07/08/2023

On the third day of the festival, the short films selected by Kassel Dokfest were shown at the Lumbardhi Cinema.

Four films from Germany were screened one after another. Before the titles of the films were revealed, Afsun Moshiry from Kassel Dokfest spoke for the audience.

Expressing her joy at being at the 22nd edition of DokuFest, she emphasized that you can learn about different cultures through films.

“Again, I learned that films are bridges to new cultures, and kind of are connecting us and bringing us closer,” said Moshiry

She also presented the DokuFest Kassel program.

"Actually we do not have a kind of competition section, so what we do is that we have 20 short film programs and each of them has their titles. We bring to you the program Objects appear in the mirror closer than they see you.”

The films are called "Rotor", "Marine Target", "Gazing...Unseeing" and "We Knew How Beautiful They Were, These Islands." Their themes are simple, messy and complicated all at the same time. 

The film "Rotor" was shown first and portrays a series of stationary objects on display filmed over the past 6 years. It shows images of the transformation of objects and how they develop and progress over time. The film presents a story of metamorphosis, presenting the transformation of cars, clocks, pianos, apples, and rotating celestial bodies. The objects are recorded with a Bolex H16 camera engine.

The 9-minute film, "Marine Target," explained the behind-the-scenes of the invention of the nuclear bomb in the Salton Sea. The mission was called "Project Y" and included 150 types of tests in total. In the place where the "Marine Target 10MA" bomb exploded, it remains impossible for life to restart. 

In addition to these films, "Gazing...Unseeing" and "We Knew How Beautiful They Were, These Islands" were screened.

The Kassel Documentary Film and Video Festival is an annual event held in Kassel, Germany, showcasing short documentary films with a strong emphasis on artistic-experimental productions.

The collaboration will continue on in Kassel, this year in November, with a film program and discussion with representatives from DokuFest, Beldocs festival and Dokfest-Education.

By: Valona Hasani

Photo: Esad Duraki