As a cooperation project of the Tempelhof-Schöneberg city library, the Encounters media workshop has access to professional photo, video and sound equipment. Staff members of the Tempelhof Schöneberg city library requested a workshop that would equip them with the know-how for handling this equipment in the long-term. A project idea was quickly developed: “Cuddly Toy Sleepover – The Movie”…
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The experimental short film is a poetic journey through an archive created by the film makers during the pandemic, which consists of videos, images, thoughts and feelings accompanying them in that time. In addition, the Berlin-based protagonists coming from the electronic music scene give an insight into their work and experiences during Corona.
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A Kiezstory by Nadim Helow, Jens Fischer Rodrian & Encounters media workshop. Berlin 2020 2020 will be remembered as a year of dramatic changes for billions of people. No superlative seems big enough to describe the ongoing sociopolitical and cultural challenge facing global society. State decisions have a deep impact on the lives of people who have to come to terms with a “new normality”. What do people say who
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A Kiezstory by Thomas Klein, Bianca Wiedersich & Encounters media workshop. Berlin 2020 In an online-meeting, five Berlin citizens of different generations tell stories about their experiences in times of COVID-19. Kiezstories by Medienwerkstatt Encounters Berlin is a mosaic of its history, people, places and stories, which are featured in our web series “Kiezstories” (= neighborhood stories). Become part of our web series by submitting your own video or
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A Kiezstory by Georgios Kechagias, Idil Deniz Sakar & Encounters media workshop. Berlin 2020 Geknüpft (knotted) is a short film about Hamid and his Gallerie Schiras, an Iranian carpet shop close to Wittenbergplatz. Hamid, a migrant of Azerbaijani ethnicity who was born and raised in the carpet city of Tabriz in Iran, tells us how he grew up between carpet-making, music and traditional storytelling. The film focuses not only on his days
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A Kiezstory by Klaus Abromeit, Adrian Banciu, Sonam Dechen & Encounters media workshop. Berlin 2019 The streets, roads and pavements made of stone are western symbols for comfort, like the oriental rugs. We consider them unworthy of our attention, as voiceless servants. This movie will change that. Kiezstories by ©Medienwerkstatt Encounters Berlin is a mosaic of its history, people, places and stories, which are featured in our web series “Kiezstories”
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A Kiezstory by Roja Ghoreishi, Vanessa Macedo & Encounters media workshop. Berlin 2019 “My favorite season” is centered on gender issues. In order to challenge patriarchy, two people from different parts of the world share their experiences with each other. Kiezstories by ©Medienwerkstatt Encounters Berlin is a mosaic of its history, people, places and stories, which are featured in our web series “Kiezstories” (= neighborhood stories). Choose your subtitles in Arabic, Farsi,
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Bogotrax is festival for electronic music and electronic art. Originally launched in 2003 as a small gathering of local and international creatives in Bogota, it has been held in February every year since then. Framed by a political demand for more social justice, the festival organises presentations, conferences, performances, workshops, exhibitions and even raves – all free-of-charge and accessible to all. The reappropriation of different urban spaces such as streets,
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A Kiezstory by Charlotte Bütterich, Brooj Alammari, Sophie Erman & Encounters media workshop. Berlin 2019 The short film “Moving Sound” is an experimental exploration of how sound is influencing our perception of the environment and the moving body. Kiezstories by ©Medienwerkstatt Encounters Berlin is a mosaic of its history, people, places and stories, which are featured in our web series “Kiezstories” (= neighborhood stories). Choose your subtitles in Arabic, Farsi,
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A Kiezstory by Noemi Brachvogel & Encounters media workshop. Berlin 2019 On her way home, the filmmaker discovers a blue stripe in her neighborhood in Friedrichshain. She follows it and searches for its origin. It is a memorial to the former women’s prison on Barnimstrasse. “Der blaue Streifen” is a cinematic reflection on being a woman today and then and how the past meets the present in everyday life. Kiezstories
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A Kiezstory by Lou Rodrian & Encounters media workshop. Berlin 2019 Lou lives in Friedenau, has her favorite places and everyday life in her“Kiez”/neighborhood. On her way to school, she walks past a group of homeless men every day. One day she decides to speak to the group and get to know the men. The film wants to find out how they spend their days, what they see and think
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The web series “Kiez stories” The web series “Kiez stories” intends to show the polyphony of Berlin. Possibly you know someone you are fascinated by or whose destiny touched you. Or there might be a place in town that you would like to present. Maybe you feel like telling the founding story of a shop, a bar or a café in your neighbourhood/your quarter (= your “Kiez”). You can
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What it means to flee from persecution, hunger, death and suffering is hard for many to imagine. That is why it is so important to tell and get told about it. The short film “mensch.human.” tries to approach these experiences between suffering, being and hoping in conversations. As one of four film projects, it was created within three months in collaboration with refugees* from Brück in Brandenburg and German participants.
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Text: Sarah Fichtner & Canan Mona Pour-Norouz “As we move, we move others; in observing others move – we are moved.” (Judith Lynne Hanna, anthropologist and author of “Dancing to Learn”) Mona impressed me. There was something in the dance video and in the words that she had sent to our encounter team that deeply touched me. I knew I had to meet her. Call it destiny.
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Safe Cities “The film “Safe Cities” deals with three people, who were unknown to each other and who came to Berlin because of different reasons, from different places and through different ways. The film shows one Turkish, one Mexican, one Syrian person engaging in a conversation that ponders on different dimensions of migration, access to the host society and the social and emotional baggage that is implied in such experiences.
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“Give me your hand” is a song that addresses racism against immigrants in Algeria, where it has sparked quite some controversy. For this reason, I had a conversation with Sadek, who wrote the song, in order to understand his point of view. I asked him to explain the song and the message behind it.
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