Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Matt Schley @mattschley.com · 9h

Niigata International Animation Festival announced a competition for mid-length animation (15-40m), production/distribution support awards and more focus on young creators.

Sounds like they're serious about staying in the game following some key personnel moving over to the new Nagoya festival.

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Matt Schley @mattschley.com · 12h

That's it for YIDFF for me, aside from streaming some of the direct cinema classics on the program while desperately wishing I were still having fun in Yamagata.

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Matt Schley @mattschley.com · 1d

Sinise is cool!!!

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Matt Schley @mattschley.com · 2d

Another Home:

Hong Kongers on a small island drink a lot of beer and react to the effective collapse of democracy in their own ways. Liked but didn't love. A lot of close-ups (maybe necessitated by the cramped eatery where most of it takes place?) mean less for the audience to observe.

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Matt Schley @mattschley.com · 2d

Time to the Target:

Life in western Ukraine, far from the front but still affected by the war. Best movie I’ve seen here. Great humanistic observational work in the tradition of Wiseman.

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Matt Schley @mattschley.com · 2d

With a mild hangover and a sense of gay abandon, it’s time to dive into another day of cinema.

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Matt Schley @mattschley.com · 3d

Rokkoku Kitchen:

Stories of people living in former evacuation areas in Fukushima. There’s probably an interesting film in the footage somewhere, buried under the cloying music, narration and titles.

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Matt Schley @mattschley.com · 3d

Shot the Voice of Freedom:

Disturbing look at the lives of women under the Taliban. Not good Cinema but important reportage.

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Matt Schley @mattschley.com · 4d

Park:

Self-reflexive migrant bromance Before Sunrise.

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Matt Schley @mattschley.com · 4d

A Window of Memories:

The personal histories of the director’s grandmothers are read out by two actors. An interesting method but feels performative. Most interesting parts are the scenes with the actual grandmothers and the actors conversing between takes.

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Matt Schley @mattschley.com · 4d

With pep in my step and freshly shaven cheeks, I’m ready to step into another day of documentaries.

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Matt Schley @mattschley.com · 5d

Yeah, it's something like the 19th edition!

Matt Schley @mattschley.com · 5d

Pati… Pati…

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Matt Schley @mattschley.com · 5d

I directed and edited* this! Please watch it!

*Editing was very easy because it’s an unbroken 3.5-minute shot! I’m the Orson Welles of Koenji, baby.

Call And Response Records @callandresponse.bsky.social · 5d

The Grandma's Garden EP is out next Friday, but in the meantime, @mattschley.com made this fantastic video for the song だから、さよなら. Really pleased with this one. Thanks to all who helped out with their time and good spirits (and shitty yet affordable spirits):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSU2...

Grandma's Garden「だから、さよなら」

YouTube video by Call And Response Records

www.youtube.com

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Matt Schley @mattschley.com · 5d

Gee, I wonder which!!!

Matt Schley @mattschley.com · 5d

Welded Together: Young welder in Belarus tries to do the best she can for her infant sister and their alcoholic mother. Cheesy, poorly judged end-credit song aside, a seriously compelling piece of filmmaking.

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Matt Schley @mattschley.com · 5d

Q&A MCs: you gotta tell people to keep it to one question, man.

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Matt Schley @mattschley.com · 5d

Luo Luo’s Future: assembled from home movie footage taken by the seven-year-old granddaughter of the director. Have to admit I was fading in and out during this one.

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Matt Schley @mattschley.com · 5d

Yamagata Intl Documentary Film Festival thread.

The Seasons: Not so much “about” the dolmens in Alentejo, Portugal as “around” them. Dreamy, nice film cinematography, but a bit unfocused. Liked the old folks reminiscing and wish there’d been more of that.