ROFFEKE World Day for Audio Visual Heritage 2022

October 27th is World Day for Audio Visual Heritage. This year, like in 2020 and 2021, ROFFEKE will commemorate the day with a YouTube playlist. The theme of the ROFFEKE World Day for Audio Visual Heritage 2022 playlist is inspired by the title of one of the ROFFEKE Official Selection 2022 short films, "Crossing Borders". All the short films in the playlist cross borders in one way or another.

The short film "Crossing Borders" was directed by Chris Wilson and stars the talented Aphiwe Nqevu playing the role of Bhongo Mhlope. "Bhongo Mhlope, A South African immigration agent is on the hunt for a Zimbabwean foreign national who has been scheduled for deportation."

"Thou Shalt Dance" was directed by Abtin Yaghmaian, an animation director based in Tehran. The protagonist crosses the border between normal and abnormal: "In a normal day a normal man finds an abnormal solution for his problem."

Read - Crossing Borders: Finding Lulu and Cuando Haces Pop

Read - Crossing Borders: Forgotten Song and Maldita: A Love Song to Sarajevo

Crossing Borders: Forgotten Song and Maldita: A Love Song to Sarajevo

Forgotten Song, a beautiful, moving and poignant musical, is directed by Monika Grzybowska, a filmmaker who "believes in cinema with a mission."

Synopsis: "A young boy comes to the Friendship Settlement, where the Soviet builders of the Palace of Culture and Science lived in the 1950s, in search of accommodation for his grandparents from Ukraine. Here he meets a girl singing in the choir, who becomes his guide. Seemingly, it is a story about love that cannot happen because of the war in Ukraine, but more deeply it is a story about finding your identity. Music is an integral part of the film. It is not only the background of the events narrated in the film, but its equal protagonist."

Music also plays a big part in "Maldita: A Love Song to Sarajevo", directed by Raul de la Fuente Calle and Amaia Remirez. Below is a review by Love Kassim:

Bozo Vreco is a musician from Bosnia who in this film introduces us to a world of melancholy and sorrow as he explains growing up in a war-torn country and loosing his friend at a young age. The artist recalls the people he knew and the life he might have had if he hadn't gone through such a dismal upbringing. The war in Bosnia is repeatedly highlighted.

Bozo wears his hair long with kohl around his eyes and dresses in Kaftans; he spins around singing on stage. He believes that a person who sings songs of courage should present nothing but honesty to their audience. He further explains just how hard it was navigating as a queer person from a background who’s sound has influenced his music.The catchy melodies mixed with Bozo’s unmistakable voice gives the song an unparalleled softness.

I believe that this is the kind of sound that takes us on a journey through time.

His powerful highs and extra soothing lows plus the interplay of rhythm might blow your mind as the rich texture of the vocals pull you right back into place.

This music is calm yet so powerful.

This is an artist who tells us our most fundamental stories about ourselves and lost loved ones and when you listen to Maldita and watch the whole film in general, those stories are as relevant today as they ever were.

Crossing Borders: Finding Lulu and Cuando Haces Pop

 "There have been 27 school shootings this year. Maybe by October there'll be 30 more." 

So begins the trailer for "Finding Lulu", a short film directed by Gayatri Kumar and produced by Nyakio Wambui. Then we are asked: "How do you prepare for a country that has more guns than people?" Next, we see a Maasai Moran, sharpening a spear, wearing a Kenyan flag bead anklet. Lulu boldly approaches him and demands: "Nifunze kupigana" - Teach me how to fight.

Synopsis: "After learning about the culture of school shootings in America, Lulu's Kenyan community bands together to prepare her for life in U.S. schools."

 The trailer ends with the chant: "Usiue mtu, usiue mtu" - Don't kill anyone.

"Don't kill anyone" applies to Cuando Haces Pop (Once you pop), directed by Kevin Castellano and Edu Hirschfeld. This fun film with a twist in its tail/tale crosses the border between horror and comedy. Below is a review by Love Kassim:

"Cuando Haces Pop" (Once you pop) presents the story of Alicia and Ruth stranded in the middle of nowhere after they got kicked out of a car that was supposedly taking them to a music festival to perform. Once you pop provides a significant evaluation of the difficulties a band will go through just to get their music played, especially if it's made up of females.

They try to hitchhike to the next town and learn the hard way what it would really take to get a lift. Essentially, the film utilizes short, instantaneous and effective scenes that describe and exaggerate how they are limited to doing whatever the guy wants to get said lift.

The best remark I can give about the song is that it’s slowly infectious and one seems to return and replay it often.The song's infectious nature stems from its well-balanced, enticing sound, its positive vibe and its meaningful lyrics. We hear the interwoven styles of traditional punk and hints of pop, which seem seamless. It is difficult to achieve this mix of styles without being corny and Alicia and Ruth seemed to have done that.

I love the irony of the [not included to avoid spoiling the surprise! :-)] and actually enjoying their music.