2016 AIFF interviews with the filmmakers
Upcycling designers are not making the large-scale impact that they would like; but in Out of Fashion you learn that staying the course is worth the long-term struggle to actualize a humane shift in the fashion industry. Directors Jaak Kilmi and Lennart Laberenz’s go behind the scenes of the “global fast” fashion system and reveal how the upcycling niche market is the solution for those stuck in the materialism cult of buying and ditching new clothes every season. In this documentary, we follow fashion designer Ret Aus and other upcycling designers who opine that maintaining people and planet sensibilities is not something that’s in one season and out the next — it’s a lifelong mantra.
The U.S. Premiere of Out of Fashion at the 19 Annual Arpa International Film Festival (AIFF) will take place on November 4 at 9:00pm at the Egyptian Theatre. The documentary has received a 2016 AIFF Best Documentary Category nomination. As a part of a series of interviews with nominees, Kilmi answered the following questions on behalf of the director duo.
Why did you choose to make your film?
Director Jaak Kilmi
To tell the truth: I was chosen by my friend Reet Aus to shoot the process of her brand’s possible breakthrough. In 2010, I followed her to her fashion shows, not knowing how long filmmaking will the process would take.
I met my co director Lennart in Berlin in 2010. He was Reet’s friend. Known as a good multimedia artist and cinematographer. Lennart had worked in many places around the world, speaks multiple languages, and has a great sense of humor. These were the criteria for a promising collaboration. So it started as a project of friends making a film about a friend.
Name a moment during shooting that made you proud.
Bangladesh. It was a pure coincidence that we bought the pair of Zara jeans in Tallinn that were produced by the Beximco company in Bangladesh. Later we met the big boss of the company in his office, and Reet convinced him that we could collaborate in this process and that we could shoot it. That was a matter of luck, I guess.
Was there an “Aha moment” while making your film?
Yes, there were many moments when I started to see in a new light the corporate logic behind global production and marketing. It made and still makes me understand that the change is not easy to achieve.
Was there a bizarre moment that happened while making your film?
The collapse of Rana Plaza factory building in Bangladesh, where 1134 people got killed in April 2013. The building was located on our way from Dhaka (the capital of Bangladesh) to Beximco factory. I think this tragedy opened many eyes in the world to how the things were and still are mostly produced in Bangladesh.
What is your favorite scene?
The crisis meeting of the production officials in Beximco during the production meeting of the song festival t-shirts. And then the scene where Reet delivers the t-shirts to this small town folk dance group in Estonia. Both scenes are brilliantly shot by my co-director and cameraman Lennart.
What is your favorite line?
Cheap, cheap, cheap, fast, fast, fast, now, now, now!
What does it mean to have your film selected as a category nominee by the Arpa International Film Festival?
I’m always happy for the film to be seen by many new people and this time at Arpa Film Festival!
Out of Fashion (2015) | 58 min. | Documentary | Estonia
Be sure to check out the trailer and get tickets today!
Written by Sharon Swainson
Communications & Development Director
2016 Arpa International Film Festival