We have prepared another interview for you with Petra, Kina Brasil's Project Manager. What does her job entail, how does she manage her role at the festival as a mother of three, and what are the challenges of working at the festival? She answered this and much more.
[Barbora] You are the Project Manager of Kino Brasil. What does the job of a project manager entail, what do you enjoy about the role and what do you not really need?
[Petra] As the project manager of the Kino Brasil festival, I see my role as doing everything to ensure that the festival takes place - and not only that it is on time, but also that it is of the quality that we set for ourselves, i.e. the best possible. The main goal is simple: to make it fun for both us organizers and our viewers. That's why I make sure we have a big enough team, everyone knows what to do and we all meet deadlines. And most importantly, given that we all do this voluntarily, I try to maintain a pleasant atmosphere in the team and create a motivating environment.
[Barbora] How does it look like in practice?
[Petra] We start each year by meeting as a team and discussing the past year. What did we enjoy? What worked? What would we like to repeat? And what do we not want to experience again? Then we divide up the tasks based on what everyone enjoys and what each of us feels like doing this year - it can be different every year, which is great! Based on that, we then create a plan and I am in charge of making sure we stick to it. I organize regular online meetings, delegate tasks, sometimes nudge the team a little to keep things moving, and when needed, I jump in and help where things are burning. And what do I enjoy most about it? Definitely working with others. I am constantly learning new things from each member of the team, and I consider that a great honor, which then advances me not only professionally, but also personally. What sometimes gets on my nerves? When, despite all our efforts, we hit a snag and don't have time to adequately communicate about the festival with the public. That's the part that could go better - but at least it's still something to work on!
[Barbora] Does a good project manager have to have any prerequisites or qualities?
[Petra] Sometimes I feel that being the project manager of a film festival where the entire team is made up of volunteers is like trying to conduct an orchestra where no one has a music sheet and everyone has brought their own instrument. Sounds like a challenge. But with the right people, it can be a symphony!
And what prerequisites or qualities do I find important for this?
1. Organization is number one A film festival is a big event full of moving parts – from securing films and performers, through logistics to arranging partners. So being organized is absolutely essential. Without it, your festival will fall apart before it even starts. This is not to say that I can handle the organization like a glove. Sometimes I would grade myself for a 3 out of 5, but I try.
2. Motivational coach in action Everyone who works at the festival is not in this team for the money. They are here because they love Brazil, the films, the festival atmosphere, and I dare say they love the very team we are working on. As a project manager, I feel like it's my job to keep them excited. I try to inspire them, guide them and most importantly support them when things start to fall apart.
3. Mastery in improvisation Things will go wrong - that's the unwritten rule of every event. So it's important not to collapse and get out with your flexibility and improvisation skills! When one of us or the cast gets sick or maybe the film doesn't arrive on time, being able to quickly and creatively find a solution will save you. In this I have to say that it is great to work with the Brazilian community. I get the impression that this is a Brazilian superpower in general.
4. Delegate or you'll drown One person can't do it all - and that's okay. The key here is to be able to divide the work as a team. Each of us has a talent, and if you use it properly, the festival will run like clockwork. I personally do not suffer from the feeling that I will do everything the best way possible. So I'm not afraid to delegate.
5. Communication Queen Talk, negotiate and sometimes even do a little magic with words. You need to convince sponsors, partners and make sure everyone knows what to do. Communication skills are the alpha and omega of everything. I'm probably not quite the communication queen, but at least I know that communication is the key to success.
6. Effective resource management Money isn't everything, but you can't organize a festival without it. And when you have a limited amount of it, you have to be a real wizard in managing it. Every crown, every volunteer and every minute counts.
7. Passion for a cause And finally, you have to love Brazil and the movies. Why else would you do it? This enthusiasm is also transferred to the team and the entire event. And believe me, if the festival is not done with love, everyone will notice it.
[Barbora] You also do administration, you are our team's wildlife animals tamer and a psychologist, when the going gets tough, you can calm down any situation. Is that your nature, or did you have to learn it to make the team work as it should?
[Petra] You made me laugh with that "Wildlife Tamer"! So I feel more at home every day... Well, yeah, it's probably true that when the going gets tough, I don't collapse right away - unless it's really necessary. I guess it's just in my nature. I always try to keep calm and keep the team together, because when we're all on the same page, everything goes better. My goal is to lead the team as well as possible and to make sure everyone feels comfortable in their roles. I want everyone to not be afraid to enter any discussion, to have a chance to learn something new, and also to be able to objectively evaluate when she or he is sufficient for something on their own and when to ask for help. That's the only way we have a chance to grow and move on - and at the same time to stay loyal to the project, because when everyone feels good, there's a better chance that they'll be happy and stay here for a long time. So if I had to learn this? Rather, it kind of came out of practice.
[Barbora] You were at the birth of the festival. Over the past few years, you've become a mother of three. You're working and you're making a festival. How are you doing it?
[Petra] I consider everyone who works with me at the festival to be my good friends and the festival to be my passion. When you approach it in this way, then it’s much more enjoyable to find time to work on the festival in the limited free time you have. I have been working at the festival for 11 years, i.e. since its birth. Always with the same fervor, but not always with the same intensity. The first year I couldn't even attend because of work in Angola. Although I participated in the festival the other years, I planned it myself from London, where I worked for 2 years. I have been living in the Czech Republic for the last 5 years and I manage the festival most of the time with one to three children on my lap. It can be managed mainly thanks to the support of Vráti, my husband, and to the fact that I know that I can rely on the team in everything, I can delegate and therefore really focus on my role.
[Barbora] It can be seen that the festival is really close to your heart. You don't just give your precious time to the festival. What do you enjoy about Kino Brasil even after so many years? Why do you do it?
[Petra] It probably won't come as a surprise if I repeat here that I enjoy the festival mainly because I work on it with such great people as Zuzka, Gabi, Bára, Romča, Irča, Tomáš and recently Adilson and Carol, who joined us this year. I also enjoy working at the festival because I am constantly learning something new (or even old). This year alone, I learned how it is possible to draw benefits from the fact that we organize the festival as a non-profit organization. Thanks to this, we can use all the advantages of online tools such as Slack, Google for Nonprofit, Canva, etc. I have also been very enriched by working with the Holkami z Marketingu (Marketing Girls), who helped us this year by including us among their academy clients. And with Adilson and Carol joining us this year, it has forced me to brush up on my Portuguese. And last but not least, I'm still learning how to lead an international team that works almost 100% remotely, something that suits my job as well. And, of course, I enjoy the festival itself, which is the culmination of our year-long work. It's great to watch the audience come to the cinema and then their satisfied faces when they leave. And it's great to meet the whole community around the festival - Brazilians living in the Czech Republic, film enthusiasts, our friends.
[Barbora] Making a festival is a risk. Although we learn to raise more funds every year, there are situations when we don't know until the last moment whether we will end up in the red. Sometimes you even paid extra from your own. Isn't it frustrating, so much work and you're still paying for it?
[Petra] Well, that's the saddest part of the festival preparations. I admit this is a bit frustrating. After all, the festival costs something and unfortunately it costs more money every year. Film rights, cinema rental and promotion have to be paid every year. In addition, we would very much like to adequately reward our collaborators - subtitlers, translators, performers who participate in accompanying events. I know many of them are happy to work for the festival, but you have to remember that they are professionals who make a living from translation or dance and music, so I think it's not fair to ask them for services in exchange for a nice smile and eternal fame.
Plus, it's a bit of a lottery bet every year. Income from tickets makes up a large part of our budget, and unfortunately we often don't know until the last minute how many viewers will come to the movies. From this point of view, it would be best for us if people buy tickets much more in advance. That way, we would at least have an idea of what the attendance looks like, and whether there is still a need to respond flexibly to the situation in the last weeks and days before the festival. So if I can ask our supporters for anything, don't be afraid to buy your tickets in advance! In addition, this year we decided to sell advance tickets at a discount! So I think it's a win-win ;)
[Barbora] Many viewers think that we rent Bio Oko for the entire four days of the festival and that we do not know how to use the space appropriately. So how is it?
[Petra] This is really interesting. It never occurred to me that people could actually think that. Well, that's how it is when a person perceives something as a matter of fact and then finds out that it is not the same for others at all. So to set the record straight: we do not rent the cinema for the entire 4 days of the festival. We only rent the cinema hall for a few screening times. It's because it wouldn't be worth it for us. The cost of each film screening consists of the price of the film rights and the rental of the hall. And we always have to weigh carefully at which times we can release which films, so that it pays at least in the end result.
[Barbora] This year the festival will last 3 weeks, we have more accompanying events than films. Is it still a film festival or are we turning into a festival of Brazilian culture?
[Petra] That's a great question! And the answer is: yes and no. Kino Brasil is still primarily a film festival, that has not changed. Films are and will be a major part of our program, our DNA, because it is through film that Brazil presents itself in all its beauty and depth. But, at the same time, we want the festival to be about meeting people. So that they can not only sit down in the cinema, but also talk to each other, share experiences and maybe even discover something new. And that's why we try to bring other events to people. We want visitors to be able to taste Brazil with all their senses. We have Brazilian food tastings, coffee tastings, dance and music workshops - because this is also part of Brazil, and we want to bring it as close as possible. In addition, we are sincerely pleased to cooperate with the Prague cultural scene and the local Brazilian community. Our accompanying program is based on this cooperation and enriches our festival enormously.
[Barbora] What film and accompanying event are you most looking forward to this year? What would you recommend to the audience?
[Petra] Hey, if I could, I'd go to all the movies and all the accompanying events, but unfortunately I can't do that at home. So I will try to negotiate a pass for a couple of films, at least one concert, one workshop, a lecture and a closing party.
Among my movie favorites are:
Portrait of a certain Orient (Retrato de Um Certo Oriente) by Marcelo Gomes, whose films are our proven festival regulars. It is this film that shows the great cultural diversity of Brazil and at the same time sensitively discusses the complexity of interpersonal relationships, all the more complicated when it comes to love between people from different religious groups. We will even show this film twice this year. It can be seen either during the official opening of the film festival on Thursday 31/10 at Bio Oko or on Saturday 2/11, with a subsequent debate on Brazilian cinema.
Pureza, a film based on a true event showing the story of a mother who goes on a search for her lost son. Strong topic for me! You can look forward to this film on Friday 1/11.
Betânia is my Sunday (3/11) favorite. In this film, I am looking forward to images from the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park area, where there are beautiful sand dunes, water bodies and mangroves, and footage from the so-called Bumba Meu Boi, Brazilian folklore that combines elements of dance, music, theater and religious ceremonies. In addition, since the film touches on the topic of drought, we are going to hold a debate on this very topic after the film.
As for the accompanying events, I'm looking forward to:
Concerto de Vinícius Cantuária (26.10, Palác Akropolis),
Drumming workshop (27.10, Music Club Jižák),
Samba lesson (25.10, Fitness Club Energym Holešovice)
Talk with Veronika Lálová (22.10, at Bio Oko),
and a film with a subsequent discussion with Mnislav Zelený-Atapana (26.10, at Bio Oko).
So I hope to see you there ;)
Check out the festival program here.
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