Camera-Free Film and Video

Screening at Cinematheque - February 13, 2008

Winnipeg, MB (January 23, 2008) – We can always trust artists to challenge assumptions and to seek creative alternatives to conventional practices. In the case of film and video, this is also true.

This screening featured experimental techniques for moving image creation and manipulation including: machinima (film and video made using avatars and/or video game environments), computer-based image manipulation, well-established filmmaking techniques such as hand processing, optical printing, and scratch animation, as well as work employing modified cameras or found footage.

Curated through an open call for submissions, Camera-Free Film and Video showcases provocative non-traditional film and video produced by artists from diverse cultural backgrounds and communities. We were pleased to present the work of a number of local artists, underscoring Winnipeg's rich contribution to experimental film and video making in this country.

Featured artists included:

"Five Cents a Copy" Ed Ackerman & Gregory Zbitnew (Winnipeg)
"The Death of Natural Language" Clint Enns (Winnipeg)
"Turku Goes Oukkidoukki" Gun Holström (Helsinki)
"American Singles" Ian Robert MacTilstra (Vancouver)
"Asleep at the Wheel" Mike Maryniuk (Winnipeg)
"Pants!" Divya Mehra (Winnipeg/New York)
"Traffiic" Robert Pasternak (Winnipeg)
"Rectangular World" Andrew James Patterson (Toronto)
"Isolating Landscapes" Heidi Phillips (Winnipeg)
"Winged Victory" Victoria Prince (Winnipeg)
"Telephone and Distant Conversation" Nicole Shimonek (Winnipeg/London, UK)
"Malfunction 2.0" Murray Toews (Winnipeg)
"Tilted" Kai Ling Xue (Vancouver)
"Niverville, MB, 08.04" Collin Zipp (Winnipeg)

These artists don't take the camera for granted in their image-making process, but rather break it, bend it or toss it out altogether. Images are created and manipulated using low-tech (scratch animation) and very high-tech (custom-made algorithms) techniques.

Freed of camera work, these artists discover new creative territory and advance experimental film and video practice.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008
The Cinematheque Theatre, 100 Arthur St.
Admission is free of charge

This one-night only screening began at 7:30 p.m. and was followed by a Q&A session, and a reception at Platform Gallery.

Video Pool thanks the Winnipeg Film Group's Cinematheque and Platform Gallery for their generous presentation support. Video Pool also wishes to acknowledge the generosity of our funders: The Canada Council for the Arts, the Manitoba Arts Council, and the Winnipeg Arts Council.

Photos

The diverse selection of work proved quite substantial and between laughter, solemnity, and awe, attendees were presented with a great deal to mull over. Dynamic conversation, along with food and drink, were shared across the hallway at PLATFORM.

Thank you to all everyone who joined us! We look forward to presenting another equally intriguing thematic single channel screening next year!