Experimenta 2009: Experimental Cinema Festival in Bangalore
In 2009, after a year-long break, Experimenta, India's inaugural festival dedicated to experimental cinema, made its comeback in Bangalore, under the curation of Shai Heredia. The festival delved into the connections between historical and modern visual arts and film, showcasing programs from South Korea and Thailand, along with two Indian selections. Guest curators Pablo De Ocampo and Jacob Korczynski introduced 'Siting Cinema,' featuring films by Oliver Husain and Isabell Spengler. Lectures by Peter Zorn and Sandra B. Naumann included works from Mary Ellen Bute. The main venue, Jaaga, hosted performances such as Hangjun Lee's 'Nebula Rising.' A package from the Bangkok Experimental Film Festival reflected Thailand's political situation, while Heredia's 'Dream on' program highlighted violence against women in Mangalore through works by Gayatri Kodikal, Neil Beloufa, and Chaoba Thiyam.
Key facts
- Experimenta is India's first and only festival of experimental cinema.
- The 2009 edition was held in Bangalore after a one-year break.
- Curated by Shai Heredia, founder of Experimenta and Filter India.
- Featured curated programs from South Korea and Thailand.
- Guest curators included Pablo De Ocampo and Jacob Korczynski from The Images Festival, Toronto.
- Sandra B. Naumann presented works by film pioneer Mary Ellen Bute.
- Main venue was Jaaga: The Creative Common Ground.
- Hangjun Lee performed 'Nebula Rising' using five 16mm projectors.
- A program from Bangkok Experimental Film Festival addressed Thailand's political climate.
- Collaborative project 'Vivaadada Bagge Samvaada' investigated violence against women in Mangalore.
- Chaoba Thiyam's film 'The Eye of an ‘I’' addressed Manipur's Armed Forces Special Power Act.
- No parallel screenings allowed for engaged discussions.
Entities
Artists
- Shai Heredia
- Nicole Wolf
- Pablo De Ocampo
- Jacob Korczynski
- Oliver Husain
- Isabell Spengler
- Peter Zorn
- Sandra B. Naumann
- Mary Ellen Bute
- Hangjun Lee
- Seo Won-Tae
- Minyong Yang
- Mike Stubbs
- Ulrike Mothes
- Arun Kumar
- Gayatri Kodikal
- Neil Beloufa
- Chaoba Thiyam
- Karpo Godina
- Denis Beaubois
- Dhundiraj Govind Phalke
Institutions
- Experimenta
- Filter India
- The Images Festival
- Werkleitz Media Art Center
- Gallery SKE
- Jaaga: The Creative Common Ground
- Samuha
- Shrishti School of Art, Design and Technology
- Bangkok Experimental Film Festival
- EXIS
- Films Division
- Afterall
Locations
- Bangalore
- India
- Mumbai
- Delhi
- South Korea
- Thailand
- North America
- Europe
- Toronto
- Canada
- Halle
- Germany
- Linz
- Austria
- Berlin
- Mangalore
- Goa
- Mali
- Manipur
- Britain
- East Germany
Sources
- Afterall —