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All-star women creators from Canada, the US, the UK and the Netherlands are meeting up in Montreal to push the boundaries of virtual reality at the NFB XP workshop. An initiative of the NFB, MUTEK and the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership.

PRESS RELEASE
19/05/2016

Visuel Communiqué

May 19, 2016 – Montreal – National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) is giving female digital creators a forum in which to meet and connect, with NFB XP, an all-star female workshop exploring virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality. An initiative created in partnership with MUTEK and the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership, the workshop will take place on May 27 and 28 in Montreal, in an exceptional venue: the Never Apart studio. NFB XP will bring together 16 talented women creators from Canada, the US, the UK and the Netherlands, representing various disciplines and whose artistic work is at the centre of the current explosion of VR. Visitors to the MUTEK VR Salon will then be able to attend a roundtable with some of the creators, who will present the concepts developed on Monday, May 30.

One of the objectives of the workshop is to continue to explore the potential uses, the production issues and the narrative content development of VR, in addition to creating a real encounter between these innovative artists, their ideas and their expertise. This collaborative experience will allow the craft to influence the language that is being created in a fast-growing field. Through this initiative, the NFB also wants to encourage other female creators to immerse themselves in these new technologies and new approaches and make them their own, as they are still underrepresented in this area.

The creators

Canada                                                                                   US

Patricia Bergeron (Montreal)                                        Lauren Goshinski (Pittsburgh)
Émilie Grenier (Montreal)                                             Claire Hentschker (Pittsburgh)
Claudine Matte (Montreal)                                            Sarah Rothberg (New York)
Moura Melondeau (Montreal)                                        Céline Tricart (Los Angeles)
Brigitte Poupart (Montreal)
Eva Schindling (Montreal)
Maude Thibodeau (Montreal)
Karen Vanderborght (Toronto)

UK                                                                              The Netherlands

Karen Palmer (London)                                                Klasien van de Zandschulp (Amsterdam)
Liz Rosenthal (London)
Clara García Fraile (Brighton)

Workshop: theme and creative contexts

The workshop will focus on the theme of displacement, on several levels: the body, objects or information, be it in space or time. The three partners are proposing three creative contexts for the artists in order to push the boundaries of this challenge: for the NFB it is about how we experience reality; for MUTEK it is creating communal experiences; whereas the Quartier des Spectacles suggests existence in public space.

At the end of these two intense days of prospective collaboration, the creators, working in teams, will illustrate the concept of their choice in the form of a script for a VR project. The specific mechanics of the event, which will take the participants through different creative steps, have been designed by Techno Culture Club, an NPO known in Montreal for the Museomix project. This unique and challenging workshop will be facilitated by Toula Drimonis, a freelance journalist and active feminist.

Roundtable at the MUTEK VR Salon

The reflections and the concepts developed will be presented to the public at a roundtable on Monday, May 30, from 3:45 to 5:15 p.m. at the MUTEK VR Salon at the Phi Centre. The event will be held in English and hosted by Louis-Richard Tremblay, a producer with the NFB’s Interactive Studio. A few of the creators will be participating, including Sarah Rothberg and Moura Melondeau.

After the roundtable, the creators will be available for interviews.

Quotes

“At the NFB, we are always striving to create teams that are uniquely composed and able to come up with outstanding innovative work. We are looking forward to seeing what this session and the creators that we have brought together will produce. Creation in virtual reality is evolving rapidly, and we wanted to do something unusual to stand out where we are not expected.” – Louis-Richard Tremblay, producer with the NFB’s Interactive Studio

“For the past 17 years, MUTEK has continuously encouraged experimentation and the exploration of novel practices in the field of digital creativity. The NFB XP workshop is an exceptional occasion for visionary creators to work together on virtual and mixed reality concepts offering original and memorable experiences to the audience.” – Alain Mongeau, General and Artistic Director, MUTEK

“The possibilities of using virtual reality in public spaces open up new potential from an artistic perspective as well as public services that can transform the relationship citizens have with the city. We are very excited to take part in this experience and invite the creators to take a closer look at the exceptional neighbourhood showcased by the Quartier des Spectacles.” – Jacques Primeau, Chair of the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership’s Board of Directors

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Associated Links

Quartier des Spectacles Partnership
Never Apart studio
MUTEK VR Salon
Techno Culture Club
Phi Centre
Quartier des spectacles – Facebook
Quartier des spectacles – Twitter

Stay Connected

Online Screening Room: NFB.ca
Facebook: facebook.com/nfb.ca
Twitter: twitter.com/thenfb

 

Media Relations

  • About MUTEK

    MUTEK is a Montreal-based organization dedicated to the exploration and promotion of digital creativity and electronic music. Launched in 2000, its central platform is its annual festival in Montreal, which has become an essential North American reference point for international artists, industry professionals and diverse audiences. MUTEK also maintains activities around the world, including annual events in Mexico City and Barcelona. Conceived as a complementary event to its festival in the spring, the first MUTEK_IMG was introduced in 2013 as a forum that emphasizes visuality in the digital creation milieu, and rallies both artists and professionals. The 17th edition of the MUTEK festival will take place from June 1 to 5, 2016, in Montreal. www.mutek.org

  • ABOUT THE QUARTIER DES SPECTACLES AND THE PARTNERSHIP

    The Quartier des Spectacles is Montreal’s cultural heart, boasting North America’s most concentrated and diverse group of cultural venues. The district is the year-round host to countless festivals and events, many of which include free outdoor shows and activities. The Quartier also hosts innovative urban installations involving cutting-edge lighting design, immersive environments or interactive digital spaces. The Quartier des Spectacles is an international showcase for new multimedia technology, making Montreal a global leader in the urban exhibition of digital content. The Quartier des Spectacles Partnership is a non-profit organization responsible for operating and programming the Quartier’s lively public spaces, for illuminating the area through distinctive lighting design, as well as for promoting this must-visit cultural destination. For more information, visit quartierdesspectacles.com.

  • About the NFB

    The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) is one of the world’s leading digital content hubs, creating groundbreaking interactive documentaries and animation, mobile content, installations and participatory experiences. NFB interactive productions and digital platforms have won over 100 awards, including 21 Webbys. To access this unique content, visit NFB.ca.