Blank Page Syndrome
Latvia2024documentary8'International Short Competition
A documentary essay studying the book creation process from the author’s first thought to the typescript print-out. In the world where printing machines keep spouting millions of pages of new books, there is a reality preceding this process. A contemporary author is struggling with writer’s block over a blank piece of paper. Unsuccessfully, he is looking for the first sentence that would open up the way to the entire story. The process is accompanied by a stream of doubts intensifying the sense of being lost and aimless, so familiar to sensitive individuals nowadays.
- directed by
- Jānis ĀbeleQ&A guest
Cinéaste Jānis Ābele with his graduation film "Six Feet Above" (2015) won Grand Prix at 33rd ISFF “Tous Courts” (France). This success paved the way for the debut feature, "7 Billion Years before the End of the World", released in 2018. A year later, the director's second feature, "Jelgava '94," received four national film awards, including the Best Directing recognition for Jānis Ābele at the age of 29. "Jelgava '94" also became the first Latvian fiction film to be available on Netflix. In 2022, he released an essay short documentary “81 Meters” that traveled around 15 festivals.
Toms ŠķēleQ&A guest
A cinematographer and filmmaker based in Riga, Latvia. He holds Fine Arts MA in Cinematography. He has shot documentary and fiction projects in Latvia, Estonia, Serbia, Ireland, Hungary, France, Italy and USA. The third feature film shot by Toms will released in 2024. Since 2019 he’s been directing music videos and his director's debut short film was released in 2023. In 2024 will premiere short documentary essay "Blank Page Syndrome", shot and co-directed with Jānis Ābele as well as several feature length documentaries.
- cinematography
- Toms Šķēle
- script
- Linda Rudene
- editing
- Andris Grants
- production
- Jānis Ābele (Chaland Films)
- Photo
- Trailer