Anti-Film Fest 2004

No sell-out, no celluloid.

Designed to showcase cinematic creativity freed from the restrictions (and expense) of shooting on film, the inaugural Anti-Film Fest event hits Prague on Saturday, November 13th, beginning with a screening of the Michael W. Dean documentary D.I.Y. or Die: How to Survive as an Independent Artist and a further three hours of short independent movies shot on digital video, at the Kino Světozor cinema.

Chosen to inspire would-be digital video artists to get their hands on the necessary equipment and begin shooting in anger, the Dean documentary features the likes of Lydia Lunch, Ian MacKaye (Fugazi), J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.), Jim Rose (Jim Rose Sideshow), JG Thirlwell (Foetus), Mike Watt (Minutemen), filmmaker Richard Kern, Ron Asheton (The Stooges), Madigan Shive (Bonfire Madigan) and Dave Brockie (Gwar) - all artists who've resolutely done things their own way themselves.

Planned as a twice-yearly event, the Anti-Film Fest aims to showcase short, independently produced "non-film films," less than 15 minutes in length, promoting a growing new community of independent filmmakers.

The Anti-Film Fest is being organized by the Prague-based online media, arts and music publication Provokator.org, with technical help from the PCFE Film School and sponsorship from Česká spořitelna and FotoŠkoda.

Saturday's event will benefit Ochránci Hospodářských Zvířat ("Protectors of Farm Animals"), a non-profit organization dedicated to animal welfare. FotoŠkoda will be presenting OHZ with a Nikon 3.5 megapixel digital camera, on the festival's behalf, prior to Saturday's screenings.

Tickets for Saturday's event are 200 Kč.

The organizers plan to begin accepting submissions for the next Anti-Film Fest event, planned for June 2005, in January.