The International Film Festival Rotterdam has unveiled its Cinema Regained lineup, featuring rejuvenated masterpieces, documentary films about the art of cinema, and creations from esteemed directors in the field of filmmaking.
2021’s Cinema Regained highlights films from directors who’ve significantly impacted cinematic history, some widely recognized while others have been underappreciated.
Following a 30-year break, Drissa Touré, a director from Burkina Faso, is back with his world debut film “Mousso Fariman,” co-directed by Stéphane Mbanga. This movie delves into the conflicts present in Burkina Faso’s society, particularly highlighting the strength of women in their everyday lives.
Or, in a more conversational tone:
After being away for 30 years, Drissa Touré, a director from Burkina Faso, is back on the scene with his first world premiere film, “Mousso Fariman.” Co-directed by Stéphane Mbanga, this movie takes a close look at the societal conflicts in Burkina Faso and focuses on the resilience of women in their daily lives.
The tribute to the work of Sergei Parajanov is marked by the global debut of “The Lilac Wind of Paradjanov,” 37 years following his initial festival appearance. Filmmaker Ali Khamraev, in tandem with cinematographer Yuri Klimenko, immersed themselves in the archives and ventured to Armenia and Georgia as a token of respect for Parajanov.
In a revamped format, “The Jester” by José Álvaro Morais – initially shown at IFFR in 1988 – resurfaces, merging theater and film in a lyrical retelling of Alexandre Herculano’s 1842 novel about Portuguese independence. The spotlight shines on Thai cinema with “I Am With a Monk,” directed by Khom Akadet, a story that focuses on survival and redemption, featuring renowned Thai actors Sombat Methanee and Sorapong Chatree.
Cinema Regained has showcased twice the Korean public broadcaster KBS’s documentary series “Modern Korea,” a critical reflection on Korea’s history, using KBS’s own productions as a lens. The most recent episode, premiering internationally at IFFR and produced by filmmaker Lee Taewoong, is titled “Korean Dream: The Nama-jinheung Mixtape.” This documentary is constructed from pieces of films from the now-defunct Nama-jinheung studio, aiming to depict the emotional terrain of Koreans during the Cold War era.
“Bomba Bernal,” created by IFFR regular Khavn, is a tribute to the Filipino bomba genre using AI, and it made its debut at IFFR. Another favorite at IFFR, Saeed Nouri, offers “Tehran, An Unfinished History,” a study delving into the untold history of Iranian cinema before 1979. Meanwhile, Sami van Ingen is back with “Cast of Shadows,” an introspective archival essay that reveals the tales of women connected to Robert Flaherty’s legacy.
Women play a pivotal role in the Cinema Regained initiative. Indian filmmaker Sai Paranjpye’s “Katha” injects humor and elegance into the timeless hare-and-tortoise tale, while Vani Subramanian’s world premiere, “Cinema Pe Cinema: The Theatres, The Movies, And Us”, delves into the historical significance of India’s single-screen cinemas. This documentary intertwines the nostalgic reminiscences of these movie houses with the country’s socio-political transformations over the last hundred years.
Filmmaker Chetna Vora from Gujarat is being recognized for her debut movie “Oyoyo,” which delves into the lives of international students in the German Democratic Republic, where she studied filmmaking. This film tackles themes such as cultural identity, music, and community. Her subsequent work, “Frauen in Berlin,” is featured in the program titled “Focus: Hold Video in Your Hands” – a compilation of narratives and impressions from a female perspective. Furthermore, Christiane Büchner’s film “Erzählungen eines Kinogehers” portrays the passion for cinema by sharing conversations with Werner Dütsch, an early advocate of German television and its interaction with film culture.
The software additionally explores untold tales from history. The debut screening of Hafiz Rancajale’s “Bachtiar” sheds light on the overlooked legacy of Indonesian filmmaker Bachtiar Siagian, whose career was tragically ended during the 1965 anti-Communist purge. Under Suharto’s rule, much of his work was either ignored or erased. This movie functions as a potent counterpoint, questioning the skewed depiction of his legacy in official historical accounts. The recently rediscovered classic “Turang” (1957) by Bachtiar will be screened in Focus: Through Cinema We Rise!
The Cinema Regained program showcases various films made before 1970, each providing unique storytelling angles. Among these are a spotlight on the Ukrainian filmmaker Sergii Masloboishchykov in the Focus section, and an examination of Ukrainian exile cinema in the U.S. during the 1930s titled “Cossacks in Exile” (1939). This movie was a collaboration between filmmaker Edgar Georg Ulmer and dancer-choreographer Vasilʹ Avramenko, narrating the tale of Ukrainians who resisted Russian authorities and were forced to leave their homeland.
1943’s “There’s a Fire Burning” by Gustaf Molander delves into the strained relationships during war times, using a heartbreaking love story as its backdrop. This film has gained recognition following a retrospective at Bologna’s Il Cinema Ritrovato. Tengiz Abuladze’s “Someone Else’s Children” (1958) offers a touching narrative about two siblings in search of a motherly figure. Lastly, “Kaja, I’ll Kill You!” by Vatroslav Mimica, produced in 1967, is a daring and fragmented portrayal of oppression.
The movie “Todo parecía possible” by Ramón Rivert Moret honors the cinematic fellowship. It looks back at Puerto Rico’s utopian era using the perspective of rural filmmaking in the 1950s and 60s. Alongside the feature, there’s a short series called “A Better Tomorrow for Puerto Rico,” which showcases three films highlighting the start of film production in Puerto Rico, such as “Las manos del hombre” (1952), created by Jack Delano.
The movie “Todo parecía possible” and a short series called “A Better Tomorrow for Puerto Rico” both celebrate the spirit of community in cinema. They look back at the golden age of filmmaking in Puerto Rico during the 1950s and 60s, with “Todo parecía possible” focusing on rural productions and “A Better Tomorrow for Puerto Rico” featuring films like “Las manos del hombre” (1952) that marked the beginning of filmmaking in Puerto Rico.
Olaf Möller, the one responsible for programming the strand, explained: “This space serves as a platform to explore in-depth various curiosities and acts as a bridge linking the broader festival. It brings together diverse stories and builds upon our Focus programs, providing insights into cinema’s cultural and political impacts throughout history. Here, you can contemplate the lasting effects of cinema on society and appreciate some of the most remarkable filmmakers, both those widely recognized and those lesser known.
The full lineup of feature films that will be screened as part of Cinema Regained are:
“¡Homofobia!” (European Premiere)dir. Goyo Anchou
Argentina, 2024
“Bachtiar” (World Premiere)dir. Hafiz Rancajale
Indonesia, 2025
“Bomba Bernal” (World Premiere)dir. Khavn
Philippines, 2025
“Cast of Shadows” (World Premiere)dir. Sami van Ingen
Finland, 2025
From Screen to Screen: Our Journey Through the Theaters and Films” (European Premiere)
Directed by Vani Subramanian
India, 2025
“Cossacks in Exile”dir. Edgar G. Ulmer
United States, 1939
“Erzählungen eines Kinogehers” (World Premiere)dir. Christiane Büchner
Germany, 2025
“I Am With a Monk”dir. Khom Akadet
Thailand, 1984
“Kaja, I’ll Kill You!” dir. Vatroslav Mimica
Croatia, Yugoslavia, 1967
“Katha” dir. Sai Paranjpye
India, 1983
Experience the world premiere of ‘My Korean Vision: The Nama-jinheung Playlist’ by Lee Taewoong! This captivating tale unfolds in the heart of South Korea, 2024.” (As a movie enthusiast, I would say this to express my excitement about an upcoming film.)
“Mousso fariman” (World Premiere)dir. Drissa Touré, Stephane Mbanga
Burkina Faso, 2025
“Negligence”dir. Ali Kasmaie
Iran, 1953
“No Magic for Socialists” (World Premiere)dir. Htoo Lwin Myo
Myanmar, 2025
“Someone Else’s Children”dir. Tengiz Abuladze
Georgia, 1958
“Tehran, An Unfinished History” (World Premiere)dir. Saeed Nouri
Iran, 2025
“The Grey Machine” (World Premiere)dir. Péter Lichter
Hungary, Estonia, 2025
“The Jester”dir. José Álvaro Morais
Portugal, 1987
The Lilac Breeze of Paradjanov” – World Premiere, Directed by Ali Khamraev
Countries: Armenia, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Italy, 2025 (Production Year)
“The Red Badge of Courage”dir. John Huston
United States, 1951
“The Wide World of Mystery: House and the Brain”dir. Gloria Monty
United States, 1973
“There’s a Fire Burning”dir. Gustaf Molander
Sweden, 1943
“Todo parecía possible” (World Premiere)dir. Ramón Rivera Moret
United States, Puerto Rico, 2025
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2025-01-09 17:16