The first edition of the Trieste Film Festival took place in 1987, a time of radical social and political changes in Central and Eastern Europe. The Italian event, which takes place in Trieste every year in the third week of January, is entirely devoted to cinema from that particular region. It aims to be a bridge that connects the local audience with that part of Europe. The organisers were right. The event’s extremely rich program has been attracting a large audience for years.
Paweł Łoziński’s film is this year’s festival winner. The Balcony Movie received awards from both the audience and the jury. The documentary 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, regular 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 learn more about the festival here.