CONTENTS Introduction by Dita Rietuma, Director, National Film Centre of Latvia 5 Film Programme LOOKING BACK TO THE FUTURE 6 BSD PROJECTS 18°C Ukraine 10 A Loss of Something Ever Felt Estonia/Colombia/Sweden 12 Alice in the Land Croatia/Germany/USA 14 Artyom’s Upbringing Belarus/Poland 16 Between Two Wars Ukraine/Latvia/Germany 18 The Christmas Tree Case Armenia 20 Eating an Elephant Russia 22 The Earth Is Blue like An Orange Ukraine 24 Fragments of Humanity Finland 26 From Sevnica to the White House Slovenia 28 The Harbor Lithuania 30 The Immortal Estonia/Latvia 32 Into the Bank Sweden/Norway 34 Lessons in Democracy Poland 36 My Favourite War Latvia/Norway 38 My Mother – the State Latvia 40 The New Imperium Russia 42 The Other Side of the River Germany/Slovenia 44 The Rossellinis Italy/Latvia 46 The Russian Way Russia 48 Santorini Weddings Germany 50 Small Footprint Estonia 52 Stalin Today Germany/Georgia 54 Time Travel – From Bonn to Speia Moldova 56 Decision Makers 59 Tutors 65 List of Participants 69 BALTIC SEA FORUM FOR DOCUMENTARIES 2o18 F l avou r s of Conviction of BSD 2017 Bridges of Time Bridges of Time – that’s the name of the film the three Baltic States – Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia – created together, which will open this year’s Baltic Sea Docs film programme. Bridges of Time is a conceptual work – a film that premiered in the three Baltic States in this most significant ied. Among the Baltic Sea Docs recognized documentary film year for Latvia, Lithuania and projects is a study of the family of professionals and exceptional Estonia – the centennial. The film legendary director Roberto Ros- creatives. Thank you to them for is about films and people – direc- sellini, the story of an ecologically- their time and desire to continue, tors who, in the 1960s, created a oriented commune, and of the alongside the Baltic Sea Docs proj- particular poetic documentary wedding paradise of Santorini that ect authors, to create this special film language, thus finding a way has become hell for the “natives” “bridge of time” – this animate, vi- to defy the stranglehold of ideol- …As is often the case, Baltic Sea tal, incisive, talented documentary ogy. Much has happened since Docs projects are socially astute film process. I would like to wish the 1960s when Seleckis, Franks, and topical. The project authors the Baltic Sea Docs project authors Brauns, Soosaar, Verba and oth- strive to analyze complicated that their ideas and efforts turn ers made their first films. And political and social processes in into powerful films and unique even this legendary Baltic docu- Europe, Russia and the world. In works of art that speak to viewers mentary film generation didn’t total, 24 creative teams – from the in many countries. start from nothing. Their percep- Baltics, Moldova, Belarus, Geor- tion of the power of film language gia, Slovenia, Norway, Ukraine, I hope that the 22nd Baltic Sea Docs is rooted in the powerful, laconic Russia, Germany, Finland and proves a valuable experience for film language of documentary other countries – will present their both Forum participants and the trailblazers (Flaherty, Vertov). film projects. That most of them experts. And that the Baltic Sea are co-productions confirms that Docs process inspires new ideas, The development of documen- Baltic Sea Docs continues to carry fosters cooperation between docu- tary film is like a bridge of time, out one of its most essential mis- mentary filmmakers and distribut- a process that weaves together sions – to foster creative coopera- ers, and helps powerful documen- the past and present into a single tion between documentary film- tary films in reaching audiences! flow. Present-day documentary makers of various nations, and the film will also be created – by the screening of documentary films in authors whose projects have been different countries and film distri- selected for Baltic Sea Docs. bution platforms. Dita Rietuma The thematic spectrum and I’m very happy that the Baltic Sea Director stylistic palette is extremely var- Docs panel of experts will include National Film Centre of Latvia Photo: Agnese Zeltiņa | Photo: Kristaps Kalns 5 Film Programme looking back to the future Film Programme looking back to the future the enthusiasts trying to protect and the city of Magadan. Modern day Island of the Hungry our 12,000 year-old food legacy. In population decline in Russia’s Far East is Screenings at a time where large biotech compa- also being resolved by human relocation. Ghosts In 2014, thousands of refugees from the nies propagate hybrid and geneti- Donbas region of Ukraine were re-housed DIR. Gabrielle BradY, Chromosom Film cally modified seeds in the name Cinema K.Suns Production, WDR, 94 min, 2018, GermanY/UK/ in Magadan, Yakutsk and other areas. Australia/USA of profit, farmers, scientists and indigenous seed keepers fight a Riga, 83/85 Elizabetes Str. David-and-Goliath-worthy battle to defend the future of our food. A Bridges of Time troubling yet inspiring story that Dir. KristīNE Briede, Audrius StonYS, VFS Films, encourages us to appreciate the Studio Nominum, Vesilind, 78 min, 2018, LatVia/ Lithuania/Estonia fantastic diversity of seeds. In 2015 the WHO announced that glypho- sate (the main ingredient in the herbicide ■ Australia’s Christmas Island’s Roundup), which is widely used in the Wednesday SEPTEMBER 5 17.oo Golden Dawn Girls original inhabitants are the forty farming sector, is most likely carcinogenic Dir. HAVard Bustness, 94 min, 2017, NorwaY/Denmark/Finland million land crabs that travel in in humans. EU authorities have, however, 18.3o masse from the island’s jungle to come to the conclusion that it is not, and Bridges of Time EU member states voted to extend the use Dir. Kristine Briede, Audrius StonYS, 78 min, 2018, LatVia/Lithuania/Estonia 19.oo The Cleaners its coastline once a year. The first of glyphosate for another 5 years. Ger- Before the screening – meeting with filmmakers and protagonists Dir. Hans Block, Moritz Riesewieck, 88 min, 2018, GermanY/Brazil humans only migrated here less many’s supportive position was pivotal to ■ Baltic documentary film played Moderator: film critic Zane Balčus than a century ago, and local is- the vote. In June 2018, the German biotech an important role during the landers still perform special rituals company Bayer became the manufacturer Soviet era. The main emphasis was 21.oo The Island of Hungry Ghosts of Roundup when it became owner of the 21.oo to help their wandering souls find on visuality and use of metaphor, Golden Dawn Girls Dir. Gabrielle BradY, 94 min, 2018, GermanY/United Kingdom/Australia/USA peace. Poh Lin is a trauma coun- world’s largest seed company, Monsanto. Dir. HAVard Bustness, 94 min, 2017, NorwaY/Denmark/Finland and though the official cinematic sellor who also lives on the island. language was propaganda-based, Sunday September 9 She works with the asylum seekers the films were also a poetic tribute Thursday September 6 who are being held in great secre- Kolyma: Road of Bones to Life and Humanity. This film cy in a remote detention facility. A Dir. Stanisław Mucha, TAG/TRAUM showcases those exceptional 13.oo Of Fathers and Sons striking, visually impressive film Filmproduktion, 85 min, 2017, GermanY/Russia 18.oo works and their directors – indi- Seed: The Untold Story Dir. Talal Derki, 99 min, 2017, GermanY/SYria/Lebanon that stands out due to the empa- viduals who expound their ideas Dir. Taggart Siegel, Jon Betz, 94 min, 2016, USA thy shown towards the portrayed and views decades after the After the screening – panel discussion on seed diversity in Latvia individuals. 15.oo The Island of Hungry Ghosts creation of their masterpieces: Moderator: journalist Sandra Kropa Dir. Gabrielle BradY, 94 min, 2018, GermanY/United Kingdom/Australia/USA Australia’s refugee policy calls for asylum Herz Frank, Uldis Brauns, Ivars seekers who arrive in Australia by boat to Seleckis, Mark Soosaar, Andres 21.oo The Cleaners be detained and held in remote territo- Sööt, Robertas Verba, Henrikas 17.oo Kolima: Road of Bones Dir. Hans Block, Moritz Riesewieck, 88 min, 2018, GermanY/Brazil ries – such as Christmas Island and other Šablevičius and Aivars Freimanis. Dir. Stanislaw Mucha, 85 min, 2017, GermanY/Russia offshore processing facilities thousands of kilometres away in Pacific Ocean nation- ■ “Goulash?” asked the young Several “Baltic New Wave” films have not states – before being sent back home. 19.oo Over the Limit only been included among the all-time- Friday September 7 The largest number of asylum seekers in woman, popping her head out Dir. Marta Prus, 74 min, 2017, Poland/GermanY/Finland classics in their respective countries, but the Christmas Island facility was almost from the hotdog stand on the icy are also recognized internationally. One 3,000, while the registered local popula- Kolyma roadside. Director 18.oo Granny Project of the most awarded is Ivars Seleckis’ tion is 1,843, according to the latest data. Stanisław Mucha’s question “Šķērsiela” (“The Crossroad Street”), which Dir. Balint REVesz, 89 min, 2017, HungarY/United Kingdom 21.oo Granny Project Dir. Balint REVesz, 89 min, 2017, HungarY/United Kingdom though, was about the gulag, and won the European Film Award for Best After the screening – meeting with film director Balint Revesz he was surprised that in this place, Documentary in 1990. In turn, Estonian for years the location of Soviet director Mark Soosaar’s film “Woman 21.oo Seed: The Untold Story From Kihnu” premiered in 1975 at the Of Fathers and Sons prison and labour camps, the Cinémathèque Française in Paris, where Dir. Talal Derki, 99 min, 2017, GermanY/SYria/Lebanon Dir.