THE 13th edition of Winchester Film Festival returned this February and March with Part two of its exciting mix of contemporary award-winning films from around the world.
Part one of the festival took place back in November 2023 with an absurdist-themed immersive film experience at the Lido, which included live acts from clowns, poets and performance artists.
A particular highlight of Part 2 was the screening of films by free-spirited Iranian filmmakers censored in their own countries.
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Such is the Festival’s notoriety for supporting censored filmmakers that the Iranian director Nazanin Ghanbari flew in from Los Angeles for the festival’s UK premiere of her film Mirage, an experience Nazanin described as “a pivotal moment” in her film career.
Iranian director Amirhossein Hatami, who attended a Q&A at the UK premiere of his film Somewhere to Stay, described the festival as “undoubtably one of the highlights off my life”. Edward Fennell, a former correspondent to The Times and co-ordinator of the Captain Swing Riots Bicentenary, described the event as “moving and harrowing, offering an insight into life in Iran which goes far beyond the usual news reports. Proof of the way art can reach into deeper truths than journalism.”
The festival’s reputation for screening unconventional, brave and sometimes challenging films was enhanced this year with the screening of the experimental arthouse feature film The Lies We Tell Ourselves, with flamboyant rebel director Saara Lamberg flying in from Australia for the film’s UK premiere.
On the slate this year was also a collection of the Best British Short Films, with a host of visiting directors, producers, actors, composers and scriptwriters attending Q&As at a packed out West Downs Auditorium.
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For festival director, John Hayes, the most satisfying aspect of this year’s festival was not just the festival’s success at screening films that broadened horizons and reflected the burning issues of our time, but the role of the audience.
He said: “The highlight for me was the open-minded, vibrant and generous nature of an audience that comprised of people from all ages, walks or life and cultural backgrounds, all with a common aim - to see the world through other people’s eyes while sharing an emotional rollercoaster ride.
“The success of any festival is not solely determined by what it has to offer but by the willingness of the audience to embrace the offering with an open mind. While Winchester is often portrayed as a conservative historic capitol, it is full of vibrant, open-minded individuals, both young and old, binary, non-binary and everything in between.”
Review by Catherine Wild
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