Mark Cousins will deliver an “anti-masterclass” at MDAG Industry, the industry strand of Polish fest Millennium Docs Against Gravity. He’ll also lead a retrospective of his work.
“As filmmakers, our job is always to surprise and excite. We need to play with the form. Film festivals should play with their form, too. Many of them have masterclasses, so I’ll do an anti-masterclass, to plant a bomb under the idea of what a master is, and what a class is,” he tells Variety.
“In Finland, I was asked to do a 90-minute masterclass. I thought: ‘You can cook something in 90 minutes.’ We put an oven on stage and cooked as we talked about cinema. In Cannes, I said to the host: ‘Choose images, don’t tell me what they are, show them to me on the day and we’ll talk about them.’ The idea was to be vulnerable, improvised and, hopefully, fun.”
In Sweden, instead of doing a press conference, he hired a bus and went on “a mystery tour.”
“The idea of the masterclass is dead. It needs to be reinvented with more creativity, playfulness, skepticism and attack. I can’t give you details of my anti-masterclass – we want it to be a surprise – but I can say: ‘Don’t be afraid of the dark. Bring your sense of fun and imagination.’”
“It’s Mark Cousins’ first time here and we’re happy to show his latest film, ‘A Sudden Glimpse to Deeper Things’ [about artist Wilhelmina Barns-Graham]. We thought it would be a great opportunity to focus on his approach to film,” says MDAG director Artur Liebhart.
The fest will also welcome Oscar winner Alex Gibney and show “The Bibi Files,” about Benjamin Netanyahu, which he produced.
“He’ll take part in our industry events, which are developing quickly and interestingly,” adds Liebhart, mentioning another initiative led by sound designers Nicolas Becker and Peter Albrechtsen, who’ll focus on “Soundscapes: Crafting Immersive Audio in Documentary Film.”
“Sound is extremely important. When they worked on ‘Viktor’ [about a deaf person experiencing the Russian invasion of Ukraine] they put mics all over his body to capture the way he perceives reality. It will be an amazing experience for the whole industry.”
Danish producer Mette Hoffmann Meyer will also take part in the event, while programmer of Seoul Independent Film Festival Young Woo Kim will discuss co-production and distribution opportunities for European docs.
“Over the past decade, the documentary sector has shown the most significant growth and achievement within the Asian film industry and a wave of young creators has been leading this change,” he says.
“However, challenges remain. European documentaries available in Asian countries are very limited. They’re showcased at festivals, but it’s hard to find them in cinemas or on streaming platforms.”
For the first time, XR, AR, and VR projects at various stages of production will be presented, with interactive XR installation “AI & Me: Judged by Algorithms” exploring the relationship between humans and algorithms.
“We are pleased with the dynamic opening to new technologies. What I’m most excited about this year is the growing diversity and scale of MDAG Industry,” says head of industry Anna Szczypińska, mentioning three pitching sessions, including “Pole Position,” dedicated to Polish films included in the program.
“From an intimate event in 2021 we are transforming into a comprehensive platform for the entire film industry. The fact that we can host global documentary legends such as Mark Cousins and Nicolas Becker, while supporting smaller entities and debuting filmmakers, is a testament to the maturity and inclusivity of our program.”
She adds: “Today, Polish documentary filmmakers need two things: a network of international contacts and real opportunities to develop projects. Polish market is maturing, and Polish documentary cinema is recognized abroad, but it still needs support in expansion. We are trying to make MDAG Industry serve this purpose as well.”
Industry events are “the backbone of documentary cinema,” she stresses.
“Festivals are not just screenings – they are also places where films are born. Our goal is not only to support production but create a community of open-minded filmmakers and industry representatives. We combine the local with the global. For the fest, it’s also a way to build lasting relationships with the industry and influence the shape of future editions.”
MDAG Industry will take place from May 8 – 12.
“Viktor”