The Exclusives: ALVARO BRECHNER AND ALVARO GUTIERREZ

This exclusive with the talented duo who are a combination of two different countrieswho came together because of their mutual passion of filmmaking. Alvaro Brechnerthe Director and Alvaro Gutierrezthe DOP arrived in Goa to attend the 45th International Film Festival of India and screen their film ‘Mr. Kaplan’.

“Making movies is a portal to a different world”started Alvaro Brechner, at the start of the interview as a definition to what cinema is to him. He also shared that the movie, ‘Mr. Kaplan’ was inspired by true events that took place in the early years after the WW II. Sharing his experience Gutierrez spoke on his working relationship with Brechner, he mention that their association goes way back and working with him was like working with a friend. 


The movie, ‘Mr. Kaplan’ has been nominated in the ‘Best Foreign Film’ category for the Academy Awards. On a relating note both the Director & DOP shared their gratitude on the positive reception of it worldwide.

For the audience have one perspective of films but as for Director,Alvaro Brechner said “Making movies is a portal to a different world”. This film as they said are inspired by true events, made for the people who had to leave Europe due to the heinousness that was WW II. 




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The Exclusives: Dervis Zaim

This Turkish filmmaker screened the film ‘Fish’ for this edition of International Film Festival of India. He is a graduate in Business Administration from the Bogazici University (Istanbul) and got his MA in cultural studies from Warwick University (UK). Dervis is also the author of a novel titled,‘Ares in Wonderland (1995)’.

 

Graciously agreeing for an exclusive interview, Mr. Zaim shared his philosophy, the tone of his movie and most importantly his perspective on cinema. This is DervisZaim’s first time in the sub-continent of India of which he added is a rich experience for him. It is common knowledge that the writers of novels and the film fraternity have always lived with a friction with each other, on the same note he jokingly stated, “I deal with being both a novelist and filmmaker by not writing another novel after my first one”. He then explained, “Making films needs a lot of physical energy and so I decided that till my body permits me to, I will make films, but as age would have me unable to do so, I will write again”.

 

After sharing a few light moments, he went on to share his intention and inspiration of ‘FISH’. The story revolves around a fisherman from Turkey, whose lives in poor economic condition. In addition to that, his daughter falls ill for whom he starts fishing with chemicals in order to get a good catch. “It is human nature to exploit nature” he stated while explaining the story of ‘FISH’ and added, “The human condition is also a factor that pushes you to be someone you are not”.Art captures reality in a light that you are deprived of due to ignorance or restrictions. The interview concluded with his view on the similarities that Turkey and India share. There is destruction of the abundant nature that both countries possess in order to achieve the title of a developed nation.

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The Exclusives: Sepideh Farsi

IFFI Bloggers bring you a series of exclusive interviews with a few foreign directors that were here at this 45th edition of International Film Festival of India.

 

The Iranian filmmaker Sepideh Farsi who is here at the 45th edition of the International Film Festival of India to screen her film ‘Red Rose’, has graciously permitted an exclusive interview with the IFFI team. This is Sepideh’s second visit to Goa; her first visit was earmarked to screen her first feature ‘Dreams of Dust’ which was about 10 years ago. In 1984 this director migrated to France to pursue an education in the line of Mathematics. However she started her hand in photography and eventually settled into the filmmaking industry.

 

While in conversation with the Iranian director she shared her experiences in making of various films. Her film ‘Tehran without permission’ which showcases the raw reality of Tehran; this movie was shot on a Nokia mobile phone camera, which was an adventure in itself, as many of the people did not want to be filmed. She recalled the innovative methods in which she stayed candid while making the film.

The film Red Rose which is screened at the 45th International Film Festival of India is a love story amidst unrest rigged after a presidential election, popularly known as the ‘Green Revolution’.






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30th November - Films to Look Out For

Finally, the last day of The International Film Festival of India is here. We still have some screenings before the Closing Ceremony, though.

1. Melbourne

• Drama.
• The film recounts the story of a young couple on their way to Melbourne to continue their studies. However, just a few hours before the departure of their flight, they are unintentionally involved in a tragic event. 

2. Journey to the Mother

• Drama.
• Maxim has arrived from Moscow for a three-day visit to his mother in Provence. But his French stepsister Maria-Louise and him, have to face the unfair game of death.

3. Life In A Fishbowl

• Drama.
• Three people's lives are intertwined, after a horrible tragedy.

4. Re-Screenings

Ida

Yellow

29th November - Films to Look Out For

Though we draw nearer to the close of this film festival, we still have a number of amazing films screening, as well as re-screenings of some that you might have missed. 

1. Run

• French-Ivorian drama film.
• Retracing the strange, winding road that led an ordinary young man to assassinate the Prime Minister of his country, it is an elliptical coming of age fable. (Sourced from Variety)

2. Xenia

• Greek drama film.
• Strangers in their own birthplace, 16 year old Danny and 18 year old Odysseus cross the entire country in search of their Greek father, after their Albanian mother passes away.

3. Mommy

• Canadian drama film.
• A widowed single mother, raising her violent son alone, finds new hope when a mysterious neighbour inserts herself into their household.

4. Behavior (Conducta)

• Cuban drama film.
• A classroom drama that benefits from bending the rules.

5. Re-Screenings

A Pigeon Sat On A Branch

Ek Hazarchi Note

Chotoder Chobi

45th IFFI, 2014 - Top 10 Films

1. The President - Mohsen Makhmalbaf

2. Behaviour - Ernesto Daranas

3. Leviathan - Andrey Zvyagintsev

4. Timbuktu - Abdherrahman e Sissako

5. A Second Chance (En Chance Til) - Susanne Bier

6. Foxcatcher - Bennett Miller

7. Ida - Pawel Pawlikowski

8. Little England (Mikra Anglia) - Pantelis Voulgaris

9. Mardan - Batin Ghobadi

10. Miss Julie - Liv Ullmann

28th November - Films to Look Out For

Along with the usual selection of international and national films, we also have re-screenings of certain films and a Master Class, on the 28th of November, Friday.
Here are a few you should try to catch:

1. Turist (Force Majeure)

• Swedish drama film.
• A man's selfish reaction to the danger posed by an avalanche causes cracks in his marriage and relationships with his children.

2. Miss Julie

• English drama film.
• Over the course of a midsummer night in 1890, an unsettled daughter of the Anglo-Irish aristocracy encourages her father's valet to seduce her.

3. Timbuktu

• French-Mauritanian drama film.
• A look at the brief occupation of Timbuktu by militant Islamic rebels.

4. Master Class - Making & Pitching for Documentary Proposals

    By Lutz Konermann

• Director and Cinematographer
• Produced 'My Name Is Salt', which is being screened on 27th November, 2014, at IFFI.

5. The Search

• French drama film.
• A woman who works for a non-governmental organization (NGO) forms a special relationship with a young boy in war-torn Chechnya.

6. Foxcatcher

• American drama film.
• Wrestler Mark Schultz forms a relationship with his new sponsor, millionaire John du Pont, as they train for the 1988 games in Seoul - a union that leads to unlikely circumstances as both men feel inferior to Mark's revered brother, Dave.

7. Re-Screenings: The Last Adieu & Elizabeth Ekadashi