I am writing this editorial on the flight to Sochi. If the name sounds familiar to you, that is because in 2014 the city will host the Winter Olympics. However, this popular Black Sea resort is also home to the annual film festival Kinotavr. And since Russia is the country whose cinematography we intend to present in this year's Focus, why not visit the shores of the Black Sea. And, of course, return home with some excellent Russian films and guests! I believe you will enjoy what we have to offer you from this great cinematography, especially the international festivals' hit How I Ended This Summer, directed by Alexei Popogrebsky, who won as many as three Silver Bears at this year's Berlinale. I would like to use this opportunity to once again thank Kinotavr program director Citori Aliyeva for her enormous and invaluable help with organizing the current Russian film retrospective. Naturally, the Focus is only a slice of the huge and delicious film cake made of some of the world's best films and festival darlings that we will all taste together this summer in Dubrovnik.
I have been staring at the screen for half an hour now since I really don't know which films in competition to mention, without being unfair to all the others. You think I'm exaggerating? You tell me: there is the brilliant Argentinean drama and this year's Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Language Film The Secret in Their Eyes; or perhaps the best new Polish The Dark House; or let's say, the Filipino filmmaker Brillante Mendoza's Kinatay, winner of the Cannes Palm D'or for Best Director; of the disturbing drama White Material by the French veteran Claire Denis; or the festival-goers' latest find, the Vietnamese Adrift... You have to admit, this doesn't sound bad at all! It sounds even better when you add the films playing out-of-competition, including the two-time Academy Award winner Precious, directed by Lee Daniels, the excellent Norwegian comedy-drama A Somewhat Gentle Man, starring Stellan Skarsgård, and Triage, directed by Danis Tanović and produced by Čedomir Kolar, starring Colin Farrell and Branko Djurić. This year's Midnight Madness program once again features three horror genre gems: REC 2, sequel to the Spanish horror sensation; Thirst, tragic vampire love story directed by the Korean master Chan-wook Park; and Red White & Blue, another unforgettable feature by the talented London-based director and an old acquaintance of ours, Simon Rumley, who is once again coming back to Dubrovnik after his horror hit The Living and the Dead.
I recommend that the documentary film lovers do not attend this year's screenings unless their bellies are full. This year the documentary program is dedicated to food and food alone! Japan's Eatrip dissects the philosophy of eating; at the same time, Kings of Pastry takes us behind the scenes of the closed world of the French competition for the best pastry chef, and Cooking History takes us on a cooking journey through the biggest wars of the 20th century, cauldrons and all. And these are just some of the films that will make your mouth water! Finally, there are also the Polish animated films, with which we aim to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Polish animation, special screenings, workshops and a number of other events over the five-day festival. So, you will be given time off until the evening but then we expect you to show up for our screenings in Dubrovnik's gorgeous open-air locations!
Finally, I would like to thank everyone who have invested their time and effort, not to mention sweat and nerves, in the realization of the 6th Libertas Film Festival: from the tireless festival team, the City of Dubrovnik and sponsors, to colleagues, business partners and friends all over the world. Many of them will meet us in Dubrovnik to enjoy the seventh art. Join us!
Stjepan Hundić, Artictic Director
