Shorts 6 – Artist’s Odyssey
From an electronically generated virtual world in Pieces to a tangible three-dimensional one equally challenging, this short film program brings us closer to the passions and self-discoveries that drive creativity. A student faces numerous obstacles in dating apps through a Hegelian philosophical lens in Wegen Hegel. Photographer Ajamu gets lost in 1990s Brighton while trying to make it to the opening of his first solo exhibition in The Homecoming.
While in Dildotectonics, Rebeca creates a collection of non-phallic ceramic dildos as they delve into the time of the Inquisition. In a fantasy world, the deepest desires are discovered by a mother and her teenage son in Carrotica. The wonderful Valerie reveals her fascination with the Italian diva Milva, in a journey that transitions from the wild 80s in Berlin to a present filled with serenity in Valery Alexanderplatz. Undoubtedly, the creative drive is unstoppable, but perhaps these films, instead of providing us with answers, will generate even more questions. Hegel himself already said: „Contradiction is the root of all movement“.
Content notes: flashing lights, suicide (Pieces)
Length: 91 min
Pieces
A confused, two-dimensional misfit, unloved in their 2D home, ventures into the 3D world. Desperate to feel loved and find a safe space, they start losing touch with reality.
Wegen Hegel
“the real is rational, and the rational is real”, says German Philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel. But when the pandemic hits Germany, everything changes. Chinese student PING just started his philosophy studies and faces many obstacles: hostility, loneliness, lockdown. On a dating app he receives spicy photos from MAX, who proposes a “social distance hook-up”.
Ping is excited and embarks on his adventure. Offered a mysterious drug, he is about to have sex, when he suddenly notices a book by Hegel. It sucks him into a drug induced reflection about free will and reality, which kills the vibe of the moment. He flees after an argument and loses himself in the drug experience. The next morning, he makes another unexpected discovery – and all that because of Hegel (Wegen Hegel).
by Popo Fan
Germany, 2023
German, English, Mandarin Chinese
(English subtitles)
14 min.
Narrative
Babylon Kreuzberg
01.06.2024 – 20:30
The Homecoming: A short film about Ajamu
Black Queer Photographer Ajamu X struggles to get to his own first one man show. He encounters obstacles along the way as we learn about his work and philosophy. A rare portrayal of sexual positivity from a UK Black perspective in the mid 1990’s.
Dildotectonics
In this day and age, Rebeca attempts to create a collection of non-phallic ceramic dildos. During the Inquisition, Josefa finds a dildo that is used in their forbidden love relationship with Maria. Although in different timelines, the paths of Rebeca and Josefa end up crossing each other.
by Tomás Paula Marques
Portugal, 2023
Portuguese
(English subtitles)
16 min.
Narrative
Babylon Kreuzberg
01.06.2024 – 20:30
Carrotica
A mother and son navigate their lust and loneliness in the queerest of ways.
by Daniel Sterlin-Altman
Germany, 2024
English
(German subtitles)
13 min
Narrative
Babylon Kreuzberg
01.06.2024 – 20:30
Valery Alexanderplatz
Valery Alexanderplatz (Germany, 28′) is an experimental short movie filmed around Berlin Mitte and the famous Alexanderplatz about the life of Italian trans-activist Valérie Taccarelli. This story starts with Milva, the popular italian diva and her most known song “Alexanderplatz”. Just a few know though that this song is in reality an adaptation of Alfredo Cohen’s song “Valery”, released in 1978. “Valery” was a 15 years old trans teenager, now known as Valérie Taccarelli.
by Silvia Maggi
Italy, Germany, 2023
Italian
(English subtitles)
28 min
Experimental
Babylon Kreuzberg
01.06.2024 – 20:30
