On 21ain June 2017, Pontio hosted a Q&A with Welsh producer Llion Roberts on his new critically acclaimed feature documentary Destination Unknown, a collection of powerful interviews with the last Holocaust survivors. This is the first in a season of season of Welsh films this year at Pontio, supported by our Gwnaethpwyd yng Nghymru strategy. Here, Pontio’s Cinema Co-ordinator Emyr Glyn Williams talks about the screening:
“As a programmer, it is always exciting to hear about Welsh filmmakers with a film ready for screening. Initially this was the reason to investigate Destination Unknown as the film’s producer and main creative force, Llion Roberts, is based locally.
Pretty soon it became clear that this was no ordinary film, and Llion was no ordinary film maker. You could say that Destination Unknown is a labour of love as Llion’s background is more rooted in satellite technology and equipment hire services than traditional film production. However, that would give you the wrong impression of what the finished film actually is. It took Llion 15 years to make this film and I have no hesitation in calling him a film artist on the strength of this production.
Another strong reason to screen the film was the unique ability cinema has in successfully transmitting certain stories and histories to the audience. At times, this film is overwhelmingly harrowing and something that a normal television screening could never contain. Some human stories need to be communicated communally in a shared space; in a space of togetherness and stories from the Holocaust are such stories. In fact, I would actively encourage other cinemas in Wales to book this film for this precise reason – its natural home is in the cinema.”
