27/09/2024
BIYT warmly recommends our colleague’s project:
*OPEN CALL FOR PERFORMERS AGED 14-18*
Destina – a short film by Venla Helenius in collaboration with Minna Partanen, Johannes Birlinger + the working group 2024-2025
We are holding auditions for a short film Destina in Berlin in October 2024 (see "how to apply" for more details).
We are looking for five people aged 14-18 with an interest in performing and working with the camera. Destina is an artistically ambitious short film project consisting of workshops for the performers, a week of filming, and a public screening at the Finnland Institut in Berlin and at the contemporary art gallery SIC in Helsinki. The aim is to produce a high-quality artistic outcome that will be presented at international film and video art festivals.
The performers do not need to have a background in camera work. The working process will have a theatre pedagogical approach. The aim is to create with the performers a working group-oriented relationship with the camera and to examine the issues raised by camera work. We will get to know different techniques of performing, reflect on the themes of the work and devise performative material for the camera together.
We are looking for performers* who feel that representations of girlhood have affected them at some point in their lives: Destina is a film that explores the manifestations of empowerment, defiance and rebellion in the context of Western art history and the narrative of growing up as a girl. Through five characters, the film depicts the search for a pulsating desire and a joyful rebellion, as well as questions of power in the act of looking and being looked at. A good command of English is expected, as the language of the project is English.
* Who identify as female, non-binary, trans & other
LOCATION AND DATES:
Participants chosen for the project must commit to pre-shoot workshops and rehearsals in Berlin between November 2024 and March 2025. During this 5-month period, the team will meet approximately 10 times. Detailed rehearsal schedule will be arranged with the selected performers in October 2024. Filming will take place between 11 and 27 April 2025, during a one-week filming camp outside Berlin. The finished work will premiere in Finland in September 2025 and at the Finnland Institut in Germany in late 2025.
WHO ARE WE:
The team consists of visual artist Venla Helenius, theatre pedagogue Minna Partanen, and sound designer Johannes Birlinger. Destina is the team's third short film. The artistic direction of Destina is led by Venla Helenius, a Finnish video and photography artist whose works have been exhibited in galleries, museums, and screenings internationally. Minna Partanen has extensive experience as a facilitator in applied theatre projects with young people. Johannes Birlinger is a German sound designer who has composed music for numerous theater and film productions, with particular experience in projects aimed at young audiences.
HOW TO APPLY?
1. Sign up for the audition by sending a motivation letter of max ½ A4 in length, briefly introducing yourself and explaining why you want to be part of the project to the email [email protected]. Deadline is September 30, 2024.
2. We will respond by inviting you to a 30-min. audition taking place in Berlin, Kreuzberg. Audition dates are Tues. 08.10. at 17:30:-20:00, Fri. 11.10. at 16:00-20:00 or Sun. 13.10. at 11:00-14:00.
3. There are a limited number of spots for the audition, so please sign up quickly.
4. If you have any questions, contact: [email protected]
