This year, the "Vilnius Jazz" festival is including cinema in its program for the first time. October 14 "Skalvijas" cinema center will start the festival, and on October 21 the screenings of the "Vilnius Jazz Screen Beats" film cycle will conclude. This year, they include the films of the famous British documentarian Dick Fontaine (1938 - 2023) about the XNUMXth century. jazz legends. The curator of the program is Neringa Medutytė, journalist, director, D. Fontaine's student.
"The most loyal fans of the festival and new jazz lovers will be able to meet music and jazz in one more space - the cinema hall," said Antanas Gustys, the founder and long-time organizer of Vilnius Jazz.
D. Fontaine is one of the "cinéma vérité" (French for truth cinema) of the pioneers in the United Kingdom, who recorded the essential events of the 40th century on documentary tapes. cultural and political events. He made more than XNUMX films, during his long career he immortalized many prominent jazz figures, including Ornette Coleman, Sonny Rollins, he was the first director to film the British band The Beatles before the era of Beatlemania.
In D. Fontaine's work, a lot of attention is paid to music, primarily to jazz and the origins of hip-hop. This director's documentaries are not only visual reflections of time, but also insightful comments that combine art, music, and politics. D. Fontaine headed the Documentary Department of the National Film School of the United Kingdom for more than 20 years, was one of the founders of Granada TV and the author of the series "World in Action".
He often worked with his wife, the African-American actress Pat Hartley, known for her standout roles in Andy Warhol's films and her friendship with Jimi Hendrix. She is the co-writer of the I Heard It Through the Grapevine series about civil rights activist James Baldwin.
"Vilnius Jazz Screen Beats" presents five documentaries by D. Fontaine this year: "Art Blakey: Messenger of Jazz", 1988. (Art Blakey: The Jazz Messenger), Who He: Sonny Rollins, 1968 Who is Sonny Rollins, David, Moffet and Ornette: The Ornette Coleman Trio, 1966 David, Moffett, And Ornette: The Coleman Trio, I Heard It From Rumors, 1982 I Heard It Through The Grapevine, Sound??, 1966 ("Sound?").
"Vilnius Jazz Screen Beats" will introduce not only the world's most famous jazz filmmakers, but also films from various countries and periods inspired by jazz, both new and those that go back to the beginning of the cinema era. Presentations and discussions with prominent representatives of the world of music and culture will be held during the movie screenings.
Jazz allows you to travel through the most important events of history, politics, culture and touches the most essential human experience. We aim for the audience to immerse themselves in the mood of the "Vilnius Jazz" week and take away new experiences for the whole year," said N. Medutytė, curator of the film program.
The "Vilnius Jazz Screen Beats" cycle is planned to be continued at other festivals.
Movie screenings in "Skalvija" (A. Goštauto st. 2, Vilnius)
October 14
20.30:XNUMX p.m. Art Blakey: The Jazz Messenger (JAV-UK).
October 15
20.30:XNUMX p.m. Who is Sonny Rollins (US-UK); David, Moffett, And Ornette: The Coleman Trio (US-UK).
October 21
20 p.m. I Heard It Through The Grapevine (US-UK); Sound?? ” (US-UK).
The films will be shown in English with Lithuanian subtitles.
The 37th International Vilnius Jazz Festival will take place on October 14-21. The project is financed by the Lithuanian Council of Culture and Vilnius city municipality. Tickets are distributed by Bilietai.lt
