Thessaloniki

ARTO HALONEN
On Wednesday, March 12, at the Olympion's Green Room, a press conference was by Arto Halonen, the Finnish director and Guest of Honor of the 10th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival - Images of the 21st Century. The artist was welcomed by the Artistic Director of the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, Dimitri Eipides, who referred to him as one of the most important European documentary makers working today.

Arto Halonen, mainly distinguished as a documentary maker, has also written and directed fiction and animated films. Answering a question as to what made him interested in the documentary, A. Halonen said that he considers it: "the freest, most creative, least restrictive genre for a director", and added: "Because of my earlier involvement with fiction and animation, I see the documentary genre as more open. However, when I use fictional elements in my documentaries, I do it in a way that doesn't get away from the truth, I do it to highlight the truth and get closer to it".

He then spoke about the way he chooses his subjects, noting that he considers the element of chance very important ("to be at the right place at the right time") and that when he makes a film he uses passion and intuition as his "guides". "I don't plan my subjects. They entice me, and I chase them".

Halonen stressed that his main objective is artistic creation, something that isn't always easy, while he noted that although he mainly deals with the cultures of other countries in his films, his next work will be about Finland, and its subject will be a singer whose music and lyrics have deeply affected him: "It will be a story for all of us, who don't realize that we are often the carriers of messages to others, leaving our own impression on society".

When asked about the change in his narrative style from film to film, Arto Halonen said that it is a challenge for him to do things in different ways: "It is very interesting to experiment with techniques in documentaries. I personally prefer variety, it helps me keep going and keeps me more active". Regarding whether the documentary can function as a "weapon" against the wrongs of today's society, the Finnish director maintained that something like that is not easy, but it isn't impossible: "Through the documentary, we have the ability to move people, to sensitize them, and to spur them to action. In any case, this has been my motivation."