International Competition: Fiction and Documentary
33 outstanding short films from 16 countries in five programmes: such is the International Competition for short feature and documentary films of VIS Vienna Independent Shorts 2010. The fact that animation and experimental films have received their own category this year (Animation Avantgarde) makes more space for fictional and documentary works. While we have a deeply felt affinity to experimental filmic forms, it has also always been a characteristic of VIS Vienna Independent Shorts to take the narrative as an artistic form of expression in short films seriously and to enable new voices as well as established filmmakers to be seen and heard.
In 2010 the festival proves what fascinating results the work in the sector of short feature and documentary films can bring. The Vienna Short Film Award, awarded annually since 2007 by an international jury, goes to the director of the best film. The prizemoney, which at 4.000 Euros is double what it was in the previous year, is donated by the City of Vienna. The international jury however will also nominate a film for the Elfi von Dassanowsky Award, which will be awarded for the first time this year. The prize money of 500 Euros will be awarded to a female director by the homonymous foundation in memory of the legendary Austrian Hollywood producer and artist. The audience chooses the third winner in this competition who will receive the LG Audience Award of 1.000 Euros.
Friday, May 28th, 2010, 8 p.m., Metro Kino
The first programme of six films in the international competition for “Fiction and Documentary” spotlights the world of economy. Factories and loading platforms are put into new aesthetic perspectives and simple employees become leading performers in archives and offices. The impressive images (and sounds) – realised as animation or musical, embedded in atmospheres ranging from dismal to comical – create new perspectives on the working world and economic structures.
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Saturday, May 29th, 2010, 6 p.m., Metro Kino
The nine films in „Fiction and Documentary 2“ tell stories about observation and socio-critical future prospects, weird observations and laconic reviews of life. One eye is directed to the manner of staging and the rhythm of narration, the other may delight in watching unknown stars and eccentric characters. None of the films hides the fact that it takes on a specific perspective between subversion and deconstruction. An entertaining wealth of ideas is the inevitable result.
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Sunday, May 30th, 2010, 10 p.m., Metro Kino
Each of the five short films in "Fiction and Documentary 3" approach the topic of family and its intricate network of relationships in its own unique way. Parents and children are faced with outer and inner family-structures, they are demanding, angry, wary, desperate or flowing over with love. The insightful stories, some told realistically, others phantastically or artistically exaggerated, provide us with intimate insights into small conflicts as well as traumatic experiences – and open up our eyes to the family as a complex system of planets.
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Monday, May 31st, 2010, 10 p.m., Metro Kino
Relationships in all their plurality of forms are the central theme of the seven short films in "Fiction and Documentary 4": love vs. material girl, football vs. genetics, animal vs. human, porn vs. the first time, emotion vs. icy reserve. Things of love are staged here without fake pathos and relationships are presented without any emotional formula. A passionate and intensive, sometimes even slightly magic programme of short films that get under your skin and then conjure a smile back on your face again.
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Tuesday, June 1st, 2010, 8 p.m., Metro Kino
The six short films in "Fiction and Documentary 5" invite you to chart and discover the world. We follow a Vietnamese through Sixties’ Europe, accompany Israeli watchmen on Independence Day and dance with youths in Ohio whose only ray of hope is a circus school. Iran and Madagascar are on the list of destinations as well as Gran Canaria. In the film-pool found footage splashes about with elaborately produced animated films – a small but all the more impressive trip around the world from the cinema seat.
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