Hungary’s freshest young film festival celebrates its 5th anniversary in 2008. The origins of the 280 films submitted this year span 48 countries. Most came from Central Europe and the U.S., but films also came in from as far away as Indonesia and South America. On the following pages, read about the 10 films in competition as well as the films in the “Women in Picture” special section. For a full list of films, check the festival’s website – www.cinefest.hu.
Films in Competition
The Shaft
China, 2008, 85 min
Zhang Chi
Feature about a family of three people in a mine in western China. The daughter Jingshui wants to leave the mine and change her life, but she has to choose between her dream and her love. The son Jingsheng has to decide whether to lead the same life as his father or to continue pursuing his dreams. The father Ding Baogen has spent his whole life working in the mine. When retires at the age of 60, he decides to fulfill his last wish to look for his wife.
Todo Todo Teros
The Philippines, 2008, 102 min
John Torres
Composed mostly of found footage of close friends, Filipino musicians and performance artists, the film is a surreal take on Manila and how artists can subvert a culture by the mere act of creating works that empower and transform. It is a meta-movie of a kind, a film that exposes suffering, infidelity and a woman’s empowerment.
The Gamblers
Germany, 2007, 87 min
Sebastian Bieniek
Based on Dostoyevsky’s masterpiece of the same name, shot under the mentorship of legendary Hungarian director Béla Tarr in the wasteland outskirts of Berlin, Sebastian Bieniek’s rst feature brings a generous dose of beauty and light to this classic intrigue of unrequited love and a debt-ridden dynasty about to fall.
Slow Mirror
Hungary, 2007, 84 min
Igor and Ivan Buharov
Do you know what kind of a barman pours for spirits? Do you know what drink the barman pours? If your lover pours the drink, it’s your destruction. If the drink is fiery, inside it brings illumination. Drink intoxication’s drink, be consumed by love! A drop happily seeks its death in the ocean’s water. All the world’s a bar and things in it merely glasses. Our friend raises his glass for us and we pay the bill. Even wisdom is drunk, descending into stupor. Earth and heaven are drunk and all the angels too.
18 Grams of Love
Singapore, 2007, 85 min
Han Yew Kwang
Zihua and Ah Hui are two longtime friends. They suspect that their wives are cheating on them. In order to allay their suspicions, they decide to “test” their wives by having the other write a love letter to the other’s wife. They wait for the reaction…
At the River
Ukraine, 2007, 84 min
Eva Neymann
Touching story about a day in life of a mother and her daughter. They have already reached a stage in their lives when age difference becomes almost invisible. One day they are visited by a young official who quite unwittingly inspires the mother to feel young once more so she decides to set out for a walk by the river. Maybe for the last time in her life.
Tale 52
Greece, 2008, 97 min
Alexis Alexiou
After meeting at a dinner with friends, Iasonas and Penelope start a relationship. One day when Iasonas wakes up, Penelope has disappeared, but he is unable to reconstruct what has happened… A psychological thriller without redemption, with an outspoken visual language.
Strangers
Israel, 2008, 85 min
Erez Tadmor, Guy Nattiv
Eyal, an Israeli guy and Rana, a Palestinian living in Paris, meet accidentally while heading for the world cup final in Berlin. They fall in love. In Europe, Rana and Eyal are somehow able to transcend deep wounds of the Israeli-Palestinian conflicts and relate as individuals. Their inextricably linked history and common homeland, certainly a source of discord, also seem to generate an intrinsic intimacy between them.
The Inspector
Hungary, 2008, 110 min
Attila Gigor
Tibor Malkáv does not have any relationship with people. His only living relative is his dying mother. He does not have money for the life-saving operation. In order to earn the money for the surgery, he takes the job of killing Ferenc Szirmai – a complete stranger to him. He gets his money, and everything seems fine. But, next day, he receives a letter from Ferenc Szirmai…
The Collectress
Lithuania, 2008, 78 min
Kristina Buozyte
Following a traumatic experience, Gaile is incapable of feeling any emotion. However, while preparing a video presentation for a scientific conference, she sees herself on screen and is surprised to find suppressed sensations returning to her, primarily feelings of aggression. Gaile decides to try an experiment.
“Women in Picture” Special Section
Metamorphosis
Israel, 2006, 57 min
Netalie Braun
Metamorphosis is a combination of four testimonies of women who have experienced rape or incest. Arachne, the narrator of the film, spins the testimonies alongside the mythological stories of rape as one cultural continuum, creating a web which is a powerful and profound indictment.
Mazal
Israel, 2008, 18 min
Roy Sher
A small sailor’s bar in downtown Haifa. Clients hardly come in here any more. In the empty bar sit Mazal, the bartender and Klod, the bar’s owner. When Mazal learns that Klod is selling the bar, she understand that things are about to change for her. Then she meets Henry, the young American sailor.
Untitled Stories
Portugal, Norway, 2007, 11 min
Margarida Paiva
Untitled Stories is a video based on everyday stories that are put together in a broken monologue told by a female voice. The video explores worlds of memory as a kind of stream-of-consciousness in which several layers of time are connected by the voice of this female character.
The Slavey
Hungary, 2007, 13 min
Petra Szőcs
The Slavey is an adaptation of the third story of Day 3 from Boccaccio’s Decameron, known as the story of the Mute Gardener. Set in a strict ballet institute in contemporary times, the film explores the relationship between a young boy and the students of the school.
Dragon Flies
Poland, 2007, 15 min
Justyna Nowak
A short story about two teenagers, inhabitants of a little town at the seaside. It’s summertime, so it’s time for love, crime and growing up…
A Few Simple Words
Poland, 2007, 35 min
Anna Kazejak–Dawid
Krystyna is an attractive, dynamic and independent woman. She wants to take her daughter, against her will, to the casting for vocal girl-group. Unexpected car damage forces Krystyna to look for the help from a man, whom she hasn’t seen for a long time. This meeting will change a lot in both of their lives.
At the End of the Street
Poland, 2007, 14 min
Jenifer Malmqvist
Alexandra cannot accept the fact that her girlfriend has left her. The confrontation with a special table and a policeman, makes her understand that loss always will be a part of life.
Tickets: Free
Getting there:
The 173-km journey takes about two hours. There are trains leaving throughout the day, mostly from Keleti. By car, take the M3 east, turning north at the M30/E71.
The 173-km journey takes about two hours. There are trains leaving throughout the day, mostly from Keleti. By car, take the M3 east, turning north at the M30/E71.