POOLINALE is an international Music Film Festival taking place in Vienna for the fourth time. This year, the festival will be held from the 25th – 30th of March in the Viennese venues Top Kino, Porgy & Bess and Gartenbaukino.
The thematic focus of the POOLINALE 2014 is “Music and Society“. The curated film program examines the meaning and potential power of music in dealing with political and social tensions, as well as changes in the social or personal environment. Many of this years festival films display the significance of music as a connecting element between people and cultures, and as an artistic form of expression in terms of personal development.
One of the featured documentaries is “Music and Coexistence“, which explores the importance of music projects in crisis zones, such as the Israeli-Palestinian border area or a divided Kosovan city. The director Oseilly Hanna will also be present at the film’s European premiere as one of the festival guests.
The film “As The Palaces Burn” initially intended to show the fundamental differences between the worldwide fans of the metal heroes LAMB OF GOD and thus how music brings people together. However, during filming, the project took a surprising twist when the singer of the band was charged and arrested for manslaughter in Prague. The documentary thereby takes a drastic turn on the perspective of various scene clichés and on the film itself.
“The Punk Singer” is a documentary film that traces the life of the outspoken feminist icon Kathleen Hanna (lead singer of BIKINI KILL, LE TIGRE). With lots of archival footage and interviews, the films provides an intriguing overview of her story and career in the rise of the Riot Grrrls movement.
“My Prairie Home” is a documentary about the confrontations that are faced as a transgender, told through the story of singer/songwriter RAE SPOON. Giving other intimate insights, “Mistaken For Strangers” is a film by director Tom Berninger, who created an unusual and sometimes bizarre portrait of his brother’s band THE NATIONAL.
This year the festival will once again also highlight Austrian productions. The world premiere of the Austrian music film “Fuck The Atlantic Ocean” tells the story of SWEET SWEET MOON, whose acoustic session was documented by the Viennese video blog “They Shoot Music Don’t They” and became an unexpected YouTube hit in South America, which was followed by a trip through Chile and Argentina. The world premiere of this film will also serve as the official festival opening in the charming Viennese venue Porgy & Bess (Thursday, March 27, 7.30 pm)
Another Austrian feature of the program is “DMD KIU LIDT“. George Tiller’s silent ‘anti-music film’ with and about the highly acclaimed Austrian band JA, PANIK just recently celebrated its premiere at the Berlinale.
“All Night” is a highly entertaining documentary about Austria’s currently most successful pop musician PAROV STELAR, who was accompanied on tour by a film crew that documented unusually deep insights into the backstage areas of the music scene.
The fourth POOLINALE will start off with a big anniversary at the kick-off event on Tuesday, March 25 (9.00pm):
In conjunction with the film event series “Strahler 80”, the festival will welcome visitors at the Gartenbaukino for a screening of Rob Reiner’s 30-year-old legendary mockumentary “This Is Spinal Tap“.
On Wednesday, March 26, the concert of “Sugarman” RODRIGUEZ, whose film “Searching for Sugarman” will be shown on the 30th of March at the Top Kino, will bridge over to the official festival start on Thursday, March 27, at the venue Porgy & Bess. In addition to the already mentioned world premiere, the shortlist of the 2nd Austrian Music Video Award nominations will also be announced during the evening. This prize, organized in cooperation with Vienna Independent Shorts (VIS), Screen Sessions and mica – music austria, will be awarded at the end of May at the VIS festival.
From Friday to Sunday the Top Kino will serve as the festival headquarters. In addition to the film program, the “Poolinale Talks” will offer deep insights into the world between music, film and advertising – this year the interaction between brands and music will be the center topic.
As of the 10th of March 2014, regular film tickets will be available on www.poolinale.at and ntry.at/tag/poolinale.
Link to POOLINALE program: www.poolinale.at/14_films
POOLINALE FILMS
- As The Palaces Burn
- DMD KIU LIDT
- Fuck The Atlantic Ocean
- Mistaken For Strangers
- Muscle Shoals
- Music And Coexistence
- My Prairie Home
- Searching For Sugarman
- The Punk Singer
- All Night
- Emo (The Musical)
POOLINALE SPECIALS
- 30th Anniversary Screening: This Is Spinal Tap
- 2nd Austrian Music Video Award: Shortlist Announcement
- Poolinale Talks 2014