New Caledonia arrival nightmare
Its not a good start – standing in a long immigration queue at Noumea airport with only 2 officers to process a full plane load of tired travellers – and after 2 hours of that, the bus taking most people into town won’t start and we have to wait another hour and half for a […]
BALINALE Awards Night
We are presented with the Audience Choice Award for Best Documentary at the Closing Party at the fabulous WooBar. Its a great opportunity to find out more about the many creative & dedicated people involved in BALINALE – its a real community event! This week at BALINALE has definitely been a real contrast to my […]
In The Palace – audience
Sunflowers seem to be a major crop in Bulgaria – and a very cheery one! If only sunflowers liked watching films!
In The Palace – Day 6
Nominations are announced at a press conference in the morning for finalists in all categories. Ochre and Ink is one of 3 nominations in the documentary category, and that adds a slight tension to the day as we wait for the awards presentation at 8pm. It’s a rather low key ceremony with a couple of […]
In The Palace – Day 4
There aren’t many laughs to be had from the mostly serious and sometimes very intense films screening here in Varna. It seems that in the short film world, the temptation to be obscure, or at least to avoid being obvious, is extremely powerful. Too many films have left us puzzled about some part of the […]
In The Palace – Day 3
Many more filmmakers arrive today and it’s becoming apparent just how eclectic this festival is. Each screening session includes fiction, documentary, animation and experimental. The Experimental films certainly add a dimension not always seen in festivals, and some are quite challenging to the audience. Only a few people, including Cathy & I, had the fortitude […]
In The Palace – Day 2
Varna is a pretty laid back seaside city on the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria, and the vibe at In The Palace festival is also relaxed and convivial. Some of the stand-out films screened last night include ‘Audition’ from Israel, ‘Terminal Phase’ from Spain, ‘Light Years’ from Germany and ‘The Temperature Of Water’ from South […]
Sofia, Bulgaria
On our way to Varna on the Black Sea Coast for In The Palace International Short Film Festival, we spend a few days in the capital, Sofia. Sofia is relaxed, easy to walk around and inexpensive… Bright sunshine, great food, wine and beer – what more could you ask for? Yesterday afternoon we happened to […]
In The Palace festival Bulgaria
Flights and hotels booked – just a couple of weeks to go – Bulgaria here we come!
Étonnants Voyageurs Festival
Saturday May 26 2012 Xiaoping at Étonnants Voyageurs international festival of books and films in Saint-Malo, France Xiaoping introduces OCHRE AND INK at Étonnants Voyageurs festival Saint Malo, France
