From November 7 to 23, the 29th International Film Festival "Dark Nights" took place in the capital of Estonia, Tallinn, where the results were summarized and the winners announced.
In the jury, alongside Mitevskaya, worked cinematographer Roberto Schaefer, costume designer Debra McGuire, producer Ingo Fliss, and screenwriter Nomuunzul Törmöng from Mongolia.
Within the main competition of the festival, 17 feature films were presented, of which 16 had their world premiere and one had its international premiere.
Films participating in the main competition
"18 Holes to Paradise" (18 Buracos para o Paraíso, Portugal, Italy, Argentina), directed by João Nuno Pinto
"Duality" (Duality, Iran), directed by Abbas Nezamdoost
"Hungarian Wedding" (Hungarian Wedding, Hungary), directed by Csaba Káel
"Together Alone" (LifeLike, Turkey, Greece, Romania), directed by Ali Vatansever
"Mira" (Mira, Morocco), directed by Nouredine Lakhmari
"No Comment" (No Comment, Norway), directed by Petter Ness
"Sisa" (Sisa, Philippines), directed by Jun Robles Lana
"The Dashed Lines" (The Dashed Lines, Spain), directed by Anxos Fazáns
"The Frog and the Water" (The Frog and the Water, Germany), directed by Thomas Stuber
"The Good Daughter" (The Good Daughter, Spain), directed by Julia de Paz Solvas
"The Imaginary Dog and the Lying Cat" (The Imaginary Dog and the Lying Cat, Japan), directed by Yukihiro Morigaki
"The Moon is a Father of Mine" (The Moon is a Father of Mine, Luxembourg, Turkey, Georgia, Germany, Czech Republic, Bulgaria), directed by Giorgi Ovashvili
"The Muralist" (The Muralist, Mongolia), directed by Sengedorj Janchivdorj
"The Stories" (The Stories, Austria, France, Belgium, Egypt, Sweden), directed by Abu Bakr Shawky
"Think of England" (Think of England, United Kingdom), directed by Richard Hawkins
"Veins" (Veins, Canada), directed by Raymond St-Jean
"Versailles" (Versalles, Mexico), directed by Andrés Clariond.
A historic moment at the "Dark Nights" festival: for the first time, one film received both the main prize and the audience award — it was "The Good Daughter," created by Spanish director Julia de Paz Solvas.
Also included in the main competition was the new film "The Muralist" directed by Y. Sengedorj, which was awarded the NETPAC prize given by the jury of the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema.
"The Muralist"
The main character, an exiled artist, returns to Mongolia to complete his last fresco, confronting past memories, losses, and a changed city.
Bayaraa, a monumental artist, returns to Mongolia after a long time, armed only with a box of paints, a tent, and his loyal dog. Every day he works on frescoes on the walls of an abandoned factory, using mythical Mongolian motifs. However, when the authorities plan to demolish the building, Bayaraa decides to leave his mark, battling with internal demons related to the loss of his wife and daughter.
Director Sengedorj Janchivdorj, returning to PÖFF after the success of his film "Silent City Driver," creates a visually stunning meditation on themes of memory and reconciliation, characterized by a slow pace and picturesque composition. His work, "The Muralist," raises questions about what we choose to preserve when everything around us is changing.
Tatar S.Maidar
source: MiddleAsianNews
