Projecció – Competició Oficial (Documentals) / 16 setembre 2024

Akan Soul. Yuichi Ishida, Japan 2023 (6’)

Akan Soul” represents a new form of cinematic genre that deeply engages with the Ainu culture, showcasing the indigenous community that once thrived in the Akan region of Hokkaido, Japan.

This film invites audiences to delve into the lives of the Ainu people, allowing us to gain profound insights into their unique culture while celebrating the tireless efforts dedicated to cultural preservation.

Remarkably, this film revolves around the meticulous preparations leading up to the Marimo Festival, accentuating a deep reverence for the God of nature, and spanning three distinct seasons in Akan—Spring, Autumn, and Winter—the director, Ishida, skillfully highlights the enduring spirit and sustainability of the Ainu people, transcending the passage of time.

Envision. Yuichi Ishida, Japan 2023 (6’)

Yoko Arano, a legendary calligrapher based in Niseko, Japan, has not yet completely felt satisfied with her artwork even though she has been writing for over 60 years. In this short documentary video, you can see how she expresses her passion and life philosophy through calligraphy.

Unite for Bissau (Nô Kumpu Guiné): agroecology and feminism in Guinea Bissau. Iara Lee, 2023, United States (40’)

In the West African nation of Guinea-Bissau, this thought-provoking film takes you on a journey that follows brave local women who challenge patriarchy by building institutions that promote self-sufficiency through agroecology. They also defy social norms by standing up against female genital mutilation and rejecting forced marriage. Carrying forward the legacy of Amílcar Cabral, the Bissau-Guinean independence leader who placed women’s rights at the center of the struggle for liberation, the women of a rising generation are taking their power back