Circling Cultural Pursuits Like Hungry Vultures

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Circling Cultural Pursuits Like Hungry Vultures

Documentary Edge Festival 2010 –
CULTURE VULTURES

Culture Vulture swoops in to the Documentary Edge Festival and delivers nutrients for creative and art-centric minds, with documentaries that span different art forms from across the globe.

A world premiere at this year’s festival, The Desert of Forbidden Art (Russian Federation/USA/Uzbekistan) explore the work of Igor Savitsky – perhaps one of the most important people in the history of Russian art. Outfoxing Soviet censors, the artist and iconoclast saved more than 40,000 forbidden artworks as the film shows the lengths Savitsky will go through to save these previous articles no matter what the dangers… and the horrors of Soviet rule in the 1960’s with newly discovered archival footage.

Touted by the New York Times as “A real life Billy Elliot”, Only When I Dance (UK) finds Irlan Santos da Silva and Isabela Coracy trying to make their way out of the run-down and sometimes dangerous favelas in their native Brazil in the hopes to become renowned dancers across the world. Under the guidance of highly respected dance figure Mariza Estrella, Irlan and Isabel hope to make their mark at the New York Grand Prix ballet competition and fulfil their hopes and dreams.

After The Storm (USA) is not only the name of Hilla Medalia’s documentary but of the post-Hurricane Katrina foundation designed to offer support to relief organizations serving the youth of New Orleans. The film itself follows the foundation’s production of the musical Once on this Island, from auditions through to the opening night, as each young actor explains their story and their struggles in New Orleans, where there is a struggling school system, limited jobs and the loss of family members and friends

The System (El Sistema) (Germany) is publicly financed voluntary sector music education program in Venezuela set up by Venezuelan economist and amateur musician José Antonio Abreu over 30 years ago with the dream of bringing music to Venezuelan children, Paul Smaczny and Maria Stodtmeier’s film shows how Abreu’s dream became realized and have over the years led many with big ideas out of the vicious circle of poverty.

And Sundance award winner Tibet in Song (Tibet) shows how Tibet, a nation that was independent for thousands of years, has been occupied and subjugated by the People’s Republic of China and in defiance the Tibetans sing out about their cultural identity. The Chinese has since arrested Director Ngawang Choepel for six years yet accepted his Sundance award on behalf of Tibetans whose voices have been silenced.

For more on the films on show at this year’s festival, visit www.documentaryedge.org.nz

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