Dear friend of Arkadia,

You are welcome to New Approaches to Documentary Filmmaking: the screening of two short films and a discussion with film directors Mari Pasula and Johanna Österblom, and Silke Silke Brandt, director of Helsinki Refugee Film Festival, on Friday 21.9 at 6pm at Old Arkadia (Pohjoinen Hesperiankatu 9A).

Mari Pasula and Johanna Österblom will present two of their recent short films and share their thoughts on new ways to approach documentary filmmaking.

They will talk about many aspects of their work, for example, genre crossovers – e.g. the possible use of comedy in documentaries-, while still remaining close to the interviewees and retaining authenticity.

The audience is encouraged to join in the discussion or ask questions about the films presented.

Warm regards,

Ian
www.arkadiabookshop.fi

–Entrance is free and green tea will be offered. A donation of €2 (or more!) to fund the event is suggested and would be most welcome.

Yksin maailmassa / Alone in the World. Mari Pasula, 2011, min: 29’
Fourteen year-old Albert is a refugee from Kosovo living at Harjulinna youth reception centre. An intelligent, energetic boy, he’s not
asking for much: attending a regular school, football training, the love of an – albeit substitute – mother. But bureaucracy and regulations present obstacles and leave Albert too often subchallenged and frustrated. Are there happy endings in real life? Come and see! Beautifully shot and edited, this film is touching without being sentimental.

A Laugh – Our Last Goodbye. Johanna Österblom, 2011, min: 14’
Brian Marshall who calls himself Mauro Jabulani, is a hospital entertainer who works at different childrens´ hospitals throughout South Africa, where the patients have life threatening diseases.

The film was produced as a part of the intercultural North-South-South Exchange Programme of 2011 where 12 Film and TV students from Universities in Helsinki (Finland), Johannesburg (South Africa), and Accra (Ghana) collaborate in making documentaries that are aimed at being culturally diverse and socially viable both in form and content.

About the filmmakers:

Mari Pasula is a film director who studied Peace Research at the University of Helsinki and Documentary Making at Axxell City Film School. She specialises in observational style, strives for authenticity and feeling of closeness in her documentaries. Her aim is to break stereotypical and dualistic thinking. Her films were selected for a.o. DocPoint and Rakkautta & Anarkiaa this year.

Johanna Österblom is a media student and film director who is specialized in documentary film cooperation projects. Her first work (in 2009) as well as the film presented here was broadcasted by YLE.

They are about to embark on a new project together, aiming to broaden the range of documentary film narration and style.