The International Film Festival / Short Tapiales is a film event of important social and cultural impact nonprofit, organized by JC Films OFCT, held in the village of Tapiales, a town belonging to the party of La Matanza, located in the Buenos Aires province. Tapiales Film / Short is also a competitive contest where the selected short films that later received the prize Aborigine according to the ruling of the honorable members of the jury are projected. The event is held under the premise of extolling the popular, free and outdoors, summoning an amount of 3,000 spectators per issue over three days.
Interview with Festival Director Julio Rodríguez Caloggero
Matthew Toffolo: What is your Film Festival succeeding at doing for filmmakers?
JRC: The Tapiales International Film Festival is one of the most important short-film festivals in Argentina. It is known for having the Plaza de Tapiales among its venues for projecting the competing films. This way, you are able to reach to the common people. It brings filmmakers and their movies closer to a warmer audience, different to the one you may find in other festivals —they are not the kind of audience who has the habit of attending film festivals.
MT: What would you expect to experience if you attend the festival this year (2016)?
JRC: This year, the festival will be having a lot of local production again. We will also maintain our high standards, both for the official competition and the parallel projections. This year’s edition wil introduce the Latin American Competition as well.
MT: What are the qualifications for the selected films?
JRC: There is no restriction to the theme of the films, but the runtime is limited to 20 minutes or less.
MT: Do you think that some films really don’t get a fair shake from film festivals? And if so, why?
JRC: Many horror or fantasy films (in our case, short films), for example, can’t find room outside festivals for those specific genres. We care for stories in a more general sense —from social films to sci-fi.
MT: What motivates you and your team to do this festival?
JRC: It’s a social project where we all contribute to the community with what we know. A film festival is an important thing. It shows our cultural development and makes our town a cinmatographic point of reference.
MT: How has the festival changed since its inception?
JRC: For thirteen years, the festival has been growing, expanding to other places. We’ve participated in itinerant projections, both in Argentina and abroad. More venues were added and the number of films on display has increased. We also established (together with the local government) a cinematographic workshop. Our festival is the main screen for local productions to reach the public.
MT: Where do you see the festival by 2020?
JRC: I believe it will continue with its history with and through its people —neighbours and all those who love films.
MT: What film have you seen the most times in your life?
JRC: Pulp Fiction.
MT: In one sentence, what makes a great film?
JRC: Simplicity and honesty.
MT: How is the film scene in your city?
JRC: We are working hard for it, filming and producing as well. Every year we have new productions that are also being displayed in other festivals.
Interviewer Matthew Toffolo is currently the CEO of the WILDsound FEEDBACK Film & Writing Festival. The festival that showcases 10-20 screenplay and story readings performed by professional actors every month. And the FEEDBACK Monthly Fesival held in downtown Toronto on the last Thursday of every single month. Go tohttp://www.wildsound.ca for more information and to submit your work to the festival.
Festival Reviews 