BLACK MOVIE FESTIVAL – OUR TOP 5
by Chené Koscielny
WIN A FREE FESTIVAL PASS TO SEE AS MANY MOVIES AS YOU LIKE (1 person)
Info on how to enter at the end of this article.
Intrigued by the Black Movie Festival, but a bit perplexed about what it is and what’s on offer?
We asked festival co-director Kate Reidy, to give us a quick rundown and her suggestions for the Top 5 Movies not to miss at this year’s festival.
Each one of them falls under a different theme.
WHAT IS THE BLACK MOVIE FESTIVAL?
An international independent film festival in Geneva – which aims to ‘swim against the tide’ of conventional movie fare, celebrating emerging talents and established filmmakers from Asia, Africa and Latin America.
The Black Movie theme is outer space, different galaxies and the black hole – to symbolise the different and independent mindset of these non-mainstream films.
There is also a Black Movie for Kids section with 44 animated children’s movies.
WHEN IS THE FESTIVAL?
From the 19th to the 28th of January 2018.
WHAT ARE THE CATEGORIES?
- Mauvais genre 2018 – films not yet screened focusing on topics around gender and sexuality.
- Mauvais genre rétroqueer 18+ – selection of queer films.
- Les Résistantes – films dedicated to women in resistance to power and standing up to violence.
- You Also My Son – Films focusing on blood relations and the romantic issues around this topic.
- To Be Followed: Films directed by some of the biggest up-and-coming stars of the world of art cinema.
TOP 5 MOVIES NOT TO BE MISSED
(according to the festival’s co-director Kate Reidy)
MAUVAIS GENRE 2018
Taekwondo by Martin Farina and Marco Berger
A delicate and sunny tale about the birth of desire between two men and its imperious power. Not only are there beautiful bodies to be seen in this movie, but the story is well brought on with a real sentimental suspense : does this boy love me too?
MAUVAIS GENRE RETROQUEER 18+
I Don’t Want to Sleep Alone by Tsai Ming-liang
One of my favourite films ever. Beautiful shots, amazing atmosphere, a magical movie. The Taiwanese director manages to bring the viewer in his dreamlike smokey world, where all is tough and sensual at the same time. A young immigrant worker is attacked in the suffocating streets of Kuala Lumpur and collapses unconscious on a dirty old mattress. Another young man lifts him up and takes care of him. He then passes into other arms, between the thighs of young or mature women…
RESISTANTS
I Am Not A Witch by Rungano Nyoni
Excellent film about a young Zambian girl who is believed to be a witch and has to live with a group of old women and serve as a witch judge. Extremely well directed and beautifully incarnated by the young child actress. Certainly the birth of a brilliant new female director.
WAGES OF FEAR
Arrhythmia by Boris Khlebnikov
A very touching impossible love story between a doctor and a nurse, both working in an over busy Russian hospital, and who can’t manage to make room for any life together anymore. It is a long path of reconquest and drunken bouts that is paving the way for them to find each other again. Extremely efficient.
TO BE FOLLOWED
Le jour d’après by Hong Sangsoo
The Korean director manages once again to show all the pitiful and weak sides of manhood in a very amusing and cruel way. A husband is accused by his wife of cheating on her. From this starting point a series of misunderstandings and accidents occur making things worse and worse for him. Very entertaining!
WHERE IS THE FESTIVAL TAKING PLACE?
WELCOME DESK:
Le Grütli
16 rue du Géneral-Dufour
Public info number: +41 76 5137748
CINEMAS:
Cinemas Grütli, Simon and Langlois, 16 rue du Général-Dufour
Cinélux, 8 bd Saint-Georges
Alhambra, 10 rue de la Rotisserie
TICKET OFFICE visit here.
WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING?
Panel discussions with experts on a range of topics including queer aesthetics, feminism, cinema in Burkina Faso and the relationship between religion and mental health.
Xanadu – the film festival’s central hub decorated in a space theme and offering film presentations by their directors, culinary delights and Dj sets with dancing all night long.
Dress code: intergalactic, fluo, space.
WIN A FREE PASS TO SEE AS MANY MOVIES AS YOU LIKE AT THE BLACK MOVIE FESTIVAL
To win a Free pass to the whole festival for 1 person – answer this simple question:
Who is the festival’s co-director? Answer: in the article above.
Send your answer to info@thingstodoingeneva.ch before noon on Monday 21st February 2018. Winners will be announced by email.
