FALL TIME BRINGS
44TH ANNUAL NORTHWEST FILMMAKERS’
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS IMMIGRANTS,
MINORITIES AND CATS
BY MCKENNA STRÈED
THE CLACKAMAS PRINT
Not all the films took on as serious of a role as this film did.
Many words can be used to describe the films shown at this year’ s 44th annual
“A Mew Hope,” directed by David Koesters, is a light, humorous cát-themed spin
Northwest Filmmakers’ Festival at the Portland Art Museum. Beautiful, powerful,
poetic, historic, humorous — these simple words do no justice to the amount of off of “ Star Wars: A New Hope.” The story follows Pickles the cat and his human
sidekick as they escape enemy hands in search of their freedom from the “ Empire.”
talent shown during the five days of screenings.
The film is animation using green screen behind the main human actress giving
After sitting down with some favorite shorts, all different and unique, it was clear
their backstories and history shown through thevoice they used in their stories. the illusion that cats can fly and shoot lasers.
“ I ’ m lim ited to what I can do
Before the screenings began the
with actors since I don’t really like
creators and co-directors Daniela
asking people for help on these
Repas and Cintäm ani Calise sat
stupid projects, so that, limits me
down and gave their insight into the
To basically the people I sleep With
creation Of their poetic masterpiece,
which is my wife and my cats and I
“ Mnemonics.”
kind of force them to help m e,” said
The process they chose was to
construct animation inside of a live-
Koesters.
I This film had no serious aspects
äction film . So if you can imagine
thousands of hand drawn pages shot
and had the viewer laughing from the
frame by frame telling a beautiful set
very first scene. It was a side project
of stories and memories ffom Repas’
o f Koester that he sporadically
early years living in JBosnia and her
worked on due to’ its easy-going
culture before moving to theUnited
nature.
States, inside o f a live-action film
The film “ Float” was also screened
playing at the same time seamlessly
during the evening. It follows the life
intertwining themselves into one
of a Cambodian-Americah and the
another.
struggles and hardships of being a
The story provides memories of
minority in Seattle.
both the good and the bad in a history
Directed by Voleak Sip and Tristan
that will never be forgotten.
Seniuk this film ’s background was
“ The film reflects something that Audience and attendees gather inside the Portland Art Museum for the 44th annual
based on story Sip shared and turned
happened 20 years ago, those are Northwest Film Festival which ran Nov. 1-5.
into ä storyline.
wounds that never truly heal. I actually
“ We wanted to showcase a part of
feel them all over again every time I
Seattle people don’t usually see which
go b a c k ,! relive it,” said Repas. “ I’m
is South Seattle, and the South East
íí / j
always after those little moments of
Asian community,” said Seriiuk.
blissfulness that happen even in the
The film follows a young guy
named
.Rocky and his life living in
darkest places, and I wanted to bring
that from Bosnia.”
'
"
b
-
his parents’ basement selling and
doing whatever it takes to help his
She tells her own story of happiness
and hardship as an immigrant and in
family get by. He struggles not only
the process created a strong bond with
with money but his interactions with
other immigrant female filmmakers
women.
and together created this work of art.
__ _______________________________________ ___________
This story breaks back into a more
’ “ Half of our crew are immigrants
serious topic but with its more direct
that live in Portland,” said co-director
tone come moments of humor that
Calise. “ I’m from England, Daniela and her sister are from Bosnia, and the lead help lighten up darker moments. These three films are very different and unique
actress is from Serbia.”
in their own ways and yet still draw in the viewers.
They all came together and put aside any differences to show the world what
The Northwest Filmmakers’ Festival held amazing talent in the shorts categories
life was like riot just the bad that happened but the moments. This story is full and did a good job setting up the venue to house the amount of people that attended.
of thoughts and feelings that really move the viewer to a new realization about The viewers look forward to what is to come from the iitimense talent.
other cultures.
haPPCH CVeil /fl tlto (bllKSt PtiCCS, 89(11 Watied tO 1)111^
that from Bosnia.”
Clackamas Print _____________
theclackam asprlnt.net
NOVEMBER 8, 2017