19th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival
3-12 March, 2017
DIRECTORS’ QUOTES OF THE DAY
3-12 March, 2017
DIRECTORS’ QUOTES OF THE DAY
The Greek and foreign directors who attend this year’s edition talk about their films which are screened today at the 19th TDF:
Deadline by Menios Carayannis
"It is the relationship we have with death that determines the relationship we have with life. We should open a dialogue with something that is non-negotiable and common to us all, a general fate, and essentially by making this dialogue to realize that this way we remove the fear (which is normal) and create a familiarity with the inescapable. Let us not forget that death is a terrifying companion, but still a companion in any case”.
Lute Electric by Vassilis Dimitriadis & Mike Geranios
"The electric lute is a new instrument that somehow fills a gap in the collection of musical instruments globally, being at the same time part of a ‘bridge’ that connects all instruments and timbres. There is nothing similar to it. The electric guitar is different from the classical one, while it maintains some common elements with it. The same happens with the electric lute; it’s different from the traditional Cretan lute, but at the same time it shares ties with the history of the Cretan music, while also being innovative”.
My Human Self by Lukas Agelastos & Spiridoula Gouskou
"Our documentary shows that most people facing the tremendously difficult situation of homelessness are not only deprived of the financial opportunities, but also the family ties. The ‘social kitchen’ of “The Other Man”, turns into action what welfare fails to do: reintegrate into society the people who are in great need, assigning them tasks (homeless people cook themselves), helping them to feel useful and productive again, while also making them feel members of a large family once more”.
Olympus: Four Paths to Reach the Gods by Nick Dourlios
"I think this documentary brings us closer to the original sources of our history. This mainly happens through the testimonies and stories of people who lived in these places from the beginning, together with the magical images of this mythical mountain, Mount. Olympus. And also with the feelings that are caused to all of us by the above, as well as the great encouragement to walk at these holy places and experience their atmosphere”.
Stories our Cinema (did) not Tell by Fernanda Pessoa
“I had a lot of previous knowledge of these films because I had worked in the Brazilian cinema archives of my film school, but I didn’t know what to do with it. I was very motivated by two things: First of all, Marc Ferro’s approach of considering all films a possible historical document. If every film is able to reveal something from its time, why not these films, that were the most watched and produced in Brazil during the military dictatorship? Second of all, I was very inspired by a phrase of the filmmaker William E. Jones: “Even in an unlikely place, it’s possible to find traces of our recent history.” This is what I was trying to prove with my documentary: even in these films, that were considered apolitical and vulgar, our history is there”.
Upon the Shadow by Nada Mezni Hafaiedh
“Arabic societies can be described today as generally homophobic, as attitudes towards the LBGT people in Arabic countries are very complex. Mostly they don’t speak of the LGBT community because they don’t exist, and they don’t exist because they never want to speak of them. LGBT communities are neglected and totally avoided. The path forward for them in the Arab world remains challenging. These communities attempt to fight against homophobia and injustice through Facebook pages, associations, magazines, stories and all other means that might make their voices heard. But the road is still very long in the Arab world to be tolerant toward LGBT communities”.
Vergot by Cecilia Bozza Wolf
“The boundaries of an alpine valley, a small village of rude farmers in the mountains may not be so different from an urban district or a small social community. Surely you have to struggle against solitude, isolation, traditionalism and prejudice, but at the bottom in the heart of every person in his lifetime must fight to fully discover him/her, to communicate it to others, and to be recognized, and above all, loved. And the only possible key for go beyond your limits is the will to love, but say: ‘I love you’, sometimes could be really difficult”.
