A very important part of WENIFF is KINOlab.
KINO LAB, the workshop that aims to unite young people who love film-making, is a friendly meeting between those who have experience and those who would love to start this journey. At the end of every season, several films are produced and this is not all. As we all know, in film industry, networking is so important and KINOlab gives these young people a chance to create connections that will last and potentially become work collaborations.
Mrs. Vigdis Nielsen was the leader of all this journey, during last season.
Recently we had the chance to talk with Mrs, Vigdis, not only about KINO LAB but also about her last project and her future plans.
WENIFF: Recently you have worked on the documentary ‘Grete and the cuban pianist. Tell us a little more about it
Mrs Vigdis: Grete and the Cuban Pianist» is a musical feelgood film about a grown woman who unexpectedly get a chance of fulfilling her childhood dream. It is a film I have been working on for nearly five years now, I have filming in New York, Havanna, Cuba and Voss Norway. Grete dares to chase her dreams, even at great practical and personal cost in a film about musical encounters across nationality, gender and age.
WENIFF: A very important part of our festival is also KINO LAB, the workshop that aims to unite young people who love film and train them to take their first steps in this direction. You have been the leader of KINO LAB in the last season. What has been your experience?
Mrs Vigdis: The teenagers were excited about making their own films. And last time they produced four quite different short films. They were their own actors, and was doing all the filming, sound and editing in the group. I was quite impressed of the work they did in the few days the Kino Lab was on.
WENIFF: ‘KINO LAB’ among other things, is a great networking opportunity. Have you seen the spirit of cooperation between our young people? Did you find it difficult to orient them in this direction?
Mrs Vigdis: Since 2014 I have been leading a workshop for talented young actors and young filmmakers in Bergen. RØST (VOICE) is the name of the workshop. We have through the years produced 12 films all together and our last films has its Premiere in Bergen in a few days. The idea of the workshop is young talented actors and filmworkers cooperating with a few very experienced and qualified mentors. Directors, photographer and editors.
WENIFF: The 1-week workshop concludes with the production of several short films. Tell us a little about the films of the last edition, how satisfied are you with the work process and the final realization?
Mrs Vigdis: The themes and genres of the four films differed from love, fighting, guns and chasing to mystical themes. I was impresses by the ideas, but to be honest young people often to easily ends up in films with guns and fighting. The film that impressed me the most, was the film with the strongest character and the strongest conflict inside herself. I think that it’s important to get into characters and develop from inside. But it’s also great that many of the young filmmakers have a strong sense of the visual style and genre. I look forward to doing the FilmLab again, and hope that many filmtalent will join us.
WENIFF: Do you think that our young people need such activities in other areas as well? Given that, professional meetings are always a good way to go one step further, towards professional development.
Mrs Vigdis: I think its always good for young people to meet and work together with art in different kinds. I think that the young filmmakers hopefully will be inspired in a cooperation with skilled filmmakers.
And I often get great inspiration from working with young people
