On Screen

For its second incursion into science-fiction after “Trepalium,” a television series it produced in the past, Arte France decided to hire Patrick Benedek and Claude Scasso to write a six-episode season on the theme of immortality and on transferring from one body to another. The series will be broadcast as of 16 November and the cinematography of the first season was directed by Pascal Lagriffoul, AFC. The first episode was selected at Camerimage in the Television Series’ Pilots competition. (FR)

At Poznan airport, I met Pascal Lagriffoul, AFC, who, like me, was left without luggage. The tricky Lufthansa must know that in less than 40 minutes of transit in Munich it cannot forward baggage from one plane to another because as a passenger, we have to walk kilometers of corridors, running like lunatics, hoping to "catch" the connecting flight. But at first, she pretends that there is no problem.

During the closing ceremony of the 25^th annual Camerimage Festival, held on Saturday 18 November 2017 in the Grand Theatre of the Opera Nova of Bydgoszcz (Poland), the jury, presided by filmmaker Michael Apted, revealed the names of the winners. The Golden Frog went to Ildikó Enyedi’s film On Body and Soul, cinematography by Máté Herbai, HSC, the Silver Frog, to Loveless, by Andrei Zyvagintsev, cinematography by Mikhail Krichman, RGC, and the Bronze Frog to First They Killed My Father, by Angelina Jolie, cinematography by Anthony Dod Mantle, DFF, BSC, ASC.

The Bydgoszcz Film Festival, called Camerimage, is known for the many great filmakers that gather every year. This event is also visited by other people. These are aspiring artists from all around the world.

Every year, the Cinematographers’ Debuts selection holds a few good surprises in store. Last year, it was Juliette Van Doermael; this year, young Copenhagen DoP Maria von Hausswolff tore open the screen with (Vinterbrodre), a strange and pale film that portrays a group of lovelorn workers in a Danish limestone mine. The impressionistic screenplay was well-served by the graininess of the Super16 and an extremely impressive sound design. Director Hlynur Palmason and his cinematographer met during their studies and both work in the field of contemporary art (sculpture and installations).

On Body and Soul, a Hungarian film directed by Ildiko Enyedi, is also the third this year in the official selection to be set in an abattoir. Máté Herbai, HSC, shares his approach to working on this congenial and unusual love story between two wounded souls.

Jonathan Ricquebourg is the only French cinematographer officially competing in the feature-length fiction section of Camerimage 2017. Still Life, a first feature which was released a year ago in France, takes place in an abattoir. Animals and humans live side-by-side in a strange fable with infrequent dialogue. An original choice for this international selection that sometimes pits outsiders against internationally-recognized stars in the profession. (FR)

American director Alexander Payne chose a futuristic science-fiction universe for his latest film in which humans are able to shrink themselves to conserve the planet’s resources. Downsizing narrates the experience of an average American (Matt Damon) who gets caught up despite himself in this social and physiological process that completely changes his life. Phedon Papamichael, ASC, GSC, shares with us the secrets behind the “making of” of this bittersweet and highly-awaited comedy.

When he is asked about his best memory from Three Billboards Outside Ebbings, Missouri, British cinematographer Ben Davis tells us about his first meeting with Frances McDormand who very seriously said to him: “You know, Ben, I want you to film me like John Wayne in this film.” This film is therefore an authentic Western, with a sheriff, a small town, and an avenger, all of whom are seeking redemption. He discusses the film of Martin McDonagh (In Bruges, 7 Psychopaths), which was a great audience success at Camerimage.

Director Roland Joffé shot his latest film, dedicated to the life of Reverend Desmond Tutu (played by Forest Whitaker), in a working South African prison. American cinematographer William Wages, ASC, explains the reasons he chose the new Panasonic VariCam LT in a filmed interview.

Director Xavier Legrand, winner of many awards, including the Grand Prix of the Clermont-Ferrand Festival and of the César for Best Short Film in 2014, is back with his first feature-length film, Jusqu’à la garde. After winning the Silver Lion and the award for best first film at the Venice Film Festival, this restrained film continues the story from his short film. Xavier Legrand and his producer Alexandre Gavras did something uncommon by deciding to work with the exact same team from the short film. While we await the film’s release in France on 7 February 2018, the film continues to meet with enthusiasm as it makes the rounds of film festivals, and will be screened at Camerimage. Nathalie Durand, AFC, takes this opportunity to discuss shooting the film with us. (FR)

Land of Souls, the François Girard’s film, is a lyrical celebration of Quebec’s history through three vignettes into three of the province’s historical epochs during an archaeological dig on a football pitch. The images filmed by Nicolas Bolduc, CSC, create continuity in a film whose many plot twists and characters might leave the viewer a bit perplexed… (FR)

The AFC will be represented at the 25^th Annual Camerimage Festival in Bydgoszcz, Poland, by four films in its selection, the attendance of a dozen of its members, a Master Class, and the publication of a daily newsletter containing news from its members and the highlights of this annual rendezvous for cinematographers.

This year at Camerimage, CW Sonderoptic will be presenting the newest Leica cine lens products, including their now-delivering Leica Thalia large format lenses and the high-speed and compact Leica M 0.8 lenses.

Lee Filters was founded in 1967 and is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of colour media for the film, television and entertainment industry.

RED and its staff will be present at Camerimage 2017.

I’m at Bitola, in Macedonia, for a Festival dedicated to cinematographers everywhere in the world: the “Manaki Brothers” Festival. In 1905, these two brothers began to film daily life in the Balkans. I’ve been here for a few days and here are my first impressions.

The career of cinematographer Jeanne Lapoirie, AFC, has been shaped by her relations with very different directors, from Téchiné to Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Ozon to des Pallières, and Israeli directors Ronit and Sholmi Elkabetz. She designed the lighting on the first two films by Robin Campillo, Laurent Cantet’s set designer and editor. Her first feature-length film, The Returned, was made into an eponymous television series that has become a legend in both France and the United States. After directing Eastern Boy, Robin Campillo made his début at Cannes in the official competition with 120 Beats per Minute. (BB)