Tuesday, 14 January 2025 00:00 |
IFF Rotterdam 2025: Two films about Paradjanov
54 International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) presents two films about Sergei Paradjanov in the frame of program "Cinema Regained".
IFF Rotterdam 2025
Program "Cinema Regained": "The Lilac Wind of Paradjanov" by Ali Khamraev and "S.Paradjanov. Delayed Premiere" by Yuriy Repik.
About program "Cinema Regained": A sphere of collective remembrance and imagination offering restored classics, documentaries on film culture, and explorations of cinema’s heritage.
"The Lilac Wind of Paradjanov":
Filmmaker Ali Khamraev, accompanied by cinematographer Yuri Klimenko delved into the archives, and travelled to Armenia and Georgia to honour Sergei Paradjanov: one of cinema’s greats, whose vision and defiance of convention transcended borders. “Dear Sergei Paradjanov. This film is for you.”
We were flooded with documentary tributes commemorating the 100th birthday of Soviet Georgia born Armenian master Sergei Parajanov. And no wonder: Parajanov was a paragonal figure to IFFR’s first generation of programmers and audiences – a filmmaker of unprecedented genius who was persecuted and even imprisoned for his art (as much maybe as for his way of life).
The film we finally chose comes from an old friend of IFFR: Ali Khmraev. His vision of Parajanov, whom he was close to for decades, struck us as the most personal one: Parajanov’s art really means something to Khamraev – it still inspires him, makes him think, experiment, strive, dream. Khamraev’s passion for Parajanov can be sensed in the interviews he conducted with some of his collaborators and admirers in the way they talk and look: happy to remember the genius who walked with them for a while. From an IFFR perspective it is gratifying to see how much space Parajanov’s visit at the festival takes up in The Lilac Wind of Paradjanov; he was happy here. Olaf Moller
"The Lilac Wind of Paradjanov" - film details: Production: Old World Company Armenia, Prostudio MGMT S.R.L. Sales & World Rights Holder: Prostudio MGMT S.R.L. Countries of production: Armenia, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Italy Year: 2025 World premiere: IFF Rotterdam 2025 Length: 75’ Format: Digital Director: Ali Khamraev Producers: Garsev Khachatryan, Ali Khamraev Cinematography: Yuriy Klimenko Music designer: Gulya Tashbaeva Editting: Rakhmatilla Yakubov, Vardan Khachatryan
"S.Paradjanov. Delayed Premiere":
The Ukrainian Film Archive had a rather curious idea to celebrate cinema’s centennial: remember the unmaking of Sergej Parajanov’s 1965 project The Kyiv Frescoes. Sadly, it never went beyond a few screen tests – already seemingly too much for the authorities of the day. Just like those screen tests, Yuriy Repik’s short was lost as well, to be rediscovered just in time – for the Parajanov centennial.
Olaf Moller
"S. Paradjanov. Delayed Premiere" - film details: Country of production: Ukraine Year: 1995 Length: 15’ Format: DCP Premiere status: International Director: Yuriy Repik Sales, World Rights holder: National Cinematheque Ukraine
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