After watching the documentary Film Spa which introduces the history of Kalvary Vary International Film Festival, I am really interested in diving into the KVIFF in terms of unpacking the inspirations behind the film festival. Therefore, I read the article written by Cerise Howard which is a review of the 54th KVIFF. As a well-known film festival, KVIFF has its own cultural heritage, and it is not only the witness of history but also the maker of history. Howard (2020) describes some of the liberated films that were presented in 35mm print, which is quite an iconic figure in the past. Even though the conditions of these film strips make people a bit worried, it was still a successful presentation of archives. In my opinion, a sense of reminiscence raises the awareness of protecting priceless cultural heritages among people. Although there are many new technologies being applied in films, the use of 35mm proves a fact that the very beginning mind itself is the most accomplished mind of true enlightenment, and it is an aesthetic representation of the film industry.
I also read another article written by Jessica Kiang which is a report based on the 2020 Berlin Film Festival. I am really interested in different sections of Berlinale, these sections are not only having their own characters but also coherent as a whole. As Kiang (2020) states, there are three sections mentioned in the article: Panorama, Forum, and Encounters. The 2020 Berlinale was a successful film festival in terms of having a perfect balance between past and present. The forum showcased 28 highlights from the past five decades, which led to the issue of new directors being overshadowed. In contrast, the Encounters is designed to be a stage for challenging films and help them to be more competitive, it definitely encourages new directors to get involved with the festival, and be more creative in terms of filmmaking. There is no doubt that traditional film festivals need this kind of evolution in order to adapt to the current society.
References:
Cerise Howard, “Of liberation, and of states of undress and redress both: The 54th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
”, Senses of Cinema, no. 92 (Oct. 2019) [online] Accessed on 12th April 20 at
Of liberation, and of states of undress and redress both: The 54th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
(Links to an external site.)
Jessica Kiang, “Berlinale 2020 report: a slow turn, with bumps
“, Sight & Sound, 4 March 2020 [online] Accessed on 12th April 20 at Berlinale 2020 report: a slow turn, with bumps
(Links to an external site.)
