2023 | Generation Reports

1Mar

By JohannaNo Comments

Dreameater

After the premiere of Míng tian bi zuo tian chang jiu (Tomorrow Is a Long Time) I was intrigued by the process of making this film and the thoughts behind it. Thankfully, director Zhi Wei Jow stayed until the end of the festival and took some time out of his day to answer some of my most burning questions about his debut feature film. Freie Generation Reporter:innen: You were here in 2017 for the Talent Project Market. How does it feel to be back? Zhi Wei Jow: It’s amazing. When I was here in 2017, I watched a lot of films and realized that Berlin has such beautiful cinemas. I’d just been editing on a small laptop. So, seeing my film here on the big screen for the first time was such a moving experience. FGR: What has your favorite moment at Berlinale been? ZWJ: There are many things bu...

28Feb

By JohannaNo Comments

Review

Welcome to Country

It’s Thursday afternoon, two days before the Generation Kplus award ceremony. Jub Clerc (director of Sweet As) takes some time out of her day to talk to Konstantin and me about her debut feature film that captures the coming-of-age experience of an Indigenous girl called Murra. Freie Generation Reporter:innen: Congratulations on your debut feature film. How does it feel? Jub Clerc: *jokes* It’s no big deal! But in all honesty – Berlinale is like the Mecca for filmmakers, you just want to get here. There are a couple of festivals around the world, that everyone wants to get their film to. So when we heard we got into Berlinale it was the best news and we are so happy to be here. And the audiences are incredible. I never imagined that it would translate so well over here. But something is h...

“I stopped believing in the power of cinema”

24Feb

By KonstantinNo Comments

Interview

“I stopped believing in the power of cinema”

"My ne zgasnemo (We Will Not Fade Away)" is the new documentary of award-winning Ukrainian director Alisa Kovalenko and premiered at the Berlinale 2023 in the Generation 14+ section. Her film closely follows the lives of five teenagers in the embattled Donbass region just before the Russian invasion in February 2022. © Alisa Kovalenko Freie Generationen Reporter:innen: Alisa, after the Russian invasion, you decided to join the armed forces of Ukraine and fight at the frontline. When and why did you decide to go back to working on your documentary? Alisa Kovalenko (Director): After the Russian invasion, I stopped believing in the power of cinema. I felt useless as a documentary directory. My entire system collapsed, and I felt...

21Feb

By KonstantinNo Comments

Interview

Only love can create freedom

"Le paradis (The Lost Boys)" is the feature debut of the Belgian director Zeno Graton, which premiered at the Berlinale 2023 in the Generation 14+ section. It's a rainy morning in Berlin when he and his two leading actors, Khalil Gharbia (Joe) and Julien de Saint Jean (William), enter the press lounge of the Berlinale Palace. Freie Generationen Reporter:innen: Mr. Graton, what is freedom to you? Zeno Graton (Director): Well, the thing about freedom, I tried to portray was, a form of freedom that is not linked to the physical freedom. Joe (Khalil Gharbia) for example, is going to get released, live in his own apartment, have his own job, but that is not freedom to him.He is looking for something else. He looks for a bond and what I tried to convey with this movie, was that only love can ...