Dance film bridging cultures wins experimental film award

When Daniel Belton accidentally bumped into a South Korean folk group at a performing arts market in Seoul three years ago, he knew right away that something special would come their way.

The Dunedin director of  Good Company Arts (GCA) teamed up with Duobud musicians Sora Kim (Jang-gu percussionist) and Jihye Lim (zither player), and virtuoso New Zealand dancer Christina Guieb to create a short dance film which has just won the Best Independent Experimental Film Award at the All Asian Independent Film Festival, in Manila.

"It was one of those remarkable connections where artists from different cultures inspire each other and a creative dialogue begins," Mr Belton said.

The film, titled Voyager/Tal, represents a special union between South Korean and New Zealand companies.

"Our film travels between cultures and emotions, bridging across the geographical edges of Aotearoa New Zealand and South Korea.

"This work links land, air and water to human journeying through dance, percussion and the Korean zither."

The short abstract film incorporated some of the challenges the world is facing at the moment, like climate change, rising water levels, melting ice and the Covid-19 pandemic, he said.

"It’s a solo dance — it’s the journey of a solo woman in her search for identity and belonging to community and land."

Mr Belton was delighted with the recognition from the award, and was "super grateful" for the opportunity to showcase their work in the Philippines.

"It’s another success for Good Company Arts on the international stage, and we are very humbled by the win."