14-15 December, 10:00 – 18:00
Tütün Deposu

Guest Speakers:
Ahmet Şık, Ali Rıza Keleş, Andreas Treske, Ceren Sözeri, Ege Berensel, Emel Gülcan, Erkan Saka, Fatih Pınar, Gökhan Ahi, Orkut Murat Yılmaz, Özlem Sarıyıldız, Seray Genç, Direnişteyiz.org, Çapul.tv, Gezi Radyo, Kamera Sokak, Matchbox Video Collective, Naber Medya,Ötekilerin Postası, Videoccupy, 140 Journos

As part of the 5th Which Human Rights? Film Festival, we will be hosting a workshop on Digital Activism, with the inspiration and experiences of the Gezi Park protests, on 14-15 December 2013.
During the first day of the workshop, issues such as the pathetic state of Turkish media, digital activism, citizen journalism, using social media in terms of social movements, video activism, hacktivism, internet censorship, mechanisms of surveillance society and their legal aspects will be discussed. We will meet our activist friends to share our experiences, having navigated between digital media and streets.

Second day of the workshop will be offering the participants trainings from specialists and hands-on practical exercises of using camera, basics of editing, broadcasting live, staying safe when surfing the internet and having the rights to stay anonymous with trainings from specialists.

Talk: Ophir Levy “THE ROLE OF DOCUMENTARIES IN FORMATION AND TRANSFORMATION OF MEMORY” 14 December Saturday, 16:00 Cezayir Venue Moderator: Nora Şeni On the occasion of the special screening of “The Sorrow and the Pity” (Le chagrin et la pitié), Ophir Lévy will be addressing the relationship of the cinema and particularly documentary films in France from the end of the Second World War to today with the collective memory regarding  Shoah. Lévy will explain that documentary films have not only witnessed the formation and transformation of this memory, but also gradually made the theme of Shoah visible from the 1970s, and their roles in the formation and transformation of the memory of the Holocaust, their influences in the formation of the politics of the public memory and how collective memory has gained a public nature. A philosopher and critic, Ophir Lévy teaches courses on aesthetics and cinema history at Paris III University and writes for magazines such as Positif and nonfictiton.fr. In his doctoral dissertation, Lévy studies the role of the memory of Shoah on the creativity of contemporary art.  Note: This screening is held as part of the "Cinema and Shoah in France" program.   Showcase and Talk: REMAPPING EUROPE “MIGRATION STORIES” 14 December 2013 Saturday, 15:00 SALT Beyoğlu Young creative media-makers living in Turkey, Spain, Poland, and the UK are re-viewing, re-investigating and re-considering the prevailing imagery and narratives of migrants through the “re-mix” works they created as part of an investigative arts project called “Remapping Europe”, with the ultimate aim to visually, geographically and mentally ‘re-map’ Europe. A 75-min selection of works completed at the Remapping Europe “Creative Remix Ateliers” will be presented to the audiences with this showcase, after which a talk will be held with the media makers. Remapping Europe is a project of Doc Next Network, which is an international partnership of independent cultural organizations working with young people, supporting their documentary and other media productions, and its partner in Turkey, MODE Istanbul. Apart from the creative remix workshops, the project activities include creating new methods for expanded education, a free-use media collection, a research publication and a seminar. FILM LIST: How Would You Like to Migrate? (Nasıl Göçmek İstersiniz?), Fatih Bilgin, Turkey, 3:38 “The freedom to migrate is sacred.” This remix video is an imaginary public spot announcement on migration. We wish everyone a pleasant migration! United in Happiness (Zjednoczeni w Szczęściu), Ewa Kalinowska, Poland, 5:02 The filmmaker works with the speeches of the politicians that accompanied Poland's access to the European Union and the Schengen Area - without coquetry. She asks simple, straightforward questions about the way the focus on the West influenced Ukraine, the country that found itself right behind the Eastern border of the European Union after the Polish access to the union. Crossing (Tránsito), David Gallardo, Spain, 6:09 Andrea is a superhero, who can help you cross a border by turning you into an animal. Sometimes you get transformed into a penguin, other times to an elephant. When you have crossed the border you have to live as an animal for a year in your new country. “Crossing” is the testimony of four people from different countries, who asked Andrea for help. First Steps (Sorry+Please), Cedoux Kadima, United Kingdom, 2:58 The film immerses the viewer in the experiences of Cedoux Kadima, who spoke no English when he first came to the UK, and had to try and navigate his way through London, picking up occasional words here and there. Gurbet City, Mehmet Sami, Turkey, 3:18 To walk without fear, standing up straight and moving on. To be aware of the fact that there is a way but walking oblivious to any potential ways. Not minding the trouble of the world, grabbing your suitcase and hitting the road. Then wondering why you get lost… Inmate (Interna), Maria Jesús Valenzuela, Spain, 7:36 “Inmate” is a reflection about space, as a physical and existential need. Through the experiences and memories of three domestic home help workers, one Bolivian, one Colombian and one Armenian, you can see the contrast between the confinement and the memories of a space, which at times they feel they own but which belongs to someone else. Foreigner for Rent (Cudzoziemiec do Wynajęcia), Agnieszka Małek, Poland, 2:11 The video is a variation on teleshopping; however, instead of vacuum cleaners, it features foreigners. The filmmaker was inspired by the experiences of many organizations working with migrants. Sometimes the media contact them in search of a topic to fill their airtime. Migrants are seen as a piece of news, their culture as an exotic curiosity and their problems are almost completely neglected. Proof (Dowód), Alicja Plachówna Vasilewska, Poland, 6:04 Does your husband put sugar in his tea? What color is your wife's toothbrush? Which side of the bed does your wife sleep on? Alicja Plachówna could answer such questions in the middle of the night without hesitation. That is why her Macedonian husband Boyan isn't illegal in Poland. "Proof" is a playful yet bitter story about an exam in love. The Silent Excursion 89 (Sessiz Gezi 89), Enes Uysal, Turkey, 5:48 This is a remix video about the migration that took place under the rule of Zhivkov in Bulgaria. The media work explores an identity question brought to the fore by the forced name change policy implemented on Bulgarian Turks during the 80's, which constitutes one of the main causes of this migration. Insanity (Cinnet), Osman Yüksel Bayram, Turkey, 5:32 ”Of the 500 Palestinian villages in what became Israel in 1948, 400 were destroyed”. This film is the examination of how a nation that had been forced to migrate in the past puts another nation in a similar situation. Forced Migration (Zorunlu Göç), Gülten Okçuoğlu, Turkey, 3:01 "In the 1990’s, one million five hundred thousand Kurds were forced to migrate as their villages were burnt down." The film deals with the fact that the government's actions to this end were perceived as a source of pride until the 2000’s and were supported by the majority of the society. How Do You Know Tarlabaşı? (Tarlabaşı’nı Nasıl Bilirsiniz?), Melis Göker, Turkey, 5:21 The remix video makes references to the background story of the forced evacuations that are happening in Tarlabaşı today. The (hi)story of Tarlabaşı goes back to the forced migration of non-Muslim minorities in the 1950’s and reveals the economic backdrop to the cause of these migrations. Limbo, Hamid Reza Rajaby, United Kingdom, 2:05 “Limbo” combines stop-motion and archive footage with personal reflections to explore the situation of many migrants across Europe. Living in limbo means being unable to plan for the future, because you never know where that future will be. Between Homelands (Evler Arasında), Hande Zerkin, Turkey, 5:48 As someone who had lived in between different homelands, Aysima summarizes her experience with these sentences: “People may say, home is where you were born or where your family is. But for me home is where I feel safe and free. Home is where I can be myself.” I'm Going to Dance Pegao (Me Voy a Bailar Pegao), Ellavled Alcano, Spain, 5:52 Last Pope Benedicto XVI is taken by surprise by a home shopping ad, which makes him quit his job. He decides to spend his final days in a brand new world as he enjoys the hospitality of the Kikiriwikis. This ‘first world’ is not the wealthiest one, but the one where you ‘dance’ the most. And dancing is a very important thing for the body and the soul… Mobile Inner Peace (Mobil İç Huzur), Ayşe Aybüke Samast, Turkey, 5:33 "Mobile Inner Peace" is inspired by the decline in the scale of references that are used to construct the self by the individual, who goes under standardization during the processes of relocation and change. The media maker asked people to record and share their experiences of peace in an online platform. The videos she received became a part of the remix work.

Showcase and Talk: LAB MODE “GEZI STORIES”

16 December 2013 Monday, 19:00
Aynalı Geçit

Humorous tag lines and strong imageries on banners, walls, and social media, rainbow colored stairs, the ‘standing men’ out on the streets, whirling dervishes wearing gas masks… Clever and provocative videos, documentaries, remixes… Activism became art, art became activism… Creative resistance, online and offline, was at the core of the recent Gezi Protests in Turkey and fueled the “Gezi Spirit”: People of different social/cultural backgrounds used different outlets to spread the news and to share their voices, while the mainstream media kept its silence. The Gezi (Media) Lab was launched by MODE Istanbul (an initiative working in the area of digital media and culture) at the onset of the protests to provide a space for young people to explore the Gezi Spirit and to produce new media works, individually and collectively. Gezi Lab was organized as part of the “Lab MODE” program, which includes various long-term projects and media labs of MODE Istanbul.  

Each mini lab, held once a month as part of Gezi Lab, focused on different themes such as “The Symbols of Gezi”, “Video Activism”, “Gender and Resistance” and ”The Sound of Gezi”. The participating artists created links between the widely discussed subjects the Gezi events brought to the forefront like citizens rights, censorship, urban transformation, the reclaiming of public spaces, collective action, commons and migration, and expressed their views via the media works they created. A selection of completed media works will be presented to the audiences with this showcase, after which a talk will be held with the creators.

Participating Artists: Ayşe Aybüke Samast, Enes Uysal, Fatih Bilgin, Hande Zerkin, Hülya Mete, Hüseyin Çifel, Mehmet Sami, Tahribad-ı İsyan

Project Team: Gökçe Su Yoğurtçuoğlu (Project Director), Sena Başöz (Artistic Director), Nagehan Uskan (Event Facilitator)

FILM LIST:

Wander Around, Fatih Bilgin, 3:09
There was no place left except for the Gezi Park. The last remaining trees of Taksim created a home for the homeless and a hope for the hopeless. When the trees revealed their secret, my people wandered, wandered and wandered around.

Dear Human, Hüseyin Çifel, 2:14
What happens today is the indicator of how people can get together when desired. What happens today is the indicator of how some of us can leave behind titles while others cannot tolerate having empathy. What happens today is about human beings. What happens today is about the essence. What happens today is the actual process.

Taksim Shopping Mall, Aybüke Samast, 1:51
Istanbul is turning into an uninhabitable economic ‘rant’ bell jar with an understanding of urban design that does not go further than highway, residence and shopping mall constructions. For the city dweller whose life is reduced to a consumption race, Istanbul is turning into a block with no exit.

Coaster Rec, Hande Zerkin, 1:25
Coaster Rec reports from the funfair.

Settler Migrant, Hülya Mete, 2:47
This is a remix video telling the story of migration through the district of Beyoğlu in Istanbul, questioning the relocation of people taking place in the city throughout its history, emphasizing the circular aspect of migration.

Züleyha, Aybüke Samast, 3:05
The role of women in the hegemonic men's world is constrained into a catwalk that is set up over expectations, the woman being the element which is made to consume herself through herself the most. Ideas and approaches on the 'woman's side' seem to be lacking as they are established over men\the system.

A Memory of One’s Choice, Enes Uysal, 5:03
We express ourselves with memories, even if they are not ours.

Genitalia, Hülya Mete, 2:27
Bio-power and sexism are encircling us from all sides. We are surrounded by the demands of the ruling party that range from what jobs to choose to which gender to have. The ruling party leaks into our ideas. We reproduce sexism with the funny videos we watch. Would you like to take a fresh look at these videos?

Bare, Hüseyin Çifel, 3:59
Every step we take against the sameness of the society by getting rid of our given titles to enter our own existence is a step forward but at the same time with this step we enter a suppressive environment. This step initiates a resistance against life in which we take part in our purest self.

Some Trees and Children Change, Fatih Bilgin, 2:18
We know our history deeply as trees. The oldest side of us is our childhood. We think about our past years when we see an aged tree. Two things change: trees and children. 

Leave Room For Nature, Enes Uysal, 3:31
Composed of archive footage from the ‘68 Paris student uprisings, this video is about an ever-changing story that repeats itself.

Dasein, Hande Zerkin, 1:58
One morning I woke up and I felt that my soul had left me. A huge emptiness.. But I wasn’t too sad. Nevertheless, to exist is not everything.

Resistance, Aybüke Samast, 3:30
What happened during Gezi process was the outcome of being human. The religious references that the counter argument rely on mainly underlie the necessity of human beings standing by the side of the truth and the righteous, supporting each other and not being silent against oppression at their core. The most important factors that affected us all and increased participation during Gezi incidents were the collective emergence of these most humane properties and the collective process of the individualities united in pursuit of what is right.

Which Lights?, Mehmet Sami, 2:39
“Which Lights?”, insincere but not hypocrite which questions its imbalance,
thankfully is the film of not deserving.

Zero and One, Hande Zerkin, 1:58
“Zero” represents the “0” digit in arithmetic and represents the non-existence of an attribute. “One” is a number and a digit. It comes after “0” in natural numbers system.

‘Gezi-minded’s, Sulukule Children’s Art Atelier, 5:16
A remix workshop (as part of Lab MODE) was organized with the participation of six young people from the Sulukule Children’s Art Atelier, including the members of the hip-hop group Tahribad-ı İsyan. The young artists made a music video for their song “Gezi-mindeds” with the support of Gezi Lab participants. Serdar Ferit took part as the main instructor of the workshop; and Fatih Bilgin as the main editor of the video. 

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