| Amsterdam, 26 February 2009 DOKU.ARTS 2009 Fourth edition of international festival for films on art Focus 2009: architecture Opening night: Les plages d’Agnès by Agnès Varda From 11 to 14 June, the Filmmuseum Amsterdam and the Mediafonds (Dutch Cultural Media Fund) present the DOKU.ARTS international festival. Around thirty creative documentaries about art and artists can be seen at this fourth edition of the festival. The programme includes brand new work, as well as highlights from the Filmmuseum’s collection. This year the focus is on architecture. DOKU.ARTS, 11 – 14 June at the Filmmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Focus: architecture The year 2009 marks the start of building the new Filmmuseum (a spectacular design on the north bank of the river IJ by Delugan Meissl Associated Architects). Therefore, this year’s edition of DOKU.ARTS will concentrate on architecture. Involving complex logistics and decisions, architecture is, out of all art forms, the one that is most closely related to filmmaking. Cinematic space has always been a source of inspiration for architects, while the fascination of many filmmakers with architecture makes buildings a prominent element in their storytelling. Besides films about architecture, the programme contains documentaries about photography, the visual arts, the performing arts, music, cinema and literature. Opening night film The DOKU.ARTS 2009 opening night film is Les plages d’Agnès (France, 2008) by French filmmaker Agnès Varda. This film is an autobiographical collage in which Varda sketches her life story using film fragments, stories and photographs. In addition to Les plages d’Agnès, documentaries about art made by Varda will be screened during the festival. |
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DOKU.ARTS’s background Since the early days of film history, filmmakers have been fascinated by the portrayal of artists and the recording of the creative process. Documentaries about art and artists form an essential part of the work of directors such as Martin Scorsese, Johan van der Keuken and Wim Wenders. Artists are also a beloved subject for first-time documentary film makers. In 2006, filmmaker and festival leader Andreas Lewin founded DOKU.ARTS to capture the variation, power of imagination and passion for experimenting in this genre. After two editions in Berlin, the festival moved to the Amsterdam Filmmuseum in 2008. Content of the festival DOKU.ARTS – a unique concept in Europe – doesn’t focus on traditional biopics about famous artists. Instead, it concentrates on the creative portrayal of artists, cinematic essays, inventive compilations and homages. The festival mainly focuses on films neglected by major international festivals and on cultural productions less often screened by public broadcasters. Directors of all nominated films are invited to be present at the festival. Following every film presentation, spectators are given the opportunity to ask questions. Highlights from the Filmmuseum’s collection are also screened. On Friday, 12 June 2009, the Mediafonds will host a one-day seminar, aimed at professionals, about documentary film and architecture. Programme The 2009 DOKU.ARTS programme is still in development. Filmmakers may submit their work until 15 March. The entry form is available at the website www.doku-arts.com. Halfway through April, the first title list will be announced in a press release. The definitive programme will be released at the end of that month. Partners As in 2008, the Mediafonds is a cooperating partner of DOKU.ARTS. For the first time the festival will be supported by EUNIC, the European Union National Institutes for Culture. The British Council, the Goethe Institute and Maison Descartes are members of this association. |
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Further information: Filmmuseum Marnix van Wijk (Press & PR Attaché) phone: +31 (0)20-5891405 e-mail: mwijk@filmmuseum.nl Mediafonds Titia Vuyk (Communication Coordinator) phone: +31 (0)20-6233901 e-mail: titia.vuyk@mediafonds.nl Download this press release as PDF English Nederlands |