On 19-20 October, RIGA IFF in cooperation with the Kyiv Critics’ Week film festival is organising a discussion series on the topic of colonialism in film and media with the participation of international experts. These talks will tackle traits and mechanisms of colonialism in the media and festival structures from the perspective of Eastern European cinema.
Colonialism is increasingly discussed in the contexts of cinema and media, especially this year considering the escalation of Russian military aggression in Ukraine. This has gradually highlighted not only the colonisation of Ukrainian culture, but also of the connection between the Eastern European cultural space and the Russian Federation, formerly the Soviet Union. This has resulted in reflections on sometimes uncomfortable, but vital issues in the field.
The second discussion on 20 October will focus on how Eastern European cinema fits into global cinema: what are the tendencies of soft Western colonialism in film festival structures, and do Eastern European filmmakers consciously or unconsciously adapt their cinematic works to Western European audiences? How difficult is it for people from smaller countries working in the film industry to fit into festival structures and topographies? And what is “the hegemony of A-list festivals” or “the role of superiority”?
