Cinema Synesthesia is a collaborative initiative formed by the Experimental Film Society (EFS), the EFS Film School, and TCS. This year, the second edition of this collaboration will take place in Berlin at Kino Central onOctober 29th and 30th, 2024.
Curators Note:
For this occasion, I have curated two programs of short films, a process that has spanned the past twelve months. These extraordinary short films are the result of contributions from students who have attended my classes, filmmakers who have contacted me directly, and others I have discovered through my research into specific experimental films produced by artists deeply engaged in ritualistic and alchemical methods of cinema-making.
The films you will see in these two programs are a testament to a profound personal engagement with cinema, aiming to reveal aspects of filmmaking that are often overlooked, forgotten, or rendered invisible in conventional curatorial or festival presentations. These films operate in stark contrast to the commonly accepted forms of even experimental cinema found at festivals or within institutional contexts. The primary subject of these works is cinema itself—the medium, its attributes, and its inherent qualities—combined with the unique conditions of the filmmakers’ lives, including existential, socio-political, and personal dimensions. The filmmakers primarily come from Iran, the Iranian diaspora, and a diverse array of international artists.
Under the scrutiny of a cinematic macroscopic investigation, these films have developed a unique language, brought to life through the dedication of the filmmakers. As a result, they create a heterogeneous and distinct viewing experience. These films do not necessarily complement or oppose each other; instead, they each offer a unique space—a distinct breathing space, an alien landscape—that conveys a worldview filtered through the filmmakers’ engagement with the mechanics and aesthetics of cinema. The resulting works are deeply personalized, shaped by each filmmaker’s individual approach to employing cinema.
Consequently, I hesitate to label these films as “experimental.” They could only have been created in the unique ways they have been, and thus, they transcend categorization, even within the realm of experimental cinema. What you will experience is deeply personal, poetic filmmaking that is utterly unique to each creator. These films form a collection that is both highly individualized and profoundly expressive. – Rouzbeh Rashidi
Each screening will be followed by a question-and-answer session hosted by Rouzbeh Rashidi, featuring the filmmakers involved in the programme.
Address: Kino Central, Rosenthaler Straße 39, 10178 Berlin
Program One: Tuesday, 29 October 2024, 65 minutes, 8:30 PM to 10:30 PM
1. A Play for Public (2021) – Vida Kashani and Amir Komelizadeh / Iran & The Netherlands / 25 minutes
2. Accursed Effigy (2024) – Amirmahdi Kalantari & Abraham Paul Velázquez Navarro / Germany & The Czech Republic / 8 minutes
3. Gelbe Erde (2024) – Ferdinand Uth & Anton Gartung / Germany / 3 minutes
4. Laughter (2023) – Luna Schamal / Germany / 4 minutes 48 seconds
5. Graceful Degradations (Blood Angel and the Lexicon of Heaven) (2023) – Paul Josephine Frank / Germany / 3 minutes 56 seconds
6. The Hermit of Greece (2024) – Maede Mohsenpour / Iran / 4 minutes
7. Blick (2023) – Mehrad Sepahnia and Atefeh Kheirabadi / Iran & Germany / 14 minutes
Program Two: Wednesday, October 30, 2024, 65 minutes, 8:30 PM to 10:30 PM
1. The Passion of the Fish (2024) – Hasti Valeh / Iran / 20 minutes
2. Flesh and Dust (2024) – Yasaman Pishvaei / Germany / 12 minutes
3. In Time, I Drift (2024) – Jacqueline Silva (AKA Azeda) / Germany / 3 minutes
4. Nirgend Hin (2024) – Janna Heiß / Germany / 13 minutes 34 seconds
5. Und an Weihnachten schrieb ich dem Christkind einen Brief (2024) – Janna Heiß / Germany / 3 minutes
6. The Magic Circle (2023) – Atoosa Pour Hosseini / Ireland / 11 minutes
