Cut production is an independent artist’s initiative founded in 2000 by
Christina Hallström and Mandra Wabäck.
Christina Hallström (Nyköping 1958) studied Graphic Design and Visual Communication at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Mandra Wabäck (Stockholm 1970) studied audio-visual Design at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy and directing film and television at the Film & Television Academy, also in Amsterdam. Christina and Mandra both have a BFA in Fine Art and Education, University of Amsterdam. They both followed Documentary Scriptwriting by Paul Cohen at the Maurits Binger Film Institute 1998-1999.
“The work of Cut production focuses on independent issues, initiatives and movements. We participated in the IDFA Scriptwriting workshop led by Paul Cohen at the Maurits Binger Film Institute in Amsterdam and the Master class Film & Music by Frank Scheffer, Pavlov Media in Groningen. Our work has developed towards interdisciplinary projects involving music, dance and visual art.”
Contact:
“We want to make films and art that moves our thoughts in unpredictable directions.”
Productions
Christina Hallström & Mandra Wabäck founded the independent Artist’s Initiative Cut production in 2000 to produce the music documentary Beautiful Frenzy about the independent band The Ex. The film premiered at the IDFA – International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam in 2001. Beautiful Frenzy was nominated for the audience award at Rome Independent Film Festival in 2003. Since the premiere Beautiful Frenzy has toured around the world and have been screened at more then 50 film and music festivals in The Netherlands, Belgium, England, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Brazil, Canada, United States, Slovenia, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Ireland and Serbia. As far as we know…
The short film Öö – 5.28’ an artfilm inspired by the Estonian composer Märt-Matis Lill was shown at the Grand Theatre, RIFF Groningen 2005, Art Video Screening, Västerås, Sweden, Konstfilmfestivalen, Wågermanska Konsthallen, Skärhamn, Sweden.
The one minute film Catkin was nominated for the Viper International Award in 2006 and the One minute Award in 2003 at the Nederlands Instituut voor Mediakunst, NIMK/Time Based Arts. Further it was screened at the Impakt Festival, Centraal Museum Utrecht and the Ministery of Education, Culture and Science The Hague in 2003.
Work
Cut production is based in Amsterdam, but we regularly work in Sweden and elsewhere. We produce and advise on short films related to music, art, performance art and topics related to society in general.
As professional filmmakers and visual artists we are also involved individually in different artistic initiatives.
We organize exhibitions; work with graphic design, photography, printmaking and fine arts. We also create artists books. If you are looking for collaboration or advice in one or more of those areas, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Arti et Amicitiae
For the 175 years jubilee anniversary of the artists society Arti et Amicitiae in Amsterdam, Cut production made a short film during the fall for the opening night 3rd December 2014. Both Christina and Mandra are artists’ members of Arti.
Katja Vercouteren curated the second edition of “De Haperende Mens” in 2014; a multidisciplinary festival in cooperation with Cut production and Arti et Amicitiae.
Robodock Technology & Art Festival
Between 2004 and 2010 Cut production made interviews and camera during the annual Technology & Art Festival Robodock Amsterdam, a festival that is collectively designed by artists, architects, technology students, designers and theatre makers using recycled scrap metal and industrial waste products.
2007 TAZ – Temporary Autonomous Zone – 14’
a short film about a small anarchist campsite in The Netherlands. Screened at Domela Nieuwenhuis Museum, Heerenveen, Netherlands 2007 among others.
2005 Öö 5’28” Dv, Frank Schaeffer Masterclass, Film & Music, RIFF – Groningen. The young Estonian composer Märt-Matis Lill talks about art, life, nature and music
2004 Dvd release Beautiful Frenzy together with Moskwood Media. With no less than 90 minutes of extra material
2003 Four one-minuteclips extracted from Beautiful Frenzy:
Catkin, Recital, Gentlemen and Okinawa mon amour
2001 Beautiful Frenzy, a documentary about the independent band The Ex 52’ Dv
premiere at IDFA – International Documentary Filmfestival Amsterdam
Emerging from the underground circuit where they began in 1979, The Ex is a small but steady star in the independent music community.
The band has continually developed its musical skills, creating an ambling rhythm-dominated sound. Over the years The Ex has worked with some of the brightest lights of indie rock and avant-garde; Fugazi, Tortoise, Sonic Youth guitarists Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo, the late cellist and improviser Tom Cora, jazzdrummer Han Bennink and recording engineer / Shellac guitarist Steve Albini. The Ex has incorporated many new ideas and influences while retaining distinctively their own identity; reason enough for a documentary about the longest lasting independent band of the Netherlands.
With modest means, the Swedish directors have produced an exclusive and perceptive portrait of the band. Filmed on location over a two year period on tour in Europe and the U.S.A in squats, clubs and avant-garde jazz festivals, during rehearsals and at home with each member of the band. Interspersed with hilarious archive material and poetic sequences, the film gives a vivid and sparkling impression of this extraordinary band.
screenings Beautiful Frenzy (selection)
2023 Solothurner Filmtage, Solothurn, Zwitserland
2014 Phono Cinema, Mexico City, Mexico
2012 Centraal Museum, GSTQ, Utrecht, NL
2011 NoDoDocFest, International Documentary Film Festival, Trieste, Italy
2010 Astra Film Festival, Sibiu, Romania
2009 Dutch Punch, GogolFest, Kiev, Russia
2008 Kulturhuset Cyklopen, Stockholm, Sweden
2007 Festival Rocktambule Off, Grenoble, France
2006 Amplitude, São Paulo, Brazil
MIS – Museum of Image and Sound, São Paulo, Brazil
2005 Cinema Nova, Brussels, Belgium
Centre for Contemporary Art during RIFF Rotterdam International Film Festival
The DVDrome selection (curated by Floris van Hoof) presented at Witte de With
20 years Slachthof Wels festival, Austria
2004 The Ex 25th Anniversary Tour, France,Paleis voor de Schone Kunsten Brussels
Lost Film Festival,Philadelphia, USA
2003 Konfrontationen, Nickelsdorf, Austria
Washington Underground Film Festival, USA
Rome Independent Film Festival, Rome Italy
Noisepop, San Fransisco, USA
2002 Kulturhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
Sound and Fury, New York, USA
Fylkingen Film Festival, Stockholm, Sweden
Sound Unseen Film and Music Festival, Minnesota, USA
Cinematexas, Austin, USA
Festival Nights of little Film, Subotica, Serbia
Chicago Underground Film Festival, USA
University of Chicago, Smartmuseum of art, USA
New York Underground Film Festival, USA
Viewpoint Documenatry Film Festival, Gent, Belgium
2001 IDFA-International Documentary Filmfestival Amsterdam
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