MIMETOLITHS, a new 60-minute documentary by Montreal multi-media artist Algis Kemezys, is in the official programs of the Cyprus International Film Festival (March 24-27, 2006), and the Asterfest in Macedonia (May 28-31, 2006), as well as the Panorama section of Ecofilms RODOS (June 20-25, 2006)and Ischia Film Festival,Italy June 14,2006. & the United Nations Enviromental Film Festival ,Europe Sept. 2006

MIMETOLITHS -- short synopsis

This film travels to beautiful/mystical Crete, to closely look at Mimetoliths (rocks and stones that imitate living beings). It embraces the Muses that have languished petrified on the sacred landscape; the Phaistos Disk; intergalactic travel; Pythagoras’ golden proportion of 1 to 1.618; missing Planets; the Labyrinth; the Minotaur.

MIMETOLITHS, a new 60-minute documentary by Montreal multi-media artist Algis Kemezys, is in the official programs of the Cyprus International Film Festival (March 24-27, 2006), and the Asterfest in Macedonia (May 28-31, 2006), as well as the Panorama section of Ecofilms RODOS (June 20-25, 2006).

Mimetoliths, which means “rocks and cliffs that imitate living beings”, is Algis Kemezys’ second feature-documentary. His first, Faces of Myth, was in the official selection of Thessaloniki Documentary Festival(2004), and the Maine International Film Festival (2004).

Mimetoliths travels to beautiful/mystical Crete, to closely look at its mythical landscape, to embellish it further with the filmmaker’s own sculpture, and to celebrate its stories. It embraces the Muses that have languished petrified on the sacred stones; the Phaistos Disk; intergalactic travel; Pythagoras’s golden proportion of 1 to 1.618; missing Planets; the Labyrinth; the Minotaur.

Mimetoliths, while still a work-in-progress, was presented at a special screening last Fall. Elie Castiel, writing for Sequences (#240, Nov.-Dec. 2005; page 37) had this to say (translated from the original French):
“... Mimetoliths stands as a unique and extraordinary film, rich and nuanced. It is instructive, even essential, for an acquaintance and a comprehension of the endless mysteries of nature.”


Algis Kemezys plans to accompany his film to the festivals. He can be contacted in Montreal, and is available for interviews:
Please call (514) 583-5831, or write to alkeme2008@yahoo.com for an appointment.

MIMETOLITHS -- synopsis

This film travels to beautiful/mystical Crete, to closely look at Mimetoliths (rocks and stones that imitate living beings). It embraces the Muses that have languished petrified on the sacred landscape; the Phaistos Disk; intergalactic travel; Pythagoras’ golden proportion of 1 to 1.618; missing Planets; the Labyrinth; the Minotaur.
The rocks and stones of certain sacred places are alive with stories to tell. I have believed this since childhood, when my mother would send me on stone-hunts, to keep me busy; and later when as an adult I travelled the world continuously on a spiritual quest, looking for my muse.
I found some of what I was looking for on Crete, the largest of the Greek islands, and travelled back there repeatedly for the last four years. I scoured the landscape for meaningful mimetoliths, because of the legends and mysteries of the island. I built stone monuments to reflect nature and to please the gods. I encountered others who felt the same passions as myself and interviewed them. I tried to penetrate the ancient secrets within the rocks as I filmed them and spoke to them and became one with them.
Then, under the hypnotic spell of all that I had seen and all that I had captured on tape, I imagined mythological truths emerging from these images. I edited the footage myself at home, in true indie fashion, hoping that the language of cinema would add its own impressions and dimensions, and let me share the stories with the audience.

Algis Kemezys
dir. Mimetoliths

MIMETOLITHS
(from the original in French, published in SEQUENCES #240, Nov-Dec 2005)

What are mimetoliths? In plain terms, they are rocks and stones which closely resemble human beings. Faces, expressions and gestures, even entire bodies. These natural objects exist everywhere. One could also claim that they have magical powers with which to conjure occurrences and even evil intentions.
Professional photographer Algis Kemezys decided to dedicate his first medium-length documentary to these exceptional natural phenomena. To satisfy the requirements of his quest, he travelled to the island of Crete in Greece, where the most spectacular mimetoliths can be found. Astonishingly human-like mouths, ears, noses, throats, and entire bodies inhabit these natural rock formations.
Kemezys’ camera captures the pulse of a landscape that appears unchanged for millennia. He meets experts on the matter (essayists, professors, historians) who propose theories that shed light on the fascinating mysteries of planet Earth. Equal time is given to the uninitiated, for whom these curious rocks are metaphors for their lives, and also the essential elements of Crete, a place which forged the foundations of Western civilisation. Ancient beliefs seem to blend in with modern thinking, prompting a better understanding of our environment.
The commentary, by Byron Ayanoglu, serious, intelligent, and informative, addresses the various concerns and preconceptions that abound on this subject.
A documentary, in turns ecological and educational, Mimetoliths could have doubtless pushed its enquiry further. As well, the screen-presence of the filmmaker/photographer dilutes the proposition somewhat, especially in the too-brief sequences, like the accident, and the flute-playing, which don’t seem to add anything tangible to the film’s thesis.
Nevertheless, Mimetoliths stands as a unique and extraordinary film, rich and nuanced. It is instructive, even essential, for an acquaintance and a comprehension of the endless mysteries of nature.
A special screening of Mimetoliths on November 14 was received enthusiastically.

Elie Castiel



--Canada (Quebec) 2005, 58 minutes.
Dir.: Algis Kemezys; Screenplay: Algis Kemezys; Prod.: Byron Ayanoglu; Contact: Byron Ayanoglu

directed, filmed, and edited by
ALGIS KEMEZYS

produced by
BYRON AYANOGLU

original music by
Guthrie Lowe

vocals on
"Stones of the Earth"
Denise Elia

astronomical artist
DAVID A. HARDY
FBIS, FIAAA

additional music by
PSARANDONIS
XILOURIS


associate producers
ANDRIANNA KAPODISTRIA
KOSTAS ROUMEL
CYNTHIA KEMEZYS
KEVIN KEMEZYZ

narration by
BYRON AYANOGLU

sound recording
MARIA MANECAS


starring
(in order of appearance):
MANOLIS TSIGONAKIS
YORGO MOLIVOS
MANOLIS CHAIRETIS
LOTTI MEHLS
GUNHILD LANGOSCH
SAMANTHA DOUNDOULAKIS
PSARANDONIS
MANOLIS FYLLADITAKIS
BJORN HEITMANN
EFTIHIS MARAKAKIS
MONICA
MARGARETA YANNIDAKIS
KAY HEITMANN
ZERAR
KOSTAS KITRAKIS
PAPA MIHALIS
NATASHA MORAITIS
DAMASKINI FYLLADITAKIS
TIMOLEON FRAGAKIS
ANNETTE JENNIFER JONES
DIMITRI FILIPPIDIS




and our special thanks to:
LEONARDODILORENZO
CKDG FM 105.1, Montreal
TOM RACK
DANIAILE JARRY
GEORGE MIHALKA
ABBEY NEIDIK
IRENE ANGELICO
LIZ EDWARDS
AMNON MEDAD
STELIO KOUKOUTSAKI
ALIKI KOUKOUTSAKI
CHANIA MUSEUM
YORGOS KONSTA
CHANIOTIKA NEA
CHANIOTIKI ELEFTHEROTYPIA
STIGMES MAGAZINE
CRYSTALLIA VASILYADOU
PETER STARR
ALEXANDRE THIBODEAU
LYSANNE THIBODEAU
JUAN RODRIGUEZ
JON KALINA
MELIKAH ABDELMOUMEN
WWW.ASTROART.ORG

***Jean Biscornet*** mon professor extraordinaire.


and
ALL THE KIND PEOPLE OF CRETE


Filmed on Crete, 2003-2004-2005


c Algis Kemezys 2006

alkeme2008@yahoo.com