DocsBarcelona 2014/ 1
I am in Barcelona. The DocsBarcelona festival and its associated activities for professionals start today. I am in the Pulitzer Hotel next to Plaza de Catalunya, nice room with a look to a street wall covered by a photo of Andrés Iniesta. Yes, the midfielder of FC Barcelona and the Spanish national team, a great player but, alas, also one from a team that did not win anything this year.
Talking about photos the symbolic logo of the 2014 festival – take a look at it – has provoked many and many different interpretations. Last night in the hotel restaurant two waitresses came up with two reactions that are pretty much linked. What comes into your mind when you look at this cover of the catalogue, I asked them.
Freedom, one said, slavery the other said, survival a third one at the table added.
Well, true it is that several of the films in the festival deal with the problems of the world today and the search for freedom: ”Return to Homs” by Talal Derki, ”Everyday Rebellion” by the Iranian/Austrian brothers Riahi, “Ai WeiWei – the Fake Case” by Andreas Johnsen and “Ciutat Morta” by Xavier Artigas, Xapo Ortega. I mention these four films which in very different ways deal with resistance against suppression from people in power and totalitarian authorities. The directors behind the four films will take part in a masterclass this coming Friday at the famous Gaudi building La Pedrera, 6pm, free entrance, entitled: “Documentary, a tool to change the world?”.
I am responsible for three rough cut sessions – as written on the website: Three documentaries will be presented privately to a selection of producers, directors, consultants, sales agents and distributors. The goal is to generate creative and constructive discussions that will favour the projects’ entry into the international market.
First one will be presented today: “Return” by Colombian director Juan Pablo Rios.