Stories and images from Berlin Film Fest

Feb 7-17 2008 

Weds Feb 6

Awake in Berlin! After cute but tiny Parisian apartments, it's easy to instantly love being amongst trees, garden!, big house, SPACE! and AIR!! Pick up press pass and programs from press centre at Hyatt Hotel in Marlene Deitrich Platz. It's drizzly and grey but strong coffees and bright Berlin colours of yellows & pinks and sharp, tall modern architecture  contrast and awaken after watercoloured Paris. And after the metro... everything looks/smells sehr clean! Apparently Berlin is the new Paris and I'm gonna find out why... if time permits between as many films a day as one can... Will get to all the Australian screenings and also try for as many French,  and then everything else... 

Will be catching up with a bunch of the Australian filmmakers for pics, interviews and profiles for several publications and direct to this page. These will include writer/director ELISSA DOWN (The Black Balloon), doco director JULIAN SHAW (Darling), director PETER CARSTAIRS (September), director WARWICK THORNTON & producer KATH SHELPER (Nana) and hopefully directors BEN HACKWORTH (Corroboree), BENJAMIN GILMOUR (Son of a Lion), BONNIE ELLIOT (Meditations on a Name) and  some of their casts.

Tomorrow will be press conferences, opening screenings,and I may have to chase Mick Jaggar after SHINE A LIGHT, the Rolling Stones Movie... along with the other 3999 international journalists! Alternatively, may check what Australian actors and local talent are about to run a muck through town...

Keep tuned.

Thurs Feb 7

Tribu (Tribe) set in the homes and the gangs of the rough teens in Tondo, Manila. While disturbing and violent, it's embedded with humour and humanity which makes the characters lives and woes real, understandable and touching. Director  Jim Libiran and Camera/lights Albert Banzon  create a tangible, real and clashing world through the eyes of a young kid. Hip hop beats and words of the actors score and smooth the harshness of the film, the lyrics open paging the desires, loves, hurts and strengths of the young boys. A vivid well made social project/doco/film.

Next... A classic French comic styled film in 3 parts about wannabe gangsters/crooks that don't seriously want to hurt anyone set around a diner in a parking lot... Not riveted but all the same enjoy the French banter, a bit of slapstick and  bumbling and likable characters.

The Visitor, an American film from the director of The Station Agent and the producer of Sideways is set in New York and is the story of an uptight, widowed 50 yr old falling into the lives a young immigrant couple, a hot Syrian drummer and his jewelery designer African girlfriend.

For me, the eye of the camera is too obvious and the story lines of the parallels between the two worlds could have been better crafted as are not drawn to their potential. Some beautiful moments but I think subtler choices and more script development could have made the film more resonating and brought deeper performances. Though if the audience is meant to be closer to the protagonist... perhaps the vibrancy in itself can be more enjoyed and we are presented with a touching and real and human side of an important immigration issue.

Corridor #8 from Bulgarian director Boris Despodove is about a route of 926 km planned to make the shortest way from the Black Sea to the Adriatic coast and beyond and bringing together neighbouring countries long seperated- Bulagaria, Macedonia, Albania. Despodove lends gentle but probing and steady eyes and ears to the  people living along this route to  find out their thoughts, emotional memories of the divisions and  comic musings on  their neighbours ('I've never seen an Albanian but he can't be a monkey..')and possible unions.

Nic buzzy crowds and press, am heading into see screening of Mermaid but slightly feverish (poss not used to fresher air, less smog and less passive smoking)... so decide to leave some eyes left for tom... which will also be the debut screening of Australian Elissa Down's The Black Balloon, shot by Denzel Baker and starring Toni Colette, Ryse Wakefield and Luke Ford.

Fri Feb 8

Four film quota has moved down to 2... however happy to announce The gala opening of The Australian film The Black Balloon is definitely the best made film I've seen so far. Extra seating was brought in and audiences were sitting on the floor and others turned away. Many of the team are in town so join them at The Generation Lounge afterwards along with other Australians including Kass Warner and Ben Gilmour. Funny seeing them outside of their roles as burlesque producers. Took a couple of seconds to realise who they were, then a couple of seconds to remember who I was... usually associate them with feathers and champagne, not in the berlin cinema with ambassadors and marketers.

Afterwards, get taken out by Julia the Generation publicist to the local White Trash bar. Chat and dance with Berliners who are open and friendly and ... lose my press pass. 

Sat Feb 9

See some of Berlin... visit the East, do my program, catch up on readings... Blue skies and crisp breezes from Russia...

Sun Feb 10

Nearly don't get into Australian 'Hey Hey It's Esther Blueburger' screening as I'm a bit late and it's over full, but the usher relents and I squeeze onto a step. Unlike Black Balloon, there are subtitles but the young audience don't need most of them and it is more than obvious they love the humour, the direction, the performances and the script.

 Q n A for kids include such questions as 'were they real cigarettes' and 'why didn't Keisher play the lead', but director Cathy Randall gave well rounded, encouraging and generous responses to her young audience and signed programs with Keisha (Whale Rider) until literally pulled away by festival staff.

 Race off for the Q n A of September with Peter Carstairs with his partner (and a supporting actress) Sibylla Budd. Audience are interested in terms of the national apology about to happen in Australia to the indigenous people and want to know what other political films he will make... but Carstairs explains while the context of his script is political, it is a relationship drama and what compels him as a filmmaker is relationships whether or not political backgrounds.

Join Peter, Sibylla & Black Balloon EP Sally Chesher for Japanese noodles before cabbing across town to the wrong cinema for Benjamin Gilmour's 'Son of  Lion', the Pakistani village life doco. When we make it back they won't let us in as it's overfull and 45 mins in so a quick red at the Generation Lounge then back for the last 10 mins of the film and the Qn A with Gilmour and producer Carolyn Gilmour. It was evident the audience were impressed by the filmmakers' ability to get into the the lives and hearts of his characters. Yes there are terrorists in the area but there are also normal people trying to live normal lives and we wanted to show that, he told us. 

Generation Bar and some frivolities at The White Trash which is much more civilised on a Sunday night with a Berlin based American jazz band, white table clothed cabaret setting so the burlesque decor can be appreciated. Speak easy vibe and characters.  

Mon Feb 11

Grey and freezing and run around with press and net stuff then interview with Peter Carstairs at the crazy busy Hyatt bar amongst hundreds of producers, buyers, tv crews and directors and festival staff. Hear about the journey of his film September from Toronto to Berlinale, find out why the Berlin FIlm Market scared him and hear about his disappointment in the lack of publicity of Australian films in our own market. Write to me here for this interview (editors).

Pop into the market, and find out what Peter is talking about with films as commodities. It's business as normal with hundreds of film stalls, mags, fliers, catalogues, dvds,  buyers, sellers, espresso bars, and dramatically low mobile phone conversations. Visit the AFC but they've already left... for the Australian reception.

Australian reception! Over 80 Australian registered industry professionals for the fest this year. Address from the ambassador of Australia in Berlin and much mingling, mincing and champagne for all... followed by the Generation Reception to which i ended up escorting two Australian social flier journalists (one based in Berlin one in London) .  Fun and and high and bouncy. Meet the manager from the beat box group who perform who asks me to their gig on Friday then Australian director (normally cinematographer) Bonnie Elliot who helps me construct a text requesting extension on my approaching deadline, to which my lovely editor replies 'ach! i trust the pics will be better if I allow you an extra few schnapps'! Ha. Bump into a few  more Australians who have just arrived including Warwick Thornton. Where's Kath (Shelper)? I ask. And he points behind me and the poor thing is clinging onto a branch like a koala with jetlag. Snap lovely pic.

The word is to head to Bang Bang club but do several loops of the Berlin block in a cab with Erik Thomson and end up at.... White Trash! Meet the programmer who is a funky kinda sharp punk cabaret musician from San Fransisco who I may do a feature on down the track.

Tues Feb 12

Press screening Corroboree by Ben Hackworth. I really liked the theatricality of the concept so am really disappointed that am not able to ever enter into characters, the vibe or the intentions. Unfortunately I'm not the only one either. 

Normally an interview with the director after but  can't find exact location, wait for 20 mins then resort to my first (and last) famous Berlin sausage. Grey day.

Hayatt to edit pics and words and back to West Berlin for trees and ponds and stars and write from a very needed cozy bed. Back is broken from running around with laptop loaded over with press releases.

Send off Inside Film story and pics for the April issue out  March.

Weds Feb 13

Some well needed ballet and stretching! Back is still broken from lap top running. It's really a desktop that can be moved, not a portable...

Spend day in, working on puter. Interview Bonnie Elliot.

Thursday Feb 14

Funky cafe in the east to interview Australian singer Kat Frankie who I interviewed in Sydney for a feature on for The Brag last year. We talk about how her confidence has grown since moving here three years ago, the documentary 'Berlin Song' she's featured in and why she believes that the currency of Berlin, is creativity... contact me for the interview.

Escorted back to train station by Kat who tells me about the roaring trade people make in selling used travel tickets for half price. This part of town feels edgier, poorer, rougher and more awake than the calm, sleepy, pretty and safer West. 

Ballet and recharge before heading off to see Darling! the documentary on South African satirist Pieter-Dirk Uys. Young Sydney based NZ filmmaker Julian Shaw has created a touching, bold, humorous and provocative portrait of one man, his alter egoesse and their fight against prejudice and AIDS. Very up close and personal feel (particularly from the second row). 

Q n A with a Julian and the hilarious P-D U who thanks politicians as his scriptwriters. "I don't pay taxes, I pay rights."

Screening is followed by The Glow of White Women, a journey into the mind of an  muslim Indian South African's obsession with White Women throughout his life in regards to them being the untouchable (and finally very touched) other. Very personal and honest portrayal of his mind which has the audience divided- those who think he's a sexist misogynist socialist prat and others who applaud the open, honest putting- it- out- there of his situation, his ideas on sex and white women. 

Heading back to press office but instead get swept straight into Mafrouza/Coeur part of a series of documentaries by French filmmaker set in the slums near Alexandria in Egypt (which no longer exist). We sit in the homes and 'cafe's of several characters as they talk about their lives- a possible divorce scenario, the building of an oven in a rubbish area, ideas for marriage and for army work. The audience in the q n a r fascinated by the real characters' awareness and debate of media as they discuss from the beginning the issue of being filmed, how it will depict Egypt and their lives. A few audience members feel the people exploited, the rest feel they should be given jobs in cinema and media.

It's 1130 when it comes out so I've missed (again) Son of a Lion by Benjamin Gilmour. I just don't like leaving a film before the end. Particularly with filmmaker in audience. Must see tomorrow!

Duck up very briefly to Generation Lounge and see Sally Cheshire and discuss watching films to the point where they overlap and confuse in the mind. Like in Mafrouza /Coeur, when one of the characters mentioned someone playing poker i thougt, that's right, his dad's a gambler... then realised that was the last film... argh. Meet a girl from Tel Aviv who works for Israel Film and has been to 20 film fests in the last year so imagine she does the same... 

At one minute to midnight  send one minute synchrocities film 'du coup' to Paris via phone.

Friday 15th

Finally make it to see Ben Gilmour's Son of a Lion and so so so glad! Is a documentary in style of fiction with real characters playing. Supposed to run off near end for Generation awards, but can't leave and so stay for the the Q n A. Great interview with Ben (contact for story)  over saki and sushi,  then off to press room and find out The Black Balloon won best film in Generation... run across to find cast and crew in happy, champagny exhaustion at Generation Lounge. Pile into cabs for Ben G DJing gig.

Sat 16t

Yolk! and interview Stephen Lance. Sweet short, well made.

Press office and meet up with Julia, the great Generation press contact.

Party chez Thomas H with Julia and all the generation crew. Meet the Beatbox boys again who invite me to their film tom night and Ben X Belgian film guys who I join afterwards. 

Sunday 

Great films:Ben X then Peace, Love & Beat Box. Exhausted but invited out with Beat Boxers and in the end glad to join them at Wild at Heart. Get a beat box lesson over a mini bloody Mary by the German champ who featured in the film. yeah pft

Monday 

Exhausted.

Check links and pick up IF and Brag for more deets!

See you at the next fest..Hmm... Venice?