At Kinótico, on the occasion of the special coverage of the San Sebastian Film Festival, in collaboration with FRED Film Radio, we talked with Kitty Green. The director and scriptwriter surprised the industry, film critics and the audience with her powerful and concise “The Assistant”, a film depicting ,from the margins, Harvey Weinstein’s history of abuse and harassment. It was well-received by critics, who especially praised Julia Garner’s performance and the film’s claustrophobic depiction of office life.
The American film director competes for the Concha de Oro in San Sebastian with “The Royal Hotel“, a suspense film with Julia Garner again in the leading role .
“The Royal Hotel” premiered at the Telluride and Toronto festivals. before screening in Zinemaldia.
Interview by Dani Mantilla
Plot
Americans Hanna and Liv are best friends backpacking in Australia. After they run out of money, Liv, looking for an adventure, convinces Hanna to take a temporary live-in job behind the bar of a pub called 'The Royal Hotel' in a remote Outback mining town. Bar owner Billy and a host of locals give the girls a riotous introduction to Down Under drinking culture but soon Hanna and Liv find themselves trapped in an unnerving situation that grows rapidly out of their control.
"Always" by Deming Chen, produced by Hansen Lin: an exploration of childhood in rural China and the power of poetry. A lyrical and sensitive depiction of a young boy's life that offers a unique perspective.
Hsu Ya-Ting (director) and Huang Yin-Yu (producer) of "Island of the Winds" discuss the importance of remembering forgotten stories and the long journey to bring this powerful documentary to the screen.
"Whispers in the Woods": Vincent Munier discusses the importance of connecting with nature and family in his new documentary, a breathtaking journey into the heart of the forest.
Ben Rivers, director of "Mare's Nest", discusses exploring themes of non-violent anarchy, hope in a dark world, and the importance of storytelling in his latest film.