Seven years ago, when the screensessions first brought Austrian music videos onto the big screen, neither YouTube nor MySpace existed yet, not to mention Facebook. In those days – and in this case 2003 really does feel like a case of “in those days” – local bands still asked themselves whether the effort and expense of producing music videos would pay off at all. Although the Viennese music channel gotv was launched just a year before, the chance of broadcasting your own clips was still very slim. And alternative means of distribution via internet platforms were still two or three years away.

In the meantime the music and video scene in Austria has changed dramatically, and the small “display window” that once offered screen sessions has developed into a popular and acclaimed showcase for the local scene. To mark this year’s musical focus of the festival, VIS has invited the Austrian-Viennese initiative to take a look back to the beginnings and to trace the developments of the last years. The result is the first retrospective of “Screensessions – Your Music on the Big Screen” – with 18 videos from seven years.

With ‘Evolution’ the two-part programme highlights examples of clips that were especially elaborate or innovative for their time, from videos recorded with a webcam or mobile phone to 3D-animations and visual effects. After the intermission, ‘Revolution’ presents the clips that made a lasting impression on the audience, either through minimalistic clarity, outstanding cinematography or the creative interaction of images and music.

The Beautiful Kantine Band: Es Ist Ganz Egal
Austria 2003, 2 min, Director: The Beautiful Kantine Band

78Plus: Horror Vacui
Austria 2003, 8 min, Director: Lukas Czjzek

Steve Amber: The Brahman’s Song
Austria 2005, 4 min, Director: Steve Amber

Your Ten Mofo: things will change while helium listen to everyone
Austria 2006, 4 min, Director: Gerald Zahn

Chris & The Other Girls: Let Go
Austria 2006, 4 min, Directors: Tania Marcadella, Christian Pitschl

HP Stonji: 630
Austria 2008, 4 min, Director: Diego Vazquez

Mord: Für Immer Sommer
Austria 2009, 4 min, Director: Ingo Randolf

Zoot Woman: We Won’t Break
Austria 2009, 5 min, Directors: Michael Kren, Mirjam Baker

The Tangerine Turnpike: Wave De La Rave
Austria 2009, 4 min, Director: Stefan Wascher

The Good Library: Finnigins Bluff
Austria 2003, 5 min, Director: Lucas Elzea

Cafe Amigo: Sinn City
Austria 2005, 3 min, Director: David Bogner

Krane: Contorted Reverb
Austria 2005, 4 min, Director: Doris Krane

Bob: Yes For Sure
Austria 2006, 4 min, Directors: Markus Gasser, Didi Sommer

Kreisky: Vandalen
Austria 2008, 4 min, Director: Daniel Budka, Herwig Steiner

Jörg Zemmler: Kein Wort
Austria 2008, 2 min, Director: Jörg Zemmler

Wolfgang Frisch with Steve Matthewson: Blood Rivers
Austria 2009, 4 min, Director: Timo Novotny

Carmen Lazaro & Raffael: Passion Is Overrated
Austria, 2009, 5 min, Directors: Gerald Zahn, Anna Bertsch

BulBul: Daddy Was a Girl I Liked
Austria 2009, 4 min, Director: Thomas Grusch