Would you stay a night in a hotel if you knew it meant reliving your most disturbing memories? While most of us would most likely keep on browsing, this is exactly what the protagonist in WHITE ORCHID HOTEL is searching for. After the passing of her mother, Jane is haunted by painful moments of their troubled relationship and arrives at the hotel in order to finally make them disappear forever. This intriguing concept came about when writer and director Zhannat Alshanova pondered where we hide unwanted memories and how hotel rooms can stay so neutral after all the stories they've witnessed.
While using a mostly LFS crew for her short black and white film, including Kateryna Zabulonska as producer, Emir Togrul as Director of Photography, John Giordano as Camera Operator and Christopher Manning as Editor, current LFS student Alshanova was also keen to utilise the artwork of the famous illustrator Assol Sas from her home country of Kazakhstan during the shoot.
WHITE ORCHID HOTEL will be screened at the 24th edition of the International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography CAMERIMAGE on 15th November as part of the Student Etudes Competition. First held in 1997, the Student Etudes Competition supports the development of novice filmmakers and provides unique opportunities to confront cinematic achievements of students from various parts of the world. This selection builds upon the earlier appearance of WHITE ORCHID HOTEL at the Cannes Short Corner this year.
The International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography CAMERIMAGE is the most recognised festival dedicated to the art of cinematography and its creators - cinematographers. The unconventional format of the festival, which awards films according to their visual, aesthetic and technical values, has turned out to be an alternative for traditional film festivals.
Written by Ben Corbett
Photo Credit: Emir Togrul