Hobnobben Film Festival celebrates Burmese films for its closing night
This year, the Hobnobben Film Festival selected three Burmese films to showcase during its four-day international festival at Cinema Center. In partnership with Fort Wayne Sister Cities, the festival will close on Sunday with the three films, including one feature-length film and a block of two short films, followed by a post-film discussion celebrating the creation of these films and their impact on Burmese life.
"We're incredibly fortunate to have such a thought-provoking group of films from Myanmar this year," said festival co-director Christi Hille. "Because Fort Wayne has one of the largest populations of Burmese people in the world, we're excited to engage Fort Wayne Sister Cities and local filmmakers to discuss these films and their impact."
ABOUT THE FILM BLOCK Coup D’Etat in Myanmar (Sunday 3:30 - 4:15 PM)
The two films in this block powerfully show life after the chaos of the February 2021 coup in Myanmar.
An Affair in One February Morning is an unscripted short that tells the story of two lovers who awaken in Burma on February 1, 2021, unaware of the military coup that had occurred.
Directed and translated by an anonymous team, Journey of a Bird is an unscripted short that follows a Burmese teen and his friends as they form a media action group in protest after the 2021 military coup.
ABOUT THE FEATURE FILM what happened to the wolf? (Sunday 4:30 - 6:45 PM) –
In this film, two terminally ill women meet at a hospital in Myanmar and find comfort and love together. They ultimately embark on a road trip to a Shan State destination famous for its stunning sea of clouds. The film's depiction of a same-sex romance is radical in culturally conservative Myanmar, where LGBTQ+ people can face legal persecution, prison time, and even state-encouraged violence.
Following the films, there will be a post-film discussion from 6:45 - 7:45 PM. Select filmmakers and Fort Wayne Sister Cities will discuss the creation, artistry, and impact of all three Burmese films. Fort Wayne Sister Cities will also provide Burmese snacks and appetizers for all attendees.
Tickets are available at Hobnobben.org or can be purchased at the Cinema Center box office. Tickets for the Coup D’Etat in Myanmar film block and the feature film what happened to the wolf? are $10 a piece.
Now in its seventh year, the Hobnobben Film Festival showcases diverse stories and voices that are typically excluded from the mainstream film industry, offering a one-of-a-kind festival that invites participants to see themselves on screen — and be seen by others. Local sponsors and community members support the festival; Hobnobben also serves as an annual fundraiser for Fort Wayne Cinema Center, a not-for-profit arts organization founded in 1976.
This year, all festival films are being shown at Fort Wayne Cinema Center, 437 E. Berry St. Cinema Center reopened its doors to the public in November 2021, following a 20-month closure during the pandemic.
