Longinotto and Ayisi's "Sisters In Law" To Open IDFA 2005

A scene from Kim Longinotto & Florence Ayisi's "Sisters In Law" which will open the 18th International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA). Image provided by the festival.

Kim Longinotto and Florence Ayisi's "Sisters In Law" will open the 18th International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA), organizers announced Wednesday. This year's event will run from November 24th - December 4th in the Dutch city. Also on tap for '05 is a retrospective look at the work of the French filmmaker and photographer Raymond Depardon.

Longinotto and Ayisi's "Sisters In Law," in the words of an IDFA announcement, "follows the work of the female public prosecutor and judge in a small town in Cameroon." The film looks at four cases involving domestic violence and the changing role of women in the traditional society. The film won the Prix Art et Essai in Cannes this year. Longinotto's previous films include "The Day I Will Never Forget" from 2002 and "Divorce Iranian Style" from 1998.

On the second day of IDFA, November 25th, the Filmmuseum Cinerama in Amsterdam will open a retrospective look at the work of Raymond Depardon dubbed Raymond Depardon: Filmer/Fotograaf. Included will be the premiere of "Profils Paysans: Le Quotidien." The film is a follow-up to his 2000 film, "Profils Paysans: l'Approche."

In the film, Depardon returns to film farmers in Central France. The film is described as "a sober, meticulous portrait of a dying profession, which for Depardon represents the essence of French culture." Among his other films include "Délits Flagrants" (1994), "Profils Paysans: l'Approche" (2000) and "La 10e Chambre" (2004).