【Hong Kong Arts Centre】
The 26th ifva Festival and Awards Unveiled
“CINEMA 2.0: Counter Visions” Reimagining the Eye and the Media
Media Art Category Finalists on Parallel Exhibition

The 26th ifva Festival was unveiled on 2 March with the opening of media arts exhibition “CINEMA 2.0: Counter Visions”, alongside works of finalists of the Media Art Category of the ifva Awards. Exhibition runs from 2 to 14 March at Pao Galleries of the Hong Kong Arts Centre. 

 
“CINEMA 2.0: Counter Visions” Media Arts Exhibition
Reimagine the Relationships between the Eye and the Media
We often say we go to “see” a film, but ignore other non-visual elements of the cinema. “CINEMA 2.0: Counter Visions” departs from the visual-driven way of experiencing media artworks, imagining differently the relationships between the eye and the media. ifva continues its collaboration with art.ware to exhibit works from three groups of foreign media artists: Swiss artist duo Cod. Act’s πTon/2 is a sound installation that features a flexible enclosed ring set to twist and wave to produce and project sounds sampled from a bass clarinet that varies with the movements; Holland artist Frederik Duerinck’s Algorithmic Perfumery invites participants to complete a questionnaire consists of psychological, sociological, cultural questions and a few focused on scent preference, where a unique scent will then be made and compounded on-site based on its results; American coding artist Kyle McDonald and electronic artist Matt Mets’ Blind Self Portrait uses computer vision algorithms to build contour drawings of visitors with their eyes kept shut, and a moving platform will guide a pen in their hands to draw their self-portraits. An online guided tour will be hosted by curator Ip Yuk-yiu, and artist Frederik Duerinck will also talk about his works in an online sharing session. For more details, visit ifva website https://bit.ly/3r1orhS.

Media Art Category Finalists
Put our Understanding to the World into Question with Mere Objects
The finalist works of the 26th ifva Awards Media Art Category are showcased in parallel with “CINEMA 2.0: Counter Visions”. On top of Hong Kong entrants, there are also finalists from Japan, Taiwan, Thailand and China. Ten media art finalist works in the form of mechanical and video installation, light sculpture, are all distinct portraits of elements of contemporary everyday life. Media art category Gold Award winner and Silver Award winner will receive cash prize of HK$50,000 and HK$30,000 respectively sponsored by Pure Art Foundation. Goethe-Institut Hongkong is sponsoring the top award winner of the Hong Kong Division to visit transmediale in Germany. Selected finalist of Media Art Category (Hong Kong Division) may receive invitation to hold a solo exhibition at the Goethe-Gallery in December 2021, co-presented by ifva and Goethe-Institut Hongkong.

ifva Awards Showcase Diversified Works of Perseverance 
Besides Media Art, the Festival will be showing short films and animations from the Open, Youth, Animation and Asian New Force Categories of the 26th ifva Awards, tickets are now on sale at www.urbtix.hk. Winners of respective categories will be announced at the Awards Presentation Ceremony to be held on 13 March.

More free programmes from this year’s ifva Festival includes two online screenings of Jockey Club ifva Everywhere People Cinema “Joe Hsieh’s Animation Selection” and “John Hsu’s Short Film Selection“, All About Us Ten Years: The Poem of Pakistan Premiere, two online sessions of Jockey Club ifva Everywhere Master Class “Peter Kam: The Filmic Realm of Emotions” and “Welby Chung X Edward Chan: Pop Music X Music Video”, and the 25th ifva Awards – Awarded Showcase, free registration will be on www.ifva.com/reg. “The Epoch of Futerscape” Media Arts Exhibition by Chris Cheung is held at the Goethe-Gallery & Black Box Studio, Goethe-Institut Hongkong from 25 February to 20 March. 

The 26th ifva Festival
Date: 2 – 14 Mar 2021
Enquiry: ifva@hkac.org.hk / 2824 5329
Programme Details: www.ifva.com/festival
Programme and Ticketing Brochure: https://bit.ly/2RbnzV1
Download key visual of “CINEMA 2.0: Counter Visions” and artwork photos: http://ftp.hkac.org.hk/MDD/CINEMA2.0:Counter_Visions/
 

ifva was founded by the Hong Kong Arts Centre in 1995. Over the years, ifva has established itself as Asia’s pioneering force in short film, animation and media arts, by providing a unique and professional platform for Hong Kong and Asian creative talents to unite, exchange and promote their works. With the aims to promote short film and media arts and defend independent creative spirit, every year, in addition to the professionally renowned ifva Awards and ifva Festival, ifva also organises a series of extended programmes including the followings: “CINEMA 2.0” media arts exhibition examines different subject matters at the intersection of arts, culture, technology and society; “All About Us” celebrates diversity and the creative voices of young people from the ethnic minority backgrounds; “Jockey Club ifva Everywhere” makes film and media arts accessible to people from all walks of life; and Community and School Tour encourages students to experience and appreciate different media art forms. Website: www.ifva.com | Facebook: ifva | Instagram: @ifva_hk

About Hong Kong Arts Centre
HKAC is a multi-arts centre that fosters artistic exchanges locally and internationally, bringing the most forward creations to Hong Kong and showcasing homegrown talents abroad. HKAC stimulates innovation and promotes creativity. Being Hong Kong’s only independent non-profit multi-arts institution, HKAC offers exhibitions, screenings and performances, connecting the arts of Hong Kong to the rest of the world through programmes and collaborations. Come to HKAC to experience, appreciate, learn and be inspired by arts.
Website: hkac.org.hk | Facebook: Hong Kong Arts Centre | Instagram: @hongkongartscentre