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The International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR), in the Netherlands, has just announced the lineup of films in its Tiger Awards Competition. Fourteen films will compete in the Tiger Awards Competition for directors at the festival with their first or second feature films; twenty-eight will compete in the Tiger Awards short film competition.
Included in the list of competition films are three world premieres from the features competition and five short film world premieres. The fest’s opening night film, Argyris Papadimitropoulous & Jan Vogel’s “Wasted Youth” is competing for the best first or second feature, as well as two films that received support from Rotterdam’s Hubert Bals Fund: Sanjeewa Pushpakumara’s “Flying Fish” and Sivaroj KOngsakul’s “Eternity.”
Filling out the Tiger Awards Competition jury are: “La Cienega” filmmaker Lucrecia Martel; Sandra den Hamer, director of the Netherlands’ EYE Film Institute; Romanian filmmaker Andrei Ujica; Thai filmmaker Wisit Sasanatieng (“Tears of the Black Tiger”); and Sonic Youth’s Lee Ranaldo. The jury’s choice of three winning films from the feature competition will receive the top prize of 15,000 Euros. Serving on the shorts jury are: installation artist Fiona Tan; “Mundane History” filmmaker Anocha Suwichakornpong; and filmmaker/lecturer Thom Andersen. The shorts jury will award three awards of 3,000 Euros each.
Set between Sundance and the Berlinale, the IFFR provides a showcase for up-and-coming independent talent from around the world and hosts the CineMart coproduction market for transnational financing. The fortieth edition of the IFFR runs January 26 through February 6.
Below is a list of films in the Tiger Awards Competition for first and second feature films and the Tiger Awards Competition for short films, with synopses provided by IFFR.
Tiger Awards Competition for first and second feature films 2011
“Chitra sutram” / “The Image Threads,” Vipin Vijay, India, 2010, 104’, European premiere
A tale about a computer teacher, a black magician and a cyber creature who are predestined for online and offline encounters. The story oscillates between Indian mythology, surrealist personal symbolism and the cyber world. First feature film of Vipin Vijay.
“Vete más lejos, Alicia” / “Alicia, Go Yonder,” Elisa Miller, Mexico, 2010, 67’, International premiere
A moving and visual portrayal of the excitement, alienation, and loneliness nineteen-year old Alicia experiences when she leaves her parental home in Mexico for Buenos Aires with the ambition to become an acrobat. First feature film of Elisa Miller.
“Pasuggun” / “Bleak Night,” Yoon Sung-Hyun, South Korea, 2010, 116’, International premiere
Yoon’s New Current Award winning film focuses on the subdued aggression and explosive relationships among friends in Korea’s often repressive school system. First feature film of Yoon Sung-Hyun.
“Finisterrae,” Sergio Caballero, Spain, 2010, 80’, International premiere
Portraying two lost ghosts who take the Way of Saint James to the end of the world (Finisterra), this hypnotizing road movie is a treat for eyes and ears. It draws inspiration from Philippe Garrel’s The Inner Scar. First feature film of Sergio Caballero.
“Wasted Youth,” Argyris Papadimitropoulos & Jan Vogel, Greece, 2011, 98’, World premiere & Opening Film
During a hot summer in Athens, the lives of two protagonists unexpectedly cross paths: a passionate teenage skater and a policeman in his midlife crisis. Second feature film of
Argyris Papadimitropoulos and first feature film of Jan Vogel.
“Gromozeka,” Vladimir Kott, Russia, 2011, 104’, World premiere
Funny, serious and touching at the same time, the film offers a view of contemporary Russia following three parallel stories of old school friends. Now a police officer, taxi driver and surgeon in their forties, they cross paths without realizing it. Second feature film of Vladimir Kott.
“Fasl-e baran-haye moosemi” / “Rainy Seasons,” Majid Barzegar, Iran, 2010, 86’, European premiere
This intimate Iranian film tells the story of an urban teenage boy trapped between his parents’ divorce and his own troubles. It reveals a seldom shown side of Iranian society – middle class urban youths that have the same problems as everywhere around the world. First feature film of Majid Barzegar.
“Headshots,” Lawrence Tooley, Germany, Austria, 2010, 92’, International premiere
Subtle distance characterizes the point of view of the filmmaker towards his subject: a female photographer makes her way through 21st century Berlin, a city full of artistic and complicated people. Second feature film of Lawrence Tooley.
“O céu sobre os ombros” / “The Sky Above,” Sérgio Borges, Brazil, 2010, 72’, International premiere
Blurring borders between documentary and fiction, this film portrays a few moments from the lives of three men from Belo Horizonte: a transsexual prostitute and academic, a Hare Krishna soccer fan and a would-be writer. Winner of five awards at the Festival of Brazilian Cinema. First feature film of Sérgio Borges.
“Fuyu no kimono” / “Love Addiction,” Uchida Nobuteru, Japan, 2010, 92’, International premiere
In Love Addicton, superior improvisation and total commitment overcome all limitations of low budget film-making. The filmmaker points his camera at four characters, co-workers who have complicated relationships during and after working hours. Second feature film of Uchida Nobuteru.
“Igillena maluwo” / “Flying Fish,” Sanjeewa Pushpakumara, Sri Lanka, 2011, Hubert Bals Fund, 125’, World premiere
This daring, exciting story from northern Sri Lanka convincingly captures the madness in a land where the psychology of war is omnipresent. Three parallel stories deal with the attempts of ordinary village people to lead a normal life in abnormal circumstances. First feature film of Sanjeewa Pushpakumara.
“Tee-rak” / “Eternity,” Sivaroj Kongsakul, Thailand, 2010, Hubert Bals Fund, 105’, European premiere
After his death, a man returns to the landscape of his childhood and relives the relationship that was meant to last forever. Eternity is a romantic and spiritual film as well as a meditation about the death of a loved one. First feature film of Sivaroj Kongsakul.
“Todos tus muertos” / “All Your Dead Ones,” Carlos Moreno, Colombia, 2010, 90’, International premiere
One Sunday morning, a Colombian farmer finds a pile of dead bodies in his corn field. On Election Day, the local politicians however have other things on their mind than dealing with the crime. Second feature film of Carlos Moreno.
“Musan il-gy” / “The Journals of Musan,” Park Jung-Bum, South Korea, 2010, 127’, European premiere
Already an award winning film, The Journals of Musan portrays the plights and emotions of a North Korean defector who is trying to adapt to South Korea’s capitalist society. First feature film of Park Jung-Bum, who plays the lead himself.
Rotterdam Tiger Awards Competition for Short Films 2011
“1989” (Den gang jeg var fem år gammel) / “1989” (When I Was Five Years Old), Thor Ochsner, Denmark, 2010, 11’
“Slow Action,” Ben Rivers, United Kingdom, 2011, 45’, World premiere
“Players,” Pilvi Takala, Finland, Netherlands, 2010, 8’
“Pastourelle,” Nathaniel Dorsky, USA, 2010, 16’, European premiere
“I lupi” / “The Wolves,” Alberto De Michele, Italy, 2011, 17’, World premiere
“A Short Film about War,” Jon Thomson, Alison Craighead, United Kingdom, 2010, 10’
“End Transmission,” James T. Hong, Chen Yin-Ju, Taiwan, Netherlands, Germany, 2010, 17’, International premiere
“Lesser Apes,” Emily Vey Duke & Cooper Battersby, Canada, 19’, World premiere
“Stardust,” Nicolas Provost, Belgium, 2010, 20’
“These Hammers Don’t Hurt Us,” Michael Robinson, USA, 2010, 13’, European premiere
“Maska,” Brothers Quay, Poland, 2010, 24’
“Khleb dlya pticy” / “Bread for Bird,” Aleksandra Strelyanaya, Russia, 2010, 26’
“Beyond-ism,” Sun Xun, China, 2010, 8, International premiere
“Maria Theresia und ihre 16 Kinder” / “Maria Theresia and her 16 Children,” Roland Rauschmeier & Ulu Braun, Austria, Germany, 2010, 30’, International premiere
“Versions,” Oliver Laric, Germany, North Korea, 2010, 9’
“Tse” / “Out,” Roee Rosen, Israel, 2010, 34’
“Jan Villa,” Natasha Mendonca, USA, India, 2010, 20’
“A History of Mutual Respect,” Gabriel Abrantes, Daniel Schmidt, Portugal, 2010, 23’
“Home Movie,” John Price, Canada, 2010, 27’
“Mercúrio” / “Mercury,” Sandro Aguilar, Portugal, 2010, 18’
“After Empire,” Herman Asselberghs, Belgium, 2011, 52’, World premiere
“Lubaben,” Eva Pervolovici, France, Romania, 2011, 30’, World premiere
“Otolith III,” The Otolith Group, United Kingdom, 2010, 49’
“The Story of Elfranko Wessels,” Erik Moskowitz & Amanda Trager, USA, Canada, 2011, 16’, World premiere
“Mirages,” Emanuel Licha, Canada, France, 2010, 19’
“It, Heat, Hit,” Laure Prouvost, United Kingdom, 2010, 6’
“Immortal Woman,” Jakrawal Nilthamrong, Thailand, 2010, 9, European premiere
“La dame au chien” / “The Lady with the Dog,” Damien Manivel, France, 2010, 16’
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