Personal thoughts on Camerimage 2009

In the days when IMAGO Evaluation tests are not even a distant memory and Authors Rights prevail everywhere and Working Conditions are based on the Danish system, the one asset future generations of cinematographers will treasure are the books produced by Camerimage. The bumper crop of literature from 2009 includes magnificent albums on Spinotti, Schlondorff and Wadja. We owe those responsible our gratitude. The weight of them is also responsible for Ryanair’s profit on the route to Lodz from Stansted.

Anyone expecting a repeat of my 2008 Lodz adventure when I was whisked into the night in a strange car with strange women for my first session as a dental tourist in a strange room is due for a disappointment although I have been flattered by the many enquiries as to the subsequent state of my dentures. The answer is that they are doing very well, thank you.

The star of this unforgettable Camerimage was first to welcome everyone at the Opening ceremony and last to say goodbye at the Closing. The masterly comic timing of the extraordinary President of Lodz, Jerzy Kropiwnicki. was a treat to behold. As long as Jerzy remains President the future of Camerimage is secure. He loves the experience and like a sample of the best Polish Vodka his performance matures with the passing years. Bill Murray had no chance although he did try hard in the VIP Lounge,without early success, to order a quick drink when it was all over and he had met his match.

A flick through the programme reveals many familiar faces. Indeed Camerimage has become almost a holiday one meets but once a year. Don McAlpine ACS ASC escapes annually from his ranch in Australia. This year all was going well until he reached Heathrow and whilst in transit at the British Airways Executive Lounge his laptop was stolen. A brave face was needed and Don is the man to provide one.

Some “faces” materialise in elevators at the Centrum Hotel like ghosts. Oliver Stapleton is one such “face” with which I look forward to having a decent conversation some day. Dante is another with whom I have exchanged pleasantries. His film Public Enemies was in Competition. It would be rude to repeat the thought that it would have looked better on film.

Due to the absence of punters the arrival of my new best friend,Vittorio Storaro AIC ASC in the VIP lounge passed without incident although I was warmly greeted as he remembered me from lunch we had spent together a month before. He introduced me to Carlos Saura. His introduction to their film “I Don Giovanni” was amazingly even shorter, as it did not occur. Also missed this year was the much loved figure of Billy Williams OBE BSC who was on duty kneeling in front of the Queen of England.

At the Kodak dinner I opportuned to talk to Giora Bejach about his work recreating the “impossible” by showing life from within a tank on his extraordinary film, “Lebanon”. A charming man he later passed on to the Israeli Society my invitation to join Imago. They have replied positively. Without question his was the outstanding cinematography of Camerimage although I secretly had hopes for Tuomo Hutri, former President of the Finnish FSC for his work with the red camera on “Letters to Father Jacob” which he shot in 15 days and to the Japanese Cinematographer Takeshi Hamada for his sympathetic and beautiful work on “Departures”. Imago also extended an invitation to the Iranian Society through their cinematographer Hossein Jafarian whose reply even the interpreter could not believe when I asked him how many days he had taken to shoot his excellent film “About Elly”. The answer was eighty days! Opportunities galore for young cinematographers in Iran!
Last year the roar, which greeted Anthony Dod Mantle at the ending of “ Slumdog Millionaire” would have taken the roof off. This year the longest applause of appreciation by far went to Japan’s Takeshi Hamada while the most vociferous fan club was that of Edward Grau for Tom Ford’s “A Single Man” and any other mention of Edward Grau. The jury took not notice of either of them.

Global warming has followed supporters of Camerimage over the years to the streets of the increasingly prosperous city of Lodz. People now walk with a spring in their step as the Winter sun has not the same levels of pollution with which to compete. Camerimage is the most extraordinary Festival in the World. There is nothing like its magic. Long may St Nicholas stroll his merry way along Piotrkowska. Long may Camerimage prosper and continue to serve so well cinematographers everywhere.

Nigel Walters