20/6/2007
Darklight 2007
Different venues, Dublin
This is Ireland's premier festival for filmmakers, animators and artists whose work explores the convergence of art, film and technology. The programme includes a number of screenings, discussion forums, master classes and workshops and the YouTube Video Lounge.
Film Festival
Since its inception in 1999, Darklight Festival has brought new and exciting work to Irish audiences through cinema, exhibition and performance and to an international audience via the Internet and Touring Programme initiated in 2002.
Darklight is Ireland's premier festival for filmmakers, animators and artists whose work explores the convergence of art, film and technology.
Digital filmmaking techniques have become increasingly universal, they have revolutionised contemporary filmmaking practice and contributed hugely to the liberation of animation. In response to this the Darklight programme has become focused on work that challenges; concepts, visual aesthetic, narrative, access, methods of production and dialogue through these contemporary filmmaking techniques.
Darklight exhibits work that pushes these boundaries and displays creative excellence. Our mission is to nurture new talent and to create new possibilities for the imagination.
Darklight began as an opportunity for artists and filmmakers working with new technologies to show their work and share their ideas and has grown to become one of the most important arts events of the year. Darklight encourages the contribution of local Irish filmmakers while also featuring international work. Over the years Darklight has gone from strength to strength. The festival now encompasses an online presence, a newsletter, year-round touring programme, a biennial film and video festival, regular exhibitions, workshops, conferences and seminars initiating debates on all aspects of digital art and filmmaking, from practice and technology to copyright, distribution and education.
In 2002 Darklight broke away from its previous format of a traditional cinema setting and took over a 20,000 square foot warehouse located in the Digital Hub area of Dublin. This unique and exciting urban venue is transformed for the duration of the festival into two cinemas, an art gallery and a lounge area hosting music, refreshments and round table discussions.
The programme for the 2007 Darklight Film Festival Symposium was unveiled in the Curved Café, Filmbase, Temple Bar today (11.06.07). Darklight is an annual celebration of new practices in filmmaking and art. At today’s launch, Darklight Director, Nicky Gogan, introduced the programme, which includes a number of screenings, discussion forums, master classes and workshops and the YouTube Video Lounge. Darklight ’07 takes place from Thursday 21st June – Sunday 24th June.
According to Nicky, “the Darklight Symposium has become a highlight of Dublin’s cultural calendar for anyone interested in film, digital media, and the arts. This is the eighth year of Darklight, and once again it is the home for discussion and debate around what developments in production, exhibition and distribution of the past 10 years actually means for cultural producers from all art forms and genres. For example, with the arrival of YouTube, anyone can go online and broadcast themselves to the world. Although this level of accessibility is liberating, it raises questions about quality versus quantity. This is just one of the subjects we will discuss during Darklight ’07.”
There are five key themes running through the symposium and there will be a number of screenings, master classes and workshops that connect to each of them. Themes include the future of TV, game and film convergence, digital archiving, exhibition and distribution of film.
A number of high profile filmmakers will be part of this year’s Darklight Symposium. BAFTA nominated Animator Chris Shepherd will give a talk at the Irish Film Institute on Friday 22nd June, at a screening of his most acclaimed past work along with his new film ‘Silence is Golden’. There will also be a number of premieres as part of the symposium, including ‘Daydream’, by Desperate Optimists (Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor). A retrospective of the work of No Wave filmmaker Vivienne Dick will take place on Sunday, 24th June.
“Darklight wouldn’t be Darklight without films, and this year we are delighted to bring a number of filmmakers and their work to Dublin for the first time. Chris Shepherd and Vivienne Dick are world renowned film makers, and Darklight offers a great opportunity for anyone interested in filmmaking to share their experiences of the industry.”
“Once again, Darklight is breaking new ground with regard to providing an opportunity for the creative industries to learn and debate about future possibilities, putting Dublin on the map as a centre of excellence in this ever evolving sector,” said Nicky.
There are a number of locations for this year’s symposium, including Filmbase, the IFI and Cineworld. Entrance to the entire Darklight weekend costs euro 50 or euro 20 for students/unwaged.