The thematic programme
Nostalgia for the Future presents the latest title signed by the famous experimental film director Guy Maddin, alongside works of several of the most interesting contemporary visual artists: Clemens von Wedemeyer, Larissa Sansour and Søren Lind. Analysing the subjective role of history in history representation, they investigate the complex relationship of an individual with history, the personal fight against the collective flow of events, the dichotomy subjective versus objective in building up historical narrations and national identities, undermining the adage stating that history is always on the winners' side.
In
Bring Me the Head of Tim Horton, director Guy Maddin shot
behind-the-scenes in the Jordanian desert (playing the role of Afghanistan under Taliban occupation). Through manipulation of the filmed material and narrated meditations on the pop culture theme and violence in cinema, what was supposed to be a simple promotional material
is turned into artistic subversion, combining the internal/eternal fight of the ego caught between art and commercial, with inflated patriotism and the ethics of representation.
Clemens von Wedemeyer proposes in
ESIOD 2015 a lyrical vision on a metropolis from a dystopic future, where a centralised commodification turned everything into monetary value, from urban spaces and social structures to our collective memory.
In the Future They Ate From the Finest Porcelain, signed by Palestine-born artist Larissa Sansour in cooperation with Danish director Søren Lind, investigates the importance of myths and fiction in the fabric of facts, history and national identities, in an ingenious mix of
live action and CGI, of archaeology, politics and science fiction.
Bearing the title of this year's edition of the Festival, the competition
You Are Another Me calls into question the notion of frontier, exploring at the same time the empathy alterity and limits. Other people hardships reach us as narrations that become fictions filtered by our subjective perspective. Approaching the issue directly, the films in this programme dissolve the barriers standing in the way of understanding the Other.
9 Days – From My Window in Aleppo is a mind blowing documentary counteracting the romanticised vision on the Civil war in Syria, as presented by Western media.
Over, directed by Jörn Threlfall, employs a simple formula on looking at the stories of those coming to Europe as to a promised land of salvation. Inspired from real events, the short actively involves the viewers in deciphering and reconstructing a mysterious death narrated in reversed chronological order.
From the Berlin International Film Festival comes to BIEFF also
Summer, a film revealing how limited are the photographers' possibilities to tell the stories we consume. A novel mix of 3D shaping and 16mm shooting, the film is a clever political commentary on the contemporary humanitarian crisis. Director Ronny Trocker will be present at BIEFF with the support of the Valonia-Bruxelles Delegation and of the Italian Culture Institute.
Remains from the Desert is the touching story of a young refugee from Eritrea, captured and tortured for money. Director Sebastian Mez will also attend the screenings in Bucharest, with the support of the Goethe-Institut.
Details at:
Bieff.ro
