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Show C-2 The Park Record Wed/Thurs/Fri, January 17-19, 2018 Sundance Festival documentary is full of dichotomies Filmmakers says ‘Genesis 2.0’ is an adventure film SCOTT IWASAKI The Park Record “At the end of my film school career, it is amazing to me to be in the world-famous film festival...” Maxim Arbrugaev, co-director of “Genesis 2.0” in the melting glaciers in the New Siberian Islands. These hunters sell the tusks for their livelihoods, and sometimes they come across preserved mammoth carcasses complete with blood, muscle tissue and fur. These findings are important to Russian and South Korean geneticists who would research the animal’s cells with the idea of using the DNA to possibly clone a mammoth. The seeds of “Genesis 2.0” sproutedin two separate scenarios, said Frei. “Every four years I have an epiphany in my life to start a new project, and with this case, I was reading a book ‘Regenesis’ by George M. Church, who is one of the big shots of geneticists, Frei said.”While I was reading the book, I came across amazing photographs by Evgenia Arbugaeva, who is a great young photographer.” Evgenia, who is Maxim Arbugaev’s sister, did work on mammoth tusk hunters in the New Siberian Islands for National Geographic. “Seeing the incredible world of the mammoth tusk hunters, and realizing in the book ‘Regenesis’ Church dedicated an entire chapter to the resurrection of the wooly mammoth, was so connected that I knew this would be my next film,” Frei said. The crux of the story lies with Maxim Arbugaev, who was with his sister on the National Geographic assignment. Maxim spells his last name without the final A. “Evgenia asked me to go with her to be her assistant,” Arbugaev said. “While I helped her change batteries on her shooting camera, I was in charge of a second camera, and I began filming videos for fun.” Arbugaev, who just finished his career as a hockey player, wasn’t a filmmaker at the time. “I was just making terabytes of video,” he said. “I had no idea about the basics of filmmaking – the interviews, the drama, the composition.” After the trip to the islands, Arbugaev applied to film school at the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography in Moscow. “One of the first assignments was to make a film, and since I had plenty of footage from the mammoth hunters, I did it and then released it as a short film, called ‘The Hunters,’ in 2014,” he said. “I sent the film to the Visions du Réel film festival here in Switzerland, and that’s where I met Christian.” Frei watched “The Hunters” and knew he would work with Arbugaev on “Genesis 2.0.” “He was part of this culture, having been born 350 kilometers from the New Siberian Islands,” Frei said. “He knows nature. He knows the Arctic, and I knew this would be a collaboration.” Arbugaev reached out to the island family again, and Frei reached out to the geneticists. “I was never on the islands,” Frei said. “Max spent the entire season with this family at the North Pole, which was very dangerous. It was harsh weather. There were polar bears.” Frei spent his time in the labs. “The difficult task was to combine the mammoth hunt- COURTESY OF SUNDANCE INSTITUTE | PHOTO BY EVGENIA ARBUGAEVA “Genesis 2.0” by Christian Frei and Maxim Arbugaev, an official selection of the World Cinema Documentary Competition at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, documents mammoth tusk hunters from the New Siberian Islands, above, and geneticists who study the fossils. COURTESY OF SUNDANCE INSTITUTE | PHOTO BY MIGUEL BUENO Maxim Arbugaev, co-director of “Genesis 2.0”, will celebrate his first time at the Sundnace Film Festival this year. Welcome Sundance Adolph’s Famous Specialties Full Service Bar with Bar Menu Opens at 4pm michelle janelle DEER CREEK TITLE & INSURANCE Michelle Huggins Confidence to close! 435.659.4407 dmichellehuggins@hotmail.com Christian Frei, who asked Maxim Arbugaeva to work with him on “Genesis 2.0,”will return for the third time to the Sundance Film ers and the labs in a way that it the cells work together,” Frei Festival. wouldn’t be boring,” Frei said. said. “On the other direction, it “I worked with my cinematog- tells about the human relationFrei looks forward to his rerapher Peter Indergand, and we ships with nature.” turn to Sundance. helped each other find ways to There are a lot of taboos in “Even though it’s the third make this a strong film.” the Yakut culture regarding na- time for me to be at Sundance, ooh ture, la laFrei 3.5”said. x 5”, b&w ad “Raise Arbugaev is so grateful for it’sEyebrows” always exciting,” he said. the opportunity to make the “They don’t touch too deep- “Sundance is considered one of film with Frei. ly into the earth, and they the most important festivals for “My goal and mission after don’t touch the tusks,” he said. the kind of film we’re doing, 2012 was to make a big film “These islands were also blind and you can never expect to be about mammoth hunters, and spot on the maps for a long chosen for Sundance because I was waiting for the opportu- time, so not a lot of people it’s all so competitive.” nity,” Arbugaev said. “Then I know about them.” Maxim Arbugaev on the othfound Christian to be the one to The filmmakers took a year er hand, is ready for his Sunhelp me.” to edit the documentary. dance debut. While the film does docu“Maxim was involved and “I’m finishing up my film ment mammoth hunters, it’s not our editor Thomas Bachmann school, so at the end of my film just about them. was also involved,” Frei said. school career, it is amazing to “In one direction it goes into “We had to find the story and me to be in the world-famous the future with DNA and how shape it.” film festival,” he said. “I could It’s the Place the Locals Choose lizy COURTESY OF SUNDANCE INSTITUTE | PHOTO BY CHRISTIAN FREI FILM PRODUCTIONS GMBH. Classic Steak Tartar Smoked Salmon Shrimp Cocktail Escargots de Bourgogne Shrimpcargo Swiss Style Raclette Ahi Tuna Sashimi Salmon, Mango & Avocado Salad Steak Sandwich “Best in Town” European & American Cuisine Dinner Served Starting at 5:30pm Open Daily • 435.649.7177 • 1500 Kearns Blvd. Love. Truth. Hair. “Genesis 2.0,” one of the world documentary competition entries for the 2018 Sundance Film Festival is full of dichotomies. It’s a documentary, but also an adventure story. It looks at the past in prehistoric times and looks toward the future of genetics. It takes place mostly in two different areas – the wild New Siberian Islands in the Arctic and the sterile China National GeneBank, operated by the Beijing Genomics Institute. Adding to the two-part theme, “Genesis 2.0,” which will make its Sundance Film Festival debut at 8:45 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 20, at the Park Avenue Theatre in Park City. The film was shot by two different filmmakers, three-time Sundance alumni Christian Frei and newcomer Maxim Arbugaev. The documentary is about the Yakut mammoth hunters who search for mammoth tusks never imagine that.” “Genesis 2.0” will screen as part of the Sundance Film Festival’s World Documentary program. • Saturday, Jan. 20, at 8:45 p.m. Park Avenue Theatre • Sunday, Jan. 21, at 3 p.m. at Redstone • Wednesday, Jan. 24, at 3 p.m. at Broadway 6 in Salt Lake City • Thursday, Jan. 25, at 9 p.m. at Park Avenue Theatre • Friday, Jan. 26, at 3:15 p.m. at the Holiday 2, in Park City. For information, visit www. sundance.org/festivals. Raise brows. Turn heads. Microblading is today’s most sought-after eyebrow enhancement. It also comes to Park City exclusively via Ooh La La. For permanent makeup providing natural-looking definition, filling gaps, even offering the appearance of restoring eyebrows with crisp, natural hair, give us a call. And turn a head. (435) 655-2680 1811 Sidewinder Dr. Park City, UT 84060 www.oohlalahairparkcity.com |