Zagreb report, April 25 2002

Tuesday, 25 rd April

The last, and perhaps longest day of the feature conference began with full sunshine, providing a perfect walk to the house of journalists, for the final convergence of our radiocrazy group.

We were treated straight off to a beautiful journey, via virtual tram, through the landscape of croatian featuremaking over the years. Telling this rich story ("A Streetcar Named Feature") was the ever-more-impressive and energetic zagreb-feature-group, introduced by the always-impressive and energetic ljubo pauzin. Additionally, many of the producers responsible for the work that we heard joined our group for the morning, contributing to the fullness of spirit in the room.

After a short break (cigarettes and coffee but of course) we listened to the final classic (Dreaming of Fat Men, by Lorelei Harris) presented by Richard Goll, which, even in a shortened form seemed to enhance the group`s collective appetite for the lunch following...

The afternoon`s listening session presented radio from Finland, Ireland and Newfoundland. We wandered through a garden of questions and heard the story of a woman`s addiction to heroin, then ended quite appropriately with a story about the first radio transmission to cross the Atlantic - such an essential historical moment for everyone in the room.

Following more cigarettes and coffee we met in groups to discuss the afternoon`s listening session, then gathered once more for a beautiful closing ceremony with some typically-ljubo surprises. First we were serenaded by traditional Dalmatian singers, then the feast of Hvala (thank you) began -with full appreciation and gratitude expressed not only to the marvellous and dedicated planners of the conference, but to each and everyone of us in attendance. Flowers, the group photo, handmade artwork and one last glass of wine together...everyone left with their hands and minds full.

Officially over, the 2002 IFC seemed reluctant to really end. Thanks to the most patient waiter on the planet, what seemed like the entire roster ended up back at the Palace Hotel Cafe after splitting off for dinner, and celebrated in true IFC style - with wine, grapa, vodka, pivo...until the early hours of the next morning. Over the course of the evening there must have been thousands of cheeks kissed in farewell, and i`m sure the future of featuremaking made great and important strides...we will see. and hear.

until next time,
julie shapiro

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My friend once said that the easiest way to kill a chicken is to hit it with a car, or better yet a truck, but not many people have trucks or even cars so they have other people to kill chickens for them. We personaly don't like chickens and that's how our feature group started. In the begining we gathered together as a group of individuals with a strong chicken hate, on our meetings we used to listen to the radio in the background. And then we heard Mr.Braun's piece about chickens -it was a crucial moment-we broke.The powerful hate started to fade and magnificent love towards features appeared! So that's how we got here at the feature conference. This assembly educated us of various forms of features, opened a lot of windows but also posed a lot of
dilemas,the most important is the question of the frame of feature form.How can we with this powerfull tool answer to the actuality of our time or maybe going the other way towards creating new, subjective actuality.Seriously, it was a great experience and an honour to meet the people that are the legends of this world and finding out that there is a justified reason for this. This certainly gave us a boost for ideas and direction.

Regards,
Feature group "Feature ti mater"

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Of communications with people alike.
By which means, by which tools? That's why we are here!
To know ourselves better, for real and authentic communication in ths alienated world.

Michaela Helmis
RBC Romania

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Thank you for "Sniper" by Stephan Schwarz.
It was the biggest experience in this conference. this feature was like the best film, full of pictures.
I saw streets, people, war inside this story.
On the other hand "Sniper" thought me a lot of things I need for making features. I changed my opinion about silence, voice, music and drama in a feature. I want to come back to this document.
I will rememdber the athmosphere of this meeting in Zagreb. The people were very friendly, especialy famous featuremakers.
Thank you,

Hanna Bogoryja Zagrzevska Polish Radio

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As a new memeber of IFC I really enjoy this conference and have learned so much from it. Actually it is difficult to say excactly what influenced me most, but the athmosphere here affected me deeply.
I can feel it and believe this will become very a important support to my feature making in the future!
I love you all and thank you very much!

Jia Yu
CNR China

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Zagreb offered a beautiful and stimulating backdrop for this IKnternational Feature Conference.
Meeting the many veterans of the "radio feature" genre has been a unique experience. Hearing their work and delving into the craft of radio was invigorating.
Equally invigorating was meeting the next generation of "radio feature" artists - especialy the young Croatians.
We go home inspired.

Yvonne Gall and Lynda Shorten
CBC Canada

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