Blog post written by Lucy Yang, Journalism and Politics ’14, FLEFF Blogger, Puyang, Henan, China

• Friday, April 4, 2:00 p.m., “Russian Visual Cultures and Putin” with Dr. Irina Aristarkhova, moderated by Dr. Patricia Zimmermann

“If you want to be an artist, don’t go to an art school; go to the prison.” – Dr. Irina Aristarkhova

Dr. Aristarkhova was referring to Pussy Riot, the Russian feminist punk rock protest group whose members were prosecuted and thrown to prison for hooliganism. Park 223 was filled with audience, with many of whom sitting on the floor. During the an-hour-long presentation, Dr. Aristarkhova shared her childhood memories of the former USSR and praised Russia’s younger generations, like Pussy Riot and activists group “Spring”, for being fearless.

• Friday, April 4, 3:00 p.m., “International Film Distribution and Exhibition” with Rodrigo Brandão and Vanessa Domico, moderated by Dr. Andrew Utterson

“We don’t.” – Rodrigo Brandão

I asked Mr. Brandão what they do as distributor to combat against piracy when they have such a high-profile film like A Touch of Sin. This was his direct answer. Mr. Brandão continued saying that films like A Touch of Sin should be seen by a broader audience.

Mr. Brandão is the Vice President of Promotions & Publicity for Kino Lorber. Kino Lorber has brought four films to this year’s FLEFF, including A Touch of Sin, winner of the Best Screenplay Award of Cannes Film Festival 2013.

This film was originally planned to be publically screened in China in November 2013, but was eventually censored by the state. Just a month ago, at the very end of February, pirate versions of the film started to circulate around online. Since then, filmmakers and some netizens in China have expressed their wish of having the director Jia Zhangke revealing his bank account and called on people to donate to the filmmaker.

• Friday, April 4, 4:00 p.m., “Annual FLEFF How to Get Your Break Panel” with Rodrigo Brandão, Amy Browne, Dr. Ernesto Livon Grossman, Laura Kissel, and Ira Mckinley, moderated by Dr. Thomas Bohn.

“Don’t judge a book by its cover.” – Ira McKinley

Ira McKinley is the co-director and main character of the film The Throwaways. Having gone through his owner father being shot by the police and been a subject of police brutality himself, Mr. McKinley is telling his own story, as well as that of many other subjects of social inequality, through his camera. In his film, another character in the neighborhood he has featured in Albany, NY also says the same line.