Babelgum Blog

Q&A with BOFF nominees/3

Published by catherine on July 3, 2008 in Featured and Babelgum Online Film Festival. 0 Comments

In our third set of interviews with BOFF nominees, meet the music video directors who made it to the final stage of the Music Video Award.

Kristoffer Borgli, nominated for the Phantom Punch video (for Sondre Lerche)

1) Why did you choose to enter this particular film for the Festival (if you’ve made others)?
Because it’s a catchy and quirky video with an easy and clear concept, perfect for the internet!

2) How did the Babelgum Online Film Festival differ from other film festivals that you’ve entered in the past?
It’s an online festival, where users can vote for their favourite. Plus Spike Lee was in the jury.

3) Will you enter again next year? If so, what will you do differently in terms of format, subject, style, now that you’ve seen the other films in this year’s festival?
Sure, why not! But I will never change my style to win a contest.

Markus Wambsganss, nominated for Lightning Bolts and Man Hands (music by Hymie’s Basement)

1) Why did you choose to enter this particular film for the Festival (if you’ve made others)?
Yes I made others, see www.kaliber16.com. “Lightning Bolts and Man Hands” just seemed to be the right one to submit.

2) How did the Babelgum Online Film Festival differ from other film festivals that you’ve entered in the past?
Well, it was the first online film festival I participated in and compared to “normal” film festivals it was way more “power to the people”.

3) Will you enter again next year? If so, what will you do differently in terms of format, subject, style, now that you’ve seen the other films in this year’s festival?
Yes, I think I’ll enter again next year. Don’t know if I should change much, it went down pretty well this year, didn’t it?

Q&A with BOFF nominees/2

Published by catherine on June 28, 2008 in news and Babelgum Online Film Festival. 0 Comments

This time we hear from the nominees in the Short Film category.

Garett Engelmann, nominated for Pre-Life, Post-Life

1) Why did you choose to enter this particular film for the Festival (if you’ve made others)?
I entered 3 of my 4 short films into the Babelgum festival (Pre-Life Post-Life, On to Heaven, True Love Spaghetti & Wine) but I believe the story and concept of Pre-Life Post-Life were the best of the bunch.

2) How did the Babelgum Online Film Festival differ from other film festivals that you’ve entered in the past?
It was the only online festival I have ever entered. I chose Babelgum because it was free and easy to submit my films online without having to drive to the post office and mail a DVD screener. Most of all, I chose Babelgum because of Spike Lee and other industry professionals’ involvement and thought it would be very cool to have them watch my film(s). I enjoyed having the ability to go online and watch my films as well as those of the competition, and the overall community (message boards, reviews, comments…etc…) was fun to be a part of.

3) Will you enter again next year? If so, what will you do differently in terms of format, subject, style, now that you’ve seen the other films in this year’s festival?
Yes, I will enter again next year, and I will tell more people about the festival earlier than I did last year. I don’t think I will do much differently in terms of the format, subject or style of the film(s) that I submit. I feel I did very well being in the top 3 short films as well as my other two films were top rated and most popular for many weeks. Overall the most different thing about my next entries is that they will be different stories and genres from my previous efforts. I am aiming to submit my previous losing films (if that is allowed) along with 2-3 new efforts.

Gille Klabin, nominated for Jellyfish

1) Why did you choose to enter this particular film for the Festival (if you’ve made others)?
I entered Jellyfish because I felt it was the kind of film that could in one way or another relate to most audiences, a topic that was portrayed in a way that was hopefully accessible to many differing audiences.

2) How did the Babelgum Online Film Festival differ from other film festivals that you’ve entered in the past?
I chose Babelgum because I was drawn in by the Spike Lee interview. The concept that all excuses were set aside and filmmakers had an open platform to show their work, levelling the playing field as it were, made me feel like it was an exciting festival to be part of.

3) Will you enter again next year? If so, what will you do differently in terms of format, subject, style, now that you’ve seen the other films in this year’s festival?
I would love to enter next year, just have to have the right film ready. Thanks a million for considering my film and generally creating a great festival.

Q&A with BOFF nominees/1

Published by catherine on June 26, 2008 in news and Babelgum Online Film Festival. 0 Comments

We are all now familiar with the winners of the first ever Babelgum Online Film Festival - and I’m sure we’ll be hearing more from them in the near future. But let’s not forget the other films which proved a hit with the Babelgum audience and jurors. They made it to the final stage of the competition, which in itself is a great achievement.

We asked the nominees 3 simple questions and will be publishing their answers here on the blog over the next few days. To kick us off, here are two interviews with the nominees for the Documentary Award.

Ana Husman - BOFF nominee for “The Market”

1) Why did you choose to enter this particular film for the Festival (if you’ve made others)?
It is my most recent film so I felt it was the best one to represent me.

2) How did the Babelgum Online Film Festival differ from other film festivals that you’ve entered in the past?
Its advantage is that it is online and reaches other audiences than film festivals which are based in one place. Also your friends can vote for you

3) Will you enter again next year? If so, what will you do differently in terms of format, subject, style, now that you’ve seen the other films in this year’s festival?
Probably I will. I just finished a new film and it is combination of stop frame animation and continuous shot. It deals with rules of correct social behaviour found in etiquette manuals, which present themselves as aiding communication and helping people understand each other. They are typically found in western civilisations, and compliance with them makes it easy to discern who is civilised and who is not. The film deals with customs of eating and drinking - specifically with the lunch situation, as communal eating is the central site for showing others our breeding and finesse.

Hazel Chandler - BOFF nominee for “WAYOut”

1) Why did you choose to enter this particular film for the Festival (if you’ve made others)?
Well it was the name Spike Lee that first caught my attention. I admire his work and liked the sound of what he was trying to do. WAYout is a film about music in Sierra Leone so it seemed the perfect platform for it. I also like the idea of the audience getting a say.

2) How did the Babelgum Online Film Festival differ from other film festivals that you’ve entered in the past?
What is particularly great is that you know what’s happening with your film. Most festivals you send it in and then maybe one day you get an email telling you if it is accepted or not. With this festival you got regular updates and felt involved in the process. Of course it also means your friends and colleagues can see it and vote if they want to. Again, with most festivals, they never even know what you entered.
This way we got a lot of feedback and WAYout is now a charity supporting young people into music in Sierra Leone. The idea to make WAYout a charity was already in the air but the attention it got through Babelgum certainly spurred us on. We got the official charitable status through the same week the announcement that we were finalists came through.

3) Will you enter again next year? If so, what will you do differently in terms of format, subject, style, now that you’ve seen the other films in this year’s festival?
Definitely would do it again. I wouldn’t base what I entered on the other films entered simply because I think you have to make the films you believe in regardless of what others are doing. Because we had no budget for WAYout there was no proper online or audio dub and I would hope to find funding to do those things for next year.

Today is World Refugee Day

Published by catherine on June 20, 2008 in news. 0 Comments

Some 40 million people worldwide are currently uprooted due to violence, war and persecution. Other factors leading people to flee their homes include social exclusion, injustice and natural disasters caused by climate change.

In 2000 the United Nations General Assembly established June 20^th as World Refugee Day, to celebrate the lives and contributions of refugees and draw attention to their needs. Special events will be taking place all over the world to mark the occasion.

Here on Babelgum we’re celebrating World Refugee Day by presenting a selection of videos on the theme. They portray the experiences of displaced people from countries as diverse as Hungary and Tibet and give us the chance to see these people as individuals, not just as faceless victims.

Documentaries:

Rain In A Dry Land: how a group of African refugees adapted to life in the USA
If we knew their stories: a BOFF entry, in which doctors describe their experience of treating refugees
Looking For Karma: a Scotsman’s involvement with a football team made up of Tibetan refugees in Nepal
Waiting For Godot: an absurd scenario whereby one man who lost his ID papers was stranded in Charles De Gaulle airport for fifteen years. Became a feature film starring Tom Hanks
Kalachaka… Journey to Enlightenment: An English traveller’s insight into life for Tibetan refugees in India
Journey Through Hell: A documentary-maker follows refugees on their journey from Somalia to Yemen

Some fiction:

Windows and walls: A BOFF entry telling the tragic tale about the repercussions of Russian immigrants failing to adapt to life in the USA

And some historical newsreel:

The Threat of Desertification

Published by catherine on June 17, 2008 in Featured and Nature & Conservation. 0 Comments

In 1994 the United Nations General Assembly declared June 17th “World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought“, recognising that the international community needs to take joint action on these problems, which affect all parts of the world - from Spain to Africa.

On Babelgum watch and learn about

the creeping deserts threatening Spain
the parched lands of Australia
the impact of climate change in Kenya
a co-operative fighting desertification in Tenadi, Mauritania
a dramatised account of drought in an African village, in The Griot from Dapore.

Our expert active member Pietro Laureano is a UNESCO consultant on arid areas and a member of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). We interviewed him about desertification and water distribution: enter our Nature & Conservation community to find out what he told us and see what our other water experts have to say about desertification.

The Magic of Bollywood on Babelgum

Published by Babelgum on June 11, 2008 in news. 0 Comments

A huge collection of Bollywood films is online on Babelgum. You can watch over 100 hours of Bollywood content for free on the new Colors of Bollywood channel. A comprehensive library of the best titles in Bollywood Cinema encompassing all genres: heartwarming love stories, foot-tapping musicals, rib-tickling comedies, racy thrillers, pulsating action flicks, heart-stopping horror films, high voltage dramas… usually served all together in one savory, enticing, hugely entertaining concoction that you just can’t resist. That is the magic of Bollywood!

Films released include:

The content, provided by distributor WEG India Pictures, will help the new Colors of Bollywood channel become one of the best Internet sources for Bollywood movies outside the Indian subcontinent and will be accessible for free.

Download Babelgum here and watch the best of Bollywood cinema!

Water, water everywhere…

Published by catherine on June 5, 2008 in news and Nature & Conservation. 1 Comment

…and not a drop to drink. The “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” rings particularly true in today’s world of climate change, water pollution and rising sea levels.

In the west, clean water for drinking and bathing is something we take for granted, along with rather too many rainy days!

But it is now clear that we are facing a global water crisis. Summer droughts and hosepipe bans are just the tip of the (melting) iceberg. Roughly one sixth of the world’s population does not have access to clean water.

World Environment Day was on June 5th and World Oceans Day is on June 8th - while 2008 is the UN Year of Sanitation. On Babelgum a number of experts will be sharing their knowledge on issues ranging from waster distribution to glaciers, over the coming weeks. Enter the Nature & Conservation Community to meet:

Rich Thorsten of Water Partners International

Pietro Laureano of IPOGEA

Stefan Jensen of the European Environment Agency

Tim Barnett of Scripps Oceanographic Institute

And Babelgum is awash with videos on every aspect of the theme. The Adrenaline, Showcase, Gourmet, Nature, Travel and Worldview channels are all featuring a flow of “aquatic” content this month - so go on, dive in!

Explore Africa, on Babelgum

Published by catherine on May 27, 2008 in news and Featured. 0 Comments

The theme on Babelgum this month is Africa, with a specific focus on nature and wildlife.

The world’s second largest continent is home to an incredibly diverse variety of wild animal populations, and its climate ranges from tropical to distinctly chilly on the peaks of Kilimanjaro.

Explore the wildlife and natural environment of this fascinating continent with videos on big cats, primates and elephants and in-depth articles from our expert active members. Go on an “eco Safari” from the comfort of your own home and find out what the specialists are doing to help preserve Africa’s unique natural heritage.

Our experts in the Nature & Conservation Community this month include:

Arend de Haas of the African Conservation Foundation is an ecologist and conservationist. He is involved in great apes and rainforest conservation, tree planting programs, environmental education and sustainable community projects in East and West Africa.

Rebecca Klein, project coordinator of Cheetah Conservation Botswana, which works to protect and change people’s perceptions of the often persecuted, endangered cheetah.

Patricia Tricorache , who works with the CCF (Cheetah Conservation Fund) in Namibia. The CCF seeks to address problems facing the cheetah population, and runs education programs to help farmers with livestock-predator management.

Andrew Hartley is a staff member of the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. As a Global Environment Monitoring specialist, he works on land cover mapping and natural resource management in Africa.

Meanwhile, plenty of other docs, shorts, news and even animation on other aspects of life in Africa can be found in our TV Guide and among the BOFF entries - including winner of the Documentary Award, GREATER - Defeating AIDS, and finalist WAYout.

Babelgum Online Film Festival - the visual feast continues

Published by catherine on May 23, 2008 in news. 1 Comment

Addicted to BOFF? Seen all the top entries and want more? Curious to find out more about the winners?

The first Babelgum Online Film Festival may have drawn to a close but a selection of the entries - including the winning films, of course - will still be available to watch on the 7 BOFF Channels on Babelgum. You can also take part in the ongoing discussion on the Message Board in the Films & Festivals Community.

You’ll be able to watch exclusive footage of the event in Cannes, as well as films about the winning filmmakers - trailers of the highlights can be seen on the website as of now.

Photos of the awards ceremony and party can be found on Flickr and we’re adding to them all the time.

Now showing on the “The Winners” Channel on Babelgum: interviews with the winners and footage of the awards ceremony in Cannes.

BOFF Press/Blog Coverage

Published by catherine on May 22, 2008 in news. 2 Comments

Unsurprisingly, the first ever Babelgum Online Film Festival caused a stir in the international media. Here’s a selection of the latest coverage in the press and on the blogs, following the gala awards ceremony in Cannes on May 20th.

…and Indiewire.com

Just a quick pick from the web and press clippings, feel free to add your own post/article in the comments…

UPDATE: further clippings include