Cinema Regained

a dive into the history of cinema

A fresh look at cinema history, and in particular the less well-known, still underexposed parts of that history. A programme of old films with contemporary relevance and new documentaries or fiction films that take a dive into the rich history of cinema.

This edition, Cinema Regained includes the theme section Rediscovering the Fourth Generation curated by Shelly Kraicer, Vancouver IFF programmer and expert on Chinese cinema, in collaboration with Rotterdam festival programmer Gerwin Tamsma.

The Fourth Generation filmmakers from China ended their film studies during the Sixties, but saw their careers thwarted by the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), during which film production came to a near standstill. After 1976, filmmakers like Xie Fei, Wenji Teng and Zhang Nuanxin - all mid-twenty years old during the 1960’s - seized opportunities to develop their skills. But they were no heirs to the Third Generation (1949-1966) who gave Chinese cinema its socialistic face; furthermore, they were completely surpassed by the Fifth Generation who gained international sucess with films by, among others, Chen Kaige and Zhang Yimou. Nearly all Fourth Generation films from the period 1978-1989 are implicit comments on the moral and cultural demolition of the Cultural Revolution, during which the Chinese people were submitted to the laws of permanent socialist re-education. The Fourth Generation’s films are unique in combining artistic innovation and emphasis on human values. 
You can find Shelly Kraicer's complete introduction text here.

A second theme section within the Cinema Regained programme is Pièce Unique, curated by festival programmer Edwin Carels: a series of around twelve feature and short films by one-time filmmakers. Nevertheless, all of these ‘one-offs’ became remarkable or influential works. The section is expected to include, among others, TRUE STORIES by David Byrne (USA, 1986), THE HONEYMOON KILLERS by Leonard Kastle (USA, 1970), DER VERLORENE by Peter Lorre (Germany, 1951) and the short film UN CHANT D’AMOUR by Jean Genet (France, 1950).