DOKU.ARTS Berlin with Sebald and Stan Neumann
If you are near Deutsches Historisches Museum in Berlin the next weeks, visit the DOKU.ARTS Festival that has a very appealing programme to offer. A quote from the newsletter I received the other day:
“From 9-27 September, DOKU.ARTS will present 20 films from 13 countries with a focus on architecture and construction. The programme shows how the contemporary world of international documentary film regards building and architecture, as well as how construction processes and citizen participation are reflected in the medium of film. The architectural focus comprises 15 new documentaries, including outstanding long-term monitoring of buildings by SANAA, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Daniel Libeskind, and Peter Zumthor. Moreover, DOKU.ARTS shows new documentary portraits and essay films about Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Phyllis Lambert, Astrid Lindgren, W.G. Sebald and Nicolas Roeg.”
And about the Opening: ”The official opening of DOKU.ARTS will take place on 9 September, 8 pm, with the German premiere of Austerlitz. Fascinated by W.G. Sebald’s novel and his photos, director Stan Neumann attempts to reconstruct the path the narrator’s life took, bringing us on a psychological and geographical journey from Antwerp via Prague, Marienbad and Paris to London. As a highly autobiographical film, Austerlitz captivates with a moving dramatic performance by Denis Lavant as Jacques Austerlitz, its musical score, and stunning architectural shots. Emmanuel Suard, Cultural Counsellor of the French Embassy in Berlin and Director of the Institut français Germany, will speak on the occasion of the opening. Our special guests of the evening are Stan Neumann and Mark Le Fanu (University College London).”
Stan Neumann (photo) is a true “auteur” and a very inspiring teacher, as he has and is showing in workshops like Ex Oriente. Below you will find links to three texts about Neumann.
Among the other films to be shown in Berlin are Oeke Hoogendijk’s “The New Rijksmuseum”, Kristina Lindström’s documentary on “Astrid” (Lindgren) and a film by David Thompson on Nicolas Roeg as well as the praised “The Chinese Mayor” by Zhou Hao. There is wonderful clip from the latter on www.doku-arts.de
FILMKOMMENTAREN ON STAN NEUMANN
Links: about “Language Does Not Lie” (Klemperer); about the importance of form; about “The Surrealistic Photo”