10 min // dramatic comedy // English subtitles
Fish & Revolution is a story that comes very close to real life. With the admission of Poland and other Eastern European countries to the European Union, many people fear that their existence will be threatened - even though that fear is really unfounded. As a country, The Netherlands has been dug up, drained and demarcated. The population of The Netherlands live within the space of freedom they have been given. That may be a good thing, but it is also a little dull. In Eastern European countries, people’s behaviour in their environments knows fewer restraints. These people have had to fight for their freedom. The filmmaker envies the passion and romance with which they live their lives - that may not always be as comfortable as ours. In Fish & Revolution, these two separate worlds come together at an ordinary fishing pitch, at a not particularly special waterside, somewhere in the Netherlands. The basis of this drama lies in the contrast between those worlds.
EGOTRIP // Dragan Rokvić // 2008 // Bosnia and Herzegovina // 5 min // animation // music video
Animated music video for a song “Egotrip” – latest album by Sarajevo based band Sikter.
