True Story

True Story Episode 52: Eluned Zoë Aiano and Alesandra Tatić about their film Flotacija

Eluned Zoë Aiano and Alesandra Tatić discuss in our podcast their approach as filmmakers, based on the bonds of intimacy and trust established with the protagonists over the years.

Throughout the filming process of the film Flotacija, the directors have strived to portray the protagonists and their culture in an ethical and respectful manner, while also showing how the privatization of the mine and real estate has affected their lives.

The story of the film started almost 9 years ago and initially focused on the topic of dragon hunting in the Serbian Vlach community. As filmmakers grew closer to the protagonists, they realized that the people of Majdanpek themselves and the social context they are embedded in are what truly make the situation interesting and relevant to the wider world.

“Flotacija”, in English literally “froth flotation”, is a process used in industrial mining to separate minerals from ore, which produces otherworldly black bubbles that simmer in pits.

True Story Episode 53: Alisa Kovalenko and Stephane Siohan about the film We Will Not Fade Away

Director Alisa Kovalenko and producer Stephane Siohan talk about their latest documentary We Will Not Fade Away, the devastation caused by the invasion of Ukraine, how the film's meaning has changed since then, and the role of art in times of war. We Will Not Fade Away is a tender and emotional multi-portrait of five Ukrainian teenagers trapped in the war zone in Donbas who dream of freedom and discovering the world outside. 

The project received the Institute of Documentary Film Silver Eye Award for best finished film in 2023 and was recently nominated for the European Film Academy Award.

True Story – episode 51: Ana Maria Vijdea about her short May the Earth Become the Sky

With director Ana Maria Vijdea about her short documentary film May the Earth Become the Sky, portrait of 48-years old woman who is trapped between two worlds, awarded by the Institute of Documentary Film at Ji.hlava IDFF 2022.

The interview was conducted by Ivona Remundová.

True Story – Episode 50: The Hamlet Syndrome

With Piotr Rosołowski, co-director of The Hamlet Syndrome, about a generation of Ukrainians confronting their war trauma and tackling the painful past.

True Story – Episode 49: Emilia Mazik and Mathieu Janssen

With Emilia Mazik (Kaboom Animation Festival) and Mathieu Janssen (Go Short) about short films, festivals and current trends.

True Story – Episode 48: Avitaminosis

With director Kateryna Ruzhyna about her short documentary Avitaminosis, a self-portrait of a young Ukrainian filmmaker searching for liberation in Georgia, awarded by the Institute of Documentary Film at Ji.hlava IDFF 2022.

True Story –⁠ Episode 47: Invisible Landscapes

Director Ivo Bystřičan talks about the "field-recording" of his film Invisible Landscapes in which he focuses on "future critical infrastructure and breaking points through sound".

True Story – Episode 46: Pongo Calling

With director Tomáš Kratochvíl about his new film Pongo Calling about Štefan Pongo, a Roma lorry driver.
The film was premiered at Sheffield Doc/Fest and was awarded at Ake Dikhea? Festival of Romani Film.

True Story – Episode 45: A Date in Minsk

With Nikita Lavretski, "an abrasive and indelible comedic voice from Belarus", about his film A Date in Minsk, a one-take documentary which re-stages director's first date. The film was awarded at doclisboa 2022.

True Story – Episode 44: Too Close

With director Botond Püsök about his process of creating Too Close, a documentary about Andrea, a single mother living in Romanian village, whose 10-year-old daughter was sexually abused by none other than Andrea’s partner, the stepfather of the girl.
The film was developed within the Ex Oriente Film 2019 workshop and premiered at Sarajevo IFF 2022.