Korrespondentin aus Riga: Amanda Boka (Artikel in Englisch)
International Short Film Festival is an independent festival of film and audiovisual arts, held annually in Riga, Latvia, and is dedicated to seeking out and presenting innovative modes of visual communication. Born in the 1990s, the festival has grown into an international film event which offers films by professional filmmakers, winners of international festivals, students and graduates of film schools from all over the world. 2ANNAS is a platform which, in addition to the traditional means of filmmaking promotes new forms of content and expression.
Main objective is promote the works of professional filmmakers outside of and as an alternative the mainstream cinema products, both locally and internationally. Festival sees the development of the Baltic films and their trends within the context of the world, to advertise them by creating appropriate environment for developing new ideas and cooperation projects.
Every year 2ANNAS offer a range of short film collections – International and Baltic Competition programmes, guest programmes, retrospectives, and others, presenting films of all genres – fiction, animation, documentary, experimental film / video art, etc. In the programmes the festival seeks the innovative, experimental, unseen or long-forgotten in the film world. No idea or event can last without an inner drive or a wish to express something. Therefore when selecting films for 2ANNAS competition programmes works with an individual and unique signature, creativity, aesthetic and technical performance corresponding to the artistic idea are highlighted. The festival hosts lectures and photo exhibitions, as well as theater and music performances, extravagant events, and other activities within the rich city environment and the vibrant multi-talented 2ANNAS atmosphere. The festival invites special guests – young film directors, VJs and DJs, lecturers, jury members and collaboration partners – from a number of different countries. 2ANNAS draws large crowds of visitors, most of which are young filmmakers, artists, and students from the Baltic and European countries.
2ANNAS has recently transformed its festival angle quite radically, by making the submission open to filmmakers of all age groups, the reason being the wish to exist within a context which is defined by high professional, aesthetic, and artistic standards.
This year 2ANNAS are celebrating their 16th birthday and this has became the main concept for this year’s event.
The festival will begin with a Latvian student film night to give a chance to present the works for a wider audience than usually, and will proceed to a two-day Baltic and Nordic short film symposium „Nordic Toolbox”, a set of seminars, workshops, and film programmes, targeted at the Baltic young film directors and presenting an opportunity to draw experiences from Nordic film production expertise.
A special treat at the opening night will be a premiere of a long-awaited feature – a psychedelic concert film by a young aspiring film director, followed by performances of the best alternative DJs and VJs.
The competition programmes will start on 26 May in the arthouse cinema KSuns. The closing ceremony will be held on 28th May, with cash prizes given by the general sponsor Hannu-Pro. The International Competition winner will receive EUR 2000, the author of the best Baltic film will be awarded EUR 1000, and the best Latvian film will be happy to receive EUR 500.
The ceremony and screening of the award-winning films will be followed by a wild party for all the festival guests and participants.
Programme:
May 23 – Latvian student film night
May 24 – 25 – Baltic and Nordic short film symposium „Nordic Toolbox”
May 25 – festival opening night
May 26 – 28 – competition and guest programmes
May 28 – festival closing ceremony, screening of the award-winning films, closing party