|
Interview with Mick Hannigan, Director of Cork Film Festival
Short Film is a Very Special Art Work
Cork
film Festival which has been running since1965 in Ireland,
celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. Short Film
Competition is one of the international sections of festival. This
year about 60 films selected , among them were three Iranians short
films, The Hole by Vahid Naserian, The Free line
by Naghi Nemati and Heydar, An Afghan in Tehran by Babak
Jalali.
Most
notable short film of festival was an animation, “Ryan”
directed by Chris Landreth which won the best short animation Oscar
prize, earlier this year. This year, a number of 100 short films
which screened in important international film festivals; selected
by the cinema critics and professionals. These selected short films
screened in Cork Film Festival, and meanwhile an international short
film symposium was held in which the
following subjects discussed:
-
The short film as a political tool
-
Toward the selection of short films
-
The variety of cultures in short
filmmaking
-
Narrating design in short film
-
Death of short film
Among the most prominent participant of program was Jonathan
Rosenbaum, the celebrated American film critic. It should be noted
that recently the city of Cork has selected as European Capital of
Culture.
Mick
Hannigan, director of Cork Film Festival is in Iran to attend in 22nd
National and 10th International Short Film Festival, as
one of the jury members of International Competition.
When you started out, what
was your idea about short film?
At the time, I chose to
cooperate with Cork Film Festival, there were only a few awards for
short film section. I intended to work in this area and I really
believed that it should be an opportunity for filmmakers to make
short films. I think it is a valuable and different work. Those
filmmakers, who make short films, have potential abilities. Now,
Cork Film Festival is supported by many renowned festivals, and
these supports are spiritual not financial.
So, that’s why you held a
symposium for short films this year?
Yes, we have a good relation
with other short film festivals. And you know, here, the competition
is not like what we see in feature films. Every body likes to
support. Short film is a very special art work. There is something
that seems contradictory. In spite of this fact that there are a lot
of financial and technical limitations, it is really a creative
process and there is enough room for thought and imagination.
However, the economic perspective is not so good.
How do you deal with the
financial problems?
The fact is, Cork Film
Festival consists of two parts. We cover our costs with money which
we earn through feature films.
Releasing short films in
theater, should takes a long difficult way; how do you deal with it?
That is right. However in
recent years, the situation has changed a little. Basically, there
is a little room for short films to screen in cinema theatres. But
we found a new way. We screen short films on DVDs, so every one
could choose his or her favorite film. We did this in Cork Film
Festival this year. In addition, we are intended to distribute DVDs
of the Irish short films with low prices. I think it is the best way
for short films to be released and reviewed.
Do you think there is any
buyer?
If we could distribute these
short films abroad, even by way of Internet; there would be a buyer.
Generally, how many films are
submitted to Cork Film Festival?
It is about 2000 films.
What do you reply to the
filmmakers whose films have not been selected?
It is really a good question.
We always have this problem. Filmmakers want to know the reasons.
But selection is not always a scholarly and methodical process. It
is rather a matter of taste.
Are you familiar with Tehran
International Short Film Festival?
Not so familiar, but I am
really interested in knowing how it goes. This is an international
famous film festival, and Hassan (Hassan Dezvareh, head of
international relations of Iranian Young Cinema Society) tries his
best for this festival to be recognized internationally. I met him
in Clermont - Ferrand Film Festival ( France ). Then I was invited
and I accepted gratefully. |
