THE ORNITHOLOGIST / O ORNITÓLOGO
A feature film by João Pedro Rodrigues
FIC / Portugal / 2016 / 118’ / 35 mm – colour
SYNOPSIS
Fernando, a solitary ornithologist, is looking for black storks, a species under threat, along a remote river in northern Portugal, when he is swept away by the rapids. Rescued by a couple of Chinese pilgrims on the road to Santiago de Compostela, he plunges into an eerie and dark forest, trying to get back on his track. But gradually, as he encounters unexpected and uncanny obstacles and people who put him to the test, Fernando is impelled to extreme actions which transform him. Little by little, he becomes a different man, inspired, multi-faceted and finally, totally enlightened.
CREDITS
Director: João Pedro Rodrigues
Producer: João Figueiras, Blackmaria, Produção Audiovisual
Coproducers: Antoine Barraud, Gustavo Angel Olaya, Vicente Wang
Coproduction: Blackmaria Produção Audiovisual (Portugal) / Ítaca Produções (Brazil) / House on Fire (France) / Films Boutique (Germany).
Script: João Pedro Rodrigues
Cinematography: Rui Poças
Editing: Raphael Lefèvre
Sound: Nuno Carvalho
Cast: Paul Hamy, João Pedro Rodrigues, Chan Suan, Juliane Elting, Xelo Cagiao
Financed by: RTP (Portuguese Television), CNC – France and Ancine – Agência Nacional do Cinema (Brazil)
Distribution and Sales Nitrato Films
AWARDS
Leopard for the Best Direction – Locarno Film Festival 2016
Krzysztof Kieślowski Award for Best Picture (Special Mention from the Jury) – Denver Film Festival 2016
Grand Prix & Public Award – Festival Chéries-Chéris 2016
Award CinEuphoria – Best Script, Best Movie Poster, Best Actor (public choice)
Critic Award – Black Movie Festival 2017
Peter Brunett Award for Best Director – RiverRun Film Festival 2017
Golden Tulip – Istanbul International Film Festival 2017
FILM FESTIVALS
Official Selection – San Sebastián Festival 2016
World Cinema (Official Selection) – Busan International Film Festival 2016
Journey (Official Selection) – BFI London Film Festival 2016
Wavelenghts (Official Selection) – Toronto International Film Festival 2016
The Film Stage – New York International Film Festival 2016
Untamed (Official Selection) – CPH Pix Copenhagen 2016
Contemporary World Cinema (Official Selection) – Vancouver International Film Festival 2016
World Focus (Official Selection) – Tokyo International Film Festival 2016
Panorama do Cinema Mundial (Official Selection) – Festival do Rio 2016
Official Selection – Festival International du Film de La Roche-Sur-Yon 2016
Seven Chances (Official Selection) – Festival Internacional de Cinema Fantastic de Catalunya – Sitges 2016
Les Incontournables! (Official Selection) – Festival du Nouveau Cinéma Montréal 2016
Gala (Official Selection) – 23rd Ficvaldivia 2016
Official Selection – Filmfest Hamburg 2016
Official Selection – Film Fest Gent 2016
Screen International (Official Selection) – Quezon City International Film Festival 2016
Official Selection – Viennale (Vienna International Film Festival) 2016
24th Festival Mix Brasil
World Cinema (Official Selection) – AFI FEST 2016
Mezi Patra (Official Selection) – Das FilmFest 2016
Official Selection – Pink Screens 15th Brussels Queer Film Festival
Forum Selection – PÖFF 20 Black Night Film Festival Talinn 2016
International Feature Film Selection – 17th Mezipatra Queer Film Festival 2016
Cinema of the World – 47th International Film Festival of Goa 2016
Forum of European Cinema – 17th Tbilisi International Film Festival 2016
Natura Selvaggia – Filmmaker Festival 2016
International Highlights – Heimspiel Film Festvial 2016
Official Selection – 34th Torino Film Festival 2016
Vindow on the World (Official Selection) – Glasgow Film Festival
Voices (Official Selection) – International Film Festival of Rotterdam 2017
Focus: Gods and People (Official Selection) – Göteborg Film Festival 2017
World Cinema Now (Official Selection) – Palm Springs International Film Society 2017
Competencia Internacional (Official Selection) – FICUNAM 2017
Global Panorma (Official Selection) – Portland International Film Festival 2017
