Culture Action Europe 2010

The Culture Action Europe conference has a long established tradition as the key focal point for cultural operators, civil society, experts and policy makers to come together and debate key issues at stake for Europe’s cultural life. The conference will inspire, argue and debate what choices we make now and how they will alter the landscape of future EU policies for culture. It will try to embrace two interconnected visions: first, the contributions of arts and cultural sector to the vision of Europe in the future; second, the recognition and support for these contributions within the range of programmes and policies that the EU has to offer.

The programme for the conference is concentrated and focussed on in-depth debate, allowing space for extensive audience participation and interaction between speakers and delegates.The two ‘conversations’ of the day will seek to reflect on some of the following questions:

What role can/should Arts & Culture play in the further humanization and democratization of the European project? Is the sector capable of bearing such a great responsibility?

What programmes and initiatives could broaden understanding among policymakers (both elected and civil servants) about the deeper transformative values that can be cultivated through investments in the Arts?

Is politics about changing rule and law instead of attitude and vision?

What do we know about how the public imagines as a healthy cultural life? Is there a natural connection between strategic thinking by politicians and changing attitudes/raising awareness among citizens?

What conditions are necessary to create a “shared cultural space”, engaging experiences from different parts of Europe?

How can the prevailing economic frame of reference in modern Europe be transformed to one that takes social and human development as key criteria for societal wellbeing?  Can the arts and cultural sector play a role transforming how we measure progress?

ASEM 8_Brussels 2010

As the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) enters its 14^th year, the global and regional environments face changing challenges that demand new ideas in governance, conflict resolution, education and the arts.

To take stock of and analyse the current trends and issues in Asia-Europe dialogue as well as forecast key areas for future co-operation, ASEF is organising the 4^th Connecting Civil Societies of Asia and Europe Conference (2-3 October 2010, Brussels) as an official side-event of the ASEM8 Summit (4-5 October 2010, Brussels).

As the only permanent institution of ASEM, ASEF plays a vital role in connecting reflections of the ASEM level with the concerns of civil societies in both regions. The Connecting Civil Societies Conference will serve – as the name rightly suggests – to connect around 150 civil society experts from various fields including the arts and culture. Over two days, civil society participants from both regions will deliberate on common issues of concern and formulate relevant recommendations for ASEM partners in parallel thematic workshops at the Conference.

The central focus of the deliberations on the arts and culture at the Connecting Civil Societies Conference will rest on the need to build sustainable creative cities in Asia and Europe and the role of the arts therein, in an age of globalisation. These issues will be discussed by a group of invited artists and cultural practitioners at the Workshop, Sustainable Creative Cities: The role of the arts in the globalized urban context.

The idea for the Workshop, with its thrust on the place of the arts in the contemporary city, was proposed and developed by Institute of Cultural Theory, Research and the Arts (Institut für Kulturtheorie, Kulturforschung und Künste) at Leuphana University Lueneburg (Germany) and the Urban Research Plaza, Graduate School for Creative Cities at Osaka City University (Japan).

The workshop will address the roles of artists and creative workers in the evolution of globalized cities across Asia and Europe, assessing how an “artistic mode of knowing” can contribute to a transition from creative cities to sustainable creative cities. The aim is to facilitate the emergence of local urban processes of social change in partnerships between artists, cultural practitioners and communities, as opposed to top-down urban planning. Among the key questions that the participants will address are:

• Which changes in arts and cultural policies would support such an evolution of the roles of artists and cultural actors?
• Which insights from Asian experience can be transferred to Europe, and vice versa?
• How can cultural policies allow the emergence of cultures of complexity, rather than design cultural programmes?
• How to best disseminate good practices and sustain ‘communities of practice’ (i.e. informal networks held together by shared communities) across Asia and Europe?

By the end of two days, participating artists and cultural practitioners will have formulated relevant recommendations on the topic for ASEM policy makers. ASEF will present these recommendations at the ASEM8 Summit on 4-5 October 2010.

For more details on 4^th Connecting Civil Societies of Asia and Europe Conference (2-3 October 2010, Brussels), please refer to:- ASEM 8 Summit  and Conference: Connecting Civil Societies 

For more information on the Workshop, Sustainable Creative Cities: The role of the arts in the globalized urban context at the 4^th Connecting Civil Societies of Asia and Europe Conference, contact:

Ms. Katelijn VERSTRAETE, Assistant Director-Cultural Exchange at katelijn.verstraete@asef.org

Ms. Anupama SEKHAR, Project Executive- Cultural Exchange at anupama.sekhar@asef.org

For related articles on culture360.org please see: Interview: Sacha Kagan of the Institute of Cultural Theory, Research and the Arts

The 1st annual Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF) is scheduled for October 20-23, 2010, in Phnom Penh. This exciting event brings international filmmakers to screen their latest movies and share their skills with Khmer filmmakers. Events will be open to the public alongside invitation-only galas and workshops designed for local film industry development.

Throughout the festival, movies screen at several venues in Phnom Penh.  Public screenings are shown at outdoor venues. Types of movies include international independent films, award-winning documentaries, classic and modern Khmer films, youth-oriented films and films made in Cambodia, as well as showcasing some of the best locally produced TV dramas and music videos.

In addition to screenings, the festival hosts the Cinema Industry Showcase at which booths display the latest equipment, products and services available for making movies in Cambodia. There is also a strong emphasis on tourism with the opportunity to promote Cambodia as a country with a rich culture – perfect for destination travel.

All events of the festival are designed to benefit the local economy and culture through educating the local film/TV sector, inspiring good citizenship and entertaining audiences. The festival also helps increase tourism as people around the world see movies made in Cambodia because of the local industry development.

The Cambodia International Film Festival is the largest cinema event in Cambodia. For 4 days, film lovers, filmmakers, industry professionals and media watch the best in new cinema from established masters and new talent. Up-and-coming Khmer filmmakers gain unparalleled insight into the workings of the international market. The Festival also provides excellent resources and networking opportunities for film-industry professionals and buyers.

The 2010 Cambodia International Film Festival will include, but will not be limited to, the following programmes: Galas, special exhibitions, feature films, short films , documentaries, youth program.

Selected films will be placed in the appropriate programme by the Festival Organizing Committee in consultation with the filmmaker.

In addition to the Festival , the CIS (Cambodia Industry Showcase) will offer the opportunity for all professionals to expose their know-how and services and to exchange about the latest technologies.

Submissions are accepted for consideration. Our inaugural year (2010) is exhibition only – not a competition. At least one filmmaker representing the production is highly recommended to attend. Filmmakers are encouraged to contact international governmental and arts organizations for assistance to attend.

‘In the Air Program’, one of the unique festival programs of AISFF shows the selected films from International Competition to around 3 million international passengers at the Asiana Airlines after the festival in the theatre and it contributes to create a new kind of short film market by providing license fees for this special in-flight screening apart from the festival awards. AISFF will then provide a great opportunity to short filmmakers as an alternative arena going beyond their local and national boundaries, for greater international audience awareness.

AISFF will be the best place to see the newest trend of world cinema through eves of short films, the future of cinema and the cinematic variety and cultural diversity. AISFF is looking forward to seeing your great work of art as well as your passion for short films.

Some previously selected participants will be given an opportunity to make a presentation to the lecturers about their own projects. Participants will stay in Tokyo like a training camp, and give inspiration to each other. At the same time, participants will be required to attend some of the programs of TOKYO FILMeX 2010, in which participants can have a future vision through dialogues with senior filmmakers attending the film festival, and can have an invaluable opportunity for networking.

Through these programs, Next Masters endeavors to create the moment when a new freedom of expression is born.

Inquiry:  nextmasters [at] filmex.net

The Directorate of Film Festivals organizes International and National Film Festivals within the country, facilitate India’s participation in Film Festivals abroad, arrange programmes of foreign films in India and Indian films abroad, under bi-lateral exchange agreements, and conducts the National Film Awards. As a vehicle of cultural exchange, DFF promotes international friendship, provides access to new trends in world cinema, generates healthy competition and, in the process, helps to improve the standards of Indian Cinema.
The Festival aims at providing a common platform for the cinematographies of the world to project the excellence of the film art; contributing to the understanding and appreciation of film cultures of different nations in the context of their social and cultural ethos; and promoting friendship and cooperation among people of the world.

GZ DOC 2010 will include the following sections: Public Screening & Competition, Documentary Market, Seminars, as well as Screening Premiere Ceremony, Opening Ceremony, Award Ceremony and Closing Ceremony.

Documentaries, Docu-drams and Docu-animations of all subjects are welcome to apply for GZ DOC 2010 Competition. Entries will be divided into four categories:

History /Arts & Culture, Society & Current Affairs, Wildlife & Environment, Science & Technology / Education

Selected entries will be eligible to be the best in each category accordingly. Best Chinese Director Prizes will still be set up to encourage the growth of Chinese directors.

“Screening Season” program will be introduced to the public this year, from October to December. The screening will be held in colleges and cultural creative parks in Beijing and Guangzhou as well as cinemas in cities of the Pearl River delta, providing Chinese audience with more access to the very best documentaries at home and abroad.

Documentary Market features: Projects with Most Marketing Potential, DocuMart, International Producer Day and Docshop.

Guangzhou International Documentary Film Festival, China 2010 (GZ DOC 2010)

Email: info [at] gzdoc.com

Tel: +86 (20) 61106275/61106276

Contact person: Sarah Wu, Amanda Huang, Jill Ren

Pusan Promotion Plan (PPP) is a pre-market connected to the Pusan International Film Festival in Korea where promising filmmakers and producers can meet with potential co-producers and financiers and, in turn, investors and co-producers can find a diverse selection of the latest Asian projects of top quality. As a dynamic project market focused in Asian cinema, PPP has brought together viable programmes and projects to entice and meet participating film professionals from all over the world for last 10 years.

In 2007, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary, PPP selected 35 projects including non-Asia projects as well as projects with more commercially oriented nature making it possible for them to network and share a diverse thread of recent trends in the film industry.

This year again, in the belief and devotion toward Asian cinema, PPP will serve as an essential meeting place by organizing valuable meeting opportunities for both filmmakers with cutting-edge projects and film professionals searching for outstanding talent, creating numerous chances for partnership and co-productions.

Officially selected projects become contestants for 6 PPP awards endowed by PPP official sponsors and partners. The winners of PPP Awards will be announced at the PPP Awards Ceremony on October 13, 2010.

Rooted In The Ephemeral Speak (R.I.T.E.S) Presents R.I.T.E.S #7
Featuring: Chua Chin Chin, Ezzam Rahman, Nopawan Sirivejkul, Monkol Plienbangchang and Jozef Cseres
Saturday, 14th August, 7.30pm till late
The Substation Theatre, Singapore

The artists from Thailand are also featured in an exhibition at The Substation.  TOUCH brings together four Thailand artists as they attempt to express and convey a sense of human intimacy and connection through their photographic works.

Hoping to capture and convey the rhythm of life through portraits, this exhibition – featuring the works of Mongkol Plienbangchang, Sittidech Rohitasuk, Nopawan Sirivejkul and Ekkalux Nubturesuk – is a record of the quietly moving and fleeting moments of human existence.

Touch runs from 13-22 August.

12th International Architecture Exhibition, Venice

The 2010 International Conference on the Constructed Environment will be held in Venice, Italy from 17-19 November 2010 in conjunction with the 12th International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale (la Biennale di Venezia), directed by Kazuyo Sejima and titled People meet in architecture.

This conference will explore the forms and functions of the constructed environment during a time of dramatic and at times disruptive change. The conference is a cross-disciplinary forum which brings together researchers, teachers and practitioners to discuss the past character and future shape of the built environment. The resulting conversations weave between the theoretical and the empirical, research and application, market pragmatics and social idealism.

In professional and disciplinary terms, the conference traverses a broad sweep to construct a transdisciplinary dialogue which encompasses the perspectives and practices of: architecture, anthropology, business, design, economics, education, engineering, environmental design, industrial design, interior design, landscape architecture, sociology, town and regional planning and transportation.

The meeting registration is now open.

The call for papers and presentation proposals closes on 19 August.

Source: Land Art Generator Initiative