POSTS FROM WINDRIDER FORUM/ANGELUS FILM FESTIVAL in PRAGUE 2009
I’m thinking you’ll like the trailer for “After the Storm.” Check it out as here we prepare to take the film out and about. I also think that you will like James Lecesne’s description of all that is happening with the foundation as well.
Watching “After the Storm” with an audience for the very first time was an unbelievable experience. Hilla Medalia’s second film is far different from her first, but her talent for connecting to an audience is great once again. The surreal part of my viewing experience was that the work in progress screening was at the American Embassy in Prague, Czech Republic. There we were — among Angelus filmmakers (link), Windrider participants, American ex-pats, and the Czech cinema community — watching and talking about the greatest natural disaster in American history.
Hurricane Katrina struck more than two years ago, but the devastation portrayed on-screen seems as fresh as when Medalia, with James Lecesne, first pitched the film and concept. I will never forget the driving rain storm that day in New York City when my brother Ed and I showed up at the Bryant Park Café, sopping wet and not knowing we were about to become part of a project that would make its own tsunami. Lecesne and Medalia seem to command the very wind.
The audience response in Prague was strong, and I could’nt help but think the timing of this film is so appropriate — presented now, with a new sense of American humility and a heartfelt acknowledgement that the world is getting smaller and the need for community is getting bigger. With a new audience, in a foreign land, I saw our film afresh, and welcome it as part of the broader conversation going on today.
Gerry McIntire’s line from “After the Storm” really sticks in mind: “This film is about how love and community can overcome any disaster.”
Humility, love and community — I like these themes. And I look forward to the journey ahead with a great team.
A couple of other fun video’s
After the Storm – Extended Trailer
Ralph Winter, American film producer with Director, Hilla Medalia and John Priddy in Prague
"After the Storm" - Work in progress screening at Prague.
John Priddy and Hilla Medalia at Windrider Forum in Prague
PRAGUE, DAY ONE
John Priddy and event producer Mary Cass
Being in Prague, Czech Republic, for our second annual Windrider/Angelus Film Festival Europe, was nothing short of amazing. TheFocolare community was our gracious host and, in partnership with the ever-energetic Mary Cass, put on a memorable event.
The highly decorated documentary “To Die in Jerusalem,” and the 2008 Angelus Student Film Festival award-winning films, were premiered for the public in two, free, evening screenings during an international workshop: Cinema: Going Beyond the Barriers. The March 6-9 event was a cooperative effort between the Film and TV School of the Academy of the Performing Arts in Prague (FAMU) and the Angelus International Student Film Festival / Priddy Brothers / Windrider Forum / Media Alliance associationNetOne.
Our good friend Holly Book, and the Peter Glenville Foundation, once again co-sponsored the workshop — a whirlwind of great films, thought-provoking discussions, making new friends, and for some of us, overcoming serious jet lag! We weren’t “all work and no play” either. We took time out to tour one of the world’s most beautiful cities, and to quench our thirst with famous Czech beer (which was flowing like a fountain, by the way).
In my next few blogs I’ll recap the four-day event, day by day. Here’s what happened Friday night March 6 (“Day 1”):
We opened with the Czech premiere of “To Die in Jerusalem” at Prague’s beautiful, historic Svetozor Theater.
Sold Out Svetozor Theatre in Prague
We were amazed — and thrilled — to see throngs of people waiting in line, and soon learned that the publicity had been incredible. Czech national television covered the premier screening, as did local TV stations. Several radio stations and local papers ran feature stories. In all, 32 newspapers picked up the press release.
The sold-out event welcomed an audience of 400, many of them squeezing in by sitting on the floor, lounging in the aisles, or leaning against the walls. Management finally had to turn people away. Not an inch of space remained — literally!
“To Die in Jerusalem” Director Hilla Medalia and I were on hand for a Q&A session and panel discussion. Local Czech television personality Veronika Sedlácková served as the moderator, Tomas Svoboda was our ever able translator, and middle-east expert, Prof. Lubos Kropácek added a historic perspective for the audience.
After film Panel Discussion:Panel discussion with professor Lubos Kropácek; moderator Veronika Sedlácková and translator was Tomas Svoboda.
Theatre management had expressed concern that, given current tensions is the Middle East, the Q&A could become “problematic.”Thankfully, our Czech audience was not only gracious, but informed and interested; and Medalia did a fabulous job — as always — beautifully fielding even the most difficult questions.
More Photos from Day One:
Outside the Svetzor Theatre
Special Guest: Producer Ralph Winter
Press Conference
PRAGUE, DAY TWO & THREE
Laura Waters Hinson during Prague Q&A
Award-winning director Laura Waters Hinson was on hand for the feature screening of her documentary, “As We Forgive,” on Day 2 of the second annual Windrider Forum / Angelus Student Film Festival in Europe, this time, in beautiful Prague, Czech Republic. This stunning film has garnered numerous awards including being named Best Documentary at the Angelus Student Film Festival and receiving both a Student Academy Awards Gold Award and a Heartland Film Festival Crystal Heart.
“As We Forgive” was a perfect fit for the festival’s Day 2 international workshop theme, “Cinema: Going Beyond the Barriers,” because it focuses on a reconciliation project in Rwanda, and poses the question: “Could you forgive a person who murdered your family?”
If you’ve been following my blogs, you’ll know that I’m recapping the four-day event in Prague, day by day. Here’s what happened Saturday, March 7 (“Day 2”):
Nedo Pozzi, Director of NetOne International
We were guests of NetOne at the beautiful Focolare Mariopolis Conference Centre and greeted by Nedo Pozzi, director of NetOne International, who shared with us the organization’s history and vision. It intrigued me to note that NetOne’s vision is not unlike that of Windrider. Both groups are developing global networks around the concept of cinema, media and conversation. And, both are coming together and contributing to the conversation around the most important themes of our times. For example, Pozzi pointed out that the United Nations has declared 2009 the Year of Reconciliation, a theme close to the hearts of those gathered.
Excerpt of the U.N proclamation — link
“The UN General Assembly has proclaimed 2009 the International Year of Reconciliation (A/61/L.22) to recognize that ‘reconciliation processes are particularly necessary and urgent in countries and regions of the world which have suffered, or are suffering, situations of conflict that have affected and divided societies in their various internal, national and international facets.’ This resolution invites international and non-governmental organizations as well as governments to support reconciliation processes among divided societies. It also asks them to plan and implement adequate cultural, educational and social programmes to promote the concept of reconciliation including holding seminars and conferences in order to disseminate information on this issue.”
Journalist/author Michele Zanzucchi presented “The Values of NetOne,” and Maria Rosa Logozzo a member of NetOne’s central commission for new media and computer sciences, discussed the theme of reconciliation, media and NetOne’s efforts to use “new media” around the world as a reconciliation tool.
Maria Rosa Logozzo
The first film of the day was “The Colors of Love, the Art of Marko Ivan Rupnik,” followed by a Q&A session with director Maria Amata Calò and screenwriter Aurelio Molè.
Maria Amata Calò and screenwriter Aurelio Molè
We were then treated to the amazing documentary, “Love your Enemies,” a film that explores a poignant journey of reconciliation in the Czech Republic.
Ralph Winter graciously gave his time and expertise, serving on several panels and moderating two Q&A’s with film makers. I joined him, Belgian producer Eric Hendricks, and filmmakers Jose Iglesias Vigil and Hilla Medalia for a panel on how cinema and media can help us go beyond the barriers that so often divide people and places.
Prague Q&A
The day ended with the amazing, “As We Forgive.” Waters Hinson, was on hand for the Q&A session before a packed-out house of more than 150 people. She shared details about the Living Bricks campaign, a practical reconciliation initiative that aims to restore hearts and homes in Rwanda after the destruction of the 1994 genocide. Living Bricks equips repentant genocide perpetrators with the tools to build much-needed housing for their victims’ families, establishing new villages where former killers and survivors live together again as neighbours.
Viewing “As We Forgive,” and learning about the Living Bricks campaign, seemed the perfect ending to a highly reflective, thought-provoking day. A big thank you to NetOne, the local Focolore community of Prague and our ever present activities director, Carlos Bajo, who constantly got us to where we needed to be, on time and with minimal bags under our eyes.
If you missed the Prague Day One Recap: You can check it out here.
Images from Windrider Prague 2009.
PRAGUE, DAY FOUR
RalphWinter and Krzysztof Zanussi teach Masters Class
After three great days in Prague, we were a bit tired but very excited about our last day, which included a Masters class at the famed Czech National Film School (FAMU) and then a showcase of Angelus Films as our final evening event.
You can check out day 1-3 recaps by clicking the following links.
Forum at National Library of Prague
Enjoy this article from our friends at Angelus-
Angelus Student Film Festival winners draw crowds, news media in Prague
March 24, 2009
The Angelus Student Film Festival made its mark in Prague, Czech Republic, March 6-9. The screenings of eight films by Angelus winning filmmakers from 2004 to 2008 festivals drew capacity crowds during a four-day international film symposium, ”Cinema: Going beyond the barriers,” held March 6-9. Also, Angelus and its filmmakers garnered wide attention of the Czech news media.
More than 400 packed the theater of the Municipal Library of Prague for the screening and discussion of six Angelus films with their filmmakers. The response prompted Cardinal Miloslav Vlk, Archbishop of Prague, to call it a “miracle” as he praised Angelus’ goals. Pavel Jech, Dean of the Film and TV School of the Academy of the Performing Arts in Prague (FAMU), which jointly sponsored the event, wrote: ”The event helped to invigorate our film school… .” The event was a cooperative effort of FAMU in conjunction with the Angelus Student Film Festival, Peter Glenville Foundation, Priddy Brothers film producers, both Angelus sponsors, Windrider Forum and NetOne, a media alliance associated with the Focolare international peace movement. The Angelus screenings were reported on national Czech TV several times, on many TV and radio stations and newspapers in Prague, and by 32 newspapers in different regions of the country. On March 6, Z1 Television, Prague, interviewed live in its studio Angelus director Monika Moreno and Angelus 2004 documentary winner Hilla Medalia, whose HBO and Emmy-nominated film To Die in Jerusalem had its Czech premiere at the symposium that evening at the Svetozor Theater in Prague.
In addition to a tour of Prague, the Angelus filmmakers attended master classes with students of FAMU. These were taught by Polish film director Krzysztof Zanussi, Czech filmmaker Petr Zelenka and U.S. film producer Ralph Winter (Star Trek and X-Men feature films). These men were significant draws for press as well as students.
Check out more photos from Prague at NetOne’s Flickr Photostream.
