In our coverage of the film festival circuit, perhaps the most exciting developments involve artists who have broken new career ground, diversifying into new areas. Itโs a dynamic that in many respects is what festivals are all aboutโdiscovering not only new talent but also established talent discovering how they can be relevant in what for them is uncharted territory.
Consider the case of acclaimed cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto who made his directorial debut with the short film Likeness, which premieres at the ongoing Tribeca Film Festival. As previously reported (SHOOTonline, 4/5), the subject matterโthe consequences of soceity defining the ideal female body imageโis personal for Prieto who partnered creatively with his daughter Ximena on the project. (Rodrigo Prieto has representation as a spot, music video and branded content director via Little Minx.)
Then thereโs USC Film School graduate Ryan Coogler who made his feature filmmaking debut with Fruitvale which won both the U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Award and the U.S. Dramatic Audience Award at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival (for more on Fruitvale, see SHOOTโs profile of producer Richard J. Bosner, 3/22).
Director Sean Dunne of Nonfiction Unlimited, known for his documentary shorts and commercials, broke into feature-length documentary fare with Oxyana, which too is debuting at Tribeca (SHOOTonline, 3/8).
Director David Shaneโknown for his comedy spots at production house O Positiveโhelmed his first short film, Playdate, which is also premiering at Tribeca (SHOOTonline, 4/12).
And look no further than this weekโs SHOOT for more firsts. Editor Richard Mettler, profiled in our Editors & Post Series, made his official feature cutting debut with the Sean Ellis-directed Metro Manila which won the World Cinema-Dramatic Audience Award at Sundance. Mettler also cut Space Cadet, which is being screened at Tribeca and marks the first short directed by Paul Riccio whose spotmaking roost is Sandwick Media.
And Nice Shoes colorist Chris Ryanโs profile in this issue centers on his contributions to the feature documentary These Birds Walk, which premiered at this yearโs South By Southwest Festival and represents the debut of co-directors Bassam Tariq and Omar Mullick. Tariq is a sr. copywriter at BBDO New York.
Director Dag Johan Haugerudโs โDreams (Sex Love)โ Wins Top Prize At The Berlin Film Festival
A Norwegian film about love, desire and self-discovery won top honors at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival on Saturday.
A jury headed by American director Todd Haynes awarded the Golden Bear trophy to "Dreams (Sex Love)" by director Dag Johan Haugerud.
Haynes called it a "meditation on love" that "cuts you to the quick with its keen intelligence."
The film focuses on a teenager played by Ella รverbyer, infatuated with her female French teacher, and the reactions of her mother and grandmother when they discover her private writings. It's the third part of a trilogy Haugerud has completed in the past year. "Sex" premiered at Berlin in 2024, and "Love" was screened at the 2024 Venice Film Festival.
The runner-up Silver Bear prize went to Brazilian director Gabriel Mascaro's dystopian drama "The Blue Trail." Argentine director Ivan Fund's rural saga "The Message" won the third-place Jury Prize.
The best director prize went to Huo Meng for "Living the Land," set in fast-changing 1990s China.
Rose Byrne was named best performer for her role as an overwhelmed mother in the Mary Bronstein-directed "If I Had Legs, I'd Kick You." Andrew Scott won the supporting performer trophy for playing composer Richard Rodgers in Richard Linklater's "Blue Moon."
The climax of the festival known as the Berlinale came on the eve of Germany's parliamentary elections after a campaign dominated by migration and the economy.
The national election is being held seven months early, after Chancellor Olaf Scholz's governing coalition collapsed in a dispute about how to revitalize the country's economy.
Efforts to curb migration have emerged as a central issue in the campaign โ along with the question of how to handle the... Read More