East meets west

Fighting Spirit Film Festival 2024 has relocated from Stratford East to Hackney Picturehouse, reinforcing its commitment to celebrating extraordinary cinema and nurturing community spirit. This year, Japanese-inspired films were recognised for pushing the boundaries of storytelling and artistry.

The Best International Short Film Cinematography Award was presented to Canadian director Jean Frenette (DGC) for his film Déjà Vu – Souls Never Die. The film delves into the life of John, a protagonist troubled by the sensation of having lived beyond his current lifetime. Seeking clarity, John turns to a hypnotherapist to explore his subconscious. Frenette shared, “My curiosity about déjà vu, past lives, and reincarnation led me to set the story in feudal Japan, blending historical elements with the character’s journey.”

Cinematographer Michel St-Martin (CSC) who collaborated with Frenette, emphasised the importance of careful planning due to budget constraints. “We didn’t need the most expensive gear to create beautiful images,” St-Martin noted. “With two RED Komodos, we achieved high-resolution visuals, ideal for colour grading. The DZO zoom lenses provided the flexibility we needed.” Most of the film was shot using natural light, with Astera Titan Tubes enhancing the interior scenes with their superior colour rendering.

Sticking with the Japanese theme, the Best British Short Film Cinematography Award was awarded to Jon Fraser for his Samurai film Ronin. The film follows a mysterious Ronin tasked with retrieving a stolen emperor’s sword, only to discover he is not the only one after it. Fraser used a Sony A7Siii camera, Samyang AF Prime lenses, and a Tiffen Black Pro Mist 1/4 filter, stabilising the footage with a DJI RS3 gimbal. Lighting was managed with an Aputure 300D ii, and audio was captured with a Deity D3 Pro Shotgun Mic.

Fraser faced a major hurdle when he realised that no audio was recorded on the second day of filming. “As a small crew juggling multiple roles, oversights can occur,” Fraser explained. “I had to create a lot of additional foley in post-production, which nearly led me to abandon the project. However, the festival and the grading stage was what inspired me to push through. Inspired by the visuals of Jet Li’s film, Hero, I achieved the final look I envisioned with the aid of an infrared conversion LUT.”

The Best International Short Film Cinematography winner receives a one-year digital subscription to British Cinematographer, while the Best British Short Film Cinematography winner is awarded both a one-year digital and print subscription.

“We moved home this year for the ninth edition of FSFF to Hackney PH, where we had previously hosted the UK premiere of Ip Man 4: The Final,” said festival director Soo Cole. “We were very happy to be the pre-launch event for the BFI’s Art of Action Season. We showcased a new generation with 40 short films screened over the weekend plus five feature films, three of which were female-led. To be able to run this festival for nine years is a privilege and a great achievement, and we are proud to provide a home for the British and international action community.”