03.10.24, 20:30, First Films ♡ At First Sight

As a teacher and mechanic, Fairuz Ghammam often sees ‘first films’. She feels these gems could safely be shared with a wider audience more often. Apart from standardised forms and conventional expectations, first films exude a freedom that is often lost later. For KASKcinema, Fairuz selects 9 first films from the hands of students Andy Sarfo, Arshvir Dhillon, Flo Vanhorebeek , Jennifer Izere, Jinhuang John Ma, Myrthe Baptist, Sanae Khamlichii, Trésor Simpunga and lecturer Hans Bryssinck. They give us a glimpse of their first experience behind the camera and how it shaped them.

Thematically, the films are united by an examination of what makes a home. The makers lead us inside rooms where we witness routines and rituals, but also uncertain moments far from home. In all the films, the camera is a tool to position itself and develop its own visual language. Moreover, the polyphony of the makers is underlined linguistically with Darija, English, Farsi, French, Punjabi, Mandarin, Dutch, Twi, Spanish, Kinyarwanda, and Kirundi among others on the soundtrack.

Prior to the film, Fairuz will engage in a conversation with the attending makers.