{"id":11674,"date":"2021-07-19T23:19:39","date_gmt":"2021-07-19T14:19:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/shortshorts.org\/content\/?post_type=news_en&p=11674"},"modified":"2021-07-19T23:22:59","modified_gmt":"2021-07-19T14:22:59","slug":"ssff-asia-2021-winners-comments","status":"publish","type":"news_en","link":"https:\/\/shortshorts.org\/content\/news_en\/creators\/ssff-asia-2021-winners-comments\/","title":{"rendered":"SSFF & ASIA 2021 Winner’s comments"},"content":{"rendered":"

SSFF & ASIA 2021 Winner’s comments<\/h1>\n

\u2605George Lucas Award (Grand Prix)<\/span><\/b>
\n<\/b>Asia Competition Best Short Award\/Governor of Tokyo Award<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

“Filipi\u00f1ana”<\/strong>
\nRafael Manuel<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u3007Comment<\/span><\/strong>
\nI hope that it plays its part in bringing even more exposure to cinema from the Philippines and South East Asia, in general. There are so many interesting cinematic voices from our region but still so little support and funding – especially for short films.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u3007Anything you would like to share about your film?
\n<\/span><\/strong>I hope that Filipi\u00f1ana contributes to the discourse of how my country and area of the world is portrayed on screen.Through my exploration of audal and visual form I hope to break away from the common stereotypes that are used in depicting the violence that is often associated with the Philippines and other postcolonial milieus. I’m interested in depicting a more invisible and structural kind of violence that is in the process of becoming normalised and gentrified.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u3007Any filmmakers or films that have inspired your work?
\n<\/span><\/strong>There\u2019s this one interview that Lucrecia Martel does with the Criterion Collection where she\u2019s in their Bluray closet picking out films to bring home with her and she pulls out Carnival of Souls. She says something like \u2018As filmmakers we must always remember that to make just one film like this is enough.\u2019 I hope one day for the chance to tell her personally that La Cienaga was that film for me.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u2605International Competition Best Short Award<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\"\"
\n“Under the Heavens”
\nGustavo Milan<\/span><\/strong>
\n\u3007Comment<\/span><\/strong>
\nI want to thank the festival for giving “Under the Heavens” the opportunity to be seen by such a prestigious audience and also for choosing the movie as a recipient of such an important award. The life of short films – and filmmakers in the beginning of their careers – relies so much upon the support of film festivals like Short Shorts and Asia. I\u2019m truly honored. Thank you.<\/span>\u3007Any filmmakers or films that have inspired your work?
\n<\/span><\/strong>I\u2019m a great admirer of Walter Salles, Jia Zhangke and Wim Wanders. I think the three of them have reshaped and mastered the genre of road movies throughout their careeres. “Under the Heavens” is to some extend a homage to their work<\/span><\/div>\n

\u2605Japan Competition Best Short Award\/Governor of Tokyo Award<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\"\"
\n“Return to Toyama”<\/strong>
\nAtsushi Hirai<\/strong>\u3007Comment<\/span><\/strong>
\nI feel that all the hard work up to now has been rewarded. This is my first award and it makes me feel more confident towards my work. I’m already excited to start my next project. This award has given me the confidence and the power to go on.<\/span>
\n\u3007Anything you would like to share about your film?
\n<\/span><\/strong>The theme of my film is time. Through the medium of film, I made the film concentrating on “feeling,” so if the audience can feel the sensations in the film, that would make me happy. <\/span>\u3007Any filmmakers or films that have inspired your work?
\n<\/span><\/strong>I worked as assistant director to Damian Manivel and on Kohei Igarashi\u2019s film “The Night I Swam” and learned how to use the atmosphere and an actor\u2019s physicality to make a film. I was also influenced by Hou Hsiao-Hsien\u2019s “The Time to Live and the Time to Die,\u201d and “Dust in the Wind” in the way a story develops with the flow of time.<\/span><\/div>\n

\u2605Non-Fiction Competition Best Short Award<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\"\"
\n“Mission: Hebron<\/span>“<\/strong>
\nRona Segal<\/strong>\u3007Comment<\/span><\/strong>
\nOn behalf of our crew, and the protagonists, we are so grateful for this decision. While creating this film we only thought of the Israeli public, and we are still overwhelmed by the reception it gets outside.<\/span>
\n\u3007Anything you would like to share about your film?
\n<\/span><\/strong>Our film tries to contribute its humble share to one big dream: Peace in the middle east. The road is not short, but we’ll get there.<\/span>\u3007Any filmmakers or films that have inspired your work?
\n<\/span><\/strong>The Hurt Locker by Catherine Bigelow.<\/span><\/div>\n

\u2605Smartphone Film Competition supported by Sony Best Short Award<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\"\"
\n“viewers:1<\/span>“<\/strong>
\nDaigo Hariya & Yosuke Kobayashi<\/strong>\u3007Comment<\/span><\/strong>
\n<Dir. Hariya> I am very grateful to have received this award. Although this was shot remotely, it was made with help from my friends. I was particularly happy to make it the film with a former schoolmate, now living in Kagawa, for the first time in 10 years. I want to thank all those who helped with the film and to all the people who watched it. Thank you very much.
\n<Dir. Kobayashi> I am very happy to receive this wonderful award. Thank you. In contrast to the story, the film was made possible by connecting with like-minded friends. For shooting the film and advising during the editing process, thank you very much. With the basic ideas as the starting point, to make it with a very small, basic group of friends connected from schooldays and to have so many people watch and also enjoy the film so much seems somehow strange to me.<\/span>
\n\u3007Anything you would like to share about your film?
\n<\/span><\/strong><Dir. Hariya> My goal was to make a film with a cinematography that\u2019s unique to shooting on a smartphone and a reality within a science fiction story. The project originally began as a remote production and there\u2019s a 2-minute version on the internet of the all-remote production. From there, we shot live once and added several cuts to make the 4 and 1\/2-minute version that was selected. Personally, I like this 4 and 1\/2-minute version for its emotional factor.
\n<Dir. Kobayashi> To have created a sci-fi world in a provincial area in Japan. Make the sound and the story believable. To keep the story set in a strange world simple about the universal connection between people. I focused on these 3 points. It would be good if we accomplished it.<\/span>\u3007Any filmmakers or films that have inspired your work?
\n<\/span><\/strong><Dir. Hariya> I was influenced and challenged by films set in by post-apocalyptic worlds like “Monsters” and “Cloverfield,” that used POV techniques, as well as the “Mad Max” series. The films of director John Carpenter in the 80\u2019s and 90\u2019s was probably the original inspiration for my desire to become a filmmaker. I liked John Carpenter\u2019s rather dry and simple style of direction in contrast to the very human dramas in his films.
\n<Dir. Kobayashi> The feel and narratives of classic and masterpiece sci-fi movies such as “On the Beach,” “Oblivion,” “War of the Worlds,” “District 9,” and “Six-String Samurai.” The straight and direct style and strength of Ridley Scott’s direction in his films over the last 20 years. Also, without naming the films, 3 classic films where the final cut is from the camera\u2019s POV are ones that I especially like. I like the after-taste that comes from that visual force that assaults the audience followed by the abrupt end.<\/span><\/div>\n

\u2605CG Animation Competition Best Short Award<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\"\"
\n“I, Barnab\u00e9”
\nJean-Fran\u00e7ois L\u00e9vesque<\/strong>
\n
\n\u3007Comment<\/span>
\n<\/strong><\/strong>I am touched to the heart by this beautiful recognition I am getting from your great short films
\ncelebration. It is such a comforting surprise, especially in the circumstances I faced, as most
\nother filmmakers, the deception of not being able to travel internationally with the film, especially
\nconsidering it was seven years in the making. So this prize gives me a great emotion of joy.
\n<\/strong><\/strong>\u3007Anything you would like to share about your film?
\n<\/span><\/strong>I always thought this film could be read at different levels of depth, depending on how everyone
\nwants to get involved in trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together.
\nIn this animated film, I used symbolism, probably in the hope of speaking to a subconscious part
\nof ourselves, as symbolism is a universal language.
\nOne key of understanding I like to give people is that, for me, the rooster in the film represents
\nthe ego of the priest. With this key of comprehension, I believe the film can be read at a deeper
\nlevel.<\/span>\u3007Any filmmakers or films that have inspired your work?
\n<\/span><\/strong>The main inspiration for this film probably comes from a story I liked a lot and was watching
\nevery Christmas growing up as a child. It is the story of Scrooge, from the novella A Christmas
\nCarol by Charles Dickens. In this story, the protagonist goes through a radical transformation
\nafter receiving the visit of three ghost figures appearing in order to teach him a lesson.<\/span><\/div>\n

\uff1cVertical Theater Competition supported by smash.\uff1e<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2605Vertical Theater Competition supported by smash. Best Vertical Short Award<\/span><\/b>
\n\"\"
\n“Smahorror<\/span>”
\nMasaki Nishiyama<\/span><\/strong>
\n
\n\u3007Comment<\/span>
\n<\/strong>I am very happy that I was given the Best Vertical Short Award for the 1st Vertical Theater Competition. Actually, I had been working on this film for about two years, but when I talked to Mr. Bessho about this idea in 2019, he told me to, \u201cbe sure and submit to our festival.\u201d At that time, there was no Vertical Theater Competition yet, so I feel that it was fate that brought me this award.\u3007Anything you would like to share about your film?
\n<\/span><\/strong>I made the film after carefully studying all aspects of making a vertical film. I made every effort to make a seamless transition from a smartphone cut to a vertically shot camera cut to have the same visual quality as a \u201cnormal\u201d! horizontal image. <\/span>\u3007Any filmmakers or films that have inspired your work?
\n<\/span><\/strong>To make this film, I screened a lot of movies with a POV style of cinematography. One film in particular was \u201cV\/H\/S\/2.\u201d I learned the importance of camera position in relation to the subject from this film. The director that I respect and was influenced by is game creator Hideo Kojima. I admire the way his Japanese visual expression is accepted and acknowledged by the world.<\/span><\/div>\n
\n

\u2605Vertical Theater Competition supported by smash. Vertical Short Award<\/span>
\n“Notice<\/span>”
\nMasumi Nishibori<\/strong>
\n
\n\u3007Comment<\/span>
\n<\/strong>This is the first time I’ve received an award, so I’m very happy. This was my first film as director, so I struggled often, but thanks to the wonderful actors and production crew, I was able to complete the film. We made this movie through our struggles together, so to be rewarded in this way and to have many people see it is truly wonderful. This is a very important award for me.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u3007Anything you would like to share about your film?
\n<\/span><\/strong>Because it is a movie that will be seen on a smartphone, the distance with the audience is very close, so it\u2019s easier to get into the \u201creality\u201d of the images. In addition, because of the distinct look of the vertical format, the images are not something you can see in a normal cinema format. I would also like to have attention paid to the story, not just the images. I think each audience member will have a different take on the film, so that\u2019s another way to enjoy the film.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u3007Any filmmakers or films that have inspired your work?
\n<\/span><\/strong>When I saw Jan \u0160vankmajer’s film, it inspired me to become a filmmaker. At that time, I was a high school student and I was going to major in art, but when I saw Jan \u0160vankmajer’s film called “Conspirators of Pleasure”, I was excited and thrilled. I thought films are so entertaining! I was in awe. I want to make films like this! I stopped drawing, and immediately started studying filmmaking. With that momentum, I changed my major and attended the film school at university.
\nIt was a film that changed my life.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2605Vertical Theater Competition supported by smash. U-18<\/span>
\n“Mistakes<\/span>”
\nKato Kota<\/strong>
\n
\n\u3007Comment<\/span>
\n<\/strong>Thank you to the film festival for this great honor. Going to the SSFF & ASIA became my motivation to become a filmmaker and has been my goal as I began making films. I still can’t believe that I’m participating in this festival which was always my dream. I would also like to thank my friends and colleagues for working together on this production to create a wonderful film. Thank you very much to everyone involved.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u3007Anything you would like to share about your film?
\n<\/span><\/strong>“Mistakes” is a film that answers the questions that arose from the youth spent by the director Kota Kato. All the actors, including the leading actor, Ryusei Sawada, are under 18, and their bigger-than-life youth is depicted in the film. Also, the tense scene in the bar is also a highlight. Since it is a format to be seen on a smartphone, we tried many shots that would not be possible on wide screen format. As a new filmmaking style it was an unprecedented total experience. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u3007Any filmmakers or films that have inspired your work?
\n<\/span><\/strong>I’m very influenced by director YP. He makes films n all genres; music videos, commercials, and short films. I greatly respect his work and career. I also admire that he worked on major client commercials since he was 20 tears old. In addition, I respect his art that is not bound by any conventions or popularity. I envy his wide range of creativity. My dream is to meet YP in person someday and absorb his sense of creativity.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2605Vertical Theater Competition supported by smash. Encouragement Award<\/span>
\n\uff11\uff0e”2040<\/span>”
\nNadin Alyekhina & Nikita Kashaev<\/strong>
\n
\n\u3007Comment<\/span>
\n<\/strong>We are infinitely happy that the SSFF 2021 award has distinguished our project – the film “2040” from all the applicants! We are grateful to the jury members for choosing us. Many thanks! It is a pleasure to share this victory with you. This is a worthy choice. The entire amount we won will go towards the implementation of a new idea in our next project. We are sincerely glad that your award provides such opportunities and helps talented people to realize themselves. This is very valuable in our time.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u3007Anything you would like to share about your film?
\n<\/span><\/strong>The idea for the film was born in the midst of a pandemic. Against this background, I wanted to make a film about the most important problem of society – the resource depletion of the planet Earth. We believe that the oxygen, which our planet is rich in, can be depleted in one moment, if a global catastrophe of a global scale suddenly occurs. Nothing stands still, time is fleeting, everything changes and, unfortunately, not in favor of the Earth’s resources. Humanity does not understand that resources are not unlimited. We, living here and now, as people from the future, want to convey to our viewers what can happen to all of us in the future. The world of robots is just around the corner. What will happen to us in the future is unknown.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u3007Any filmmakers or films that have inspired your work?
\n<\/span><\/strong>Films inspiring “Time” by Andrew Niccola, “Interstellar” by Christopher Nolan. Also inspired by the film “Blade Runner 2049” with the shooting feature and color palette of the film.<\/span><\/p>\n

\uff12\uff0e”‘Cinematic’<\/span>”
\nMatthew Hitchcock<\/strong>
\n
\n\u3007Comment<\/span>
\n<\/strong>While it may sound clich\u00e9, we honestly have just been so honored to be part of such a great festival. For a few kids making shorts in their free time, opportunities like this are truly amazing, and winning this award does provide some validation that just maybe we\u2019re doing something right. So, thank you and congratulations to all of the other filmmakers who entered such fantastic work to the festival.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\u3007Anything you would like to share about your film?
\n<\/span><\/strong>The film was the product of straight filmmaking passion and energy. Due to our schedules with school, work, and the like, we only had one week to put it together, and I can not overstate how much I owe to Emi and Nate for somehow being able to make my weird ideas kind of work. They brought life to these characters, and this film wouldn\u2019t be anything without them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u3007Any filmmakers or films that have inspired your work?
\n<\/span><\/strong>For this particular project, we spent a lot of time studying vertical cinema and took especial influence from Damian Chazelle\u2019s composition in \u201cThe Stunt Double\u201d, but we have also been greatly influenced by great filmmakers including George Lucas, Nolan, Derrick Cianfrance, Soderbergh, Villeneuve, and Matt Damon.<\/span><\/p>\n


\n\uff13\uff0e”Goodbye Strawberry<\/span>”
\n<\/strong>Haroon Habib <\/span>
\n
\n\u3007Comment<\/span>
\n<\/strong>I am extremely honored to be receiving such a prestigious Vertical Theater Encouragement Award. I am warmly grateful for the recognition I have received for my short film “Goodbye Strawberry”. Winning this award would not have been possible without the kids who performed very well in this film. I want to give all credit to them for this award.<\/span><\/p>\n

I can proudly hold up this award as a mark of my achievement. Thank you!<\/p>\n

\u3007Anything you would like to share about your film?
\n<\/span><\/strong>The idea of this film came from my younger daughter who loves strawberries so much. Her name is Mishel she has performed in this film as well. This story metaphorically relating the emotion of the young girl to mother nature.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u3007Any filmmakers or films that have inspired your work?
\n<\/span><\/strong>Akira Kurosawa’s Dreams 1990 and Interstellar directed and produced by Christopher Nolan both films and filmmakers always inspired me a lot.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\uff14\uff0e”Living on an Island<\/span>”
\n<\/strong>\u00a0Kuesti Fraun<\/span>
\n
\n\u3007Comment<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Many thanks for this cool appreciating. it is great to see that our film can reach an international audience, with the support of Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia!<\/span><\/p>\n

\u3007Anything you would like to share about your film?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

as far as there are no words in the film, there is nothing to say here – just enjoy watching it (and come over to www.facebook.com\/mobtik for regularely updated news)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u3007Any filmmakers or films that have inspired your work?
\n<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

in this case i guess it\u2019s Buster Keaton or Charlie Chaplin for sure – but in the end it is the power of imagination which always drives the effort behind my work<\/span><\/p>\n


\n\uff15\uff0e”Peon<\/span>”
\n<\/strong>Syaz Zainal, Shaiful Yahya & June Wong<\/span>
\n
\n\u3007Comment<\/span>
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n