Docpoint 2018 Overview

Festival:
The 17th Docpoint: Helsinki Documentary Film Festival

Dates:
January 29-February 5

About:
Over 75 new and recent nonfiction features, in addition to retrospective programming and sorts, screen at this Finnish event.

Among the Finnish productions and co-productions included in the Finnish Premieres and Made with Finns sections are: Markku Heikkinen’s NO ROAD HOME, which follows the experiences of a longtime Congolese refugee to Finland; Niklas Kullström and Martti Kaartinen’s EASTERN MEMORIES, which traces the fin de siècle journeys of a Finnish scholar around Mongolia; Kiur Aarma and Raimo Jõerand’s RODEO – TAMING A WILD COUNTRY, a look back at Estonia’s early days of post-Soviet independence; Marta Prus’ OVER THE LIMIT, an intimate look at a rhythmic gymnast’s Olympic training; and Simon Lereng Wilmont’s THE DISTANT BARKING OF DOGS, following the experiences of a pre-teen near the border of the Ukraine/Russian war.

Among the thematic sections are Alone Together, which offers: Olga Darfy’s I AM GARGARIN, a look back at Moscow’s 1990s rave culture; Nitesh Anjaan’s DREAMING MURAKAMI, an exploration of the work of a Danish translator of the Japanese author; Ross Whitaker’s BETWEEN LAND AND SEA, about surfing in a small Western Ireland coastal town; and Giovanni Totaro’s HAPPY WINTER, which looks at the economic crisis through goings on at an Italian beach.

Additional strands include Tough Questions, with Joël Akafou’s VIVRE RICHE, following Ivory Coast youths who romance European women online for money, and Hogir Hirori and Shinwar Kamal’s IDFA-winner THE DEMINER, about an Iraqi explosives defuser expert; Millennials, with Mika Gustafson, Olivia Kastebring, and Christina Tsiobanelis’ SILVANA, about a Swedish immigrant pop star’s queer romance; and Award, with Mika Kaurismäki’s RYHMÄTEATTERI, a profile of a long-running independent Helsinki theatre.