Cape Town Writer / director: Terry Westby-Nunn 01’54’’ 2009
The circle is a prevalent symbol within the city - hardwired for signage, transport and mechanical efficiency. Our lives are ordered by the circle, both externally and internally. This video poem asks viewers whether they too are running rings around their city lives.
Cape Town Choreographer: Louise Coetzer Editor: Eben Smal Cinematography: Oscar O'Ryan Director: Ryan Kruger Music: Gustav Stutterheim Producer: Adrian Hogan 04'00'' 2008
A dance film inspired by Deborah Steinmair’s poem Dream Weaver. We spend so much time living past one another, we become so caught up in our own small spaces. What is beautiful to see is the strict contrast between a space which normally carries a mass of human traffic, and then to see it empty and deserted. So many of the buildings we surround ourselves with function only from sunrise to sunset and yet there are endless stories to imagine in those spaces after hours. This for me is truly the city alive, with a breath and heart beat that slows down as the day draws to an end. – Louise Coetzer
"If Johannesburg is a virus, I was infected a long time ago, and negotiating and challenging the virus is what interests me, and therein lies the intimacy." (South African contemporary artist Stephen Hobbs)
Through their common theme, these short video 'gasps' or 'breaths' of South African cities give voice to the private dreams and nightmares of local poets, dancers, performance artists and filmmakers. They interrogate, with or against rational logic, the way South Africans understand their cities and urban life. Rebellious in their nature, under 4 minutes each, the films represent a genre seldom seen in South African film and television. "Inspiring, sometimes beautiful, sometimes challenging, and over-all very impressive." (Trevor Steele-Taylor, Director of the National Arts Festival Film Programme)
Apart from selecting existing works, the CITY BREATH project has initiated and developed new collaborations in the areas of the video poem, screen dance and experimental film.
Director & curator: Kai Lossgott (kai[.]lossgott[at]gmail[.] com)
Complete screenings:
Cape Town 28 May, 30 May 2010 Labia Cinema on Orange Street
Grahamstown National Arts Festival 2010 Olive Schreiner Hall, 1 July, Glennie Festival Centre, 3 Jul.
Edinburgh 22 October – 1 November 2010, Africa in Motion Festival.
Vancouver 8 – 16 October 2010, Antimatter Film Festival
Johannesburg 6 - 7 November 2010 The Bioscope, Main Street Life, Johannesburg
Durban 25 January - 19 February 2011 KZNSA Gallery, Durban
Specially curated screenings:
London 4 May 2010, New South African Cinema, British Film Institute, Southbank, London, (selection curated by Trevor Steele-Taylor).
Berlin 4 – 17 October 2010, Zebra Poetry Film Festival
Marseille 10 – 14 November 2010, 23rd Instants Vidéo 2010, “POetic POlitic POetronic Festival “
Kharkiv, Ukraine 19 March 2011 Cologne OFF 2011, Kharkiv City Art Gallery
Badilisha Poetry Xchange 22 - 25 May 2009, Africa Centre, Cape Town. Africa Day celebrations, 25 May 2009, E Sacks Futeran Building, Cape Town.
Cape Town
Posts
