Family Snaps and Soundscapes

The classic definition of a “screener” is a film that is not yet finished. Because it is intended to be shown only to a select club – critics, test audiences, etc. – this film format rarely reaches the general public. In its contemporary use, however, the term “screener” means a hand-held, illegally filmed copy of a film showing at the cinema. The Screeners Festival combines the two definitions with a do- it-yourself attitude in a three-day festival of workshops, screenings, lectures, and concerts. The initiative was launched by the Brussels-based multimedia collective Oiseaux Sans Tête. Over the past few weeks, they invited people to send in their old 16 and 8 mm films – as long as they were copyright-free. The Barcelona-based collective Todojunto and interested laymen will work on this material for two days. Like at previous workshops in Paris, Athens, Bogota, and other cities, the aim is to produce a series of new films, a publication, and an exhibition.
Beside seldom or never before screened documentaries and a richly illustrated lecture on found archive and family photos, this mini-festival is also presenting a series of concerts. Thursday is a day of improvisation. One local performer is Bear Bones, Lay Low, the pseudonym of native Venezuelan Ernesto Gonzalez. With his electric guitar flat on the table (in jargon: tabletop guitar), he performs formless noise clouds that aim to be psychedelic. The beautiful Spanish Lucrecia Dalt paints poppy soundscapes. In addition to the guitar, she also uses electronica, toys, and vocals.
On Friday, the results of the workshops will be presented to audiences in a festive atmosphere. Top of the bill is the German Candie Hank. In his live set, he blends moogs, forgotten film soundtracks, psychedelic music, and electro in an inimitable way. While all the activities are free, this closing show will cost you only five euro.

Screeners Festival 11 > 13/4, RECYCLART, Station Brussel-Kapellekerk/Gare Bruxelles-Chapelle,
Ursulinenstraat 25 rue des Ursulines, Brussel/Bruxelles, 02-502.57.34, www.recyclart.be