Short documentary film about the war in Gaza to premiere at IDFA
PICNIC – In Light Invisible to the Human Eye, by Jan Ijäs, is shot on infrared film on the border between Israel and Gaza in 2025.
International Documentary Film Festival IDFA has announced its Short Film Competition titles, among which is PICNIC – In the Light Invisible to the Human Eye. The 26-minute film is directed, written, produced and edited by Jan Ijäs.
The film follows the Gaza War as seen from Israel, on popular picnic spots that include Israel’s war memorials from previous military operations. There, families come to spend time together and watch the war. Voiceover texts have been collected from the websites of the filming locations, as well as TripAdvisor and Google, where visitors shared their experiences of the areas during the war period.
During filming, the Israeli army launched a ground offensive into Gaza on September 16. The attack took place at the same time that the UN Independent Commission of Inquiry concluded that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza.
The film was shot entirely on 16mm and 35mm infrared film by Ijäs and Ville Piippo. Music is by Timo Kaukolampi and sound design Svante Colérus.
Other Finns in the IDFA programme
The Swedish short documentary film The Bus of Broken Hearts is a minority co-production supported by the Finnish Film Foundation.
The Bus of Broken Hearts
The humorous film takes place during the world’s largest long distance skiing competition Vasaloppet. Many of the thousands of skiers have to drop out of the race and ride the humiliating “Brytbus” on their way to Mora. The film is about failure, resilience and what happens when your dream doesn’t become reality.
The film directed by Björn Carlberg and Johan Palmgren is co-produced by Oona Saari for Illume. The sound design is by Jorma Kaulanen in co-operation with the editor of the film.
The 3 Rooms of Melancholia (2004), a classic documentary film directed by Pirjo Honkasalo, is screening for the sixth time at IDFA. The film looks at the lives of children in the midst on the war in Chechnya. This year it screens in the Top 10 section selected by the Guest of Honor Tatiana Huezo.