THE FUTURE AS A BRAND – Sustainability as a value and product

Everybody is talking about sustainability. Concepts based on sustainability appear to offer solutions to many problems faced by contemporary civilization. Harvest only as much as what can grow back. That sounds straightforward and logical.

But what do today’s practices look like? Is the blueprint of “producing, consuming, recycling” actually a workable or in fact an illusory model for modern industrialized society? Doesn’t sustainability in the strictest sense turn our entire economic system and how we co-exist on its head?

Or does the term takes its place in the long series of communication catastrophes and cure-all mantras from the advertising industry? Might sustainability possibly only be a decoy designed to trigger consumption and actually stand in the way of sustainability?

In our Web-savvy age, words decay rapidly. How sustainable will the expression sustainability be?
We are looking for films which address the topic of sustainability dispassionately, critically and/or artistically. Films which focus in on the issue from a wide array of perspectives, investigate it or make it emotionally tangible. In addition, they should ideally be films which are sustainable themselves, or set an example in this regard.

Submissions can be made in four categories:

1. Documentaries. This genre relies on the formal elements of journalistic film documentaries: interviews, real-life observation, and commentary. The documentary must include unrehearsed, live observations and interviews without acting. These interviews/live footage can be supplemented by fictional elements which clarify the scenarios in the past or the future. Purely fictitious documentaries (mockumentaries) will be categorized under “Fiction.” The maximum length for film submissions in this category is 20 minutes.

2. Fiction/short films. Films with recognizable dramaturgy and a plot trajectory which are propelled forward by dialog or acting. The number of roles, the way the camera works, music and production design can be freely selected. The story can take place in the present, past or future.

3. Animated films/graphic films. These include collages, cartoons, 2D or 3D animations, puppetoons and related animation techniques. The figures or graphical objects can be realistic or abstract. Unlike freestyle work, a discernible sequence of scenes and dramaturgy is required.

4. Freestyle. This category is for films which approach the topic in a creative and artistic manner. There are no limitations applied either formally or aesthetically. Of key importance is that the topic remains comprehensible. In other words, no art for art’s sake, but instead a recognizable focus on the topic of the competition.

Competition objective:

The competition is a public platform for young filmmakers. It is intended to help provide support to the creative film work of young directing talent without being subject to economic constraints. The choice of topic should draw attention to the responsibility those working in media have in their role as disseminators of media content. We wish to challenge people to take part in the discourse about important contemporary issues.

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