Goethe film screenings gain popularity

Last Tuesday, Goethe Institute screened a musical documentary film Crossing the Bridge – The sound of Istanbul. The film captures the magic of the unique musical paradise at the Bosporus in Turkey. It stretches from the tongue-trippingly fast rap of the colourful metropolis of Istanbul to the soulful Romany instrumentals and haunting Kurdish dirges in outlying towns. Directed by Fatih Akin, the film is a real piece of art, a delicacy for both ear and eye.The event was well attended and the film well received as the audiences were drawn into animated conversations as soon as it ended. “This film does not only entertain but it also exposes the rich and varied Turkish culture,” Jasper Arjen said.“Honestly, the music selection is superb - rock, hip-pop, folk, traditional and some perky performances,” a viewer, said.“My first mission was Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso where I opened a Goethe Liaison office early July 2008,” said Dr. Peter Stepan, Director of the Goethe-Institut German Cultural Centre / Liaison Office Kigali. “I stayed for three and a half years in the West African country. I came to Rwanda in January this year.” The screenings started late last year. “The Tuesday Film Screenings were introduced in November 2011 by my predecessor. Apart from Asian Martial Arts films or American action movies there seemed to be no screenings of artistically ambitious films elsewhere in town. That’s why we started to screen our own selection of premium films,” he recounted.According to Stepan, the screenings are getting more popular. More than a hundred spectators attend the screenings and the audiences are both regulars and newcomers. Faustine Nyiyagena, a father of two teenage sons lauds these screenings. “I lived in Uganda for five years and I was used to going out to watch movies. When I came to Rwanda this was not possible since we do not have a cinema hall. The introduction of the Tuesday screenings here gave me the opportunity to take my sons out to watch movies,” he saidZoe Marie, a Canadian living in Rwanda appreciates the rich collection of films shown. “I am what you can call movie buff since my childhood. I make it a habit to check film reviews on the net whenever I receive communication from Goethe. However, I have noted that their film selection is superb and these days I no longer check reviews, I simply attend the screenings. After all, it’s free.”Thomas Ndikumana, a university student has a wish, “I look forward to seeing more Rwandan filmmakers producing quality films that can feature in the Goethe screening list. I would love to bring my grandmother to watch films in Kinyarwanda here.” Immediately after the screening, Joseph Njata caught up with Dr. Peter Stepan for an interview. Below are the excerpts: You might have watched a couple of local films, what do you think Rwandan filmmakers need to do to make their films competitive, especially on the international scene?Professionalism is the issue for the local film industry. Starting with scripts development, filming, editing, and distribution: on every level performance can be more professional. If you want an excellent distribution you have to consider certain issues already on the script level. Goethe initiated the script writing competition whose deadline falls at the end of this month. Are there future plans to facilitate film training workshops?Yes, definitely. We have decided to organise film training workshops. Rwandan filmmakers are very dedicated and amongst the cultural domains film is among the most promising. At the moment we are planning a 10-day workshop on documentary film in co-operation with Almond Tree Films and other partners and we are working on an animation workshop in the context of the Rwanda Film Festival (RFF).Do you think that the Rwandan government through the Ministry of Culture has been supportive in promoting culture in Rwanda?They do, but they could do even more given the importance of culture in the transformation of society. Processes of development, on whatever level can’t be sustainable without the involvement of the arts and creative industries. Culture is the grand catalyst.With your experience working in different countries, what is the one message that you have for the Rwandan youths struggling to make it in art related fields?Follow your intuition and vocation, believe in yourself and watch out for even small opportunities to practice and to learn. Read books, make systematic research on the internet in your respective domain. If you are a filmmaker, see as many award-winning films as possible. Meet the professionals and exchange with them on a regular basis. Sacrifice yourself for the arts and give up activities which are a waste of time.

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Goethe film screenings gain popularity