Editor

22nd Kassel Documentary Film and Video Festival
Number of submissions reaches record level

Now in its 22nd year, the Kassel Documentary Film and Video Festival is proud to announce a new record for the number of submissions: More than 2200 documentary and artistic experimental films, videos, and installations were submitted for pre-selection. This is an increase of more than 20 percent compared to the previous year. The entries were sent from 46 countries. The percentage of German works is 42 percent; 76 percent of the entries are from Europe.

The constant increase in submissions is mirrored by an increasingly extensive programme. The Gloria Cinema will complement the screenings in the Filmladen and BALi cinemas. During the festival a total of 41 long and 192 short films from 31 different countries will be shown. The programme includes Hessian films as well as new productions from China and Colombia. As in previous years, three prizes each worth 2500 Euro and a project grant will be awarded.

Main focal points of the Festival this year are classic documentary themes such as urbanism and globalisation, which filmmakers explore from standpoints ranging from the comical to the critical. Filmmakers from around the world also consider the everyday experiences of adolescents and their subcultures – from Chinese avant-garde underground musicians to problems between Islamic and western youth cultures in Iran. A large number of films also deal with the subject of work / labour, taking the discussion of this issue in a variety of directions. The short films in the programme “Change of Shift” depict a variety of work contexts in an almost meditative manner. Michael Glawogger erects a filmic monument to the shift worker of the 21st century; Joerg Adolph observes a celebrated writer at work; and Klaus Stern follows an insolvency administrator.

The festival opens with “Frozen Angels” by Eric Black and Frauke Sandig, who shed light on the reproduction industry in California. Their work makes clear that the supposed heredity and propagation “utopias” have long become reality in the land of unlimited possibilities. This controversial film will serve as a fitting opening night offering for the Festival, which has always had lively discussion as one of its chief elements.

The Festival will also feature a variety of special screenings. There will be, for example, a presentation of work by the professors for Animation at the Kassel University of Art, Andreas Hykade and Thomas Meyer-Herrmann. Another special programme will be concerned with the assessment of the new role of the Video Reporter, who uses digital technologies to realise a project from first conception to final edit without institutional or outside support.

The new category of Live Visuals represents another highlight of the Festival. The program of audiovisual performances, live video art and music can be enjoyed most nights in the Festivallounge. The exhibition Monitoring deals with contemporary space-related art. 16 contemporary media installations will be shown. In addition, the Kasseler Kunstverein will show film installations by Rosa Barba. This year the annual interfiction symposium regarding new media has the title: Learning from/with/in mediacultures”.