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Friday 9.3.2001
Jury Member Nikolai Nikitin Likes to Talk about Films
"I love films and the best thing about jury work is that you can talk about films," says Nikolai Nikitin, a member of the International Jury at the Festival."
Nikitin, the editor-in-chief of the German film magazine Schnitt, has been in the jury on many festivals. There have been times when the jury has discussed the films for five or six hours. In May he will attend the Oberhausen Film Festival; last year he was in the jury on the Hamburg Film Festival.
Nikolaj Nikitin
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Nikitin says that the Tampere Film Festival has a good reputation.
"It is a good thing to have a Grand Prix and own prizes for different kinds of films. I am happy that we are not forced to place documentary films against animation. They are hard to compare."
Interested in Films, Culture and History of Different Countries
"I like to learn more about different countries. So actually I am very happy to be in the international jury. Sometimes it is even more interesting to be in a national jury, because then you have the possibility to see what is happening in that country at that moment."
Nikitin says he is open to films from all countries. For a European it is easiest to understand the European films because the history and culture are familiar to him. On the other hand, he thinks that Asian films are both challenging and interesting.
Comedy Classics Get a Laugh
Nikitin admits he likes fiction best.
"I like fiction most, I want to laugh a lot."
His comedy favourites are Billy Wilder and Ernst Lubitsch. Steven Spielberg is also one of his favourites.
There are only a few "short film people" so Nikitin has found some good friends from the film festivals. In addition to the competition films here at Tampere, Nikitin is interested in the Finnish short films and the production of Robert Frank, David Cronenberg and Len Lye. Bunuel is also one of his all-time favourites. Nikitin is also looking forward to the lakeside sauna and outdoor winter swimming on Thursday night.
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