It's wonderful, at least after arriving from Cannes, where the festival is big, commercial. Here, people are kinder and much more enthusiastic about cinema. It reminds me of a Japanese festival, the first I ever took part in. I feel great in Izola and that's largely due to a special feeling of intimacy and ease kindled by the people here.
“I wish you keep the festival simple as it is – so fragile, intimate that it is precious.” This words arrived a few days ago by e-mail from Apichatpong Weerasethakul. And, as a matter of fact, they encompass all our wishes for the next year. Let it be like it was as much as it possibly can, is our unusually conservative starting point. The first Isola Cinema festival turned out well, surprisingly for us too, and now we would like to keep it such: we will not even change its date – see you then between May 25 and May 29, 2005.
Born in 1970, in Tehran, Iran. Ali-Reza Amini holds a degree in theater directing and also has experience as an actor. He made his first steps into the film industry in the early 90s. Avid for new experiences, he works on 8mm, 35mm and video. He worked as assistant director on two films by Bahman Ghobadi, Living in the Mist (1999) and Time of Drunken Horses (2000). He directed 20 short and documentary films which have been screened and won awards at international festivals.
Born in Sevilla, Spain, into a Spanish-Nicaraguan family. Mercedes Moncada spent half of her life living in both countries. Nine years ago, she moved to Mexico. She is a trained sociologist with experience in journalism and field research. She became acquainted with film production in 1996 and has since worked on several documentaries and narrative films. The Passion of Maria Elena is her directorial debut.
Born in 1952 in Chita. Studied screenwriting at the Russian State Institute of Cinematography (VGIK), and went on to postgraduate study in screenwriting and directing (1987–89). Her debut film about a village family, Hey, You Geese, came out in 1991. The countryside is the common denominator of all her projects, on which she works mainly with non-actors.
Born in 1942, Niš. Has been making films since the 1960s. After spending some time living in other countries, he returned to Yugoslavia, where he directed plays and docu-dramas. In 1993 he founded the Teresianum production company and made video and television productions for B 92, the most independent radio and television station in Belgrade.
filmography(selection):
1967 Žurnal o omladini na selu, zimi (Tednik o mladini na vasi pozimi)
Born in Kuching, Malaysia, he graduated from the Drama and Cinema Department of the Chinese Cultural University of Taiwan. In the beginning of his fruitful career he worked as a theatrical playwright/produced an TV director. In 1991 he discovered Lee Kang-Sheng, who went on to become Tsai's favourite and regular actor in almost all Tsai's films. His second film Vive l'Amour won the Golden Lion for the best picture at Venice '94.
Abderrahmane Sissako was born on 13th October, 1961 in Kiffa, Mauritania. Soon after, the Sisssako family moved to Mali, where the little Abderrahmane spent his childhood. He returned to Mauritania after he finished high-school, but set off for Moscow the next year. In the years 1983 - 1989 he studied at the Film Institute VGIK where he graduated with the film A Game (Le Jeu).
Born in 1961, Therwil, Switzerland. Graduated in 1979 and shot his first film footages with the video association Basel. In 1981/82 worked as an assistant director for the musical production of TV Globo in Brasil. Received a grant for guest study at the San Francisco Art Institute in 1983 and joined the academy for film and televison studies DFFB in Berlin a year later.
“I wish you keep the festival simple as it is – so fragile, intimate that it is precious.” This words arrived a few days ago by e-mail from Apichatpong Weerasethakul. And, as a matter of fact, they encompass all our wishes for the next year. Let it be like it was as much as it possibly can, is our unusually conservative starting point. The first Isola Cinema festival turned out well, surprisingly for us too, and now we would like to keep it such: we will not even change its date – see you then between May 25 and May 29, 2005. 
Born in 1970, in Tehran, Iran. Ali-Reza Amini holds a degree in theater directing and also has experience as an actor. He made his first steps into the film industry in the early 90s. Avid for new experiences, he works on 8mm, 35mm and video. He worked as assistant director on two films by Bahman Ghobadi, Living in the Mist (1999) and Time of Drunken Horses (2000). He directed 20 short and documentary films which have been screened and won awards at international festivals.
Born in Sevilla, Spain, into a Spanish-Nicaraguan family. Mercedes Moncada spent half of her life living in both countries. Nine years ago, she moved to Mexico. She is a trained sociologist with experience in journalism and field research. She became acquainted with film production in 1996 and has since worked on several documentaries and narrative films. 
A multi-faceted artist, painter, writer, musician, Moussa Sene Absa switches easily between writing and directing, in the theatre as well as the cinema. He made his debut as an actor, then moved to directing with the production of his own stage play, La légende de Ruba. In the cinema, he scripted Les enfants de Dieu.
Born in 1952 in Chita. Studied screenwriting at the Russian State Institute of Cinematography (VGIK), and went on to postgraduate study in screenwriting and directing (1987–89). Her debut film about a village family, Hey, You Geese, came out in 1991. The countryside is the common denominator of all her projects, on which she works mainly with non-actors.
Born in 1942, Niš. Has been making films since the 1960s. After spending some time living in other countries, he returned to Yugoslavia, where he directed plays and docu-dramas. In 1993 he founded the Teresianum production company and made video and television productions for B 92, the most independent radio and television station in Belgrade.
Born in Kuching, Malaysia, he graduated from the Drama and Cinema Department of the Chinese Cultural University of Taiwan. In the beginning of his fruitful career he worked as a theatrical playwright/produced an TV director. In 1991 he discovered Lee Kang-Sheng, who went on to become Tsai's favourite and regular actor in almost all Tsai's films. His second film Vive l'Amour won the Golden Lion for the best picture at Venice '94.
Abderrahmane Sissako was born on 13th October, 1961 in Kiffa, Mauritania. Soon after, the Sisssako family moved to Mali, where the little Abderrahmane spent his childhood. He returned to Mauritania after he finished high-school, but set off for Moscow the next year. In the years 1983 - 1989 he studied at the Film Institute VGIK where he graduated with the film A Game (Le Jeu).
Born in 1961, Therwil, Switzerland. Graduated in 1979 and shot his first film footages with the video association Basel. In 1981/82 worked as an assistant director for the musical production of TV Globo in Brasil. Received a grant for guest study at the San Francisco Art Institute in 1983 and joined the academy for film and televison studies DFFB in Berlin a year later.