10 years ago, it all started. A group of recent graduates of Leiden University found that their dear Alma Mater [hints]Latin for nurturing or caring mother. Alma mater refers to the university or sometimes the school where someone received their education. In ancient Rome The term Alma Mater was used for the mother goddess, in the Middle Ages referred Alma Mater to the Virgin Mary. The University of Bologna Since its foundation in 1088 "Alma mater" as motto. Since then, the term has been used mainly in academia. Alma mater refers to the school or university where a person received her or his education: the institution that 'fed him or her with knowledge'. It also refers to the Catholic University of Leuven bears the title "Alma mater". The term alma mater appears in anglo-saxon countries quite often in a school song (the anthem of a school). In the United States, it is even the name for the genre of school songs[/hints]. did deserve a film festival. They were ambitious and long-winded: next Friday, LIFF bursts loose again in the city of keys. Culture Press looks ahead to the programme.
LIFF is a cosy festival with a perfect balance between arthouse and mainstream films. Besides some big titles (Youth, Steve Jobs) shown in the previews, it is a masterstroke of the programmers that they can fall back on the American Indie programme. It offers film lovers the opportunity to discover the more distinctive and independent American film of the moment. In addition, the filmmakers are often guests and approachable for cosy Q&As after the film screening.
Last year, the festival already had a first with Listen up Philip by Alex Ross Perry who also attended and is now being compared to Noah Baumbach and Wes Anderson by leading critics. From Baumbach (Frances Ha) is this year Mistress America to be seen, where the director has again taken inspiration from muse Greta Gerwig. Once the beautiful but wavering face of the Mumblecore current.
That movement was, among others, the brainchild of Andrew Bujalski [hints]"Usually casts lesser known actors" http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1216004/[/hints] whose charming and eccentric Computer Chess showed at LIFF in 2013. During this edition, Bujalski focuses in Results on the luxury problems and relationship woes of modern Americans. In doing so, he draws on the acting talents of the underrated Kevin Corrigan, who has had a solid reputation as a standout and comic supporting actor for years (Buffalo '66, Living in Oblivion).
In addition to those old indie lore of American cinema, there are films by two young dogs. Sean Baker previously made the unusual Starlet about the bond between a young porn actress and an elderly woman. Now he is back with Tangerine which was shot entirely with an iphone. The film follows a prostitute through Los Angeles as she tracks down her unfaithful pimp and encounters all sorts of bizarre types in the meantime.
Director James Ponsoldts already caught the eye of an earlier LIFF edition with The Spectacular now and is now back with the ambitious The End of the tour About the bandana-wearing cult writer David Foster Wallace (a surprising Jason Segel) and a journalist who tries unsuccessfully to interview him.
In addition to US films, the programme focuses Nordic watching on recent Scandinavian cinema. Retrospectives and theme parties this year are dedicated to Marlon Brando and Jazz in film. For the complete programme, check out this link.
And Culture Press will of course be there so check our site for exclusive festival coverage of LIFF 2015!
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