The list of films qualified for international documentary film competition.
International documentary film competition was open to documentaries with a running time of 30 to 60 minutes and more than 60 minutes and only premieres were accepted. The competition consists mainly of films spotted at foreign festivals, complemented by titles picked from the record 2700 festival entries.
Krzysztof Gierat, director of the Festival, who supervises the work of the Selection Committee comments on the results: Like a mirror, they reflect the most important problems the modern world is facing as seen from the perspective of an individual. Thus, there are films about the issue of priest pedophilia, virtual life substituting the real one, identity crisis,addictions, also those less harmful like the love of Harlequin books, and rivalry in achieving perfection, both artistic and religious.
The Israeli cinema continues to astound; in the form of a family movie it touches upon universal problems and emotions. I am proud of the Polish representatives, who more and more often venture into the remote world. Only Tomasz Wolski from Krakow decided to focus on people one might pass in the city centre. "Doctors" is a fascinating portrayal of cardiac surgeons who, working behind surgical masks, remain anonymous.
The list of films qualified for international documentary film competition
Feature-lenght documetaries:
1. „Agnus Dei: Lamb of God", dir. Alejandra Sanchez, Mexico / France 87’
2. „My Avatar and Me", dir. Bente Milton, Mikkel Stolt, Denmark 91’
3. „Guilty Pleasures", dir. Julie Moggan, UK 85’
4. „My Reincarnation", dir. Jennifer Fox, Finland / USA / Switzerland / Germany / Italy 100’
5. „Doctors”, dir. Tomasz Wolski, Poland 90’
6. „Phnom Penh Lullaby", dir. Paweł Kloc, Poland 97’
7. “Nobody Knows My Name", dir. James Nicholson, France 85’
8. “Invisible Strings – The Talented Pusker Sister", dir. Ágnes Sós, Hungary 80’
9. “The Queen Has No Crown", dir. Tomer Heymann, Israel 85’
10. "Life in a Day", dir. Kevin Macdonald, USA 95′
Middle-lenght documentaries:
1. “Pandore“, dir. Virgil Vernier, France 35’
2. “The Hangman", dir. Netalie Braun, Israel 60’
3. “Regretters", dir. Marcus Lindeen, Sweden 59’
4. "Grandma, a Thousand Times", dir. Mahmoud Kaabour, United Arab Emirates 48’
5. „Mind the Gap”, dir. Maciej Górski, UK / Poland 58’
6. „Argentinian Lesson”, dir. Wojciech Staroń, Poland 52’
7. „Outside the Court", dir. Mark Isaacs, UK, 58’
8. „Hula and Natan”, dir. Robby Elmaliah, Israel 55’
9. „Nun", dir. Galina Adamovich, Belarus 56’
10. „Daddy’s Girls", dir. Lily Sheffy, Israel 56’
About films
AGNUS DEI: LAMB OF GOD
The incidents of paedophilia in the Catholic Church are a common occurrence in today’s media. However, more shocking than the appalling statistics are the stories of the victims, such as the one of Jesús Romero: an 11-year-old altar boy molested by a priest, who was a family friend, and a life mentor. After many years the young Mexican reminisces upon these traumatic events. He is not only interested in bringing the culprit to justice, but also in confronting the man responsible for breaking his life.
The incidents of paedophilia in the Catholic Church are a common occurrence in today’s media. However, more shocking than the appalling statistics are the stories of the victims, such as the one of Jesús Romero: an 11-year-old altar boy molested by a priest, who was a family friend, and a life mentor. After many years the young Mexican reminisces upon these traumatic events. He is not only interested in bringing the culprit to justice, but also in confronting the man responsible for breaking his life.
MY AVATAR AND ME
Mikkel is a documentary filmmaker, who faces difficulties in pushing his ideas through. His private life is far from successful too; the protagonist would rather spend time in cyber reality than in the company of his life partner. In “Second Life” Mikkel meets sexy Helena, who introduces him to the world of virtual love and business affairs that have a big impact on his life. This autothematic documentary film combined with the “SL” animation depicts the more and more common blurring of the boundaries between the “real” life and the computer-generated reality.
Mikkel is a documentary filmmaker, who faces difficulties in pushing his ideas through. His private life is far from successful too; the protagonist would rather spend time in cyber reality than in the company of his life partner. In “Second Life” Mikkel meets sexy Helena, who introduces him to the world of virtual love and business affairs that have a big impact on his life. This autothematic documentary film combined with the “SL” animation depicts the more and more common blurring of the boundaries between the “real” life and the computer-generated reality.
GUILTY PLEASURES
Approximately every 4 seconds in the world somebody buys a “Harlequin” romance novel. Who are its female readers from Great Britain, India, and Japan? What is it about their lives that makes them seek refuge in the fictional world of beautiful people and romantic raptures? The questions of who is responsible for their dreams and how they come to be is equally as interesting. The market seems forever insatiable. It sometimes appears that the reading of “Harlequin” provides not only a temporary thrill, but it also inspires the readers to make realistic changes to their lives.
Approximately every 4 seconds in the world somebody buys a “Harlequin” romance novel. Who are its female readers from Great Britain, India, and Japan? What is it about their lives that makes them seek refuge in the fictional world of beautiful people and romantic raptures? The questions of who is responsible for their dreams and how they come to be is equally as interesting. The market seems forever insatiable. It sometimes appears that the reading of “Harlequin” provides not only a temporary thrill, but it also inspires the readers to make realistic changes to their lives.
MY REINCARNATION
“I don’t want to be anyone’s shadow,” Yeshi, young Italian born son of renowned Buddhist guru, Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, used to say. Recognised by the Tibetans as an incarnation of one of the spiritual masters, the youngster must decide if he wants to lead a regular life in Europe, or devote himself to teaching in a Tibetan monastery. Yeshi has a complex emotional relationship with his father, who was hardly ever at home. At the same time, he feels the burden of responsibility for the future of the Tibetan nation and its dying culture.
“I don’t want to be anyone’s shadow,” Yeshi, young Italian born son of renowned Buddhist guru, Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, used to say. Recognised by the Tibetans as an incarnation of one of the spiritual masters, the youngster must decide if he wants to lead a regular life in Europe, or devote himself to teaching in a Tibetan monastery. Yeshi has a complex emotional relationship with his father, who was hardly ever at home. At the same time, he feels the burden of responsibility for the future of the Tibetan nation and its dying culture.
DOCTORS
What happens behind the closed doors of the operating, treatment, and specialised medical consultation rooms? In a surgical department we are observing the physicians’ everyday work: the existing hierarchy between them, the importance of decision making, and the struggle with the economic hardships. Although most of the time they speak the jargon which is incomprehensible to an ordinary mortal, the doctors also play jokes and recall professional anecdotes. Regardless of the knowledge and experience gained, unexpected moments also take place in their profession…
What happens behind the closed doors of the operating, treatment, and specialised medical consultation rooms? In a surgical department we are observing the physicians’ everyday work: the existing hierarchy between them, the importance of decision making, and the struggle with the economic hardships. Although most of the time they speak the jargon which is incomprehensible to an ordinary mortal, the doctors also play jokes and recall professional anecdotes. Regardless of the knowledge and experience gained, unexpected moments also take place in their profession…
PHNOM PENH LULLABY
Ilan Schickman from Israel is not a typical sex tourist who came to the Far East in search of promiscuous women. He has permanently left his country and become involved with a young Cambodian woman. In order to provide for his family, he attempts to read into the future by using cards in the bustling streets of Phnom Penh. However, the cultural differences and complex character of his partner are taking its toll. What is it that keeps him in a prospectless, foreign country? The sense of responsibility, or maybe completely different circumstances?
Ilan Schickman from Israel is not a typical sex tourist who came to the Far East in search of promiscuous women. He has permanently left his country and become involved with a young Cambodian woman. In order to provide for his family, he attempts to read into the future by using cards in the bustling streets of Phnom Penh. However, the cultural differences and complex character of his partner are taking its toll. What is it that keeps him in a prospectless, foreign country? The sense of responsibility, or maybe completely different circumstances?
NOBODY KNOWS MY NAME
In 2008 the U.S. presidential election is taking place, and it is the first ever to be won by an Afro American. Rashid, a new father, attentively follows these events. He has just learnt the story of George Brown, the advocate of the “Black Panther” movement, who in 1972 participated in hijacking a plane to Algeria. The protagonist decides to follow the trail of the terrorist, who has been living in Paris for 35 years. It is more than a political investigation, as Rashid’s family history is closely connected with the fight of the blacks for their rights.
In 2008 the U.S. presidential election is taking place, and it is the first ever to be won by an Afro American. Rashid, a new father, attentively follows these events. He has just learnt the story of George Brown, the advocate of the “Black Panther” movement, who in 1972 participated in hijacking a plane to Algeria. The protagonist decides to follow the trail of the terrorist, who has been living in Paris for 35 years. It is more than a political investigation, as Rashid’s family history is closely connected with the fight of the blacks for their rights.
INVISIBLE STRINGS – THE TALENTED PUSKER SISTERS
Two teenage sisters, Júlia and Ágnes, have lived for music since they were kids. They both play violin, but only one of them achieves great success. However, sibling rivalry does not determine their mutual relations. The relationship between the sisters is more profound and complex than it might seem. It was formed largely by a series of painful events that each one of them had to cope with in their own way. The older and less talented Pusker sister fears that one day the tragic story might happen again…
Two teenage sisters, Júlia and Ágnes, have lived for music since they were kids. They both play violin, but only one of them achieves great success. However, sibling rivalry does not determine their mutual relations. The relationship between the sisters is more profound and complex than it might seem. It was formed largely by a series of painful events that each one of them had to cope with in their own way. The older and less talented Pusker sister fears that one day the tragic story might happen again…
THE QUEEN HAS NO CROWN
It is not the first time when Tomer Heymann has turned the camera on himself and his relatives. This time the story of homosexual “coming out” is interweaved with the family’s breakdown, which happens over the period of a few years, along with Heymann brothers consecutively immigrating from Israel to the U.S. Their reasons to leave the country are varied, but the decisions are heartbreaking every time; each and every one of them leaves behind not only their birthplace, but also a loving mother. Set in today’s Israel, this intimate family story acquires a wider, also political, context.
It is not the first time when Tomer Heymann has turned the camera on himself and his relatives. This time the story of homosexual “coming out” is interweaved with the family’s breakdown, which happens over the period of a few years, along with Heymann brothers consecutively immigrating from Israel to the U.S. Their reasons to leave the country are varied, but the decisions are heartbreaking every time; each and every one of them leaves behind not only their birthplace, but also a loving mother. Set in today’s Israel, this intimate family story acquires a wider, also political, context.
PANDORE
Saturday night fever. The night club goers queue in front of a fashionable Parisian club, but only a few lucky ones are allowed to enter the ‘Pandore’. Everything is left in the hands of Mathieu, known as ‘the bouncer’, who selects the guests by criteria known only to himself. It exemplifies the cross-section of the divided French society and its characteristic behaviour patterns. What complex does Mathieu hide behind his despotic mask?
Saturday night fever. The night club goers queue in front of a fashionable Parisian club, but only a few lucky ones are allowed to enter the ‘Pandore’. Everything is left in the hands of Mathieu, known as ‘the bouncer’, who selects the guests by criteria known only to himself. It exemplifies the cross-section of the divided French society and its characteristic behaviour patterns. What complex does Mathieu hide behind his despotic mask?
THE HANGMAN
The trial of war criminal Adolf Eichmann will forever be a landmark in the Israeli history, with his execution being the first death penalty sentence. Hardly anyone is aware of the fact that the man who conducted hanging was Shalom Nagar, today an elderly, religious Jew, known for performing the rite of circumcision. The jovial Sephardi Jew mediates on revealing not only the behind the scenes of the execution, but also addressing the hardships faced by the Orthodox Jews in the newly formed country.
The trial of war criminal Adolf Eichmann will forever be a landmark in the Israeli history, with his execution being the first death penalty sentence. Hardly anyone is aware of the fact that the man who conducted hanging was Shalom Nagar, today an elderly, religious Jew, known for performing the rite of circumcision. The jovial Sephardi Jew mediates on revealing not only the behind the scenes of the execution, but also addressing the hardships faced by the Orthodox Jews in the newly formed country.
REGRETTERS
They have changed gender so they could feel better about themselves. However, after reaching their 60’s, Orlando and Mikael regret their decision. Although each one of them made it under different circumstances and at a different stage in life, they were both unaware at the time of how complex the reasons behind it can be. Now they meet in order to discuss the consequences of what they consider to be their life mistake. These are two fascinating stories, subverting many views regarding gender identity.
They have changed gender so they could feel better about themselves. However, after reaching their 60’s, Orlando and Mikael regret their decision. Although each one of them made it under different circumstances and at a different stage in life, they were both unaware at the time of how complex the reasons behind it can be. Now they meet in order to discuss the consequences of what they consider to be their life mistake. These are two fascinating stories, subverting many views regarding gender identity.
GRANDMA, A THOUSAND TIMES
Teta Fatima’s house used to be filled with people and music. Today, the 83-year-old woman from Bejrut is leaving on her own and is haunted by the memories and the ghosts of the dead. However, this is the very same house smelling of shisha and Lebanese cuisine that has always been a mainstay of matriarchy for the Kaabour family scattered around the world. Mahmoud, Tetra’s grandson, certain that she has entered the final stage of her life, arrives from Canada to film the elderly woman. Nonetheless, Grandmother Fatima has a lot of vigor, and she wishes to exert control over her life and death.
Teta Fatima’s house used to be filled with people and music. Today, the 83-year-old woman from Bejrut is leaving on her own and is haunted by the memories and the ghosts of the dead. However, this is the very same house smelling of shisha and Lebanese cuisine that has always been a mainstay of matriarchy for the Kaabour family scattered around the world. Mahmoud, Tetra’s grandson, certain that she has entered the final stage of her life, arrives from Canada to film the elderly woman. Nonetheless, Grandmother Fatima has a lot of vigor, and she wishes to exert control over her life and death.
MIND THE GAP
In the contemporary world of multiculturalism it is more and more difficult to define one’s identity. Dari Manoo and his family of Indian Sikhs have experienced this phenomenon. Originally from Kenya, after many years of living in London, they finally decide to immigrate to Australia. Before they do so, they plan a family trip to India to explore the Sikh culture and pass this tradition to the children. To European born teenage Kiran, this journey will be an unforgettable experience.
In the contemporary world of multiculturalism it is more and more difficult to define one’s identity. Dari Manoo and his family of Indian Sikhs have experienced this phenomenon. Originally from Kenya, after many years of living in London, they finally decide to immigrate to Australia. Before they do so, they plan a family trip to India to explore the Sikh culture and pass this tradition to the children. To European born teenage Kiran, this journey will be an unforgettable experience.
ARGENTINIAN LESSON
In 1998 Wojciech Staroń made a documentary film ‘The Siberian Lesson’. The film told the story of a young teacher, who had emigrated to the vicinity of Lake Baikal in order to teach Polish deportees’ descendants their mother tongue. Many years later, as a married couple with two children, the director and his former protagonist are leaving for Argentina. For their little son this trip will not only be an encounter with the unknown language – influenced by their Argentinian friend, Janek enters the fascinating world of child fantasy, and is introduced to the bitterness of the childhood prematurely contaminated with the problems of the grown-ups.
In 1998 Wojciech Staroń made a documentary film ‘The Siberian Lesson’. The film told the story of a young teacher, who had emigrated to the vicinity of Lake Baikal in order to teach Polish deportees’ descendants their mother tongue. Many years later, as a married couple with two children, the director and his former protagonist are leaving for Argentina. For their little son this trip will not only be an encounter with the unknown language – influenced by their Argentinian friend, Janek enters the fascinating world of child fantasy, and is introduced to the bitterness of the childhood prematurely contaminated with the problems of the grown-ups.
OUTSIDE THE COURT
The director of this documentary film spent three months outside the Magistrate Court in London, interviewing defendants and their relatives awaiting trials. The protagonists’ statements resemble very intimate confessions rather than official testimonies. Those with the criminal record do not regard the camera as the tribunal, they open their hearts and confront their stories. This is why we identify them not only as the defendants, but also as the victims of the society of other people’s , and sometimes of blind chance.
The director of this documentary film spent three months outside the Magistrate Court in London, interviewing defendants and their relatives awaiting trials. The protagonists’ statements resemble very intimate confessions rather than official testimonies. Those with the criminal record do not regard the camera as the tribunal, they open their hearts and confront their stories. This is why we identify them not only as the defendants, but also as the victims of the society of other people’s , and sometimes of blind chance.
HULA & NATAN
In Israel, more than anywhere else in the world, the life of citizens depends on the political situation. Even those living on the outskirts of society do not stay unaffected. Brothers Natan and Hula are running a dilapidated car garage in the city of Sderot, which is a frequent target of Hamas missile attacks nearby Gaza Strip. The existence of the garage is threatened by the Israeli authoritative plan to clear the area as the conflict deteriorates. To the protagonists the business is not only their sole source of income, but it mostly means the world to them.
In Israel, more than anywhere else in the world, the life of citizens depends on the political situation. Even those living on the outskirts of society do not stay unaffected. Brothers Natan and Hula are running a dilapidated car garage in the city of Sderot, which is a frequent target of Hamas missile attacks nearby Gaza Strip. The existence of the garage is threatened by the Israeli authoritative plan to clear the area as the conflict deteriorates. To the protagonists the business is not only their sole source of income, but it mostly means the world to them.
THE NUN
What has motivated a mature woman with three children and a successful professional career to abandon her hitherto life and join St Elisabeth’s convent? Irina Denisowa has been an acclaimed Belarussian conductor, a composer, and an academic. Beyond the gates of the monastery she has not given up her passion for music and begun conducting the choir. Although a common man associates such a decision with great sacrifices, for the protagonist it is a true spiritual fulfillment.
What has motivated a mature woman with three children and a successful professional career to abandon her hitherto life and join St Elisabeth’s convent? Irina Denisowa has been an acclaimed Belarussian conductor, a composer, and an academic. Beyond the gates of the monastery she has not given up her passion for music and begun conducting the choir. Although a common man associates such a decision with great sacrifices, for the protagonist it is a true spiritual fulfillment.
DADDY`S GIRLS
Throughout many years Lily’s father was a businessman traveling between Israel and Germany. At the same time, he lived a double life – he had two different houses, and two families with different women, unaware of ‘the other’s’ existence. Although the protagonist is now a mature man and has finally found the love of his life, his disposition calling to mind that of Casanova is still part of him… Equipped with camera, Lily decides to reveal her father’s secrets, but she does not realise how difficult it might be to discover the truth.
Throughout many years Lily’s father was a businessman traveling between Israel and Germany. At the same time, he lived a double life – he had two different houses, and two families with different women, unaware of ‘the other’s’ existence. Although the protagonist is now a mature man and has finally found the love of his life, his disposition calling to mind that of Casanova is still part of him… Equipped with camera, Lily decides to reveal her father’s secrets, but she does not realise how difficult it might be to discover the truth.
Kategoria: News.