Film is the art of imagination. It takes us into a world of dreams that transcends reality through flowing pictures and sounds. The 14th BJIFF Workshop & Masterclass has specially invited the internationally renowned "surrealist" - Emir Kusturica - a famous Serbian director, screenwriter and actor; with the theme of "Epic National History and Spiritual Miracle", he is to share how to use extremely warm carnival colors, deep tragic and stirring root-seeking homesickness, and absurd and fantastic plot details to create epic films.

　　

　Emir Kusturica Workshop & Masterclass

The panelists of the Workshop & Masterclass are Huang Jianxin, a famous representative figure of the “fifth generation” of Chinese directors, and Yu Hua, a giant of modern Chinese literature. The panelist lineup reflects the cross-border integration of literature and film. They will focus on the magic realism style of Kusturica's films, the profound themes of home and country, and the portrayal of the soul.

 

　　

Kusturica on the shooting set

In 1981, Kusturica made his debut at the international platform and won the Golden Lion and FIPRESCI Prize at the 38th Venice International Film Festival for his first feature film Do You Remember Dolly Bell?. Since then, Kusturica has been a regular at the Festival de Cannes, Berlin International Film Festival and Venice International Film Festival, winning the Golden Palm twice and Best Director once at the Festival de Cannes, the Best Director once at the Venice International Film Festival, and the Special Jury Prize of the Silver Bear Award once at the Berlin International Film Festival, achieving a Grand Slam.

　　

Kusturica spoke at the Festival de Cannes

Looking back at Kusturica's previous works, the combination of realism and magic realism is a major feature of his films. He adopts exaggerated expression techniques to reflect deep social and cultural themes. The most representative is Underground, an absurd comedy in the style of magic realism. The film presents grand themes including nationality, war and complicated geopolitics with absurd narration and performance. It seems noisy, but it is a deep and sad tragedy actually.

　　

Filming site of Underground

"Once upon a time, there was a country called Yugoslavia, and her capital was Belgrade.” This is a classic phrase from Underground. In Kusturica's films, the element of "home" appears many times, and he resolutely tries to recreate a country that has disappeared with his camera, which is the most important theme of Kusturica's creation. For example, in films such as When Father Was Away on Business, Time of the Gypsies and Arizona Dream, the protagonist's complex mood after leaving his/her hometown is a reflection of the director's sense of loss and confusion that he does not know where to belong.

Kusturica has many identities. In addition to being a filmmaker, he is also an excellent musician and writer. In his early years, he played bass in a famous Punk band, and after creating the film Black Cat, White Cat, he formed the band "No Smoking Orchestra", in which he played the lead singer and toured internationally. In the field of literature, Kusturica is the author of The Stranger in the Marriage and the autobiography Où suis-je dans cette histoire?.

　　

Kusturica played in the band

The Chinese translation of the book The Stranger in the Marriage is recommended by Yu Hua, one of the panelists. Kusturica and Yu Hua have known each other for many years and will be reunited again in this Workshop & Masterclass. Yu Hua once commented: "He describes the world in a vivid and mischievous way. The vividness of his narrative does not come in dribs and drabs, but in continuity.” "The technique of variation can easily become boring repetition when it comes to fiction, but Kusturica has a way of making repetition compelling.” In Yu Hua's opinion: "Kusturica's writing is free, which may be related to his career as a film director, and many plots are more edited than narrated.”

　　

Life photo of Yu Hua

In addition to writer Yu Hua, this Workshop & Masterclass has also invited director Huang Jianxin. Although Kusturica and Huang Jianxin have different styles, they both discuss and reflect on society, history and culture in their films. In terms of realistic creation, Huang Jianxin's works are bold, powerful and full of interest. His three films, Stand Straight, Don't Bend Over, Back to Back, Face to Face and Signal Left, Turn Right, vividly depict the life of urban citizens, which features poignant sarcasm, and are known as the "Urban Trilogy".

　　

Huang Jianxin attended the 13th BJIFF Film Power Forum on International Cooperation

At the Workshop & Masterclass, director Kusturica, director Huang Jianxin and writer Yu Hua will discuss the ultimate audio-visual language, extraordinary artistic style, deep thematic philosophy and complex national emotions in Kusturica's films with the theme of "Epic National History and Spiritual Miracle".

 

　　

　　For more information on the Workshop & Masterclass, please call

85336467

13962880581

Or email to masterclass@bjiff.com