Just closing Day 3 at IDFA, where U.S doc productions are currently in the majority in IDFA’s current Audience Top Ten (at least as of tonight). Erratic as such polling can be, its still my favourite award at any festival. IDFA posts running updates on the polling each day. Its like eavesdropping on a jury discussion.
Conversations here have been mainly about films in the programme, and those to be ready around the corner. When the conversation isn’t about films and film related stuff it has been about getting sick and trying not to get sick at film festivals. Also, there have been accidentally outer voice observations that doing laundry while in a lovely European city is a small price to pay for an incapacity to adjust to European underwear. Outside of an eye infection in Prague (unrelated to travel) and a close-call on several fractures at Sheffield’s roller-skating party, I’ve remained healthy and within the margins of thirty-seven celsius (which, Fate, i note with all due respect).
Over the past four weeks, I’ve heard of one case of H1N1 among people I know, but not at a festival. The person stayed home. Many fell with fevers following Sheffield, and the first few days in Copenhagen were shakey for some. Meanwhile, more than actual sick people are film festival survivors trying not to be sick. Everybody is being careful, and the Dutch have cut back from the triple kiss greeting to the double (rimshot). And if distilled into a single capsule our motley preventative regimes would surely hold the miracle of life.
My own approach relies on what I’m beginning to realize is an irrational belief in oil of oregano. Its a belief founded solely on the enthusiasm of the ex-owner of my local natural foods store, and a google search. My oil of oregano base is rounded off with ginseng tea (daily), Emergen-C (brought a 12-pack), Vitamin D (daily), Valerian Root (daily), throat spray (often), vigamox (when required), Melatonin (daily) aspirin/ibuprofren (more than in normal life), and various hand disinfectants.
I predict hand solvents will be the film festival tchotchkes of choice in 2010.