It’s that time of the year again! With the Dutch Film Festival just behind us and the winners of the ‘Gouden Kalf’ known, it is now time for PAFF! The second edition of the Parool Film Fest will start tomorrow. And I must say, I am looking forward to this event. PAFF takes place in the Filmhallen which is, as you might know, located right next to my beloved Foodhallen and Kanarie Club. So you can combine your evening at PAFF perfectly with a dinner at the Kanarie Club and a nice G&T at the Foodhallen afterwards.

PAFF is fairly new, but is extremely ambitious to become a platform specialized in high quality films. The festival shows both foreign and Dutch feature films, animation and documentaries. Many of them showing for the first time in The Netherlands. Several films are also selected for the big filmfestivals, such as Berlin, Cannes, Venice and Toronto. In addition to the viewings PAFF also offers daily talkshows and public interviews with directors and actors. PAFF’s main goal is emphasize the power of film as an form of art.

So, how to decide on which film(s) you would like to see? Well, of course trailers and descriptions are a big help. For the people around you who are regular visitors of art houses and up to date on the filmfestivals, you might already know exactly what you’d like to see this year. For all you who have no clue at all, here are my favorites for this year.

I absolutely can not wait to see ‘Loving Vincent’. Loving Vincent is a fully painted animated movie about the life and mysterious death of painter Vincent van Gogh. More that 65.000 paintings were made to produce this movie, each for one frame of the film. I added the trailer to the article, scroll down to see it!

Last summer I went to see the Manifesto exhibition at the Holland Festival. Manifesto is an installation of thirteen screens, showing thirteen short films, parallel to each other. In all shorts the main role is being played by Cate Blanchett. From a homeless bum to a schoolteacher, she transforms each time into a totally different person. Every short is based on fragments of famous (art)manifesto’s, from Karl Marx to Dogma ’95. The film features al these shorts, bringing all ideas and concepts together. Curious? I added the trailer to Manifesto to the article as well.

Of course, there are so many options and always it is a matter of personal taste and interest. A full program and schedule can be found here: click. Can’t decide? PAFF offers a 4-movie ticket for 35 euros or an 8-movie ticket for 65 euros.

Sincerley,

Mr. J

Hannie Dankbaarpassage 12

1053 RT Amsterdam

From the 4th till 8th of October.

€€••• (adult ticket €10,-)