14.02.13 / Thursday / Day 8

PARADISE(S) LOST… AND FOUND

First up tonight, Medienwerkstatt Berlin introduces their smorgasbord of possibilities. If you’re looking for better ways to get your creative juices out of the glass and into a presentable, produced form, don’t look further… be there at 18:00 (6:00 pm). Then festival director Levent Arslan and our compatriots from the International Short Film Festival Detmold (ISFF) show why this film fe(a)st draws such crowds, with the cream of their crop on the screen at 19:30 (7:30 pm). Dalia Huerta Cano (Mexico) then asks the cinematic question “¿Olvida Usted Algo?” in European Premiere… objects shift space and meaning in this short film at 21:00 (9:00 pm). Following the voyage, DL Selection IV brings another sackful of World Premieres: Mihai Grecu and Thibault Gleize (Romania), Pablo Chavarría Gutiérrez (Mexico), Oded Arad in attendance (Israel) and Karl F. Stewart (US/Germany) all give [DL9] the honour of screening their new films here first, alongside further European and German Premieres tonight at 21:30 (9:30 pm). Last up, putting a manic, dysfunctional family where they belong (on the screen), “Paradise East” by Nick Taylor (USA, in attendance) takes over as DL Night Movie. Here, you’ll meet an unhinged dad and his even more unhinged sons, crazy ladies and a minister you’ll not likely forget. Valentine’s Day with a twist (and the twisted). Compare notes and feel better about your own family with this pitch black comedy starting at 23:00 (11:00 pm). The best way to spend an evening “at home”!

Thu. 14 the program

the complete program

pictured: Nick Taylor (US) “Paradise East"; Wuttin Chansataboot (TH) “Visual Element”

THE 9th BERLIN INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORS LOUNGE [DL9]

12.02.13 / Tuesday / Day 6

RIGA TELLS, CINEMA GELS, FAMILY DWELLS, SEX SELLS

The Riga International Short Film Festival 2ANNAS kicks off tonight’s cinematic morsels with Latvia’s choicest contemporary screen works, presented by Amanda Boka and Baiba Matisone at 18:00 (6:00 pm). It’s not far from there to Albuquerque, care of Experiments in Cinema, whose “un-dependents” remind us that there is more to cinema than “popcorn poo-poo” with this healthy portion of appetizing works from Basement Films first seven years. These tasty film-snacks, presented by Bryan Konefsky, and entitled “Happiness is a Warm Projector,” can be had at 20:00 (8:00 pm). At 21:30 (9:30 pm), “Semalu” by Jimmy Hendrickx from Belgium will be shown in European Premiere, a short film on the children of the swamp-turned-Kuala-Lumpur-suburb Cheras and their self-discovery. Our resident Russian rebel filmmaker/curator Alexei Dmitriev then follows this with his program “I, Us, Them: Person, Family, Society,” about individuals in groups of all sizes, in attendance of director Vika Kirchenbauer. Be there for these treats (and Dmitriev’s extra-dry wit) at 22:00 (10:00 pm) The night slides sensuously into seduction with “Sex Equo” (Sex in the Foreground) by Werther Germondari and Maria Laura Spagnoli in German Premiere, with its platter of naughty, voyeueristic, non-linear pleasures, one for each fruit. Leave the kids at home, these vignettes are chock full of X-rated X-factor, a perfect prelude to your own playful proposals… food for thought (and some chuckles) at 23:30 (11:30). Finally, the Nightlounge takes over the wee hours the best way possible. The whole shebang tonight at [DL9]!

Tues. 12 the program

the complete program

THE 9th BERLIN INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORS LOUNGE [DL9]

10.02.13 / Sunday / Day 4

NIGHT OF WORLDS LESS OFTEN SEEN

Heiko Daxl and Ingeborg Fülepp, longtime media art names-to-know, together founded Media in Motion, which is just that: media art with legs to travel internationally. After Daxl’s passing last year, Fülepp continued their joint efforts, and brings to DL9 some of his early video works as well as works produced together. Sorely missed, Heiko Daxl returns via the screen (18:00/6:00 pm). The first of two World Premieres follows: India far from the familiar squalor or Bollywood, the new India, in Ajitesh Sharma’s drama “SWEN” (from “South West East North”), which follows four women and their unexpected connection. [DL9] is especially honoured to welcome the film’s stars Reeth Mazumder and Johnny Baweja (aka Gurjot Singh) in person, flying in from India for this occasion. A rare opportunity to meet these heartthrobs of Indian cinema in the flesh. Presented by Tripat Paul Aggarwal, First Vice President of International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF) at 19:30 (7:30 pm). Not to miss! From here (21:30/9:30 pm), also in World Premiere, we dive into the seedy world of Miron Zownir’s “Absturz” (“Washout”), with Deutscher Filmpreis winner Birol Ünel as well as Rummelsnuff, Gloria Viagra and other striking Berlin creatures, also in attendance tonight with the director. This short was filmed in Naherholung Sternchen, exactly where you will be seated when viewing the film… the rarest of film-meets-reality experiences. Then at 22:00 (10:00 pm)“Dirty Old Town” (by Jenner Furst, Daniel B. Levin and Julia Willoughby Nason) presented by Dietmar Kirves whisks you to New York’s in flux Bowery district. “Fucking real” says Abel Ferrara; “Oddly touching” says Jim Jarmusch. Around 23:00 (11:00 pm), Kraftwerk founding member Eberhard Kranemann performs an audio-visual set live with Usaginingen/Taco of Japan, and the Night Lounge rounds is all off. A Sunday extraordinaire… be on board!

Sun 10 the program

the complete program

THE 9th BERLIN INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORS LOUNGE [DL9]

09.02.13 / Saturday / Day 3

OF A DIFFERENT STRIPE: URBAN ZEBRA UNDER THE SUN

DLer (and fedora aficionado) Klaus W. Eisenlohr presents the first of his Urban Development curated programs at [DL9] tonight, and his “Habitats, Homelands and Bridges” will have you walking the terrain of four continents. Be there at 18:00 (6.00 pm) to take the global jaunt. Then the exotically-named Thomas Zandegiacomo Del Bel brings us special picks from the Zebra Poetry Film Festival, not the stroll into soft lyrical musings you might mistake it to be. See Phnom Penh’s Kosal Khiev after a 14-year stretch in a US prison in Masahiro Sugano’s film “Why I Write” (part of the program) and you’ll know what we mean. Starts 20:00 (8:00 pm). At 22:00 (10:00 pm), the sweet-voiced John Sampson (Swimming), in from England, premieres his project “Tricolour Sun,” in which bass grabs you and aura-filled techno/dance grooves do the rest. More! A bevy of short films, DL Selection I, starts at 23:00 (11:00 pm), including one German, two European and even a World Premiere (“The Birthday Boy” by Italy’s Erika Tasini, tonight in attendance) in the lot. Ireland’sRobin Lochman will also be there with “Kult Leader.” Still more! DJs Jouka & Stupid Muzak spin in the Night Lounge till dawn. OK. (More than) enough for one day. (!)

Sat 09 the program

the complete program

pictured: Saana Inari, Don’t Go Home With Satan
               Juan Pablo Zaramella, Luminaris