NIGHT VISIONS WITH OTHER EYES: KATI KOKO

When was the first time you went to Night Vision Film festival?

Spring 2011, Back to Basics, have been in every one of them ever since.

The city of Helsinki hosts many other film festivals during the year. What was the reason which drew you to a Night Vision in particular?

It was Markku actually. We had started dating the year before and he was so exited about NV that I wanted to try it out and especially when he offered to buy the tickets for me for my birthday present I couldn't refuse. I wasn't such a huge fan of horror or scifi movies at the time but I wanted to make him happy and I was kinda interested what the fuss about NV was.

Are you regularly attending any other film festival?

Sometimes some R&A movies but not regularly no.

What do you still remember from your first Night Vision Film Festival?

Because it was in Engel only I remember the event being really crowded but the atmosphere being really friendly and welcoming. I had a blast and saw many great movies, one that comes to mind in particularly was Troll Hunter which was in my opinion the best movie in that festival. The oddest was an Spanish (?) movie about two ghosts wandering around Spain somewhere I think. They spoke Russian and it was just a really strange movie, but there was a guest who was really interesting and funny. I think he had made the sound effects or something for the movie and he was a Finnish guy named Jimi Tenor if I remember right.

And from your last-until now Night Vision?

Movies that come into mind (not in any specific order) are Why don't you play in hell?, Snowpiercer, Moebius and Toxic Avenger. I loved the first one especially and Lloyd Kaufman was hilarious to listen to. Probably not my favorite festival in all time but the quality of the movies are pretty high and there's hardly any so called filler movies nowadays.

How would you describe Night Vision Film Festival's evolution and development during the years?

It has gotten bigger and bigger every year. I'm still not sure if adding Rex as a theater was a good idea, but maybe it's just the nostalgia of the first Back to Basics or what it is that I think the spring festival is missing a little nowadays. Also the quality of the movies is getting better every year. There's hardly any movies anymore I don't want to see and it's kinda hard to choose the movies to see now.

How many films, an average estimate, do you see per festival?

Too many, we always get the HC-tickets and I think it's nowadays around 20 movies per festival.

Which do you prefer Back to Basic or Maximum Halloween editions?

I used to love the Back the Basics because I absolutely love kino Engel but after adding kino Rex to the spring festival and maybe growing older and wanting more comfort I think Maximum Halloween might take my preference nowadays because Maxim has really comfortable seats and loads of leg room. ;)

What do you like most? What do you least like? What would you change if you had the power to do so?

The most I like is the whole atmosphere of the festival and of course spending quality time with my husband, nothing beats curling up next to him in a scary movie. Least must be the uncomfortable seats in Rex, my knees are killing me in there every year. I would so change the seats in Rex if I could, I need more leg room. ;)

If you were going to recommend Night Vision Film Festival to someone who has just arrived to Helsinki, what would you tell this person?

If they liked or were even a little interested about horror or scifi movies NV is the place to go. The atmosphere in the festival is so amazing. I'm easily scared of horror films but in the festival when all the others are just laughing out loud to the movies even I feel relaxed and laugh away with them. It's just the best place to see odd and interesting movies which you would probably never see otherwise.

When was the first time you went to Night Vision Film festival?