When we think about short films nowadays, the first thing we think of is the internet. YouTube, Vimeo and Co. have radically changed our habits of viewing and receiving short films; whoever manages to attract attention and millions of hits with a clip or short film via one of the big platforms has good chances of finding short term celebrity, or – rare as the case may be – even worldwide fame.

However, there are also numerous jewels that slumber away undiscovered for a long while in the vast expanse of the video platforms – and this is where the community comes into it: in the age of social networks and new communication channels, collaboration is paramount. The audience becomes part of the creative process, solidarity divides labour, the collective becomes the curator.

In the artistic world these “new communities“ naturally also affect film festivals. Often films are only submitted via special internet platforms, curators happen upon new clips in forums, or Vimeo passwords are exchanged instead of DVDs. We are utterly convinced that, in such an environment, a short film festival has the important task of channelling and selecting, in order to make developments and processes visible.

That is why VIS 2011 now represents a “multi-rooted”, interwoven system of collective decision-making processes. From the applications received this year, with about 2.500 films from 90 countries this was more than double the amount received in the previous year, the organisers have chosen 62 short films from 23 countries to be presented to the jury and audience in the two international competitions “Fiction and Documentary” and “Animation Avantgarde” at the Metro Kino. In the Austrian competition 23 films are up against each other in the run for the judges’ and the audience’s approval.

But also in the programmes from our “New Communities” focus, the collective was relied upon more than once: together with the magazine TBA, the internet community’s favourite music videos were searched out via Facebook and assembled in a programme. For “Satyre and Parodey 2.0” the most popular humorous internet clips were found, categorised and evaluated. At the Schikaneder one programme focuses on activism in the net, at the Planetarium a special programme presents the most successful science fiction shorts.

Additionally, renowned media scientist Karin Wehn will present a commented programme on the topic of „Social Networks“. In cooperation with the Filmarchiv Austria, the Vienna Film Academy, in its 60th jubilee year, will put together a selection of films from the last two years. And the British “online exhibition space” Animate Projects refers back to their impressive artistic network with productions from the last 15 years.

Talking about guests: Canadian avant-garde artist Pierre Hébert will mark the occasion with a live performance at the Reformed Church with Italian composer Andrea Martignoni. This year’s tributes are dedicated to the ingenious British duo Semiconductor and the Viennese comic and animation giant, Nicolas Mahler. And after their engagements at the Donaufestival, our artists-in-residence, Max Hattler and Noriko Okaku, will make the VIS opening at the Gartenbaukino an audio-visual feast.

Last but not least a few words about those programmes that the community in Vienna is traditionally so partial to: as ever, “Très chic” indulges in warped humour, “Airbed Movies” (for the first time in the Rinderhalle Neu Marx) celebrates the art of music videos and the “Foster Film Brunch” shows the team’s personal favourites. At the awards ceremony and subsequent “Fest of VIS” at the Badeschiff, the whole festival will be celebrated. Incidentally, the smallest drive-in cinema in the world at the festival centre in the MuseumsQuartier, may become the festivals newest firm favourite...

Have fun at VIS Vienna Independent Shorts 2011!

The VIS team says THANK YOU...