Special Program Screening at the 45th Sydney Film Festival

After quite a few words from the sponsors, the videos were played. ZKM from Deutschland, dLux media arts (formerly Sydney Intermedia Network) and the Goethe Institut were mentioned kindly. The turnout was a bit poor, and many walked out during the screening, but the work was compelling - in the sense of witnessing something new and demanding, no easy narratives or literal representation here. At least the experiemntal media are taken seriously in Europe, where they have archives and extensive debate to support development. Most of the material worked with vdeo treatments and the inframe editing suites. There was still a high degree of humour, immediacy and emotional involvement in the pieces, though some might have switched off that necessary degree with to the lack of constant translation. The second part of the Wednesday program had the more relaxed feel of documentary essays, the last and most crafted of these, The Colour Brown, dealing with the German fascination with cleanliness and shit as they relate to vague tendencies of racial purity and the racial conflicts of the early 90s. It won't be long now before the brittle, blue and pink colour corruptions of video tape will become highly sought-after qualities. And credit to festival director Byrnes for including this program. Maybe next time there will be some debate and discussion.

rino breebaart
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