interviews Los Bando The Witch Hunters Journal Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver No. 3 | 2018 The Websters September Photo: Los Bando www.ecfaweb.org INDEX EDITORIAL ECFA 30 YEARS 3-5 Los Bando Interview The main lever 6 ECFA Seminar 1991. I had been a film professional for already ten I explicitly state that it would have been impossi- 7 Xiaojuan Zhou about children’s films years (independent producer, director, scriptwriter, ble to create the Olympia Festival without ECFA’s Statement actor), but it was the first time I made a film focused support. ECFA was always on our side in many diffe- 8-9 The Witch Hunters on childhood. THE FLEA was selected for the Berli- rent ways. This spirit of collaboration still governs Interview nale Kinderfilmfest and was awarded later in many ECFA’s function and it’s the main lever for the de- international children’s film festivals. Until then, I velopment of children’s cinema in Europe and the 10 Promise Dox Spot had no special training on children’s cinema and I rest of the world. This is why today ECFA has more didn’t even know it was considered a distinct genre than 130 members. My partners and I are happy to 11-13 The Websters or there were specialised international festivals! be members of this beautiful family. Interview 14-15 Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver My acquaintance with dedicated ECFA members – – Interview especially Felix Vanginderhuysen – was crucial to Dimitris Spyrou my turning towards children’s cinema. Artistic director of Olympia International Film 16-17 Films on the horizon Festival for Children & Young People 18 Bending gender roles in shortfilm Being allergic to the intense competitiveness which Short Cut usually characterises the rest of the film world, I soon became passionate about children’s films. 19-20 Zoo I got in contact with some beloved colleagues in Interview Greece, I “inducted” them to the case and we ini- 21-22 The educational role of film museums tially created the non-profit organisation Neaniko Interview Plano in order to take action for the promotion of quality children’s films and film education. 23 Thessaloniki Film Festival Festival In 1997, we made a big leap forward. We created 24-25 Mission Kathmandu: The Adventures the Olympia International Film Festival for Child- of Nelly & Simon ren & Young People, unique of its kind in Greece. Interview In 2000, we created Camera Zizanio, the European Meet ECFA and its members at the Film Meeting of Young People’s Audiovisual Creation, Literacy Seminar @ Cinekid, October 23, which immediately attracted the interest of young EYE Filmmuseum in Amsterdam. (not only) European creators. 2 | Journal 03 | 2018 INTERVIEW Christian Lo about LOS BANDO “Dropping simulated police cars in digital water” The big moment has come for best kit to start playing loudly! friends Aksel (Jakob Dyrud) and Grim (Tage Johansen Hogness). For years In the film Aksel is wearing a T-shirt they’ve been dreaming about their that says: “music is my religion”. Is rock band’s big breakthrough. Now that really so? that Los Bando is invited for the na- Christian Lo: That slogan fits his cha- tional rock contest the world might racter and it would somehow fit me just be at their feet. But how to get to too. As a teen I played in a rock band the finals that are held on the other and playing music has formed me the film I’m a drummer. And Jakob, contest, just like Los Bando. The song side of Norway? And who has the guts just as much as what I learned in film who is a drummer, plays a guitarist. I “Kill, death, destroy” in the movie was to finally tell Aksel that he can’t sing? school. The dynamics and dramaturgy had to practise some drumming, and on our first demo recording. They embark on a journey with a rally of good music are probably the same it felt somehow like dancing: keeping driver behind the wheel and a 9-year- as for movies. Being a band member the rhythm and hearing the different Jakob, there is something manic old cellist in the front seat. feels like belonging to a film crew. accents and beats. about your character that I can only Tage Johansen Hogness: I’ve listened Lo: Tage is an excellent dancer, you describe as ‘hyper enthusiasm’. In the hilarious Norwegian road mo- to music my entire life, and it has be- should know. Dyrud: Yep, that’s me! Aksel is pretty vie LOS BANDO, two friends put eve- come an important part of who I am, stupid, obsessed with his love inte- rything at stake to make their dream but I wouldn’t call it my religion. It’s clear that the movie is made by rest, and without any form of self- come true. Director Christian Lo (RA- Jakob Dyrud: My father is a musician, someone who knows how much fun awareness. He believes he is the gre- FIKI, SUPERHERO) made the kind of music was always there in the house it is to be in a band. atest gift to mankind. Him being so film that gives you a hard time to re- where I grew up, and I listen to it all Lo: Scriptwriter Arild Tryggestad had over optimistic made it a tiring role. main seated. The audience feels like the time. But nowadays I’m focussing the idea to make a road movie, and I I had to act all over the place, all the jumping up, cheering for the young more on acting, although I still play always dreamed of making a band mo- time. Playing an outrageously happy heroes to help them escape from the from time to time. vie. Both ideas came together in LOS person makes you feel exhausted, clutches of policemen and anxious BANDO. Arild developed four charac- as you have to give so much – by parents. And probably some of those You do play? ters, each of them with its own prob- the end of a long day you still have kids in the crowd were already drea- Dyrud: I play the drums. lems. I told him some anecdotes from to act as happy as at the beginning. ming about running out of that cine- Johansen: The funny thing is that I’ve the time I was playing with my own It was a difficult role to shake off. ma to grab the nearest guitar or drum been playing guitar for years, but in band – we made it to the national rock 3 | Journal 03 | 2018 INTERVIEW have a personal favourite. What is small roles benefitted from it. special: this film has four main charac- ters, rather than one. It’s an ensemb- You mean the crazy people they le film, which you don’t see often in meet on the road? children’s cinema. Tilda (9), Grim and Lo: All those clever characters that Aksel (14) and Martin (17) all reach Arild came up with. Like the religious out to different age groups. maniac driving his van with the slo- gan ‘God has no speed limit’. I found Then was it difficult to make them it particularly funny that Arild hooked What about Grim? a true team? him up with an ‘anger management Johansen: He’s a good lad who wishes Lo: On the contrary, they were a super problem’. KEY AND THE BANDIT and THE BLUES everybody to be happy, but he’s avoi- friendly gang, taking good care of the Dyrud: Or the crazy bride. Swedish BROTHERS. ding conflicts. Like he doesn’t dare to youngest. actress Vera Vitali seemed totally tell Aksel that he can’t sing. Dyrud: Tiril Marie Høistad Berger, normal when we met, but when we re- With a lot of stunt driving to be playing Tilda, was fun to hang out corded that scene, in one split second done. When Tilda hears him singing for the with, she was joyful, we all had fun she turned into an outrageous mons- Johansen: In the coolest scene to first time, the non-verbal “dialogue” listening to her stories. I have a litt- ter, screaming and shaking her body. shoot, Jonas was driving fast with between her and Grim is a fine ex- le sister exactly the same age, and She went nuts. a truck driving alongside us, with ample of wordless acting. sometimes it felt like I got myself an a cameraman standing on top. He Lo: Tilda speaks with her eyes and extra sister. thought this was the most exciting body language rather than with Johansen: Jonas Hoff Oftebro, play- car scene he ever did, as he himself words. Reading the script, you would ing Martin, is actually 21 and has was allowed to drive. find out she has very little dialogue, professional acting experience. As a Lo: The most difficult thing was to maybe 10% of what the other main kid he was in THE OLSON GANG, and find the right bridge for our ultimate characters have. But she has a natu- recently he starred in BURNING, a car stunt. ral power, she shows the world her Norwegian blockbuster about street You seem to have used all the assets strong attitude, although you know racing. He often gave us useful advice. of the Norwegian landscapes and There was a real bridge? that deep down, she’s a lonesome, Lo: I think we found the perfect cast. roads to the fullest. Lo: There was, but not like in the film. troubled girl.