The German filmmaker Henrik Peschel is for the first time visiting Dhaka as a jury member of the Australasian Competition section of
the 13th Dhaka International Film Festival.
Moreover, his film Si-O-Se Pol will be screened in the World Cinema section of the festival tomorrow at the National Museum Auditorium.
In fact, Si-O-Se Pol is his second feature film featuring the plights of the refugees from the Asian and African countries.
His film Pete the Heat, released in 2009, won the Montblanc Script Award at Filmfest Hamburg in 2010.
Henrik began his career in film industry in 1990s making music clips and short films that earned him cult status. After working as DOP for the German directors like Klaus Lemke and Andreas Geiger, he started directing his own feature films in 2008.
‘Surfing on the Internet I came to know about the festival here in Dhaka and showed interest to participate in it,’ Henrik Peschel told New Age.
Sharing the theme of the film that will be screened in the Dhaka International Film Festival, Peschel said that the film, set in Spain, depicts how unknown refugees help each other during the illegal migration to the European countries. ‘I like to portray more humane stories of the refugees rather than focusing on the legal issues,’ Peschel said.
‘And the film got very positive response in Germany,’ said Peschel adding that he was planning to make another film on the issue set on the backdrop of ‘tensed’ border between Turkey and Greece.
‘Migration of the people has increased on the border since the recession. I’ve already done the research. I’ll work on the film soon,’ said the German independent director, screenwriter, cameraman and producer.
According to Peschel, independent filmmakers in Europe are making wonderful films on diverse humane issues. ‘Culturally Europe is much more ahead of America. The continent produces quality artistes in every field art including film, music, theatre and art,’ Peschel said.
‘Most of the Germans don’t know the name of Dhaka. They know India and Bollywood films. Returning home I’ll share my experiences with them, especially the hospitality I received here,’ Peschel said.
-With New Age input
