A few photos from the party at Shtoff

A few photos from the welcom cocktail at the Belagio

"Free Hands"

"Free hands", part of the competition program, was presented to the audience of «Salute» by the female director Brigitte Sy and her producer. She told the audience about her interesting career (Brigitte has been involved in filmmaking since her childhood, but made her debut in the director's chair recently), about working with actors and the artistic conception of her work. However people asking questions were more interested in the true story on which the film is based on and in lives of the main characters.

The story of "Free Hands" is really interesting. At first it seems that it is "a film about making a film": woman-director Barbara comes to a Parisian prison in order to write a screenplay, based on interviews with prisoners, and then shoots the same prisoners in her film. However, the continuation of the action shows us that the love story in the film is much more important – there is a romance between Barbara and one of the prisoners. From the beginning, you realize that this love is unlikely to end up with something good ...

During the conversation with the director something like first scandal of the festival VOICES was started . Famous Moscow critic Victor Matizen joked bitterly on the film, expressing his dissatisfaction with what he saw in that way. And because most of the Vologodians seemed to like "Free Hands", a tense atmosphere was created in the cinema "Salute". Someone even joked about possibility of a fight. However, Sy tactfully replied that everybody can understand her work in the way he wants.

“What Do I Want More” by Silvio Soldini: Is this love or just an amusement?!

This Spanish melodrama produced a terrific impression upon the audience. A very vivid plot helps the spectators to try to walk in the characters’ shoes and go through all the challenges together with them.

Ann and Dominik have a crush on each other, but, in fact, they know nothing about their relationships – they can’t make sense out of them, they can’t understand what is going on around them. Is this love or just an amusement?!

A lot of people came to watch this film. And everyone was watching it with great interest.

Music and cinema can not be divided

Music and cinema can not be divided. Like the sea and the sun. Like fire and ice. Like earth and sky. This is why every year the program of the VOICES Festival includes not only the works of outstanding film directors, but concerts of outstanding musicians as well. This way a true unity is being born, which is called "high art".

The concert was successfully given in the Kremlin’s square, where plenty of people came to attend it. Some of them even danced and encored the musicians.

In order to heat the audience the local band “HBS” was playing. After some songs Romario came with his helpers. With their funny songs they cheered up the people. Finally, Eugenyi Margulis went to the stage and the visitors have just exploded with happiness.

Oleg Flyangolts. "Indifference" did not leave us indifferent.

On 7^th of June the film "Indifference" as part of the contest was shown directed by Oleg Flyangolts.

   The first thing you see in this film is its the creative history. Started and finished shooting during the years 1989-90s, the film spent 25 years "under the bed." This "exposure" was very recent, and this year the film won the Grand Prix Kinotavr.

    "Indifference" despite its name is quite indifferent to its filling and performance. Embellished by modern features (3D, animation), the tape has not just found a new breath; it joined in a declaration of love to films and the atmosphere of the sixties, eighties and an unrestrained drive with a modern nostalgia of those times. An unpretentious love story of Petit's protagonist (played by the army just returned from Fyodor Bondarchuk), story of the escape and capture of the dog Tuzik, flying machines in the clouds and the dance of bullets, all done with one purpose, namely to perform the anthem of youth. This is a really young movie, despite its advanced age, the movie for the young, for this day forever young, those who danced the twist in Moscow cafes and collected "Muscovites" with engines of "The Cossacks."

Oleg Flyangolts gave a press conference after the presentation of his film.

- How did you come to the idea of creating such a film?
- First, the word "indifference" came to my mind and, as was the custom in those years, it was decided to write a script for that word. All the material was shot over the next two years, but then the film was put "under the bed". And recently, we decided to go back and finish this film. So there were the modern "supplements" like 3D animation and voice actors, but since the film was made without the direct sound, had to tell other people's voices.

- Did  your attitude to the film during this time change?
-In front of me was a difficult task, to get at the time of youth, to feel old enough to make films.

- Should we wait for your next film as long?
- No, there are several options to work with. And we will work with the same people.

- Is there a difference between reaction to the film at Kinotavr and here, at VOICES?
- Yes, even though things are different. At Kinotavr - the film was watched by professionals, and here by ordinary movie fans. And the Grand Prix Kinotavr for me was an unexpected reward.

 

Press conference Brigitte Sy.

Director Brigitte Sy after presenting the competition film "Hands-free", which left the audience with a lot of questions after watching it, gave a press conference to participants of the VOICES Festival in Vologda.

-The story told by you in the movie – is the story personal? Was the movie the means by which you wish to overcome the pain?
- No, it was the task of making a film. In my film there is no therapeutic option.

-The film is set in a prison. How did the idea of making the film in a prison come to you?
- I've been working with inmates for a long time. We set the play, and for one of the rehearsals, I brought a camera. Plays were written for prisoner performances and writers together. And all of this work made me think of making the movie.

- Your character shoots a film, but it’s not clear what kind of movie it is: art, documentary, feature film by the non-professional actors?
- It's hard to answer this question, because the result of her work is not presented in the film. But most likely it would be a documentary.

- What is the fate of your film in France and the world?
- We presented it at the Berlin Film Festival. In France, it was seen by about 20 thousand people.

- The whole your family is working in cinematography: husband, Philippe Garel, is the director, son, Louis Garrel, is an actor. What it's like to live in such cinematic family? And how do they relate to your film?
- All my knowledge of the movie goes through Philip. But I never tried to repeat something that is impossible. But on the other hand, I did not try to get rid of it. And the fact that I always turn to acting environment is very helpful and helped with the film.