FIPADOC is an international documentary film festival held in Biarritz, France. Over the course of the six-day event, viewers get to see the most interesting documentaries from recent months and attend numerous meetings with creators. There is also an industry part that lets film professionals exchange experiences.
The winning film touches on a number of important topics. Can anyone be a film protagonist? Can you fit the entire world in a single frame? Director Paweł Łoziński watches people from his balcony. They walk by smiling, sad, thoughtful, staring at their phones, both young and old. Residents of the neighbourhood, or casual visitors, ordinary passers-by. The author approaches them, asks questions, talks about their life and how they’re doing. Standing there with his camera for over 2 years, he created a place for dialogue, a secular confessional where everyone can stop and tell others about themselves. Every person carries their own riddles and secrets. They can’t be easily labelled. Life can’t be imagined. The Balcony Movie is a radical return to the early days of cinema, when it was people who approached the camera. Perhaps one just needs to stop and stay a while to see more?
You can find more information about the festival ending tomorrow here.