[June 19] [June 18] [June 17] [June 16] [June 15] [June 14] [June 13]

June 18, 2002

Roger Gonin, founder of France’s Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, hosted a discussion on French short films and screened five shorts including the acclaimed “La Vis.” This film has won numerous awards and introduced audiences to actor Jean Reno (“La Femme Nikita,” “Leon (The Professional”). Gonin talked about how he and some friends in his university days created a cine-club where they showed all sorts of short films shot on mostly 8mm and 16mm film. The interest in the club eventually grew and Clermont-Ferrand is now the world’s largest short film festival.

Audiences came through the heavy rain to watch Programs B, C and D, their last screenings during this 2002 festival. Salamo Levin (“Black People Hate Me”) told audiences about the hardships of raising money for films. “You always have to be prepared for the inevitable or the unexpected,” he said. “Things happen on film sets that you have no control over, like getting the grip truck towed because it was parked in the wrong spot, or someone accidentally breaks a vase in a location you’re using.”

Yasumichi Oka, a well-known commercial director and founder of the short film label, Short Stop Films, screened several selections at the late show at Cinequinto, including “Please Follow the Voice Navigation,” and “Every Boy Loves Airplanes.” When asked why he made the move from commercials to short films, his answer was brief: “They’re longer than commercials.” Salamo Levin and James Allen also participated in the evening’s discussion on commercials, and shared their experiences working in the world of advertising.