Elementa in the Media
Elementa: In the Media
Elementa wins top prize at Mosaic World Film Festival
Richard Sidey’s final chapter in his Speechless trilogy, Elementa, was awarded the Spotlight Award for Best Feature Film at the 2020 Mosaic World Film Festival in Rockford, Illinois.
Festival Director Jerry Labuy described Elementa as ‘…a tremendous piece of work.’
New Zealand Native Covers us in Elementa
by Meghan Schobinger | Mosaic World Film Festival
Engulfed in sound, stimulating visuals, ethereal graphics and transitions, “Elementa” lifts its viewer to a place of exaltation. It is so tech-savy how Director Richard Sidey splits the screen with 3 moving shots, meant to provide a unique viewing experience for the audience. When he melts the picture back together as one, its soothing and satisfying to the soul. Just like nature intended.
Elementa wins Best New Zealand Feature at Doc Edge 2020!
Watch: Doc Edge Ambassador Judy Bailey awards Best NZ Feature to Elementa
The film was also awarded Best New Zealand Cinematography on a successful night for the film, just one day after the world premiere.
Comments from the Festival Jury
Regarding the Best NZ Feature award:
Part nature film, part art film, a rhythmic ebb and flow of images and sound tell a moving story about the breath-taking beauty and precarious fragility of the state of our planet. The artful blending of music with the natural soundscape and the choice to show images in triptych to balance an interplay of perspectives work to create story momentum without the use of narrative. The unexpected choice to limit the colour palette to black and white evokes an ultrasound image, showing what is skeletal and essential about the natural world. ELEMENTA stands out as a film that pushes the boundaries of the documentary form through innovative artistic and stylistic choices to create a story that leaves a lasting emotional impression.
Regarding the Best NZ Cinematography award:
Elementa is a visual experience that tells a story not through narrative, but by pure cinematographic brilliance. The portrayal of the grand splendour of nature through a black and white lens is a bold stylistic choice that exhibits the contrasts and tones of our planet in a way that could only be achieved by a combination of technical skill, artistic vision and absolute dedication to perfection. One can only imagine the challenges of filming in such remote and unforgiving locations, as well as the patience required, to capture such beautifully framed and executed shots, of some of nature’s most spectacular phenomenon. It is unfortunate that audiences have been denied the opportunity to witness such a beautiful film on the big screen.
Silent Filmmaking in the age of Lockdown
An interview with Lynn Freeman on Standing Room Only
Aired 31 May, 2020 on RNZ National
Wanaka filmmaker Richard Sidey’ is offering us the chance to reconnect with the world’s wilderness areas, in his ambitious documentary spanning seven continents and filmed over 5 years.
Elementa is the third in his trilogy called Speechless. There’s no narration, he places his trust solely on his images and on an ambient soundtrack. Richard also goes against the tide by filming in black and white.
He’s safely back home in picturesque Wanaka – and looking forward to Elementa is being shown as part of the upcoming and now on line DocEdge Film Festival.
Heart-stopping and heartbreaking.
I think it is the most beautiful film that I have ever seen.
Lynn Freeman | RNZ
Down In Edin – Magazine Feature
A conversation about ELEMENTA with Down In Edin
Film a meditation on wilderness, elements
Published 11 June, 2020 in the The News
Written by Simon Henderson
Mythology, mystery, and music combine in an imaginative feature film by Richard Sidey, of Wanaka.
Richard Sidey and Aliscia Young document nature, together
Written by Britt Mann | Published by Stuff on July 06, 2020
Read the full article online here
Doc Edge 2020: 5 films we can’t wait to see
Published May 18, 2020 by Mindfood Magazine
In a world premiere, Elementa completes Richard Sidey’s groundbreaking and decade-long Speechless trilogy.
“Rich, visceral and fully-immersive.”
Mindfood
Rich, visceral and fully-immersive, the film takes you deep into Canada’s Great Bear Rainforest where a rare and seldom-seen creature lives. ‘The ghost bear’, a black bear with white fur, has evaded people for years and according to local mythology, is a reminder of a time when the world was covered in ice.
Filmed in black and white a shot over five years on seven continents, Elementa is a visionary and artistically stunning project.
The film pulls you into the vast wilderness of the white continent and ancient rainforests, journeying to mighty oceans and erupting volcanoes.
Wānaka filmmaker to feature at first major online film festival
Published May 14, 2020 by The Wānaka Sun | Online Edition
click image to enlarge
