The New Currents section showcases films made by female filmmakers made in the past 1-2 years to explore the current status of women¡¯s films and to predict future trends. This year¡¯s lineup champions diversity. Patricia ROZEMA, a first generation director in queer cinema whose prior work has been screened at SIWFF, presents Mouthpiece, a musical comedy that centers on a lesbian couple¡¯s preparation for a mother¡¯s funeral. Meanwhile Marie KREUTZER¡¯s The Ground Beneath My Feet exhibits the Austrian filmmaker¡¯s cinematic prowess.
One of the noteworthy trends is the great progress being made by up-and-coming filmmakers who are equipping their narratives with an array of feminist discourses. Aren¡¯t You Happy? approaches the male-oriented gaze in conventional narratives in an oppositional and reflective fashion, Searching Eva is an exploration of the multiple roles occupied by women in postmodern society, while Jessica Forever is the story of a strong leader among a group of young misfits, will all win the hearts of audiences through their new, experimental film language and bold, provocative perspectives.
Among recent feminist documentaries, one prominent characteristic is the focus on examining the medium of cinema and its history through a feminist perspective. Two notable documentaries that exemplify this trend are Delphine & Carole and Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché. Both films reveal pioneering filmmakers who don¡¯t appear in the male-centered version of film history.
Korean female feature and documentary films are also well represented, depicting the results of the nation¡¯s division and the history of modernization, human rights issues, and female relationships. They show the current status of women¡¯s films in Korea.
KWON Eunsun / Deputy Director, Chairperson of Film Selection Committee