The West Lake International Documentary Festival is a platform for artists and documentary film enthusiasts. In addition to film screenings, pitch meetings, forums and workshops also play a crucial part of the event. The festival is organised annually in autumn by the China Academy of Art by the lake in Hangzhou.
Recognised by the jury, the film asks a number of important and universal questions. Can anyone be a film protagonist? Can you fit the entire world in a single frame? Director Paweł Łoziński watches people from his balcony. Both young and old, they walk by smiling, sad, thoughtful, staring at their phones. 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 learn more about the festival from its official website.