Discussion: Forum 1974 – Experimental film

In June 1974, Ulrich Gregor, then head of the International Forum of New Cinema, welcomed his guests to the Delphi Filmpalast. At the legendary table that was carried on to the stage after every film screening, he sat alongside filmmakers Birgit and Wilhelm Hein and film journalist Sebastian Feldmann. Over the course of the discussion, other people from the audience also got involved, including Werner Nekes. Gregor announced that he wanted to speak about the “usefulness or lack of usefulness” of experimental film programs within the festival. He wanted to make transparent why the Forum program also included films that explore the very basis of cinematic expression and push it ever further alongside more conventional political and socially critically films. He wanted to find out how the programs were being received and what they could develop into.   

And today? Following the presentation of the 1974 audio recording, Bert Rebhandl (journalist), Clarissa Thieme (artist and filmmaker), Ulrich Ziemons (Forum Expanded) and Stefanie Schulte Strathaus (Arsenal) will be in conversation.