COUNTRY - SPECIALS
Brazil and Czech Republic
BR - Brazil
Short films have always been important for Brazilian cinema. Brazilian short production from the early 20th century till now makes up almost 18000 titles, and nowadays, with the advent of digital media, almost 400 new short films are produced in a year. Within this cornucopia of films, we can find a wide variety of themes, aesthetics and languages.
The Cachaça Cinema Club was born in August 2002, in an attempt to provide an opportunity for the exhibition of these films, which has always been a historical gap in the Brazilian film industry. The idea was to create a regular exhibition of short films in the city of Rio De Janeiro. Since then, the event has happened once a month, crowding 600 seats of the traditional-steeped Carioca cinema. Around 160 films for more than 25,000 spectators have been shown already. The Cachaça programs include new films and rare ones, classics and premieres, with special attention being paid to provocative films that challenge the established standards of cinematographic language. After such aesthetic experiences, cachaça, music and dancing wrap up the evening. Today, Cachaça is a traditional event in the cultural calendar of Rio de Janeiro that attracts audiences to the sometimes overlooked area of short film, and to Brazilian cinema in general.
Cachaça and interfilm first met in 2005, and a mutual interest in working together soon became evident. interfilm’s 21 years of experience combined with the contesting spirit of Cachaça, and a common love for short film make the cooperation feasible. And here we are.
The five selected programs are an attempt to present this wide production panorama of short films, and the Brazilian cultural diversity that it represents. It was a difficult task to select them, as the biggest concern was to establish an optimum dialogue between these productions and a foreign public. This project is part of the program of cultural exchange between Brazil and Germany, Copa da Cultuta 2006, and it is sponsored by the Ministry of the Culture of Brazil.
We hope sincerely that it is appreciated by all. Thanks very much.
Cachaça Cinema Clube
because we are cinemaholics.
CZ - Czech Republic
Firstly, praise and thanks go to the organizers of the 22nd interfilm Festival. With the selection of films for this year’s country focus on the Czech Republic, they confirm that short film is an inspiring playground for budding young directors – and the Czech Republic is no exception.
Proof is visible in the three programs featuring contemporary short films by young directors on the themes Love, Duel, and Animation, as well as the focuses on the two most important personalities in Czech animation film: the great surreal animator Jan Švankmajer (1934) and the multi-faceted Michaela Pavlátová (1961), who carries the Czech animation film tradition further with works that include internationally acclaimed short animations as well as feature and documentary films.
Generally, short film acts as a stepping stone to feature film; only a few remain faithful to the genre, but many return to it over and over again, fascinated by the challenges that go along with the freedom of short filmmaking. What unites all directors in the Czech Republic today, whether of short or feature films, is that they all were influenced some way or another by the Prague Film School FAMU – the traditional ‘filmsmith’ where greats like Miloš Forman or Jirí Menzel started their careers…with a short film, naturally.
With this year’s country focus on the Czech Republic, the festival organizers have succeeded in opening a window to the diverse and exciting short film scene next door.
Jana Cerník
Czech Film Center