Bonnie James/Deputy News Editor Acclaimed Finnish film director Mika Kaurismaki has seldom attended film festivals in the last few years, but will be in Qatar for the Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF) 2011, to be held from October 25 to 29.“I have heard so many good things about DTFF that I decided to come, which is not quite usual for me,” he told Gulf Times in an exclusive e-mail interview.Kaurismaki feels it is great that his documentary Mama Africa has been invited to DTFF 2011 for its Middle East and North Africa premiere.“It is a unique opportunity to present the film in this region,” said the house painter-turned filmmaker, who will be visiting the Gulf region for the first time.The closest Kaurismaki has been to the region is Jordan and Egypt. “I am very excited to come to DTFF. Besides cinema, it is a great opportunity to get to know Doha and the region a little bit too.”Mama Africa had its world premiere in February this year at the Berlin Film Festival and won an audience award before moving on to the Tribeca Film Festival in New York, Hot Docs in Toronto and other festivals.In Kaurismaki’s words “Mama Africa is about the late South African icon Miriam Makeba, who was not just a great singer and artist but also a remarkable human rights activist, who dedicated her life for the fight against apartheid in her own country and for the unification of the people of Africa in general.
“The film shows that one person can make a difference and do some good for humanity.”Kaurismaki has been a fan of Makeba ever since he first heard her voice in the 60s. “For me, she was the first voice of Africa, she made me more aware of the continent and the conditions and social problems of her country.“She was such an amazing human being, who was able to use her talent for a good cause, but at the same time she was a great entertainer and a performer.“This film was for me a possibility to dig in a bit more profoundly in the issues and complexity of the African continent in general.”Kaurismaki started preparing the project in August 2008. He was supposed to start shooting in the end of November that year in Johannesburg, South Africa.But then came the shock - Makeba passed away just a couple of weeks before the director and his team were to start shooting.“First I thought, that was it, the film would not be made at all, but then we let some time pass and together with her family and co-producers decided to go and do the film anyway, maybe she deserved it ever more now,” he recalled.The concept changed quite a lot though. Kaurismaki had to use more archive material and interview more of Makeba’s colleagues, friends and family members.The editing took quite a lot of time and the film was finished only early this year.Kaurismaki, who decided to become a film director after reading History of Cinema by Peter von Bagh, does not think his films have been screened at any festival in the Gulf region until now. “I know that some of my films have been sold to some TV stations in the Gulf region, but I have no idea if they have ever been shown there,” he said.Kaurismaki, who studied cinema in Munich, Germany (1977-1981) made his diploma film The Liar (1980) in Finland.The film, which had his younger brother Aki, then a student of journalism, playing the main role and co-writing the screenplay was an overnight sensation and started a new era in the Finnish cinema.There are so many filmmakers who have inspired Kaurismaki who describes the film archives as his most important film school.“I dare to say that I am quite aware of the film history and great film directors. I am very fond of the Japanese masters, for example Mizoguchi, Ozu and Kurosawa. “I also like the Italian (neo-realists) like Visconti, Fellini and Rosselini and the French new wave, with Jean-Piere Melville one of my absolute favourites.”Kaurismaki also admires many Hollywood directors, such as Hawks, Lubitsch and Wilder, but in general is more fond of the B-movies and film noir than the A products of Hollywood.“Sam Fuller (American screenwriter, novelist, and film director known for low-budget genre movies with controversial themes) is one of my greatest idols certainly.”Kenji Mizoguchi’s Ugetsu Monogatari and Sertgio Leone’s Once upon a time in the West are his favourite films. Kaurismaki has just finished shooting a Finnish fiction Road to North. Like the title indicates, it is a road movie, but also a father-son story.
Qatar Airways supports film festivalQatar Airways will once again be the official airline of Qatar’s premier film event, the Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF). The third annual DTFF, organised by the Doha Film Institute (DFI), runs from October 25 to 29 at Katara, the Cultural Village.The airline’s network of 107 destinations worldwide provides a convenient link for film celebrities, production teams, members of the media, guests and film buffs to travel to Doha for the Festival.Qatar Airways chief executive officer Akbar al-Baker said: “As Qatar’s national carrier, we are strong supporters of initiatives and partnerships which enrich the cultural and educational experience of residents and visitors to Qatar. “Qatar Airways is proud to once again be involved in Qatar’s film scene, and specifically its hallmark annual event - the Doha Tribeca Film Festival.” DFI’s executive director Amanda Palmer said: “The success of DTFF owes a great deal to the seamless support extended by Qatar Airways, which over the years has shared our vision and commitment to bringing people from across the world together through culture, arts and, in particular, film. “DTFF is part of DFI’s manifold strategy to promote Arab storytelling on a global scale, and Qatar Airways’ unwavering support continues to be integral in helping us achieve this.”