Sébastien Sperer: A film is not just moving images, sound and music, it’s much more than that
ntroducing a member of the jury for the 13th Vilnius International Short Film Festival Sébastien Sperer (France). Jury will select Best Short Fiction, Best Short Documentary and Best Short Animation of the competition programme and the best Lithuanian short film which will be awarded with a cash prize.
Thank you for joining our Jury team. There will be three of you, from the different backgrounds and with various taste – do you think there will be a lot of discussion to vote for the Best?
I hope there will be a lot of lively, thoughtful and smart discussions to vote for the best. As you said, our backgrounds are very different in the Jury team so it can only be very interesting to share our considerations, feelings and tastes concerning the films. If we do it that way, it will allow us to choose the best film in each category in a friendly and pleasant atmosphere.
What do you expect from the filmmakers and their work in this year’s competition?
I expect to be amazed and surprised by the works of the filmmakers, to discover and meet new talents. I also hope the artists will share their vision of the world we are living in and bring some answers and thoughts to live in better world. I also count on the fact to discover the total opposite which would be experimental, outrageous, dreamlike and poetic films for example.
Do you know more about the Lithuanian short film sector? Would it be possible to describe it?
I have to say I don’t know that much about the Lithuanian short film sector excepted the two animated films selected in this category. I’m very excited and eager to discover Lithuanian shorts, it will allow me to have a real view of the actual Lithuanian film industry.
In your opinion, what are the tendencies in the international short film sector? Are there any social or political themes that are now most common for the filmmakers?
In my opinion, filmmakers usually get inspiration from their own life, from their hopes, their fears and from their personal thoughts. So, I guess the tendencies in this sector and in the other categories will deal with very current subjects such as ecology, migration flow, politics, daily life, gender identity and how to cope with issues linked to these themes. In another way, tendencies in the International sector, as well as in the Lithuanian one, can be totally different as filmmakers can also be inspired by different kind of arts like paintings, books, sculptures, folklore, etc… in order to share new paths of knowledge with their audience. In a few words, I expect to feel the emotions the filmmakers want to deliver through their shorts.
During the festival weekend the 13th Vilnius International Short Film Festival will screen almost 60 films. Are there any tips form you for the audience on how to choose wisely from the program?
The most important advice I can give to the audience is to try to go beyond what they see and what they hear in a film. A film is not just moving images, sound and music, it’s much more than that. Art in general is done to make us think further, to make us feel emotions, to connect people together. When a film combines these elements, it remains for a very long time in our hearts and in our minds therefore the choice of the audience can only be easier… or not.
Are you looking forward to visiting Vilnius? Any special plans – meet colleagues, taste national dish or try local brewery beer?
I don’t have any special plans but I’m REALLY looking forward to visiting Vilnius, to learn more about Lithuanian culture, to meet colleagues and friends, to make new friends, to combine work and fun and of course to taste national dish and local beer and more. Any suggestion is very welcome.