How to win at the International Film Festival in New York

The Sky Fashion’s music video, “Melancholic Park”, won an award for Best Cinematography at the 2014 International Film Festival Manhattan (IFFM). The short film was directed by Kai Waker and Natalia Maslova. A few months after this win, I had an interview with Luis Pedron, the producer/director of the festival, about the winner, their song, the filmmakers, and why a Russian music band stood out of the crowd.



How to win at the International Film Festival in New York

When you love something

When you love something you’ll definitely make it a part of your life. Travelling is my passion and I guess you know it. Now I want to introduce a new project I’m involved in — it’s a project for kids to learn more about the UK. We will be travelling around the coast for about an year, filming, taking photographs, writing loads of interesting stories and sharing with  you. 

Read on my main blog elfimova.com

Melancholic Park by The sky fashion

When your dreams come true…

Browsing pages of friends and their friends on FB I’ve read a short post about the guys who won International Film Festival Manhattan 2014 in New York. Just 5 days before the New Year I discovered a song called Melancholic Park and the story behind it.. I can’t stop listening to the song! Not only the words, voice and quality of the music made my heart beat faster, but the whole world changed in a few minutes. These examples give so much hope and belief, that no obstacles exist anymore. I thank them for the work they have done and art they create. I wish to all you lots of luck…When your heart involved into production — you will win, you already did Melancholic Park by The sky fashion

Learn more about the UK - New online project for Kids

Hey there! 

I'm sure that when you love something you'll definitely make it a part of your life. Travelling is my passion and I guess you know it. 

Now I want to introduce a new project I'm involved into - OWLBUT's World of Learning - it's a project for kids to learn more about the UK. 

How? We’ll be going on a fun year-long journey around Great Britain and share it all with you, our dear friends. We're starting in February in Kent and will travel along the whole coast.

Why is it so great? We will find out about the history and geography along the way, explore lots of places and upload videos, pictures and stuff for you to read.

Parents and schools are very welcome to join the kids and follow the project. Let’s stay in touch!

We will be travelling around the coast for about an year, film, take photographs, write loads of interesting stories and share with those who follow us online. 

Please check our FB Page https://www.facebook.com/www.owlbut.co.uk and the website http://www.owlbut.co.uk/

Одиночество в большом городе

Дорога домой

На мне будет пальто, темное, с высоким воротом

Немного грусти в глазах — ты сразу меня узнаешь.

Я с нетерпением буду ждать нового года,

он всегда приносит с собой перемены.

И буду ждать тебя.

Мы сразу друг друга узнаем, 

у тебя часы на запястье,

их ход давно уж замер. 

У меня родинка слева на шее, 

буду щуриться, если солнце.

Буду кривляться, если захочешь сфотографировать.

Обещай не притворяться, не лгать и…обнять меня. 

Во всем этом есть утомительное, но ценное.

Ценой этому наше счастье с тобой. 

Пусть пух стелется на летние тропы,

пусть весной обязательно включат горячую воду. 

Пусть проводник сделает чай в стакане,

черный с лимоном. Стакан задребезжит, состав на ходу. 

Пылью поезда пропитаются руки.

Прибытие будет на севере. 

Назначение предусмотрено,

прописано в памятной книге. 

Пальто будет касаться сугробов.

Нас с тобой взглядом окинут 

как приезжих не из этих районов. 

К тому времени у кого-то вырастут дети, 

на тебя будут смотреть как на чужого дядю. 

Я разыщу все, что было нечестным,

распущу всех, кто был нечестен. 

Я прощу тех, кто не станет гласно известным. 

Пусть мне отпустят то, что невыносимо тяжелым 

грузом тащится тенью.

17/11/14

Одиночество в большом городе

Из Лондона в Кардифф

Раннее утро, еще нет восьми. Пустые вагоны метро, ускоренный ход. Я приехала на станцию Паддингтон заранее. Поезд отходит через пятьдесят минут. Нежный вкус горячего шоколада, прикосновение губ к теплой поверхности чашки…Расплываюсь в улыбке. Заказываю завтрак, зовущийся «континентальным» в некоторых странах.

Люблю наблюдать за людьми: такие разные, сплошные деятели искусства, вылитые художники. На одной — огромный желтый шарф, на второй — шапка не весть какая с ушами, у третьего походка от бедра, кто-то с газетой, другой фотографирует себя на телефон. 

Из Лондона в Кардифф

Learn about yourself: Alfred Adler

By reading Foreword in the book, I understood that his theory (and practice) was very much alike some others well-known Docs and at the same time unique. He was the one who coined the phrase «life style» which we use daily and it means a lot for us, we relate to it. Another thing he addresses a lot of adult’s issues to one’s childhood saying that the base of personality is built by the age of 5. However, everyone has a chance, power and right to change it. It’s very sympathetic to me and I’m sure it’s right because I went through certain situations and picked up certain things , which I apply to something else in the future and present, which gives a hint there is a chance and possibility to change yourself.



Learn about yourself: Alfred Adler

Из дневниковых записей одной рыжей девушки

Дни, окрашенные в меланхоличные краски, учат гораздо большему. Как минимум — хвататься ежесекундно за то прекрасное, что приходит после; вырабатывать навык исследования мысли и делать умозаключения. Будто нервные окончания становятся чувствительнее, чутче слух к внутреннему голосу. И, пора признать, мне это даже нравится. Общество и окружение внушает, что так неправильно, что только счастье-радость-улыбки есть единственно верный способ существования. Позитив побеждает, в чем есть, конечно, смысл…Но…Если смотреть правде в глаза, кто находится в постоянно гармонично-хорошем расположении духа? Йоги индийские, шизофреники? Дети? О, мысль! Ведь правда…Ребенок есть чистота, он пребывает в хорошем настроении, азарте к жизни, в любви к природе/себе/окружающим — то, значит, это и есть база, есть правда.



Из дневниковых записей

Мне нравится варить кофе

Мне нравится варить кофе

Праздник к нам приходит

Первые числа ноября. Запахло зимой. На улицах появляются первые украшения, в магазинах начали продавать большие разноцветные коробки конфет. Рождественские скидки — на подарки. Открылись два катка (как минимум два) возле Natural History museum и Somerset house. По кружкам разливают глинтвейн. Все чаще хочется укутываться в плед.


Праздник к нам приходит

With love from India

Hey guys) Today I just feel like writing in English. Difficult to say why) I've just finished to sign the postcards, sending them in a few hours and hope they'd reach the destination in a month or so. I'm staying in Vashisht, India. Here are many tourists from the USA and Russia, the weather is great, its raining from time to time...The place is so peaceful that I couldn't imagine I'd feel like I'm feeling now...Relaxed, concentrated and balanced. I'm also impressed by modern condition mixed with traditions and pure love in this remote village. Everyone is smiling, enjoying the vibes, people around and etc. There is a wonderful waterfall nearby, just a walking distance away from the spot of guest houses. In Vashisht is nearly everything is so affordable that I'd love to stay here for a few month...I'll think it over in a while)

Days here are calm and long, stuffed with thoughts and emotions...It's amazing feeling when u're walking through the village in the early morning and everyone is saying 'namaste'. They're talking to each other, laughing, cooking great meals and sell the goods made by their wives or families. They'd pack it in a paper bag, natural eco bag. In every single sight u'll see kindness and peace. Never before did I met something like that. That's why many people urge to travel to India...It's an unique land, wise and different. Don't want to generalise, of course many weird stuff happening in India, but mostly everything depends on ur attitude towards it and those souls u're bringing to the land. Be calm, peaceful and love and u'll get it as a turn-back.

The world of color: New Delhi. 2nd day

India. First day in New Delhi. Quotes of the day.

Be free where you are

As long as we are unable ro forgive, we remain attached to the person who hurt us.

Suffering is optional. Suffering is caused by our emotional reaction to our pain.

Actions: small acts can make a big difference.

Awake: are you sleepwalking through ur life?

Awareness: recognising bags of gold in our lives.

Seeing: seeing the potential, not the problem.

Thoughts: don't believe everything you think.

(c) from the book found in the Turtle cafe, New Delhi.

Free your mind and your ass will follow. Trip starts here.

Free your mind and your ass will follow. Trip starts here.

Cheers John, it works.

I’m flying to Delhi in a few hours. Now having a cup of tea in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. I was dreaming of this trip for 2-3 years or so. Well I just finished uni on 15^th, passed the last exam and presented my thesis. The long-term project has been finished, cool. Time to go, time to discover, time to challenge myself with the face-to-face reality. A different one.

It all started from books, movies, stories from my friends who’ve been to India before, yoga and philosophy in general. I’m practicing yoga for about three years and decided to go to the origins. Well…I know about floods, heating and so on. Yep, its not the best season and blah, but I’m a kind of sure it will be fine.

The flight to Uzbekistan was fun, I was totally off - sleeping, woke up to eat quite meaty stuff (left it there actually). The huge aircraft, the light landing, applauds and happy screaming at the end of the flight. Airport in here is not what I expected…Ups…I supposed to learn how not to have expectations. I was working on them for a bit. A couple of years since Tara yoga school in London, when was my first trial lesson and after which Elvis said – u’d learn a lot about expectations in this school. And I did.. It helps to avoid disappointments, to be open to everything new and expand ur mind. It seems like it works.

“Your beliefs become your thoughts,
Your thoughts become your words,
Your words become your actions,
Your actions become your habits,
Your habits become your values,
Your values become your destiny.”

― Mahatma Gandhi

rain

 There are some eye-contacts on the tube, rarely. There are many people looking at their screens and so do I. There is raining 6th day outside leaving me for myself. There is something you can not express with words. There is time to choose, again and taking place now and here. Not on the tube. Fortune, Russian roulette - get it or leave it. Countable hours, uncountable minutes. Time of waiting and time of changing. New patterns, new thoughts and new meaning. New ideas and movements and new understanding of being. there is something more then rain outside. there is something like rain inside, refreshing and cleaning.

Daylight music at Union chapel

"You can not find peace by avoiding life"(c)

I've just watched The Hours by Stephen David Daldry. The story about Virginia Woolf. Felt every little moment of the movie. Its long I haven't seen something similar to this...ou maybe Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus impressed me like that. I have people around who find this kind of movies not even weird, but a theme to joke on. People who probably, from my point of view, dont want to think of life. And of death. Yep, I agree, there is should be something to switch off ur mind and do not think of problems and blabla. but its my choice and my environment, my little world where movies play particular role. 

The phase that stuck on my head came here exactly on time when I needed it:

"You can not find peace by avoiding life".

Yes, great, and the choice is only thing we have...

Hampton court palace and gardens, London

Fairy from Luiz Sena

Fairy from Luiz Sena on Vimeo.