REEL WOMEN fanzine June 2018

3RD BIRTHDAY FANZINE

A K Y ily R ST Em by

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Read all about tonight’s programme of female-made shorts from the Reel Women archive.

Reel Women is a volunteer-run organisation, dedicated to celebrating and sharing the work of female and female-identifying filmmakers from around the world.

Tonight’s event marks our third anniversary, and we’ve curated a programme comprising some of our favourite films from previous themed programmes from sci-fi to documentary.

Sign up to our mailing list at info.reel.women@gmail.com for news on our July event, when we’ll be offering you a selection of comedy shorts made by women.

THE KIOSK

by Anete Melece

“The Kiosk” takes us on the intriguing and amusing journey of a woman, Olga, on the day she finds it in herself to change her life. She spends her day in the kiosk serving locals and wistfully dreaming of the coast. After an unexpected turn, she finds a way to roam around whilst still trapped in her kiosk.

“The Kiosk” seems to represent the restraints we as a society have around ourselves. But instead of giving up or fighting, Olga learns to use the barrier to her advantage and find the positivity in a tight situation. Director Anete Melece told us: ‘At the beginning I thought that it is a story about being stuck in a comfort zone that doesn’t allow further growing, and that sometimes we need some kick to finally step out of it. But later, when the film was already finished, maybe it has more to do with self-acceptance and the inner freedom. Once the kiosk lady realises that she can move around in spite of being stuck in a kiosk, there is nothing to hold her back. Essentially, finding a good excuse to back up our fears or laziness is always easier than actually changing something.’

Melece’s other animations, such as “Analysis Paralysis” (2016) are similar in their detailed storylines and simple, profound messages. She agrees that working in animation gives space to more interpretations, and the pastel pencil shading does give the viewer a whole new level of reality. But she also feels that ‘a film (or actually any artwork) needs to offer material for thought and not to give ready answers.’ “The Kiosk” is an eloquent example of how adventures and journeys sometimes start within ourselves and through self-determination.

“Most of my inspiration comes from life and experiences, and in moments where I have a creative block,” says Melece. “I need to look at something silly to loosen up or in fact travel. This type of vocation requires time. In the indie animation field, I have a lot of female colleagues, but in the general industry there are a lack of female voices and awareness of this needs to be raised. Finally, here is a message from my kiosk lady: if you have an idea and you think about it day and night, don’t look for excuses, but find a way to do it.”

- Elle Haywood

by Rebecca Stern

Filmmaker Rebecca Stern transports audiences into the weird world of competitive dog grooming in her documentary short “Well Groomed”. At the Groom Expo in Pennsylvania we’re introduced to owners who will go that extra mile and extra dye job (pet-safe dye of course!) to win first place.

Humorous but also thought-provoking, “Well Groomed” is an aesthetic journey into the hearts of dedicated and ambitious dog owners. Stern’s initial idea, which was to focus on dog fashion, snowballed into something much bigger. “I first found out about creative grooming through attending the Tompkins’ Square Park Dog Halloween Costume Contest in New York City,” she explains. “My initial thought was to make a small piece about dog fashion in the city because I thought the people who spent so much on their pets’ outfits would have interesting views on animals. I started searching for dog fashion trends to go a bit deeper than the one-day extravaganza, and came across creative grooming. At that point, I basically stopped everything else because it was just so eye-catching and inspired so many questions for me.”

The documentary, although focusing on what may seem superficial, promotes much deeper questions surrounding today’s culture and our obsession with the visual as well as questions about our relationship with our pets. What “Well Groomed” does so well is provoke a mix of emotions, positive and negative. Stern, who is no stranger to life behind the lens, credits filmmaker Matt Heineman, known for “Cartel Land” (2015) and “City of Ghosts” (2017) as an important influence after working with him on a previous project. “He’s intensely dedicated to getting answers to his questions, and very resourceful to make sure he finishes what he started. The work ethic really got me through the production of this short, which was my first film.”

This is not the last we will see of “Well Groomed” as Stern is currently working on a feature-length version. “The feature will focus on four women in the competition. I’m really excited to have more time to dive further into how they see their artwork and relate to their animals. We will also send quite a bit more time in their grooming shops, seeing how other owners treat their pets across the country and the burdens of being small business owner-operators.”

You can stay updated on the feature at http://www.wellgroomedfilm.com/ - April McIntyre

THE RED APPLE

by Susan Koenen At the beginning of Susan Koenen’s “The Red Apple” (“Merlijn en de rode appel”), a young boy reads Article 28 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, that ‘all children have the right to a primary education’. Merlijn himself is a smart, cheerful eleven year-old who does not go to school.

He has autism, and cannot concentrate in school as classrooms are too crowded for him. He is one of 6000 children in the Netherlands who do not go to school for health reasons.

Koenen’s documentary unobtrusively lets the audience get to know Merlijn, as we listen to him tell his story. His mother is trying hard for him to attend school, and much of the documentary follows Merlijn and his parents as they try to find methods of schooling that are best for him.

With Merlijn at the centre of “The Red Apple”, the documentary is engaging and at no point feels manipulative. He is a likeable central character, perceptive in describing his experiences and more than comfortable in front of the camera. His narration is the driving force of this attentive, considerate documentary, which sits back and lets Merlijn tell his own story, his way.

- Yozzie Osman

Tonight we’re delighted to offer you another chance to see Tiffany Wei’s comic animation “Meal Time”, which won the Crystal Punt Audience Award at last year’s Cambridge Film Festival. __________________ Please let us know what you think of tonight’s event! Follow facebook.com/ReelWomen/ & @ReelWomenUK

n this quirky and exuberant documentary, filmmaker Yoko Okumura documents her mother’s enthusiastic love of strawberries, and how something so simple can bring so much joy and happiness. The unexplored world of strawberry enthusiasts is unveiled before us, doing what documentaries do best: opening a door into people’s lives and other worlds which we might never have found on our own. “I think my Mom’s love for all things Strawberries is eccentric in a way that brings joy,” says Okumura. “I thought the world might need a little uncomplicated joy and that this would be the perfect story to deliver that.”

Okumura, born in a Buddhist temple in Japan, now lives and works in Los Angeles. She has written and directed a number of short films and a digital series. Her films have done the rounds at festivals and have picked up an impressive selection of awards and fellowships.

Okumura’s style is influenced by the likes of Baz Luhrmann and John Cameron Mitchell, her favourite film being Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001) which combines a perfect mix of glamour and vulnerability. “I love glamour and everything that shimmers, but also love to break down that glimmer to see the people behind it as stripped down human beings,” she says. “I love glamour as an armour and then to see the vulnerability beneath it, I also always loved the complex emotions of ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’.”

Okumura is currently taking on bigger projects and is due to start directing a new feature. She is also working to get her own feature film off the ground that she’s written. “‘The Religion of Girlfriends’ is about a Japanese American teenager in the 90s whose father is a buddhist monk. Her desperation for new friends digs her into a danger web of mysteries and the occult.”

We can also look forward to a new short, “Lexical Gap”, which she describes as “a punk musical about redefining virginity and shattering the purity myth.”

- April McIntyre

STRAWBERRIES WILL SAVE THE WORLD

by Yoko Okumura

something fishy

by Kristy Best Kristy Best’s “Something Fishy” tells the story of a girl’s obsession with goldfish. This dark, twisted and humorous short film is Kristy’s first short; she’s since directed two more. The Australian director is more well-known as a presenter and actor, appearing in shows such as “Top of the Lake”.

The film highlights children’s natural enthusiasm when it comes to things they love, but takes a surprising turn when we see that the girl is quite nonchalant about the comings and goings of her beloved pets.

In an interview with Metroscreen, Best explains how she used social media and help from friends to raise money and to make the film itself. As a busy actor she was relieved to have an organised team helping bring everything together. “Something Fishy” is a hilariously disturbing short, where you’ll be left not knowing whether to laugh or to call home to tell your cat you love him. The collaboration of so many of Best’s family members, friends and industry contacts as well as the public has resulted in a charming yet dark and sadistically funny short film, that will definitely leave you questioning how quickly your kids go through goldfish.

- April McIntyre

EDMOND

by Nina Gantz Edmond’s impulse to love and be close to others is strong... Maybe too strong. As he stands alone by a lake contemplating his options, he goes on a journey backwards through his life, and revisits all his defining moments in search for the origin of his desires.

playground politix

by Doreen Spicer-Dannelly

The playground is the battlefield in Doreen Spicer-Dannelly’s “Playground Politix”, a short film where girls battle boys for space and dance is the greatest weapon. At the beginning of the film, we are boldly told “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”

It’s easy for a film with such a weighty opening statement and a focus on children and dance battles to sound cheesy or artificial- a sickly sweet concoction of faux attitude and exploited talent. SpicerDannelly successfully avoids this. It is an engaging, sincere take on the battle of the sexes, where everyone comes out on top. In this piece, all kids have the right to play, and the ensuing dancefilled drama is a joy to behold.

“Playground Politix” has a cast of unbelievably talented dancers, and what makes the short work is its emphasis on their sheer talent. With dance styles including street, salsa, and ballet, the kids effortlessly take on each sequence, each movement with equal determination and finesse. Chuck Maldonado’s choreography is wonderful to watch, and directed well amongst some fierce editing to show the dynamics of each sequence.

The catchy, elevating song that plays as the credits roll is called ‘No Bully’, and with such emphasis on the dancing it’s easy to miss the more profound meaning behind “Playground Politix”. The antibullying message is important, though perhaps does not come across as clearly as the filmmakers intended. However, where they have succeeded is in making a powerful, fun film with some fantastic dancing, a fabulous cast and a message that everyone, boy or girl, can run the playground.

- Yozzie Osman

This Fanzine is produced by Take One magazine. Find us at takeonecff.com or follow @takeonecinema.

Chinti

by Natalia Mirzoyan Natalia Mirzoyan’s poignant short is an example of original animation at its finest: Mirzoyan used tea leaves in her stop-motion animation to mirror the Indian setting of the film. The film follows the story of one of nature’s smallest animals, while commenting on much bigger issues. Chinti is an ant, who desperately tries to re-create the Taj Mahal from pieces of debris. His efforts are thwarted time and time again until eventually, towards the end of his life, he finishes his masterpiece. In a tragic but charming ending; the film’s “bigger picture” is revealed. We spoke to Natalia about the idea behind “Chinti” and how she began the process. “The idea came to me while travelling in India.

I saw the Taj Mahal, it was so little and far away and I thought that so many insects live there and have no idea where they are. So I thought about our cosmos and that we are also little and cannot see the whole picture of universe.”

Mirzoyan’s influences are a mix of both animators and live action filmmakers. Classic animators that have influenced her filmmaking include Priit Pärn, whose surrealist style and dark humour can be seen in his films “Triangle” (1982) and “Breakfast on the Grass” (1987). Caroline Leaf is also a major influence and who is widely renowned for her unique style in her short animations such as “Two Sisters” (1991) and “The Street” (1976). It’s easy to see where Mirzoyan’s distinctive style of animation comes from.

“And of course in different times there are different influences,” she says. The key for Mirzoyan is atmosphere; where small, mundane stories can be made into something greater. Echoing Chinti’s own success story, Mirzoyan has just finished a new animation that will be doing the rounds at festivals; Пять минут до моря, which roughly translates as “Five minutes to the sea.”

- April McIntyre

“Accept people, don’t stereotype people. Don’t think because right now they’re driving a cab, they’re not going to have a master’s degree or that they’re dumber than you.”

- Isabel Coixet, Director, “The Bookshop”