Panamanian Pavillion
THE PANAMANIAN PAVILION
By Yubo Fernández
Walking around the Marche Du Film, the international pavilions all over the Cannes Riviera, I stop at Panama's and I'm greeted by nice; enthusiastic people. I met Director Jorge Ameer, he told me about his movie "Oasis" been presented at the film festival, which later I watched. "Oasis" is about a two men with different social extracts and their friendship. One of them lives a life of appearances, when his friend finds out, he offers him a very mysterious deal. The film director lives in LA, with magnificent cinematography present Panama as a real Oasis, somewhere where all of us wish to go when life doesn't seems like such an oasis. After Cannes, film director, Ameer received the news that his film is going to represent Panama in the Foreign Movie category in the 2018 Academy Awards.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Jorge Ameer began his film professional career while in his late teens. At the age of 18, he was selected to participate in the Walt Disney College Program. He worked in the marketing departments of New Line Cinema, Paramount and Columbia Pictures. In motion picture development, Jorge worked as a story analyst for Richard Gere's film production company and Wendy Finerman's film productions at Tri-Star Pictures in the early nineties and the now defunct Fries Entertainment. In October 1997, he founded and Executive directed The Continental Film Festival, better known as the first American Independent film festival overseas on an island, was held on the island of Contadora off the gulf of Panama. Jorge Ameer has two films having their world premieres in two different programs at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, his authored feature Medusa (aka The resurrection of Medusa) which he directs and acts as as Kao the witch doctor is schedule to have its Cannes premiere as part of the Marche Du Film. Also, Find Pauletta, a ghost story selected as part of the Short Film Corner. Jorge Ameer stars as Douglas in Find Pauletta, a horror ghost story about a new smart phone app that enables camera phones to see ghosts.
CULT CRITIC: How do you describe yourself as a director?
Yubo Fernández: I describe myself as a very eclectic film director that likes to push boundaries of what's considered normal. And since normal is so relative, it give me ample space to create ideas and situation that would make the film audience ponder their believes or the way they look at the world. I believe cinema is a tool that can be used to open peoples minds and hearts or at least have them consider the possibilities. Life is so full of mysteries and we get to tap into a fraction of it through our existence, cinema has a way of transporting the moviegoer to other undiscovered places and uncharted waters.
CULT CRITIC: Your experience in Cannes 2017?
Yubo Fernández: To me there is no other film festival at the magnitude of importance as the Cannes Film Festival. It is the mothership of it all, the beginning and the end. This film festival you can present your work to very avid and enthusiastic cinephiles waiting to consume your work. That's why I like Cannes so much. It also the epitome of what Hollywood is, a state of mind, the glamour, a majestic experience... Cannes offers it all. The surroundings of Cannes combined with the movie viewing experience makes this film festival an offer hard to resist. Its the only film festival where I take much pride and joy premiering my films. Of course the next level for me would be to be in the Official Competition. I am a firm believe it just a matter of time and the right film/fit for the film festival's taste. And then there's the parties & events and are very grand in scope and elicit the kind of attention from he press that drives careers in the right direction. The parties at Cannes are just as important as a film business meeting you may have during the day for networking is a key aspect of the experience.
CULT CRITIC: Who's your favorite director?
Yubo Fernández: as corny as this sounds and even though I'm far different from my taste in film now, when i was growing up i would have to say Randal Kleiser, Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard and George Lucas. For my favorite films of all times is Randal Kleiser's Summer Lovers (1982), Grease, Blue Lagoon as are Steve Spielberg's and George Lucas "Indiana Jones" films from the 80's, Ron Howard's "Splash" starring Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah and George Lucas 3 Star Wars films from the 70's & 80's. My current favorite film directors are Gaspar Noé, Lars Von Trier and Yorgos Lanthimos for I thrive in controversial subject matters as they do and I really enjoy their work. Their work has an edge to it and a very defining personal touch and is very personal and singular in vision.
CULT CRITIC: Your message to young, emerging talent?
Yubo Fernández: Don't wait for anyone to give you permission to express yourself and make your art. Be singular in vision. Do not replicate other peoples ideas, express your own and realize it in a way that is personal and unique to you. That way if your talent is superlative, it will be noticed on its own. Also, perseverance is the name of the game. Rome wasn't build in a day and neither will your film career. Making films is an evolution. The more you make, the better you understand the medium. My journey has been rough because I did not have the resources originally to do what I wanted to do. But now, I'm better understanding my potential and I'm constantly working at perfecting my craft as an film artist. There is no excuse nowadays not to make your film. The technology is readily available in different formats for those who seek to use it. I've seen great films shot on cell phones. So the problems that I faced back then when 35mm seemed to be a very confined club for a certain few is no more. The focus now should be on always telling a very unique and engaging story, no matter what the style. I also try to never do the same thing twice. I do not ever want anyone to compare my works and see similarities because they are all different. They may have similar themes, but they are different in subject matter, style and essence of message. Film is a continuous set of experiences and always enjoy the journey for the end result is final and there isn't much you can do once the film is out. It is however beautiful to see as your film is taking shape. It is like creating a person, and when it goes out into the world, it will create its own legacy. That's the beauty of this art form.
