Fri 4.9. – Tue 8.9.
10:00-00:00

OK Offenes Kulturhaus Oberösterreich (Mediendeck)

They populate abstruse, bizarre and often ominous realms of the imagination, live through the most fantastic plots, turn the law of gravity on its head, and draw upon unlimited energy reserves. More and more of the 21^st century’s film stars aren’t flesh-and-blood creatures; the source of their vitality is bits and bytes. The content spectrum of Computer Animations —as reflected by the 500 works from all over the world submitted for prize consideration to Prix Ars Electronica 2009—is virtually unlimited. These efforts range from experimental-abstract productions, sound visualizations, short cuts and special effects all the way to classic narrative filmmaking.

The 15 programs that make up the 2009 Ars Electronica Animation Festival’s lineup once again showcase the outstanding work currently being done at artists’ ateliers, universities and film academies as well as in the production studios of the film and advertising industries.

Curated by Christine Schöpf (AT) / Jürgen Hagler (AT)
Screendesign, Trailer, Concept & Animation by Claus Helfenschneider & Alexander Piringer (AT)
Directed by Claus Helfenschneider
Project Management: Bianca Petscher

Animal Worlds
When a rookery of penguins says adios to the Arctic ice and relocates to the southern tropics, when a dispute between two rats turns into a mass brawl, when dogs bicker and cats caterwaul, then action’s afoot in the animal kingdom, which once again proves: all God’s creatures got feelings!

Blood&Fight
They fight: against society, with themselves, for survival. They stumble through existence on this mortal coil, wounded, at the mercy of fate, harried, hunted, persecuted. They struggle beyond the limits, to the point of bloodshed—their own and that of the others. If it’s goodnight stories you seek, friend, look elsewhere!

Dark Stories
Nightmares hidden behind masks awaken, twisted paths lead into the unknown, abysses yawn, apprehensions, anxieties and dark fantasies surface. Verily I say unto thee: these are no messages of good cheer. Only for strong nerves.

Animated Psycho
When ones internal equilibrium gets well out of whack and the sky is falling; when one feels deserted by all friends and gods alike; when one seeks shelter from the storm: mental states of emergency manifest themselves in these films in therapeutic dialogues and transforming bodies.

Late Night
Offbeat perspectives, subversive standpoints, spiced with trashy visuals and a dollop of sex&crime—these are the ingredients of this late-night snack. Not necessarily for diners of all ages but by all means tasty fare for a relaxed chill-out.

Motion Patterns
These films play with perspective and perception. Generative image design is the painting of the 21^st century.

Inner & Outer Spaces
Utopian landscapes like saline deserts and alien terrains, architecture and spaces in motion emerge and reformulate themselves in continuously shifting perspectives. Space and time get a bit blurred.

Narration
These are real-life stories. Or might have been. Or those that could only have happened in a dream. They tell of love, of the desire to flee, of protecting and helping, of deceptions and lies.

Position & Message
If you haven’t already stumbled across this stuff online, here it is neatly packaged: opinions, communiqués, statements and critiques. In short, what all sorts of people have to say on a wide variety of topics.

Short Cuts
Of course, it would be possible to give much more elaborate accounts of these matters, but this works too: succinct, colorful and entertaining. Just like it says, short cuts!

Sound & Vision
The interplay of image and sound already has a long tradition in computer animation. This program spotlights current examples of visual music: inseparable, sensual, lyrical …

Visual Effects
What’s real; what’s virtual? It’s increasingly difficult for observers to draw the dividing line. Considering what we encounter in films, TV shows and commercials nowadays, it seems nothing’s impossible anymore.

Japanese Animation
Visual imaginativeness and unconventional narrative forms characterize animation made in Japan. This program curated by the Japan Media Arts Festival showcases a cross-section of artistic productions from recent years.

Mexican Animation
ANIMASIVO, Contemporary animation forum, is pursuing to promote creation, production and massive diffusion of animated works as an art form and contemporary expression. This project is impulsed by the Festival of Mexico, with a triple profile: it´s a youth animation contest, an exhibition platform for consolidated artists and an animated art academic space.

Fri 4.9.
10:00 – 11:00	Prix Selection: Short Cuts
11:00 – 12:00	Japanese Animation
12:00 – 13:00	Prix Selection: Animal Worlds
13:00 – 14:00	Prix Selection: Dark Stories
14:00 – 15:00	Prix Selection: Motion Patterns
15:00 – 16:00	Prix Selection: Blood & Fight
16:00 – 17:00	Prix Selection: Position & Messages
17:00 – 18:00	Prix Selection: Animated Psycho
18:00 – 19:30	Prix Selection: Narration
19:30 – 20:30	Prix Selection: Late Night

Sat 5.9.
10:00 – 11:00	Prix Selection: Sound & Vision
11:00 – 12:00	Young Animations
12:00 – 13:00	Prix Selection: Visual Effects
13:00 – 14:00	Mexican Animation
20:00 – 21:30	Electronic Theater
22:30 – 24:00	Electronic Theater

Sun 6.9.
10:00 – 11:00	Prix Selection: Blood & Fight
11:00 – 12:00	Prix Selection: Position & Messages
12:00 – 13:00	Prix Selection: Inner / Outer Spaces
13:00 – 14:00	Young Animations
14:00 – 15:30	Prix Selection: Narration
15:30 – 16:30	Prix Selection: Dark Stories
16:30 – 17:30	Prix Selection: Motion Patterns
17:30 – 18:30	Prix Selection: Visual Effects
18:30 – 19:30	Japanese Animation
19:30 – 20:30	Prix Selection: Late Night

Mon 7.9.
10:00 – 11:00	Prix Selection: Inner / Outer Spaces
11:00 – 12:00	Prix Selection: Motion Patterns
12:00 – 13:00	Japanese Animation
13:00 – 14:00	Prix Selection: Animated Psycho
14:00 – 15:00	Prix Selection: Position & Messages
15:00 – 16:00	Prix Selection: Sound & Vision
16:00 – 17:00	Prix Selection: Animal Worlds
17:00 – 18:00	Prix Selection: Short Cuts
18:00 – 19:00	Mexican Animation
19:00 – 20:00	Prix Selection: Blood & Fight
20:00 – 21:00	Prix Selection: Late Night

Tue 8.9.
10:00 – 11:00	Prix Selection: Animal Worlds
11:00 – 12:00	Mexican Animation
12:00 – 13:30	Prix Selection: Narration
13:30 – 14:30	Prix Selection: Visual Effects
14:30 – 15:30	Prix Selection: Sound & Vision
15:30 – 16:30	Young Animations
16:30 – 17:30	Prix Selection: Animated Psycho
17:30 – 18:30	Prix Selection: Short Cuts
18:30 – 19:30	Prix Selection: Inner / Outer Spaces
19:30 – 20:30	Prix Selection: Dark Stories

Download PDF of detailed program

Filming and photographing during the screening is prohibited.