Algonquin documentary production students cover and discover WIFF 2012
A frosty late February evening was not enough to keep Wakefielder's on their couches in front of the Academy Awards glittering on cozy flat-screens everywhere.
Instead, they turned out to fill the Great Hall in the shiny new Wakefield LaPêche Community Centre to watch the second offering in WIFF's 2012 program: Putin's Kiss, a political reality drama set against Vladimir Putin's new Russia, by Danish director Lise Birk Pederson.
Instead, they turned out to fill the Great Hall in the shiny new Wakefield LaPêche Community Centre to watch the second offering in WIFF's 2012 program: Putin's Kiss, a political reality drama set against Vladimir Putin's new Russia, by Danish director Lise Birk Pederson.
Synopsis: Nineteen-year old Masha is a spokesperson in the government friendly and strongly nationalistic Russian youth organization, Nashi. The movement aims to protect Russia against its 'enemies'.
Director Lise Birk Pederson: "When Masha showed me around, she brought me to a tent, which Nashi had fitted out as an emergency head quarters in case a revolution should break out in Russia. From the head quarters, then, Nashi would be able to defend Russia under any circumstances. This was a serious constellation.
Later I learned that the head quarters, this mobile office, was part of a much larger strategy aimed at young members: It gave the impression that the political opposition posed a great threat to Russian security and they were therefore to be considered enemies of Russia."
Director Lise Birk Pederson: "When Masha showed me around, she brought me to a tent, which Nashi had fitted out as an emergency head quarters in case a revolution should break out in Russia. From the head quarters, then, Nashi would be able to defend Russia under any circumstances. This was a serious constellation.
Later I learned that the head quarters, this mobile office, was part of a much larger strategy aimed at young members: It gave the impression that the political opposition posed a great threat to Russian security and they were therefore to be considered enemies of Russia."
Atiyah Hussain records opening proceedings for screening of "Putin's Kiss" at WIFF 2012
Also on hand was a crew of Algonquin College documentary production students to record the proceedings. Crew member Atiyah Hussain's A Thousand Thousand Words premiered on WIFF's Algonquin Shorts program and opened for Putin's Kiss.
Post-film Q & A sessions at WIFF take you back to the old NFB days when when audiences in community centres and church basements could have a conversation with filmmakers and stakeholders.
Carleton University's Institute of European, Russian and Eurasian Studies (EURUS) faculty and graduate student paneled a post-screening information session. New Russia watchers Jeff Sahadeo, Mikhail Zherebtsov and Olga Shapovalova offered context, insights and updates in the rapidly evolving narrative of Putin's Russia.
Lubna Karim lines up WIFF fans for streeters
For audience and panel alike, the Nashi youth movement in Pederson's documentary represented a foreboding shadow looming over democracy in Russia. Putin's Russia.
WIFF artistic director Brenda Rooney and Algonquin documentary students Waseem Baobaid behind the camera and Lubna Karim on sound
WIFF artistic director Robert Rooney in mid-flight
WIFF 2012: Changing The World In Wakefield
An evening at the Wakefield International Film Festival with founders and artistic directors Brenda and Robert Rooney.
WIFF 2012 is the third year of this niche documentary festival. Nestled in the Gatineau Hills Wakefield, Quebec is a vibrant community of doers and artists who nightly fill the Great Hall of the Wakefield LaPêche Community Centre to immerse themselves in documentary themes and discussions.
WIFF 2012: Changing The World In Wakefield (9 min.) Production: Atiyah Hussain, Waseem Baobaid,Lubna Karim - Documentary Production Program Algonquin College
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