The jury for the main competition of the 48th Moscow International Film Festival:the popular Chinese actress and singer Jin Sha, the Turkish filmmaker Mahmut Fazıl Çoşkun, the Russian director, screenwriter and producer Ivan I. Tverdovskiy, the Spanish director Javier Rebollo, the Russian actress Darya Ekamasova, and Jury Chair Prasanna Vitanage, one of South Asia’s most talented and influential filmmakers, spoke about their criteria for evaluating the films in the competition.
Prasanna Vitanage: "Bein part of the jury is a very serious responsibility. For me, I will be looking for a way to enhance my understanding of cinema and life. When I watch a film, I try to be open to pleasant surprises, and only then to evaluate it; and more, for me it is important not to rely on my own perspective as a director, but rather to form an opinion about the film as a spectator".
Mahmut Fazıl Çoşkun: "No matter how many countries participate in this festival, or in how many languages the films we are going to watch were made, it’s key to remember cinema is rightly the language that unites us. I don’t believe that the festival jury acts as strict academicians who give scholarly evaluations to films. We focus more on the inspiration of the filmmakers whose films will be featured in the competition and on the emotions from watching each of the films".
Jin Sha: "If a film can touch you, it’s a good film. I hope that every spectator will be able to connect with the creators’ vision behind each film. A good film empowers everyone and helps them believe in themselves, and it can inspire new achievements".
Javier Rebollo:"My sensory perception, my artistic education and my political education have always been closely linked to Russia and the Soviet Union. Film festivals play a great role in culture, and in today's context they are becoming especially important because they have the can unite different countries. I consider myself a spectator and a materialist filmmaker interested not in the subject of films, but in the visual solution, the frame, and the relationship between camera and space".
Ivan I. Tverdovsky: "The competition features 13 films from across the world. I’m interested to understand the selection process and the trends being formed this year. As a jury member, unlike a participant or a spectator, I have a chance to watch the whole main competition and explore the full spectrum of world cinema".
Darya Ekamasova: "I have recently realized that "to dream" is a verb, or, that is, an action. I am so happy to have been invited to be part of the jury of the Moscow International Film Festival. We will watch, choose, and be inspired, and my dream is to escape reality through the beauty of cinema, learning new languages and mindsets of different countries, and developing at the same time. It will be hard for me to set aside my acting profession. When I see a great performance, I start crying of happiness, I come to a standstill, and it gives me chills. And I won’t put my feelings aside: after all, we were invited to the jury right because we can use the support of our feelings and professions".
Mahmut Fazıl Çoşkun: "No matter how many countries participate in this festival, or in how many languages the films we are going to watch were made, it’s key to remember cinema is rightly the language that unites us. I don’t believe that the festival jury acts as strict academicians who give scholarly evaluations to films. We focus more on the inspiration of the filmmakers whose films will be featured in the competition and on the emotions from watching each of the films".
Jin Sha: "If a film can touch you, it’s a good film. I hope that every spectator will be able to connect with the creators’ vision behind each film. A good film empowers everyone and helps them believe in themselves, and it can inspire new achievements".
Javier Rebollo:"My sensory perception, my artistic education and my political education have always been closely linked to Russia and the Soviet Union. Film festivals play a great role in culture, and in today's context they are becoming especially important because they have the can unite different countries. I consider myself a spectator and a materialist filmmaker interested not in the subject of films, but in the visual solution, the frame, and the relationship between camera and space".
Ivan I. Tverdovsky: "The competition features 13 films from across the world. I’m interested to understand the selection process and the trends being formed this year. As a jury member, unlike a participant or a spectator, I have a chance to watch the whole main competition and explore the full spectrum of world cinema".
Darya Ekamasova: "I have recently realized that "to dream" is a verb, or, that is, an action. I am so happy to have been invited to be part of the jury of the Moscow International Film Festival. We will watch, choose, and be inspired, and my dream is to escape reality through the beauty of cinema, learning new languages and mindsets of different countries, and developing at the same time. It will be hard for me to set aside my acting profession. When I see a great performance, I start crying of happiness, I come to a standstill, and it gives me chills. And I won’t put my feelings aside: after all, we were invited to the jury right because we can use the support of our feelings and professions".