backup 2002 call for entries

[anna balint]

Backup 2002
the deadline for entries is July 31, 2002.
the date of our festival in 2002: November 07-10

backup 
is a festival for film and video productions developed using digital tools 
and a stock-taking within the realm of 'new media'. backup began in 
the European Cultural Capital Year 1999, last year the number of visitors 
increased to over 3000. With its 2001 edition, backup has reached a 
level that secures it a respectable place among the European festivals. 
Once again Weimar will, from November 7-10, 2002, become a meeting 
place and platform for national and international film and media artists.

idea
Goal of the festival as a whole is a stock-taking, an investigation of the 
influences of new media on content, narrative, aesthetic, production, 
presentation form, and distribution of media work. Of central importance 
here is the convergence of new media and the medium of film.
We understand the term 'new media' to comprise the following areas: 
the use of ditigal image media, digital production and technology, 
digital distribution, and discussion of the theme of media itself.
We use the term 'film' primarily for the form of presentation: the 'screen 
presentation', the cinema situation, the situation of screen - audience as 
situation of communication. The material 'film' is thus not meant here.

the calls for entry
At the heart of the festival is, in accordance with the goal, 
the »backup.award« with its screen presentation of works of 
film departing from the traditional paths of analog cinema. 
We are interested above all in work that convinces through 
its content and through the conscious use of its artistic means. 
In the foreground: the use of new media and their 
influence on narrative structures and the course of production.
Since we do not believe the divison into genres to be in keeping 
with the times, the pre-selection committee will sort the contributions 
according to color. There will be the competition segments red, green, 
and blue, corresponding with the video signals RGB. During the course 
of the competition, prizes will be awarded with a total value of 4,500 Euro. 
You may learn about last year's prize winners by consulting our archive.

»backup.clipaward« is a national award for music videos that use new 
media as a creative playground for audiovisual works. The focus lies on 
the interplay of image and music, the conscious use of stylistic devices 
as well as the examination of the possibilities of new media technology. 
By awarding the »backup.clipaward« backup creates an open forum for 
experimental concept videos and reacts to the latest developments in 
the areas of videoclip production and music television. Prizes will be 
awarded with a total value of 1,800 Euro.

»backup.lounge|lab« is a dynamic network of international creators 
from differing areas of art who dare the experiment of defining art as 
an open system. Space and moving pictures form the point of origin 
for the artistic projects. With basic elements such as light, sound 
and words, the collaborators and their ideas find themselves in areas 
such as electro-acoustic, source code, streaming media, mobile movies, 
net.art, performance and theatre. After response, all accepted participants
will be interconnected and exchange ideas. One week before the 
backup_festival all will be invited to a workshop.
In conclusion: Transfer into lounge|lab. 
Prizes will not be awarded inside of the »backup.lounge|lab«.

the jury
The independent jury of experts consists of film and television makers, 
producers, distributors, and media theorists. The members of last 
year's jury were Heide Hagebölling, Rotraut Pape, Georg Seeßlen, 
Egbert Mittelstädt, and Jens Geelhaar. The archive provides a detailed
overview of the juries from the years 1999, 2000 and 2001.
The independent jury of experts of the national »backup.clipaward consists
of television makers, clip-directors, musicians and media theorists. 
The members of last year's jury were Christoph Dreher, Stefan Kauertz, 
and Hannes Rossacher.

the additional program
To complement the awards, there will be further events focusing around 
the theme of 'new media'. 

backup.award
The call for entries takes place internationally at film and art universities, art academies, technical colleges, universities, 
and film clubs, as well as at cultural and educational centers and via internet.
The prizes are intended for current formats (MPEG, Quicktime, AVI, DIVX, Realmedia /VHS, S-VHS, Hi8, Beta SP, DV, 
miniDV, DV-Cam, DVD, VCD / 35mm, 16mm, super8). The contributions must have been completed on or after 
January 1, 2001, and the running time should not exceed 15 minutes. Exceptions are possible. The closing date is July 
31, 2002. Please send us a VHS-backup with all necessary material by this date.
During the course of the competition, prizes will be awarded with a total value of 4,500 Euro. The independent jury of 
experts consists of film and television makers, producers, distributors, and media theorists.
Prizes are not awarded primarily on the basis of show or technical perfection. We are interested above all in film work 
that captivates through its content and the conscious use of its artistic means. In the foreground: the use of new media 
and its influence on narrative structures and production.

»backup.award« application form is available online,
 Additionally, all of the above is available in PDF format, which can be 
downloaded and printed.

backup_festival
c/o Bauhaus-Universität Weimar
Fakultät Medien
Bauhausstrasse 11
99421 Weimar
Germany
tel +49 (0) 36 43 / 49 46 136
fax +49 (0) 36 43 / 58 37 01
www.backup-festival.de
office at backup-festival.de
weimar | 07.-10.11. 2002