Last summer several Netherlands based filmmakers went to the South American jungle to participate in a Film Lab under the auspices of Thai director Apichapong Weerasethakul. In ten days they would develop and shoot a short film under the guidance of this esteemed film auteur of contemporary world cinema. Giving them both knowledge and a short film to bring them closer to the international arthouse industry.
Labs like these are part of a bigger cinema infrastructure and industry, where participants can find proximity to and tutelage of esteemed masters of the artform. Werner Herzog had his recurring Rogue Film School, Bela Tarr had his Film Factory in Sarajevo. These labs and schools can be great means to gain inspiration, experience and find new connections for collaboration, but they can also signify a generational split between established auteurs and the up and coming filmmakers that in order to make waves in an increasingly tougher industry have to go through great lengths to differentiate themselves from the rest. Not only taking time of newer filmmakers but also financial means. It raises questions about originality and authenticity — the way young filmmakers need to jump through hoops to stand out in a highly competitive arthouse film industry where a growing winner takes all trend is visible.
Together with film critic Hugo Emmerzael and producer Steven Rubinstein several participants of Apichapong Weerasethakul’s 2022 workshop explore their time in the South American jungle. What have they gained from their time there? How has it shaped their cinematic voice and artistic inclination? And how has the Lab shifted the way they perceive themselves within the world of film? In the discussion there is equal room for inspiring anecdotes as for critical notions. All this will be illustrated by material shot during the workshop. To explore the dynamics of the workshop and the way it relates to the rest of the film industry even deeper.
The programme will start at 20:00 and last for about 1,5 hours. Afterwards the bar of MACA will stay open to facilitate further conversation and discussion. The conversations will be in English.
This programme was made possible with the support of
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