Cinema Archive Detail

December 2011
Forum Expanded 2012: Mental States and Global Structures
Forum Expanded 2012 will once again be exploring new forms of artistic, cinematic and political expression. 37 works by artists, filmmakers, theorists and musicians from 20 different countries comprise the compact and focused programme, taking in exhibitions, film programmes, discussions and performances that place an emphasis on aesthetic explorations of the global and individual dimensions of current crises.
The programme explores the extent to which the radical and avant-garde ideas of the past are still relevant today and seeks to redefine the role of contemporary cinema.
December 2011
FU Seminar: Anti-Kanon (Anti-Canon)
The short film program "Spectacle-Attraction-Experiment" shows experimental films from the 70s and 90s and looks for parallels with the contemporary action blockbuster and early cinema in order to try out alternative, non-chronological ways of writing film history. While found footage films such as Ernie Gehr's EUREKA (USA 1974) and Peter Delpeut's LYRISCH NITRAAT (Netherlands 1991) can be viewed in this context, Anne Severson's NEAR THE BIG CHAKRA (USA 1971) and Paul Sharits' T,O,U,C,H,I,N,G (USA 1969) also make use of non-narrative rhythmical compositions to create corporeal effects close to those effected by early cinema. The film program forms part of the "Anti-Canon" seminar in which we look at "film history as film historiography"; when we watch films, we write history by allowing our visual mental recollections to fuse with those from the film. (Chris Tedjasukmana) (December 9)
December 2011
Behind Walls – Current Films from Syria
Social critical, political cinema which deals with the violence and brutality of state structures has always been a tradition in Syria. As the films in this program show, the new generation of Syrian filmmakers is also preserving this tradition. Their collective declaration of solidarity with the protest movement also bears witness to their committed position. CRACK (2007) tells the story of a tailor who withdraws from the world following his son's arrest. In TWO CITIES AND A PRISON (2008), Soudade Kaadan follows a theater project at work in rural areas and in a young offenders facility. In FOAM (2006), Reem Ali creates a portrait of a Syrian family and their efforts to care for a mentally handicapped family member while they try to come to terms with their experiences as political prisoners. (Charlotte Bank). (December 9)
December 2011
German Premiere: RUE GUTENBERG
RUE GUTENBERG (Astrid S. Klein, 2010) is based on a conversation between artist Astrid S. Klein and the legendary Ivorian radio producer and music journalist Souleymane Coulibaly, known as Soro Solo (Abidjan / Paris).
December 2011
FilmDocument: Alfred Ehrhardt – Bringing Together the Educational and the Avant-Garde
Alfred Ehrhardt is one of the most significant makers of educational films in German film and television history. His work was dedicated to a wide spectrum of different subjects, ranging from the Watten Sea, Portugal and Iceland, creating films about sculptors and musicians, about angels and handicrafts. The films selected for this program represent two of his main thematic concerns: natural ornaments and the beauty of natural forms as an analogy to absolute film and the portrayal of Iceland's unique characteristics as a means of creating an artistic connection between classic educational films and the avant-garde. (Kerstin Stutterheim)

An event organized by CineGraph Babelsberg in collaboration with the Bundesarchiv Filmarchiv, the Deutsche Kinemathek and the Alfred Ehrhardt Foundation. (December 12)
December 2011
Filmmakers' Choice: "Route One"
On December 19, Lior Shamriz presents Robert Kramer's ROUTE ONE / USA (France 1989): after a long absence, Kramer and Paul Mc Isaac return to the USA and travel down the East Coast along Route 1 from Maine to Florida. While Paul Mc Isaac plays a returnee looking for a job, this is actually more of an excuse to take a look over his shoulder at society and reflect upon the people who share their daily lives and its philosophy with the camera. It is an America in which factory work still forms a substantial part of society and the civil rights movement is still fresh in people’s memories.
December 2011
Book Presentation: Die Couch des Armen (The Poor Man's Couch)
December 2011
Vaginal Davis Presents Rising Stars, Falling Stars
December 2011
Filmmakers' Choice: "Route One"
On December 19, Lior Shamriz presents Robert Kramer's ROUTE ONE / USA (France 1989): after a long absence, Kramer and Paul Mc Isaac return to the USA and travel down the East Coast along Route 1 from Maine to Florida. While Paul Mc Isaac plays a returnee looking for a job, this is actually more of an excuse to take a look over his shoulder at society and reflect upon the people who share their daily lives and its philosophy with the camera. It is an America in which factory work still forms a substantial part of society and the civil rights movement is still fresh in people’s memories.
December 2011
New "Solar System" by Thomas Heise
SOLAR SYSTEM is a film about disappearance. It is a portrait of daily life in the indigenous community of the Kollas in Tinkunaku in the mountains of northern Argentina. It tells the story of Ramona and Viviano in the valley of Blanquito and at high altitude in Santa Cruz, of the deaf Fortunato and of Louis’ family, of Soto the shepherd, and of Cecilia and Bernardo whose tractor turned over, of Guido the child who carves men out of clay, of God, of the carnival which everybody celebrates, and of the flowing of the waters. The film shows a meeting without knowing the language of the other, a story of getting to know and seeing each other without words. Non-verbally, exclusively through images the film approaches the people of a small indigenous Kolla community. We accompany the seasonal tramp of Viviano and Ramona from the valley up to the village of Santa Cruz, 3000 meters above sea level, where they spend the summertime until the autumn rain makes them go back to Rio Blanquito. Living with the Kollas, inbetween the old rites and the irruptive modernity, in the grandiose landscape of Yunga and Quechua, the film narrates the day-to-day disappearence of an indigenous people. Dies irae. (Thomas Heise)

Forum Expanded 2012: Mental States and Global Structures

FU Seminar: Anti-Kanon (Anti-Canon)

Behind Walls – Current Films from Syria

German Premiere: RUE GUTENBERG

FilmDocument: Alfred Ehrhardt – Bringing Together the Educational and the Avant-Garde

Filmmakers' Choice: "Route One"

Book Presentation: Die Couch des Armen (The Poor Man's Couch)

Vaginal Davis Presents Rising Stars, Falling Stars

Filmmakers' Choice: "Route One"

New "Solar System" by Thomas Heise