On November 4, 2023 at the MiMoDa Studio, the 7th annual LA Dance Film Festival presented a series of 14 Films from around the world. The evening was hosted by Nicole Manoochehri, Executive Director, Olivia Mia Orozco Saper, Festival Co-Director: and Film Director Nadav Heyman who introduced all who made it possible, from the crew to filmmakers, including the fans who had supported the Festival for the six years it has been in existence.
Amongst so many excellent films chosen for the evening, there were standouts created by artists of film, story and movement that were impactful because of how they handled their concepts, their directorial expertise and moving performances.
BEAST (Poland) – choreographed by Polish Dance Theatre – Screenshot courtesy of LA Dance Film Festival.
The opening piece was Beast from Poland, Directed by Iwona Pasińska and Produced & Choreographed by the Polski Teatr Tańca (Polish Dance Theatre). It asked “How does the relationship between animals differ from the relationship between humans and animals? The creators of the sixth choreographic film project by the Polish Dance Theatre asked the audience to see the difference between interdependency, innocence, carefreeness vs bestiality, destruction and the burden of domination. This is a fascinating tale with its captivating animal-like performances, costumes, engaging rhythmic music and use of natural settings which all came together in a mélange of creativity that revealed an ill-fated conclusion.
LUCE (Canada) – choreographed by Valeria Gallucci – Screenshot courtesy of LA Dance Film Festival.
Luce was a one of the highlights of the evening. It was a provocative film from Canada, Directed & Choreographed by the uniquely talented Valeria Galluccio, whose work has been seen in Compagnie Marie Chouinard’s transformational company. Galluccio’s performance was a brilliant and sensitive portrayal of a misplaced and mysterious alien. Her pale violet body shimmering and often off-kilter attempts to get on balance, were stunning for their dexterous grace, sensitivity, and empathetic portrayal. Luce, a mysterious creature, with both aquatic and human features, brought deep understanding of being the other trapped in a world it did not understand. The film work was subtle and beautiful and Galluccio awakened such sensitivity in this awkwardness yet graceful exploration. Truly a transcendent and moving piece of filmmaking.
WALKS WITH ME (Finland) choreographed by Kati Kallio – Screenshot courtesy of LA Dance Film Festival.
Walks with Me, from Finland was a personal and poignant remembrance by director/choreographer Kati Kallio. It was about an 80-year-old Sanna who lives alone with her memories and houseplants. On this day she sees children playing from her window that instigates reminiscences about her life through time. She uses games and dance of the past that delivers her back to now, and her now loneliness. This dream, so lyrical and beautifully constructed, was like fresh air for its simplicity and humanity, and clearly moved the audience.
KEEPING OF THE BEES (United States) – choreographed by Christina Belinsky – Screenshot courtesy of LA Dance Film Festival.
THE KEEPING OF THE BEES is a tongue-in-cheek unique environmental work from the U.S. It was directed & choreographed by Christina Belinsky. This is a short film that addresses the environmental concerns through the eyes and actions of a Beekeeper and an NPR announcer. It is done like a PSA with gesticulation, lip syncing and dance, and uses a light touch on a heavy subject, revealing what is faced not only by bees, but by humans, as a result of their behavior as the cause of climate change. This is a very timely and hard to resist piece.
DEMONS, A Swiss film, directed by Humbi Entress, performed and choreographed by Mès Lesne, is a nihilistic film showing Lesne’s character in a dark battle with two female dancers representing demons (both uncredited). The story is amassed with random shots, sounds of breathing, and flying capes and hair, which without the program notes the audience might only guess at the narrative and coherency of the dark tale of futility and powerlessness. However the true spectacle was the set. A breathtaking backdrop of glaciers melting like tears, revealing an expansive wide shot of the irreparable damage of the earth. For that alone, it made a powerful statement.
In addition, were contributions to the evening that used animation, engaging themes, movement and filmmaking from inventive filmmakers:
CANVAS From the US, Directed by Sophia Stoller, Choreographed by Sophia Stoller & Crossroads Upper School Dance Company. A large blank canvas becomes the source of colorful imagination in a young girl’s mind.
THE WHIRLWIND from the U.S. Directed by Julia Ponce Diaz, Choreographed by Samantha Shay and Written by Julia Ponce Diaz and Kate Ketcham. In three separate homes, people grapple with their isolation from each other and the outside world. Whirlwind is an abstract dance piece in which movement and editing weave together the three spaces in a way that shows their unity.
ENTANGLEMENT (Portugal) – Choreographed by Marco Olival – Screenshot courtesy of LA Dance Film Festival.
ENTANGLEMENT from Portugal Directed by Nuno Serrão, Choreographed by Marco Olival, This experimental short film tells a non-dialogue story about a relationship.
SOMA from UK. United Kingdom, Directed by Arturo Bandinelli, Choreographed by KWAM Collective. SOMA is an experimental film that uses movement and dance as its primary medium for story-telling. A contemporary myth on the genesis of the human body,
SOMA (United Kingdom) – Choreographed by KWAM Collective – Screenshot courtesy of LA Dance Film Festival.
NEW BORN Belarus, Directed by Alexander Devyatchenko Soldak, Choreographed by Katerina Sulimenko, NEW BORN is a story of a one soul, who awakens in a new world for her and a new physical body.
NEKANE from Spain, Directed by Clara Rodríguez Arasanz. Choreographed by Ainhoa Urrestilla, NEKANE is an experimental video dance project that reveals the different layers, textures and dimensions of pain during grief.
THICK SKIN from Colombia, Directed by Laura Steiner, and Choreographed by Ana Contreras, Daniel Corredor, Sebastián Arenales, & David Arenales. To be able to live in Bogotá, you need a skin that can adapt. THICK SKIN is a dance film that takes the viewer through the Colombian capital high above the Andes with stylized movement that speaks of life in the bustling city.
STILL LIFE ( Australia) – Choreographed by Jack Lister – Screenshot courtesy of LA Dance Film Festival.
STILL LIFE – Australia, Directed by Ryan Renshaw, Choreographed by Jack Lister. A triptych of three films inspired by the stage version. The films are the result of a 12-month COVID-enforced collaboration between Australasian Dance Collective and Kiosk Film.
This was an important evening showing excellent talent and creative new artist that bring important viewpoints to the world of film and dance. Congratulations to the LA Dance Film Festival and Nicole Manoochehri, Olivia Mia Orozco Saper, and those that made it possible.
For more information about LA Dance Film Festival, please visit their website.
Written by Joanne DiVito for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image: DEMONS (Switzerland) – Choreographed by Mès Lesne – Screenshot courtesy of LA Dance Film Festival.
11/11/23 editor note: Presenter notified LADC after publication that the film CORNERBOY (Germany) was the winner of the jury award for “Best Film”. Directed by Kai Kurve, produced by Kurve Entertainment and choreographed by Piotr Simba Abramowicz. Also, that the 2023 guest judges were Josh S. Rose, Ali Kenner Brodsky, and Andrew Margetson.
