_{In Flow of Words by Eliane Esther Bots}

Three Selections in the International Competition

This year, three Dutch shorts have been selected for the international competition: In Flow of Words*, NAYA - Der Walt Hat Tausend Augen* and Minimal Sway While Starting My Way Up. In Flow of Words by Eliane Esther Bots and Near/by Film follows the narratives of three interpreters of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. They interpreted shocking testimonies from witnesses, victims and perpetrators, without ever allowing their own emotions, feelings and personal histories to be present. Contrary to their position at the tribunal, this film places their voices and experiences center stage. In Flow of Words enjoys a succesful festival run, with many festival selections, including Locarno Film Festival and Chicago International Film Festival. Recently, the short has been selected as one of the 5 short film nominees for the European Film Awards. Sales are handled by Square Eyes.

In the short documentary NAYA - Der Walt Hat Tausend Augen by Sebastian Mulder and Boondocs we follow the life of she-wolf Naya, who walked from East Germany to Belgium with a GPS collar. She is the first wolf in Belgium in a hundred years and is suddenly world news, but then her presence takes a mysterious turn. A voyeuristic collage film from wildlife and surveillance cameras explores the relationship between humans and this iconic wild animal. Earlier selections include Hot Docs International Documentary Festival in Canada and Sarajevo Film Festival.

Minimal Sway While Starting My Way is directed by Stéphanie Lagarde and produced by Videopower. As an intelligent elevator discovers the world, we get to know the invisible links between extreme heights (the mega-tall tower, speculative object and symbol for social, cultural and economical domination) and extreme depths (the deep mine, place of natural wealth extraction and colonial exploitation). As doubts, fears and desires melt in the consciousness of the elevator, existence becomes a battle to justify itself. The short doc is also selected for Montreal International Documentary Festival and screened at Curtocircuíto International Film Festival last month.

Two Shorts in the Sparks II Competition (16+)

Baba* and Dirty Talks are selected for the Sparks II Competition at Winterthur. Baba by Lisa Konno and Sarah Blok, and also produced by Boondocs, world premiered at International Film Festival Rotterdam, followed by many festival selections, including Clermont Ferrand International Film Festival and Aestethica International Short Film Festival where it won the award for Best Fashion Short. Ceylan Utlu moved from Turkey to The Netherlands forty years ago to provide his left-wing ideology with western knowledge. After having had the education he wanted, he would go back to make himself useful to his own country. His half-Turkish half-Dutch daughter wonders why things did not go the way her dad planned it and asks him about immigration, integration, relationships, and loneliness. Festival distribution is handled by Kapitein Kort.

Dirty Talks is a comic-dramatic web series with standalone episodes. Each episode revolves around a new embarrassing sexual experience and/or intense dialogue between two contemporary characters in their twenties. Hilarious, awkward and relatable. A Dutch Mountain Film production, directed by Brandon Grötzinger and Wander Theunis, the festival screens the pilot episode of the web series. Earlier selections include Go Short International Short Film Festival Nijmegen and Netherlands Film Festival. 

For more information on Winterthur International Short Film Festival 2021, click here.
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*Film is supported by the Netherlands Film Fund