Since the organization of the first film festival as part of the Venice Biennale for Contemporary Art, Europe has given rise to a network of approx. 10,000 worldwide
film festivals. Irrespective of its diversity from small regional special interest event to international A-film festival, this festival circuit proves surprisingly innovative and flexible in responding to current cultural-political challenges, as well as to the disruptive changes in the global media landscape.
As a result, numerous film festivals have continually extended their radius of activity far beyond the original function of being a presentation platform for (new) films and talent. It would seem that cooperations and strategic alliances among film festivals have increasingly emerged as the preferred method to fulfill these new tasks. Such projects as dok.incubator, presented by Sören Steen Poulson (Nordisk Panorama) bring 11 partners together in order to provide advice and support for documentary film projects in the final production phase. Maike Mia Höhne (Berlinale) together with international partners is currently developing ONLINE OFFICE # SHORTS #MAGAZINE #ARCHIVE, a European data platform to make the art of the short form accessible to a wider public. And Philippe Clivaz (Visions du Réel) in his function as President of the Conférence des Festivals, will provide an insight into the objectives, activities and successes of the association of the major Swiss film festivals.
Panel discussion at the 64. International Short Film Festival Oberhausen
Participants: Philippe Clivaz, Maike Mia Höhne & Søren Steen Poulsen
Presentation: Tanja C. Krainhöfer