The Circuit

by Stephen Kijak
A small number of guests meant we were given the full attention of festival director Tommy Lørdahl and his small but very dedicated staff. In attendance was "Manda Bala" director Jason Kohn (pictured left of filmmaker Alex Holdridge), who took home Best Cinematography and Grand Jury Prize for Best Doc at Sundance this year.  A few Olso-based Brazilians made the Q&A following this inventive, intense and provocative film heat up.  (I wonder if Jason ever found the dried reindeer hearts he wanted to bring back home as gifts?).  "In Search of a Midnight Kiss" director Alex Holdridge also joined us as did Thibault Staib, director of the doc "Nina", incredibly intimate portrait of his then girlfriend, former French porn star Nina Roberts. 

Between a trip to the Olympic ski jump and a tour of the Edvard Munch museum, there was actually time for a few more films.  "Kiss" will get a theatrical release here at home through IFC films, so with a sincere apology to Alex, I ducked into "Cochochi", Mexican directors Israel Cárdenas & Laura Amelia Guzmáns debut feature about two young boys who steal a horse and get lost on their way through a canyon. Then they lose the horse. Then they lose each other.  A minor miracle of a film. A scene of the boys wandering through a foggy field in the morning echoed the next day by the mist that had drifted up from the fjords to encircle our hotel.

I hiked back up to the ski jump from the hotel, following the sound of announcements and music to find an even denser fog, the announcements now echoing in the distance. On the way back down, a tourist taking pictures of small icicles clinging to shrubs. 

Oslo was an experience of small wonders; a perfect bar on the corner of town, a rock band dressed like pirates performing in the hull of an old ship (pictured below), outstanding food in relaxed and sophisticated cafes and restaurants, and a brilliant selection of films. 

Add to that a spontaneous meeting with a group of drunk historical re-creationists (pictured below) at 4 a.m. (or was it the filmmakers who were drunk?) and you have one of the most unique and enjoyable stops on the international festival circuit.



Stephen Kijak has made three feature films: "Never Met Picasso", "Cinemania" and "Scott Walker-30 Century Man".  He is a proud alum of Boston University's College of Communication and has just moved from NYC to LA.  The Scott Walker film was recently released in cinemas and on DVD in the UK and named #13 on Time Out London's list of the 50 Greatest Music Films Ever.  It will be released in the USA in early 2008.

by Stephen Kijak
Festival fatigue. Too many planes, airports, hotels, hotel bars, festival lounges, parties, parties, some screenings, the occasional interview, panels, sightseeing, parties, 3 a.m. mini-bar raids, and, oh sure, why not, one more party. 

I wasn't going to let this happen again.  I can't possibly spend another year roaming around the world half-sober promoting another film. Can I?

Of course I can.  My latest film, the feature documentary "Scott Walker: 30 Century Man" had its International coming-out at the Berlinale 2007 and has not stopped since.  After the double-dose of the Viennale & In-Edit Barcelona last month I was a bit crispy.  But then there was Oslo...

Festival director Tommy Lørdahl (pictured left of director Jason Kohn) also works as a journalist and had interviewed me at the Berlinale.  Tommy is a tall, bald Norweigian man who is always dressed in black and has his finger right on the pulse of the Oslo music scene. 

So in addition to programming an exemplary array of some of the best films that have been touring the international circuit this year - 4 MONTHS 3 WEEKS 2 DAYS, GHOSTS OF ABU GHRAIB, HALLAM FOE, I´M NOT THERE, JOY DIVISION, MY BLUEBERRY NIGHTS, PARANOID PARK, and SAVAGE GRACE, to name but a few - there were nightly gigs lined up for festival guests, including a smashing set by local faves 120 Days, some young lads who sound like The Cure being eaten by Kraftwerk. 

It's cold in Oslo in November and the city does not immediately reach out and grab you with a skyline, a port, some overwhelming architectural wonder (well, until the new Opera House opens)...it sinks in slowly with the help of lots of beer and some very warm Norwegian hospitality.

And it certainly turns on after hours.  Screenings, while not the sell-out crowds we were getting used to at other fests, were attended by avid music fans and Q&A's were always engaging and a pleasure to attend.  And by day-three we were regulars at Mono, the main watering hole for the pre and post gig and cinema crowd.  Following my second screening I jumped on the decks at Mono and played Scott Walker cd's all night.  Thank you Oslo - I can't imagine being indulged in this way anywhere else. 


Stephen Kijak has made three feature films: "Never Met Picasso", "Cinemania" and "Scott Walker-30 Century Man".  He is a proud alum of Boston University's College of Communication and has just moved from NYC to LA.  The Scott Walker film was recently released in cinemas and on DVD in the UK and named #13 on Time Out London's list of the 50 Greatest Music Films Ever.  It will be released in the USA in early 2008.