The New Frontier on Main: Panels, showcase, new tech from Sundance

The 2008 Sundance Film Festival announced today a line-up of cinematic installations, live multimedia performance events, and panel discussions that will be featured in the New Frontier on Main, a flagship venue that is part of the Festival’s New Frontier program for showcasing films and art work from the cutting edge of cinematic culture. The 2008 Sundance Film Festival runs January 17-27 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Sundance, Utah. For a complete list of films, visit the Sundance Institute website at www.sundance.org/festival.

Serving as a platform for artists, New Frontier highlights the intersection of art, film, and emerging media technologies. The artists involved use the moving image to explore new concepts of narrative structure. A vital part of New Frontier is the screening of seven feature films at Festival theatre venues. This year, the artists whose films will be shown are: Yang Fudong (SEVEN INTELLECTUALS IN BAMBOO FOREST, PARTS 1- 5), James Benning (CASTING A GLANCE); Michelange Quay (EAT, FOR THIS IS MY BODY (MANGE, CECI EST MON CORPS)); Blutch, Charles Burns, Marie Callou, Richard McGuire, Pierre Di Sciullio, and Lorenzo Mattotti (FEAR(S) OF THE DARK (PEUR(S) DU NOIR)); Jennifer Phang (HALF-LIFE), and Mia Trachinger,(REVERSION).

This year, New Frontier on Main will also present 15 installations by artists working in the moving-image medium.

"Much of the work by New Frontier artists is created in spaces that exist outside the traditional world of filmmaking, and, consequently, these artists enjoy an extended measure of creative freedom to imagine and take risks,” said Shari Frilot, Senior Programmer, Sundance Film Festival. “Their work is designed to physically engage the audience in a manner very different from the more passive experience of sitting in a darkened theatre.”

“At New Frontier On Main, we want to cultivate an artistic and social environment that seductively disarms people when they enter the space. It's a way of unlocking inhibitions and encouraging audiences to think about opening themselves up to the new rules and cinematic suggestions which the New Frontier artists are inviting you to consider.”

A sneak peak of the works featured at New Frontier on Main is accessible worldwide on the Sundance Film Festival website at http://www.sundance.org/festival/film_events/new_frontier_on_main.asp—featuring links to the virtual worlds of New Frontier on Main artists, from Rothenberg and Crouse's INVISIBLE THREADS Second Life sweatshop factory to Hasan Elahi’s up to the minute tracking website TRACKING TRANSIENCE: THE ORWELL PROJECT, to a clip of Doug Aitken's SLEEPWALKERS.

New Frontier on Main is presented by Adobe Systems Incorporated, HP, and Sony Electronics, Inc. Additional support is provided by the American Center Foundation and the James Irvine Foundation.

Program for the 2008 New Frontier section

New Frontier on Main will present the following Artist Presentations and Media Installations:

ALONG THE WAY/ (Artist: ©ause Collective)– ©ause Collective uses a vibrant assembly of video portraits of people and places around Oakland, CA to paint a mesmerizing digital canvas of what makes up a town. ALONG THE WAY digs below the surface to examine how the unique individual affects the greater identity and how a community is a direct reflection of its citizenry.

DARKGAME/BEST FLAME WAR EVER/ (Artist: Eddo Stern)–A motivating force in the art of video gaming, Eddo Stern makes calculated statements on the culture of solitary beings. Darkgame is for two players, working with various forms of sensory deprivation. Best Flame War Ever displays two avatar faces re-enacting overtly machismo chat room conversations. Darkgame gaming sessions take place from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. daily.

God Builds Like Frank Lloyd Wright/ (Artist: Califone and the Animated Films of Brent Green)–In the converted barn he lives in, Brent Green is a stylized, self-taught animator. He doesn't hide the process or the lines and tape. In this special live appearance with Califone, Green becomes a wild preacher, writhing and channeling his stories. Friday, January 18 at 6:30 p.m.; Sunday, January 20 at 6:30 p.m.; Monday, January 21 at 6:30 p.m.

HOME MOVIES 300/ (Artist: Jim Campbell)–Utilizing custom electronics with columns of high-powered L.E.D.s (Light Emitting Diodes), Jim Campbell creates an ethereal new form of sculptural art out of old style home movies. The images are universal, as is the wonderful effect of memories fuzzy and obscured, yet fully evocative.

INVISIBLE THREADS: SWEATSHOP JEAN FACTORY IN SECOND LIFE/ (Artists: Stephanie Rothenberg & Jeffery Crouse)–Audiences can buy a pair of designer blue jeans manufactured on the spot in a Second Life sweatshop factory and walk away wearing them in this playful interactive installation that replicates real world economies and scrutinizes the relationship between real world dollars and virtual assets. Shopping hours: 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. daily at New Frontier on Main.

L.A.S.E.R. TAG/ (Artist: Graffiti Research Lab)–L.A.S.E.R. TAG is a Weapon of Mass Defacement (WMD) that gives individuals the power to communicate their thoughts on buildings and a multitude of sites around the Festival using a 60 milliwatt laser and a large projector. The G.R.L. will be bombing screenings, party events, and other random targets for the duration of the festival. Meet Graffiti Research Lab and see video documentation of these experiments on Tuesday, January 22 at 12:30 p.m. at New Frontier on Main.

MIKE KELLEY / (Artist: Jennifer Steinkamp)–Steinkamp creates an enchantedforest at New Frontier on Main with her magical high-definition video projections of individually crafted trees that twist and twirl and change through the seasons. Projected to fill the height of the venue’s walls, the trees interact with the architecture of the lounge, creating a splendid tension between the imaginary landscape and the physical space.

NEXT YEAR’S BAD NEWS BEARS/ (Artist: Cory Arcangel in collaboration with Paper Rad)–The masters of culture observationalism, Paper Rad and Cory Arcangel will blow up pop art in a one-night-only film and live music performance. Experience the breakdown of consumer-sized ideas and colors with Lucid, OCD trip, Nintendo worlds and the “The Bruce Springsteen Born to Run Glockenspiel Addendum.” Saturday, January 19 at 8:30 p.m.

THE POSTER CHILDREN/HEROES OF THE REVOLUTION/ (Artist: Marina Zurkow)–Marina Zurkow returns to the Festival (her BRAINGIRL series was featured in the Sundance On Line Film Festival in 2001) with a haunting pair of gorgeously rendered animated installation works that reflect our surreal world of oceanic detritus, child warfare, and melting ice caps.

SLEEPWALKERS/ (Artist: Doug Aitken)–Aitken will present a special single channel version of his groundbreaking MOMA installation. A gorgeous and evocative work staring Donald Sutherland, Tilda Swinton and the music of Cat Power, Sleepwalkers entwines the storylines of five nocturnal New Yorkers who awaken as the sun sets, prepare to set out into the night, and make their way through the city to their disparate destinations. Sleepwalkers is on display at New Frontier on Main at 2:30 p.m. daily. Conversation with Doug Aitken at New Frontier, Wed., January 23 at 6:30 p.m.

SNOW MIRROR/PEG MIRROR/ (Artist: Daniel Rozin)–“How the heck does it work??” is the usual first response to Daniel Rozin's magical mirrors. Snow Mirror celebrates the drift of black and white, forming a reflection of the audience viewer from video snow. Peg Mirror questions the notions of digital object and light reflection, forming a reflection of the viewer from 650 circular wooden pegs.

TERRA NOVA: THE ANTARCTIC SUITE – A WORK IN PROCESS/ (Artist: Paul D. Miller AKA DJ Spooky)–In this one-night event, DJ Spooky gives us a glimpse of his new work that acoustically portrays the transformation of Antarctica. Miller’s field recordings couple with visual material from Getty Images in a live performance that comments on man’s relationship with nature. Performance and conversation with the artist Tuesday, January 22 at 9:00 p.m..

THE STORY IS STILL ASLEEP/ (Artists: Braden King, Shahzad Ali Ismaily, Deborah Johnson)–This live, multi-media film and music event explores the pre-narrative ether from which a movie emerges. A collaboration between Sundance Institute Lab Fellows Braden King (filmmaker) and Shahzad Ismaily (composer) with video artist Deborah Johnson, this performance shines a light on the literal and metaphoric maps of the atmospheric tone and dream-life from which King’s new feature, HERE, is now awakening. Thursday, January 24 at 9:00 p.m..

TRACKING TRANSIENCE: THE ORWELL PROJECT/ (Artist: Hasan Elahi)–Since being mislabeled and tracked as a terrorist, Hasan Elahi decided to reclaim his pursuit of happiness by naming the FBI as his artistic collaborator. Tracking himself in this website installation, anyone can see what he's doing at any time, analyzing the incredible connection between the real and virtual worlds we now depend upon.

XANADU/ (Artist: Robert Boyd)–In this special single-channel presentation of Boyd’s explosive installation, a history of apocalyptic thought is presented in this probe of society's self-destructive impulse. Rapid-fire montage of Doomsday cults, iconic political figures, and global fundamentalist movements are crafted into MTV-style music videos set to disco. Xanadu is on display at New Frontier on Main at 2:30 p.m. daily.

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New Frontier on Main will present the following Panels and Presentations:

NEW FILMMAKING TECHNOLOGY: WHAT’S NOW AND WHAT’S NEXT

FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 12:30 P.M.

NEW FRONTIER ON MAIN (MICROCINEMA)

Ranging from lofty 4K cameras to the humblest laptop editing system, it seems no technology is beyond today’s indie filmmakers. How do we choose the best solutions available? Join the makers behind the Festival’s most innovative films to review the latest in HD cinematography, workflow options, post-production software, and more. Moderated by entertainment technology strategy adviser Phil Lelyveld, formerly with Disney.

WEBOLUTION!—HOLLYWOOD ADAPTS TO THE WEB

SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 12: 30 P.M.

NEW FRONTIER ON MAIN (MICROCINEMA)

The writing is on the wall – the Industry must adapt to new media or face extinction. Today’s studios and independents are finally embracing the challenge of porting content and revenue to new distribution strategies. Join Hollywood power brokers and new media superstars to discuss their strategies for the Web. Moderated by Kara Swisher of The Wall Street Journal’s AllThingsD.com.

In 3-D: THE FUTURE IS NOW (ticketed panel)

SUNDAY, JANUARY 20, 11:30 p.m.

PROSPECTOR THEATER

Lose the red and blue cardboard glasses; this is not your daddy's 3-D. A new generation of groundbreaking technologies offers a wildly diverse range of creative possibilities and the potential to transform the theatrical moviegoing experience. A handful of 3-D's leading practitioners invite you for a sneak preview of things to come (glasses provided).

THE ARTISTS OF THE NEW FRONTIER

SUNDAY, JANUARY 20, 12:30 P.M.

NEW FRONTIER ON MAIN (MICROCINEMA)

Today’s fine artists are increasingly incorporating the tools of filmmaking in their work, blurring the boundaries between disciplines. The result is some of the most independent, technologically savvy visions in the Festival. Join the artists of the New Frontier as they discuss the space between art, electronics, and moving images. Moderated by Mike Plante, CineVegas Programer, Sundance New Frontier consultant.

ALTERNATIVE STORYTELLING FOR NEW DIGITAL MEDIA PLATFORMS

MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 12:30 P.M.

NEW FRONTIER ON MAIN (MICROCINEMA)

How do you tell good stories in a world where your computer is a television, your cell phone is a movie screen, and your avatar addresses a global virtual audience? Join visionary new media funders, media artists, tech pundits and program innovators to discuss the development of next generation content for emerging platforms. Moderated by Wendy Levy, Bay Area Video Coalition (BAVC).

GOING IT ALONE: DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION FOR INDIE FILMMAKERS

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 12:30 P.M.

NEW FRONTIER ON MAIN (MICROCINEMA)

The myriad distribution opportunities facing today’s filmmakers makes for a landscape of both opportunity and confusion. How can you maximize your digital rights potential? Where are the best revenue opportunities? Join buyers, sellers, and filmmakers to discuss rights, royalties, and windows in the wild world of digital distribution now. Moderated by Meyer Schwarzstein, CEO of Brainstorm Media.

SOCIAL CYBORG: HOW TECHNOLOGY IS CHANGING US

THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 12 NOON

NEW FRONTIER ON MAIN (MICROCINEMA)

Beyond how we act, the Internet affects how we think—raising questions of who we are as individuals and as a community. Social networking, user-generated content, multiplayer gaming, file-sharing – we are joined in previously unimagined ways. Join leading innovators as we explore the ramifications of a wired populous. Moderated by Katie Hafner, technology reporter, The New York Times.

COLLISION COURSE: CONTENT PROVIDERS AND THE CREATIVE COMMUNITY CHART A COURSE FOR THE FUTURE

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 12:30 P.M.

NEW FRONTIER ON MAIN (MICROCINEMA)

In 2007, Hollywood chose to stop production over unresolved new media revenue issues. Instead, we at Sundance 2008 look forward. How do we quantify the distribution models? How do we share? Join industry and indie prognosticators as we examine subscription models, targeted advertising, rev-sharing, and other emerging business strategies. Moderated by Scott Kirsner of Variety.

FILMS SCREENING IN FESTIVAL THEATRE VENUES AS PART OF THE NEW FRONTIER SECTION (Previously Announced)

The feature-length films screening in New Frontier are:

casting a glance/ U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: James Benning)—An experiential look at Robert Smithson’s monumental sculpture, the Spiral Jetty, as it has evolved over 30 years in concert with the ebb and flow of the Great Salt Lake.

EAT, FOR THIS IS MY BODY (MANGE, CECI EST MON CORPS)/ France/ Haiti (Director and Screenwriter: Michelange Quay)— A dream-like meditation on the evolution of racial conquest and liberation in Haiti. Cast: Sylvie Testud. U.S. Premiere

FEAR(S) OF THE DARK (PEUR(S) DU NOIR)/ France (Directors: Blutch, Charles Burns, Marie Callou, Richard McGuire, Pierre Di Sciullio, Lorenzo Mattotti Screenwriters: Jerry Kramsky, Pirus, Romaine Slocombe, Artistic Director: Etienne Robial)—Ten leading graphic artists and cartoonists have breathed life into their phobias and nightmares in this animated feature. North American Premiere

HALF-LIFE/ U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Jennifer Phang)— As troubling signs of global cataclysms accelerate, a brother and sister react to their father's desertion and the powerful presence of their mother's new boyfriend. World Premiere

REVERSION/ U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Mia Trachinger)— In a world in which the past, present and future simultaneously unfold, a woman whose genetic mutation leaves her devoid of morality struggles to preserve her romance with the man she loves. World Premiere

SEVEN INTELLECTUALS IN BAMBOO FOREST, PARTS 4 and 5/ U.S.A. (Artist: Yang Fudong)— A rare screening of the artist's most recently completed films in his celebrated series, based on the history of seven intellectuals in the ancient Chinese Wei and Jin Dynasties.

The short films screening in New Frontier are:

BECAUSE WASHINGTON IS HOLLYWOOD FOR UGLY PEOPLE (Director: Kenneth Tin-Kin Hung)– Politician John McCain coined the expression, "Washington is a Hollywood for Ugly People." This scathing work satirizes with bold images, color and music over past and current political leadership.

BUYO/ Italy (Director: Andrea Fasciani)– In this post-modern tale, Ralph is a guy whose voice only generates weird sounds, and Anna is deaf. One day they meet in the elevator. Ralph's unusual voice makes Anna's body vibrate, prompting Anna's affections and her desire to follow him everywhere.

COUNT BACKWARDS FROM FIVE (Director: Tony Gault)–This is a film about generosity and addiction that commemorate the filmmaker's brother's recent passing.

GAS ZAPPERS (Director: Kenneth Tin-Kin Hung) – GAS ZAPPERS is a short animation about climate change. The main character, the ironically over-appropriated and fuzzy polar bear, abruptly finds itself in a position to save its home.

PLOT POINT/ Belgium (Director: Nicolas Provost)– The crowded streets of New York City turn into fictive, filmic scenery. By playing with our collective memory–its cinematic codes and narrative language–PLOT POINT questions the boundaries of reality and fiction. All of the actions and characters are real people in real life, filmed with a hidden camera through the cinematic eye of the filmmaker, without any set ups or instructions.

SEVILLA -->(∞) 06/ Italy (Director: Olivo Barbieri)– SEVILLA (¥) 06 is a tale about the perception of Europe in Africa...from the vantage point of an airplane.

SUSPENSION/ Belgium (Director: Nicolas Provost)– Letting go of realist constraints, and going back to the mirror-images of some of Provost's previous works, we dive into a metamorphosing cosmic ocean.

New Frontier builds on the Sundance Film Festival’s long-standing commitment to screening work and showcasing films that expand and explode the traditional aesthetics and narrative structures of filmmaking. This effort began more than 20 years ago and was formally incorporated with the start of the Frontier section in 1996 .

Recent break-outs from the Frontier/New Frontier category include Sir Anthony Hopkins' SLIPSTREAM, Douglas Gordon and Philippe Parreno's ZIDANE, Kelly Reichardt’s OLD JOY, Cam Archer’s WILD TIGERS I HAVE KNOWN and Jonathan Caouette’s TARNATION. Other past selections include IRREVERSIBLE by Gaspar Noe and CREMASTER 3 by Matthew Barney, as well as work from such renowned experimental filmmakers as Jennifer Todd Reeves, Betzy Bromberg, Reynold Reynolds, and William Greaves.