BERTHA AND THE WOLFRAM
Short documentary 2020
Synopsis
Bertha loves to draw. She needs help in her daily life for she has a rare disease that impairs her vision. But Bertha refuses to be discouraged. She has organised an exhibition together with a well-known painter. The proceeds will go to research into her disease, the so-called Wolfram syndrome. Can Bertha tame the wild wolves in her life?
Trailer
written and directed TIJS TORFS
produced LAS BELGAS
animation PENELOPE DELTOUR / GERT VAN GOETHEM
director of photography DRIES VANDERAERDEN
editor LAWRENCE PAUL FOLEY
music DAVE MARTIJN
soundproduction MATHIEU VAN DEN DRIESSCHE / TIJS TORFS
production assistent CELINE VANHOUTTE
image post production MIKROS IMAGE
sound post production A SOUND
Festival selections:
-JEF Festival (Belgium)
-Dok Leipzig (Germany)
-Chicago international children's film festival (US)
-Docville (Belgium)
-Oulu International Children's and Youth Film Festival ( Finland)
-Filemon (Belgium)
-Olympia (Greece)
-Dokkino (Finland)
-Leuven Kort film festival (Belgium)
-Rare disease film festival (Berlin)
-Seattle Children's film festival (Seattle)
-Thessaloniki film festival (Greece)
- Kids Kino IFF (Poland)
-Nomination Ecfa Best European documentary (Czechia)
-Cinema in sneakers (¨Poland)
-Festival Internacional de Cine para Ninos (Mexico)
-Oberhausen film festival (Germany)
-Minikino Festival (Bali)
-Extraordinary Film Festival (Belgium)
-Uno sguardo raro Festival (Italy)
-14th KUKI Young Short Film Festival (Berlin)
-Edeweiss awards (Belgium)
-Inscience Film Festival (Netherlands)
-Saudi Film Studio 101 Festival (Saudi Arabia)
-International Taiwan Children Film festival (Taiwan)
-One World (Prague Czechia)
-Cactus International Children's and Youth Film Festival (Aosta Italy)
- Inclús, Barcelona International Disability Film Festival (Spain)
- Youth International Film Festival North Carolina (US)
Awards:
-Best short documentary (Chicago international Children's film festival)
-Best short film (JEF Belgium)
-Best short film children's jury (JEF Belgium)
-Best short and mid length film festival (Olympia Children's film festival )
-Best short documentary (Cinema In Sneakers Film Festival)
-Best documentary (Uno Sguardo Raro Film Festival)
-Best documentary (extraordinary Film Festival)
-Best documentary for children (Kuki Children Film Festival)
-Best documentary for teens (Kuki Children Film Festival)
Reviews
"A moving film that touches you deeply. It showed a disease that is not widely known, which made it very interesting. The combination between live action and animation was fun. It is nice that Bertha does not lose heart and take action."
CHILDREN JURY JEF FILM FESTIVAL
"This encouraging documentary is inventive and intriguing in its form. The main character Bertha shows us how creativity can help us not only to deal with a disease, but also to share that experience with others. The use of animation adds an extra layer to the story"
PROFESSIONAL JURY JEF FILM FESTIVAL
"By alternating documentary scenes with charcoal animation, director Tijs Torfs gives the heroic battle even more spice. Torfs knows that tearjerkers don't work with children, so he avoids portraying Bertha as a victim. He turns the girl into a brave painter with an artistic future. Hope, art and animation make this documentary the most shining pearl."
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