04-26-2020, 08:49 AM
Name: Quiauhticue: Rise of an Empire (2020)
Category: Best New IDU Film
Synopsis: Quiauhticue: Rise of an Empire is a sweeping period film set in the Unification Wars era of Xiomeran history, from 1376 to 1387. The storyline is a "historical re-imagining" of the Unification Wars era, one of the most pivotal eras in Xiomeran history, and its most controversial to this day.
The film covers the rise of Quiauhticue, the first Emperor of Xiomera. Beginning at his emergence as the tlatoani of the small city-state of Tlālacuetztla, the film details how Quiauhticue used a combination of negotiation, manipulation, alliances and outright conquest to unite the entire island of Huenya under the control of the Obsidian Throne. On the surface, the film seems like many other period pieces made in Xiomeran cinema about the early history of the Empire. However, the film dives much more deeply into the character of Quiauhticue, and the choices he made on his path to create the Xiomeran Empire, than any before it. The film explores controversial topics such as how Quiauhticue took advantage of a deadly plague to further his conquests and the ruthless and often violent manner of his new Empire's expansion. The film also provides a deep look into how Quiauhticue used an alliance with the Shen to further speed his conquests, a fact that had often been downplayed in Xiomeran history. Most importantly, the film also explores how Quiauhticue's conquests gave birth to a notion of "Xiomeran supremacy" that led to the repression of the other native tribes of Huenya, a problem that exists to this day. The film pulls no punches with its portrayal of the early days of the Empire, depicting the institutions and system that arose after the end of Quiauhticue's conquest in an often unflattering light.
Through exploration and open portrayal of topics and ideas frequently considered forbidden, or at least anti-Xiomeran, the film encouraged everyone seeing it to question the preferred version of Xiomeran history, in which Quiauhticue was a benign national father figure who helped Xiomera unify and advance. The pivotal ending scene of the film, in which Quiauhticue dies and encounters the gods and goddesses of the Xiomeran faith, makes the point with finality. Expecting to be greeted in triumph for his accomplishments, Quiauhticue is stunned when the gods and goddesses, one by one, turn their backs on him. When he asks them why, Quetzalcoatl, the creator deity of the Xiomeran faith, condemns him for the bloodshed, violence and repression that typified his reign, and then casts him down into the underworld.
The film was noteworthy for the fact that, despite being highly criticized by Xiomeran traditionalists, the general public embraced the film, making it one of the most successful and high-grossing movies in Xiomeran history.
Cast:
Emperor Quiauhticue - Chimiztlicoatl
Malinchuatli - Totinali
Shen General Cao Quin - Rì Chū
Moquahtli - Popitzcoyo
Chuacuautli - Xocheli
Quetzalcoatl - Anihuin
Languages: Various dialects of Huenyan; English; Shen
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Name: Those Who Are Called (2020)
Category: Best Documentary/Non-Fiction Film
Synopsis: This documentary covers Xiomeran participation in the Bjeorg Conflict, focusing on the stories of individual mercenaries who participated on behalf of the Xiomeran government in support of Bjeorg rebels. The film depicts the varying motivations of the Xiomerans who took up arms for Bjeorg - money, ambition, a desire to fight, belief in the rebels' cause. The film provides never-before-seen footage of Xiomeran mercenaries in combat, their struggles and their losses, and their triumphs. The film also provides an unvarnished look at war in the trenches, seen from the standpoint of those actually fighting it.
The film also explores the lives of the mercenaries who survived the conflict after they returned home, diving deeply into their thoughts and memories of combat. Some prove regretful of their actions, others proud of their service, and still others find they can't fight the memories of war as easily as they fought the actual conflict. The film further explores the lives of their family members and friends, and how they are affected by the demons their loved ones brought back with them.
Interspersed within these scenes are more never-before-seen snapshots of the motivations of the high-ranking Xiomeran leaders, including then-Emperor Xolōtl and others, who sent those mercenaries into battle. Desires for greater international influence, eagerness to test Xiomeran battle readiness and technology of war, and the age-old lure of money intertwine in the once-secret deliberations of those leaders. The film also delves into how Emperor Xolōtl's ideology of using Xiomeran wealth and technology to help struggling nations, born from the Bjeorg Conflict, would heavily influence future Xiomeran foreign relations and strategic planning, leading to future developments such as Xiomera's alliance with Kerlile.
The documentary also provides a twist in its explanation of the rise of the Xiomeran Army general who led the planning for the operation - a previously unregarded general named Topilpopoca, whose success in the Bjeorg operation would help lead him to the Obsidian Throne.
Those Who Are Called combines the stories of the foot soldiers who fight wars, and the men behind the scenes who plan them and start them, in a blunt and unrestrained depiction of the insanity of conflict - and what the ramifications are for the people involved once the guns fall silent.
Languages: Various Huenyan dialects; English
Production Details: The film combines previously recorded footage from 1991 onward with interviews conducted in 2020. No presenter appears on screen. Instead, minimal narration and captions are used to guide the film along, letting the voices of the people involved drive the action.
Category: Best New IDU Film
Synopsis: Quiauhticue: Rise of an Empire is a sweeping period film set in the Unification Wars era of Xiomeran history, from 1376 to 1387. The storyline is a "historical re-imagining" of the Unification Wars era, one of the most pivotal eras in Xiomeran history, and its most controversial to this day.
The film covers the rise of Quiauhticue, the first Emperor of Xiomera. Beginning at his emergence as the tlatoani of the small city-state of Tlālacuetztla, the film details how Quiauhticue used a combination of negotiation, manipulation, alliances and outright conquest to unite the entire island of Huenya under the control of the Obsidian Throne. On the surface, the film seems like many other period pieces made in Xiomeran cinema about the early history of the Empire. However, the film dives much more deeply into the character of Quiauhticue, and the choices he made on his path to create the Xiomeran Empire, than any before it. The film explores controversial topics such as how Quiauhticue took advantage of a deadly plague to further his conquests and the ruthless and often violent manner of his new Empire's expansion. The film also provides a deep look into how Quiauhticue used an alliance with the Shen to further speed his conquests, a fact that had often been downplayed in Xiomeran history. Most importantly, the film also explores how Quiauhticue's conquests gave birth to a notion of "Xiomeran supremacy" that led to the repression of the other native tribes of Huenya, a problem that exists to this day. The film pulls no punches with its portrayal of the early days of the Empire, depicting the institutions and system that arose after the end of Quiauhticue's conquest in an often unflattering light.
Through exploration and open portrayal of topics and ideas frequently considered forbidden, or at least anti-Xiomeran, the film encouraged everyone seeing it to question the preferred version of Xiomeran history, in which Quiauhticue was a benign national father figure who helped Xiomera unify and advance. The pivotal ending scene of the film, in which Quiauhticue dies and encounters the gods and goddesses of the Xiomeran faith, makes the point with finality. Expecting to be greeted in triumph for his accomplishments, Quiauhticue is stunned when the gods and goddesses, one by one, turn their backs on him. When he asks them why, Quetzalcoatl, the creator deity of the Xiomeran faith, condemns him for the bloodshed, violence and repression that typified his reign, and then casts him down into the underworld.
The film was noteworthy for the fact that, despite being highly criticized by Xiomeran traditionalists, the general public embraced the film, making it one of the most successful and high-grossing movies in Xiomeran history.
Cast:
Emperor Quiauhticue - Chimiztlicoatl
Malinchuatli - Totinali
Shen General Cao Quin - Rì Chū
Moquahtli - Popitzcoyo
Chuacuautli - Xocheli
Quetzalcoatl - Anihuin
Languages: Various dialects of Huenyan; English; Shen
---
Name: Those Who Are Called (2020)
Category: Best Documentary/Non-Fiction Film
Synopsis: This documentary covers Xiomeran participation in the Bjeorg Conflict, focusing on the stories of individual mercenaries who participated on behalf of the Xiomeran government in support of Bjeorg rebels. The film depicts the varying motivations of the Xiomerans who took up arms for Bjeorg - money, ambition, a desire to fight, belief in the rebels' cause. The film provides never-before-seen footage of Xiomeran mercenaries in combat, their struggles and their losses, and their triumphs. The film also provides an unvarnished look at war in the trenches, seen from the standpoint of those actually fighting it.
The film also explores the lives of the mercenaries who survived the conflict after they returned home, diving deeply into their thoughts and memories of combat. Some prove regretful of their actions, others proud of their service, and still others find they can't fight the memories of war as easily as they fought the actual conflict. The film further explores the lives of their family members and friends, and how they are affected by the demons their loved ones brought back with them.
Interspersed within these scenes are more never-before-seen snapshots of the motivations of the high-ranking Xiomeran leaders, including then-Emperor Xolōtl and others, who sent those mercenaries into battle. Desires for greater international influence, eagerness to test Xiomeran battle readiness and technology of war, and the age-old lure of money intertwine in the once-secret deliberations of those leaders. The film also delves into how Emperor Xolōtl's ideology of using Xiomeran wealth and technology to help struggling nations, born from the Bjeorg Conflict, would heavily influence future Xiomeran foreign relations and strategic planning, leading to future developments such as Xiomera's alliance with Kerlile.
The documentary also provides a twist in its explanation of the rise of the Xiomeran Army general who led the planning for the operation - a previously unregarded general named Topilpopoca, whose success in the Bjeorg operation would help lead him to the Obsidian Throne.
Those Who Are Called combines the stories of the foot soldiers who fight wars, and the men behind the scenes who plan them and start them, in a blunt and unrestrained depiction of the insanity of conflict - and what the ramifications are for the people involved once the guns fall silent.
Languages: Various Huenyan dialects; English
Production Details: The film combines previously recorded footage from 1991 onward with interviews conducted in 2020. No presenter appears on screen. Instead, minimal narration and captions are used to guide the film along, letting the voices of the people involved drive the action.
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