richfilm and Freunde der Deutschen Kinemathek presented:
Chicago Film Scene(s)
Presentation of Chicago Film and Video Artists
by Klaus W. Eisenlohr
Kino Arsenal/ Friends of German Kinemathek (May 2 and 3, 2003)
Potsdamer Strasse 2 (Sony Center)
10785 Berlin
©St. Barber, "flower, the boy, the librarian"
Program 1 (Fr. May 2)
Stephanie Barber; shipfilm; 3:00; 1999
Rebecca Reynolds; Palindrome; 11:00; 2001
Daniéle Wilmouth; Tracing a Vein; 15:00; 2001
Thomas Comerford; ILLA CAMERA OSCVRA; 12:00; 2001
Kim Collmer; Mercury Moon; 9:30, 2002 (video)
Kim Collmer; Stars of the Lid; 4:30; 2001 (video)
Stephanie Barber; letters, notes; 3:00; 2000
Stephanie Barber; flower, the boy, the librarian; 3:00; 1997
Program 2 (Sa. May 3)
Bill Brown; Roswell ; 20:00; 1994
Thomas Comerford; Départ ; 6:00; 2000
Jennifer Reeder; Johnny Take a Dive; 14:00; 1999 (video)
James Fotopoulos; Consumed 1-5 ; 21:00; 2001
Stephanie Barber; a little present (to my friend columbus the explorer)
© Rebecca Reynolds, "Palindrome"
Chicago is one of the most vibrant places in the field of experimental film. Here, film and video makers with different concepts meet and ideas are being exchanged without being divided in different "schools" or scenes. A number of institutions and active groups in the city stand behind these activities, they attract artists, facilitate discussion and, last but not least, they create an audience. To begin with, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago attracts young film and video artists by offering teaching positions and a MFA program. The Department of Film, Video and New Media goes back to two different traditions: The former Film Department, which is rooted in the American Avant-garde of the 60's and 70's, and the Video Department, having its tradition in video collectives, independent television and media performances.
Furthermore, and as important, the Chicago Filmmakers and the Chicago Underground Film Festival (CUFF) are making an impact. The Chicago Filmmakers goes back to the widespread founding of film Co-ops in 70's. They are very active with shows, workshops and renting studios and two festivals, the Onion City and Reeling, the lesbian and gay international film festival. The CUFF began in 1993 as a wild and independent forum for films against any mainstream, including the established "independent cinema". They have expanded their activities to year-round film shows in addition to the festival and a film production grant.
Beside these institutions, a great number of ventures are taking place in the city, such as the private Cinema Borealis, Discount Cinema, Women in Director's Chair, the Asian-American Showcase, and a number of microcinema events, some existing only temporarily. Along with those activities, Facets and the Video Data Bank provide an important base as distributors of both new unconventional and historical work.
The films in this program show a variety of influences and styles, which cross and mix in the most refreshing way. Traditional experimental methods, such as multiple exposure, optical printing, pinhole camera, treatment of the emulsion, or low-fi video camera are being used to express private, poetic and political content. Borderlines between documentary, narrative and experimental styles are being left behind. Form is neither used as a mere effect, nor does it speak only for itself. Here, form is always being used as a language to tell something and, of course, to draw the audience in.
The Berlin Filmmaker Klaus W. Eisenlohr has programmed two shows of Chicago Filmmakers to give a subjective view on the experimental film scene in Chicago. He returned recently from the US where he was living and working for an expanded period of time.
Arsenal: (May 2 & 3, 2003)
http://www.fdk-berlin.de/arsenal/mai03kal2.html
this programs will be presented in similar form at:
Dresdner Schmalfilmtage: (May 30 & 31, 2003)
http://www.schmalfilmtage.de/
© James Fotopoulos "Consumed"
© Rebecca Reynolds, "Palindrome"
© James Fotopoulos "Consumed"