Venue: Het Koorenhuis
9 November 2024
Workshop-1
12:30 to 13:15 hours
Shadows of the Light: A Story of Collaboration between Filmmaker and Cultural Researcher by Erwin Skripsiadi (Indonesia)
Synopsis: Shadow of The Light is a wayang kulit-themed music video that is part of the Acaraki Journey revitalisation project. This film is an example of a good work ethic and collaboration between filmmakers and cultural researchers. Making a film that aims to increase cultural appreciation and revitalisation requires its own techniques, because the goals and targets that will become objects and storylines are also different. To take an object that involves the cultural values of a society, it is not enough to master the technique, but also to master the insight, cultural knowledge about the outlook on life of a society, as well as the values and norms that apply to that society. It is not only about the aesthetic and artistic aspects, but also the philosophy that lives and develops in that society, which may be very difficult to record or even if it can be recorded, the recording will take the form of philosophical reflections. In this workshop Erwin will share stories and experiences of how the collaboration between filmmakers and cultural researchers supported each other in the Shadow of The Light Project.
Erwin is a Research and Culture Specialist at Acaraki Journey. Erwin has written and researched culture on many islands in Indonesia. For several years Erwin has focused on researching Indonesia’s intangible cultural heritage which will be nominated as UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage. Not only in the form of articles and journals, Erwin packaged the results of his research into various popular platforms, such as games, films, comics, and others. Meanwhile, Acaraki Journey is a non-profit organization that focuses on revitalizing Indonesian culture. For Acaraki, revitalisation is not just about preserving or continuing life, but doing an adaptive process to the times and modernity. However, revitalisation must also have roots in the old culture and not just symbolic revitalisation. Revitalisation is giving “life force” to culture and tradition. In addition to Shadow of The Light, Acaraki also initiated several other Indonesian Cultural revitalisation projects, such as the revitalisation of Aksara Nusantara (Indonesian ancient script), Angklung (Indonesian traditional music), Batik (Indonesian traditional clothes) and others.
Workshop-2
13:30 to 14:15 hours
Non-Traditional Narrative: Be Different and Lead the Way into the Future of Filmmaking by Teymour Tehrani (Germany)
Synopsis: Stories and images bombard us on a daily basis and fight for our attention. The mass production of visual media is streamlined to fill the needs of a highly competitive industry. However, there is a wear effect on the audience side, triggered by the sheer amount of formulated content. Films made for the big screen are especially affected and suffer the most when it comes to attracting dedicated audience time. Historically a premium product, the feature film has been degraded to an everyday commodity. Therefore, too often stories seem to deliver on a mediocre level, feel chunky and out of step with the times, as well as intuitively predictable.
How can we future proof the ART OF FILMMAKING and keep feature films exciting for years to come?
Teymour Tehrani is a German-Iranian filmmaker who works as a screenplay writer, director and producer in Berlin. A graduate of Derby University with a BA, he later received his film directing MA with Distinction at the Northern Film School – Leeds Beckett University (UK). He had further postgraduate education at FAMU (Prague, CZ), Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg (Ludwigsburg, GER), where he graduated top of his class and was awarded the prestigious VGF scholarship to UCLA (USA). Since then, Teymour Tehrani has worked on both commercials and feature films. His film “ANIETIÉ, and the Sky will be there“ (GER, 2021) was acknowledged around the world as one of the most valuable European contributions to the Black Lives Matter movement. Currently Teymour is touring the festival circuit with his internationally awarded film DISCONNECT. This artistic short draws from personal experiences with mental health issues and the subject of personal transformation. Teymour is currently working on the narrative feature “Hungry Hearts“ (W.T.), a collection of unique Berlin stories.
Workshop-3
14:30 to 15:15 hours
The Art of Making Stop-motion Animation and a unique approach to improvisation animation including use of AI by Robin Noorda (The Netherlands)
Synopsis: Robin Noorda gives a presentation about his short stop-motion animation film Lunatic. Various aspects are discussed. Improvisation animation, in a regular animation film the conceptual and creative phase of the development of the film consists of the scenario and storyboard. After that you are a slave to your own plan during the long production time (sometimes years). With improvisation animation Robin wants to work like an improvising painter or jazz musician where the outcome of the film is not fixed in advance and the spontaneous ideas and chance during the process allow creativity in the realisation phase.Waste and recycling. The film Lunatic is about waste, not only on earth but even in outer space. In his films Noorda processes all kinds of everyday objects that are given a completely different context and meaning by placing them in maquette sets. In his latest films this focuses on the use of waste and recycling. All objects and decors consist of waste and reused props and creations from sometimes 40 years ago.Noorda is fascinated by AI and sees both the potential and the danger. The film uses AI in a pragmatic way and there is a scene about the danger of it. The film has many references to important other films, directors, TV series and artists. These references will be reviewed and briefly explained.
Robin Noorda studied animation and photography at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy and Visual Communication at the Rijksacademie. In the eighties he was a designer and animator at the NOS (Dutch Public Broadcaster) and a pioneer in the field of computer animation at the first CGI studio in the Netherlands. At that time he founded his design agency Morphosis and was co-founder of the Tropism Art & Science Collective. Around 2000, autonomous work finally won the battle with applied work. Since then he has worked as an independent stop-motion animation filmmaker, experimental photographer and light installation artist. He was affiliated with the animation film institute NIAF, animation committee member for Netherlands Film Fund and Flemish Audiovisual Fund and taught at seven art academies and the Netherlands Film Academy. His filmgraphy includes Lunatic 2024 NL, stop-motion animation, 16′ direction and scenario, Rebirth of Venus 2021 NL, stop-motion animation 9′ direction and scenario, Red-end and the Factory Plant 2015 NL, stop-motion animation, 15′ direction and scenario, Red-end and the Seemingly Symbiotic Society 2009 NL, stop-motion animation, 15′ direction and scenario, Shivering Beauty, Soundscape of Mongolia 2007 54′ dir. cut 74′ 2010 NL, documentary / music-film, direction and scenario
Workshop-4
15:30 to 16:15 hours
Elevated horror: Monsters as a Metaphor for Your Own Demons by Fokke Baarssen (The Netherlands)
Synopsis: In preparation for creating his short horror film Deathbed director Fokke Baarssen explored the theme of elevated horror. The subgenre of elevated horror uses the visual language of horror to address deeper themes such as loss, grief, and trauma, making the film more than just a superficial scare. Using examples from modern film history (Men (2022), The Night House (2020), Hereditary (2018
Fokke has been directing all his life. As a young boy he directed Matchbox cars, dinosaur toys and Batman action figures. Today Fokke directs commercials, corporate films, branded content, documentaries and short fiction films. His films have garnered multiple awards at high profile film festivals around the world. Authentic storytelling and esthetic cinematography are key elements in his work. Fokke has made video content for major brands such as Disney, Microsoft, TomTom, LG, Wickey, AS Watson, NPO, Spinnin’ Records, AA Drink, Vacansoleil, Saur and Homey.
He divides his time between directing, shooting and producing content for his own production company and acting. Fokke is an avid physical media collector, owning over 3000 films (and counting) on dvd, blu ray and 4K discs. His other hobbies are going to the movies (obviously), indoor football, Padel and he hardly ever misses a match from his favorite football team FC Twente.
10 November 2024
Workshop-5
11:00 to 12:00 hours in the main theater as part of Block-5 screening (Ticket required)
Professor Ludovic Phalippou, Oxford University
Synopsis: This workshop discusses a new approach to teaching business concepts through fully-fledged cinematic case studies. This approach aims to engage the modern learner, who prefers fast, visual, and story-driven content. The movie presented, called “Redevelopping Hope”, focuses on a real-world project where Eric Clement, the main character, uses his finance expertise to ensure a socially impactful development project in the Bronx remains financially sustainable, benefiting both the city and its residents. This case study highlights the vital role financial knowledge plays in achieving positive social impact.
Ludovic is a Professor of Financial Economics at Oxford’s Said Business School, author of “private equity laid bare,” and podcast host. Recognized as one of the “40 Most Outstanding Business School Profs Under 40 In The World” by Poets&Quants (2014). RealDeals magazine named him a top 20 influencer in European private equity. His widely cited research appears in leading academic journals and media like The Economist and Financial Times. He collaborates with major investors (Norway fund, Dutch pension funds) and has led private market research at Blackrock. He’s developed a Big Data-driven private equity index with JP Morgan. At Oxford, Ludovic teaches courses on Wealth Management, Valuation and Private Equity. He also created several executive programs, including an online course on Private Markets.
Moderator: Professor David Stolin
Workshop-6
12:30 to 13:15 hours
Working with Actors by Jack Copland (Canada)
Synopsis: This workshop explores effective collaboration between filmmakers and actors on set. Through a brief analysis of both disciplines, engaging discussions, and real-world case studies, we’ll explore strategies for building strong, story-driven partnerships that benefit both creatives and captivate audiences. Participants will walk away with a greater appreciation for both disciplines and practical tools they can use on future projects.
Jack Copland is an actor, writer, and producer based in Toronto. Originally from Kelowna and raised in Mississauga, he graduated with an Honours Business Administration degree from the Richard Ivey School of Business and trained at the George Brown Theatre School. His acting credits include network television (“Murdoch Mysteries”), animation (“Total Drama Island”), and internationally screened independent films. In addition to acting, Jack has produced a range of projects, including international short films. He is also the co-founder of Forefront Talent, an agency that connects background performers with major film and TV productions across southern Ontario.
Workshop-7
13:30 to 14:15 hours
The Oneiric Cinema: Telling Alternative Worlds Between Dream, Reality and Suspended Dimensions by Pasquale Mattia Gelorini (Italy)
Synopsis: This workshop will explore how to create and represent alternative, dreamlike realities that blur the boundaries between the real and the imaginary. Using his short film “La Notte Diurna”(THE DAILY NIGHT) as a case study, Pasquale will examine storytelling techniques, editing, visual metaphors, and symbolic elements that evoke the subconscious and delve into the inner conflicts of characters.
Pasquale is a Film Director, Film Editor, and Photographer. He studied at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera (Brera Fine Arts Academy – Milan) and graduated in Film Editing from the Civica Scuola di Cinema “Luchino Visconti” (Film School – Milan – CILECT MEMBER), with a thesis on the construction of contemplative suspension. His research focuses on exploring new narrative forms and cinematic and photographic techniques, emphasizing universal human experiences and spiritual traditions. After completing his studies, he began working for several Italian and international companies as a Film Editor (AC Milan, Forbes, AKQA, RAI). In 2023, he co-founded CHROMAKIA with Ilaria Vecchio, a company dedicated to film production, artistic research, and innovation. His experimental short film “La notte diurna” (The Daily Night), completed in April 2023, has received multiple selections and awards worldwide.
Workshop-8
14:30 to 15:15 hours
Independent Cinema from an Artistic Point of View by Reza Serkanian (France)
Synopsis: A conversation on creative independent filmmaking: how choosing an independent path shapes a film’s vision from its initial conception and guides the author’s choices throughout writing, directing, and production.
Reza Serkanian began making short films in his teens and later studied cinema at Tehran University, gaining early international recognition, including selections at the Clermont-Ferrand International Film Festival. After two years at the Rijksakademie in Amsterdam, he settled in France, where he has since directed several fiction and documentary films across Europe, Iran, and Gabon. His first feature film, “Ephemeral Weddings”, received the Sopadin and France Culture Screenwriting Award and was presented at the Cannes Film Festival. Alongside directing, he also works as a producer, film editor, and cinematographer. As an active member of ACID, Reza supports independent cinema and regularly leads workshops and public discussions on the artistic and political dimensions of filmmaking. His films focus on the human experience within social contexts.