Category: STAFF PICKS – 2024 ARFF PARIS

Original Film Title: Forbidden Reverie 宿祭

Director’s Name: Yisong Huang

Writer’s Name: Yisong Huang

Producer: Chunqi Zhao

Country of Origin: China

Country of Filming: United Kingdom

Language: Chinese

Runtime: 4 minutes

Film Description:

“Forbidden Reverie” is a groundbreaking 3D CG film that navigates the dynamic virtual realm of Generation Z. Through the characters inspired by the iconic tale of “Farewell My Concubine,” the film sheds light on the struggles, victories, and identity journeys within the LGBTQ+ community. Using innovative Peking opera virtual fashion and compelling film techniques, the project provides a powerful platform for increased visibility and acceptance. “Forbidden Reverie” not only captivates artistically but also challenges societal norms, contributing to a vital conversation on LGBTQ+ representation and acceptance in contemporary contexts.

Original Film Title: Chronicles of Art-Tech Fusion

Director’s Name: Swen Werner

Writer’s Name: Swen Werner

Producer: Swen Werner

Country of Origin: United Kingdom

Country of Filming: United Kingdom

Language: English

Runtime: 9 minutes

Film Description:

At the turn of the century, the fervor of the French Revolution gives rise to Napoleon, a beacon of new freedoms and justice. Yet, as he embarks on a European conquest, a stark confrontation arises between the realms of idealistic thought and the harsh truths of the material world. It is from this turbulent epoch and the period that followed that the enigmatic Zeitgeist summons three philosophers to delve into these tumultuous currents.Together, they confront a spectrum of human potential and limitations, their discourse entwining with a man’s search for self-actualization. As they navigate the philosophical undercurrents of progress and the shackles of necessity, reality intrudes with the stirrings of a political crisis, sparked by the theft of treasured cultural artifacts.Through the mist of time, the narrative weaves historical ambition with contemporary urgency, each thread pulling toward a revelation. Guided by echoes from the Illiad and shaped by the Zeitgeist’s mysterious hand, the story explores the collision of technology with tradition, and bridges the ancient war song of Achilles with the digital age’s cry for identity. This odyssey transcends mere recounting, inviting a deep plunge into the essence of true liberty.

Original Film Title: Virtualidade

Director’s Name: Marta Torres

Writer’s Name: Marta Torres

Producer: Marta Torres

Country of Origin: Brazil

Country of Filming: Brazil

Language: English, Portuguese

Runtime: 8 minutes 35 seconds

Film Description:

In the age of artificial intelligence, two characters start a conversation through the “Socialverse” and face their doubts about their perceptions of what is real in the virtual world and what is illusion in reality. A tribute to the history of cinema combined with the issues brought by the new technologies.

Original Film Title: Hercules Recycled 2.0

Director’s Name: Don Moriarty, Greg Alt

Writer’s Name: Don Moriarty, Greg Alt, David Trottier

Producer: Don Moriarty

Country of Origin: United States

Country of Filming: India

Language: Assamese

Runtime: 6 minutes 59 seconds

Film Description:

The legendary story of Koina Konda Xill is about six hundred years old with rich ancient custom and tradition prevailing in the Tiwa society of Assam, India till date. The women empowerment was very significant in Boghora Kingdom. Besides household works girls and women were taught archery and the skill of wielding sword for the sake of their motherland. While the king of Mayong was very compassionate on wild animals residing in the nearby Pobitora forest, an internationally famed Pobitora wildlife sanctuary at present. Lord Ananta Gosai Exhibition for the first time has been organized by the Boghora King where all the kings of neighboring Kingdom along with their family have been invited. During the festival the princess of Boghora and the Prince of Myong met and fell in love with each other. Both the parents of Prince and Princess agreed to their willingness and the wedding ceremony was held auspiciously. The King and Queen of Boghora bade goodbye to their daughter. On their way to Mayong the wedding party met with a natural disaster . A rock has fallen on Bride Princess’s body and gradually crushed her to death . The Prince has fallen under the hill. Finally, all the members of Wedding Party were killed, the bride – groom could not start their new life. Since that horrible incident the rocks of Boghora Hill started to produce the sound of traditional musical instruments played by Tiwa Community at the time of marriage and also some rocks produce painful cry of the Bride Princess. Thus the Bride Crying Rock of Boghora Hill is historically important bearing a true and painful story, has become the heritage site of Morigaon District of Assam, india.

Original Film Title: Koina Konda Xil (BRIDE CRYING ROCK)

Director’s Name: Dr Mainu Devi

Writer’s Name: Dr Mainu Devi

Producer: Dr Mainu Devi

Country of Origin: India

Country of Filming: India

Language: Assamese

Runtime: 6 minutes 59 seconds

Film Description:

The legendary story of Koina Konda Xill is about six hundred years old with rich ancient custom and tradition prevailing in the Tiwa society of Assam, India till date. The women empowerment was very significant in Boghora Kingdom. Besides household works girls and women were taught archery and the skill of wielding sword for the sake of their motherland. While the king of Mayong was very compassionate on wild animals residing in the nearby Pobitora forest, an internationally famed Pobitora wildlife sanctuary at present. Lord Ananta Gosai Exhibition for the first time has been organized by the Boghora King where all the kings of neighboring Kingdom along with their family have been invited. During the festival the princess of Boghora and the Prince of Myong met and fell in love with each other. Both the parents of Prince and Princess agreed to their willingness and the wedding ceremony was held auspiciously. The King and Queen of Boghora bade goodbye to their daughter. On their way to Mayong the wedding party met with a natural disaster . A rock has fallen on Bride Princess’s body and gradually crushed her to death . The Prince has fallen under the hill. Finally, all the members of Wedding Party were killed, the bride – groom could not start their new life. Since that horrible incident the rocks of Boghora Hill started to produce the sound of traditional musical instruments played by Tiwa Community at the time of marriage and also some rocks produce painful cry of the Bride Princess. Thus the Bride Crying Rock of Boghora Hill is historically important bearing a true and painful story, has become the heritage site of Morigaon District of Assam, india.

Original Film Title: Ego (Ava Della Pietra)

Director’s Name: . Adam Lukowski

Writer’s Name: Ava Della Pietra

Producer: Adam Lukowski

Country of Origin: United States

Country of Filming: United States

Language: English

Runtime: 2 minutes 37 seconds

Film Description:

The official music video of Ava Della Pietra’s original song, “ego”

Original Film Title: Azhagiya Kanne

Director’s Name: Vijaya Kumar R

Writer’s Name: Vijaya Kumar R

Producer: Xavier Britto S

Country of Origin: India

Country of Filming: India

Language: Tamil

Runtime: 1 hour 36 minutes 15 seconds

Film Description:

An aspiring filmmaker marries a girl who belongs to a different community. Can they lead a peaceful life after?

Original Film Title: Kaarel Kurismaa. Beyond the limits of timelessness

Director’s Name:Aljona Surzikova

Writer’s Name: Aljona Surzikova

Producer: Sergei Trofimov

Country of Origin: Estonia

Country of Filming: Estonia, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Swaziland

Language: Esperanto

Runtime: 60 minutes

Film Description:

A documentary about the Estonian artist Kaarel Kurismaa shows the viewer an insight into the world of artists. Kaarel changed his creative direction several times; he explored different artistic styles. Kaarel Kurismaa laid the foundations for Estonian kinetic and sound art. He is a highly versatile artist whose creative energy is divided between painting, sound, installation, monumental art, and film. On the crest of the avant-garde wave of the 1970s, he created several important sound and kinetic objects in Estonian art history. From the mid-1970s, Kurismaa worked as an artist, director, and cinematographer at Eesti Joonisfilm and Nukufilm. In the 1980s, Kurismaa became more interested in making space and monumental art. He created a number of remarkable public space objects that synthesised the key elements of his work – sound and movement. Only one of these objects has survived to this day – the Tallinn tram. The 1990s marked another turning point in Kurismaa’s work. Sound objects inspired by pop art aesthetics were replaced by contemporary site-specific space and sound installations. The film features friends and colleagues of Kaarel Kurismaa: Tiit Pääsuke, Tamara Luuk, Olga Temnikova, Ragne Soosalu, Sirje Helme, Andres Kurg, who share their experiences and talk about their collaboration with the artist. We can see unique archival footage and private archive photographs, get a glimpse of the work of various artists, and follow the process of creating art.