IFFAM | Festival praised by jury president as ‘uniquely Asian’

Shekhar Kapur

Shekhar Kapur, president of the five-member jury responsible for judging the 12 films in the competition segment of the International Film Festival & Awards – Macau (IFFAM), praised the festival for being “uniquely Asian” at the event’s opening press conference last week.

“The festival is a uniquely Asian film festival,” said Kapur, who criticized the dominance of Western filmmaking even in Asia, and indicated his eagerness to see a wider international distribution of Asian films in the future.

“Part of the problem is that Asian films don’t get [broad] distribution in Europe and the U.S. But distribution is changing. The way that people consume is changing, it’s moving away from theatrical distribution [cinema screenings] and other channels are becoming increasingly more significant,” explained Kapur.

Aside from Kapur, the five-member international jury comprises South Korean Jung Woo-sung, Japan’s Makiko Watanabe, Hong Kong’s Stanley Kwan and Giovanni Fulvi from Italy.

Each has an interest in Asian cinema. Together, they will decide the winner of the competition segment for this year’s IFFAM.

Jury panel

“It’s very difficult to judge a film, to tear it apart and analyze it. You need to give yourself emotionally to the film. I’ve been on many juries and once [the panel] deliberates about it and tears it apart, you learn a lot. It’s not easy to be fair [in judging a film] but it’s a very rewarding experience,” remarked Kapur on the difficult choice ahead for the panel.

“For me, it’s important to connect with the concept of the film and its vision. I personally don’t [consider] how the film will be distributed… even though I am a buyer [of films] normally,” said Fulvi.

“As a jury member, I am focused on enjoying the and experiencing the film.”

The five members agreed that it was a pleasure to attend the first-ever IFFAM.

Kapur declared during the the press conference that “some of the best films in cinema are coming from Asia” and therefore “any [film] festival in Asia that I can support… I am willing to represent. I’m very happy to be here.”

Meanwhile, Stanley Kwan, who has made almost half of his films in Macau, said he hopes he “can make more good memories of Macau [this time].”

“This film festival should be very good for Macau – the city – in terms of cultural and creative industries,” added Kwan.

upcoming
events

Today, Dec. 12

The Winter

Macau Tower

4:30 p.m.

Sisterhood

Macau Tower

7 p.m.

Forêt Debussy

Galaxy Macau

8:30 p.m.

Survival Family

Macau Tower

9:30 p.m.

Public screenings will also be held today for The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (Macau Cultural Center, 3 p.m.), The Winter (Macau Tower, 5 p.m.), The Vagabond – Awara (UA Galaxy Cinema, 5 p.m.), Lady Macbeth (Macau Cultural Center, 7 p.m.), Sisterhood (Macau Tower, 7:30 p.m.), A Cop (UA Galaxy Cinema, 7:30 p.m.), Forêt Debussy (Galaxy Macau, 8:30 p.m.), Indignation (Macau Cultural Center, 9:30 p.m.), 1974 (UA Galaxy Cinema, 9:30 p.m.), Survival Family (Macau Tower, 10 p.m.) and Jackie (UA Galaxy Cinema, 10 p.m.).