Filmmakers must create their own personal manifesto: a world-view, an author’s style, a unique cinematic Point of View to his or her storytelling, said Peter Wintonick, the late Canadian documentary maestro in his author’s credo that supports strong, daring, meaningful documentaries. Our selection expresses these qualities exactly; all films have a strong filmmakers’ imprint. They are made without personal boundaries, some even without borders between fictional or documentary elements. They negotiate a creative space to deliver something unique and refreshing. Several films like VELVET TERRORISTS by Peter Kerekes or PELICAN IN THE DESERT by opera and film director Viesturs Kairišs, or HAPPILY EVER AFTER by Tatjana Božić, distinguish themselves by an innovative, forward-thinking approach to storytelling. These are very different films, but all three open up the space needed for contemplation and self reflection. The Latvian and Croatian films have a particularly intriguing cinematography that does not simply shoot images. It translates images into a story and interprets the story while doing so. Apart from these cinematic qualities, our selection very strongly depicts the reality around us; the films are quite bold, straightforward and bravely done. The documentary THE TERM by a Russian team of devoted documentary makers: Pavel Kostomaraov, Aleksei Pivovarov and Alexandr Rastorguev, reflects today’s state of mind of Russian citizens.

All eyes are currently on Russia and the moves of its politicians. Where are we all heading? Vitaly Mansky, an Ukrainian-born documentary giant, travelled for PIPELINE through seven countries driven by the idea to give us a closer look at the communities along the gas pipes that start in Siberia and head towards western Europe. How different are we? Or better to ponder on, how similar we actually are. Russia is also indirectly present in the film PMR by Kristina Norman and Meelis Muhu that depicts the political reality of Transnistria, a part of Moldova with a Russian speaking population. This one and most of our films in the selection are done with a specific charm, sophisticated irony, even lightness, no matter that the stories address serious topics. SCANDAL, by Elton Baxhaku and Eriona Çami, is a courageous documentary on the LGBT community in Albania. In all our films it is remarkable how makers succeeded to establish two important qualities of moving images – information and emotion. Therefore, each viewer, as well as the film- maker, is offered to take a stand towards these relevant issues depicted in our selection. 

Information and tickets:

www.letsceefilmfestival.com/programme-overview-2014/category/dokumentarfilm-wettbewerb.html