Masterclasses, screenings and performances at the “Update” Film and Animation Festival

Masterclasses, screenings and performances at the “Update” Film and Animation Festival

“Update”, a festival dedicated to moving image, will take place in Liepāja and online from 27 to 31 March, according to Maija Demitere, the representative of the organisers. It is aimed at young artists, anyone with a keen interest in art and technology, film and animation techniques and technologies, as well as those who are willing to try something new. All festival activities are free of charge. But please note that the activities will be held in English since they are led by international experts.

The Update Festival will include workshops, masterclasses, film screenings and performances. Workshop participants will learn scriptwriting and thriller production techniques, the role of video in the art of activism, the use of AI in animation, the power of the green screen and special effects, and soundtracking a film. As part of the week, a full evening programme will also be organised, offering screenings, masterclasses, and performances for all to attend.

Visit the festival website for the full festival programme and to register at: https://update.mplab.lv/

The festival programme:

• Film screening and performative lecture

Monday, 27 March, from at 17.00 at the Culture House Wiktorija (Graudu Street 36/38, Liepāja).

This lecture will be presented by Dutch artist Dani Ploeger, currently working in crisis affected territories.

The film screening programme includes Dani Ploeger’s film “The Cults”, short documentary and art films by Liepāja University students, animations by Cologne Academy of Media Arts students, and the outcomes of the international student cooperation project “You+Me”.

• Masterclass “3D modelling in VR”

Tuesday, 28 March, from 17.00 to 19.00 at the Art Research Laboratory, MPLab (Kūrmājas pr. 13, basement, Liepāja).

Participants will learn to create 3D models, objects and characters using virtual reality (VR) tools. This technique is intuitive, even playful, and participants do not need specific computer skills or prior knowledge of 3D or any other modelling.

The workshop will begin with a 30-minute tutorial and introduction on how to use the VR tools and controllers. Afterwards, participants will be guided by the workshop tutors, using VR glasses and controllers, to create their own or a single shard object in a virtual space. The workshop will be led by Rogier Jupijn and Agnese Damberga.

• Masterclass “Machine Learning Foundations for Creative Industries”

Wednesday, 29 March, from 17.00 to 19.00 online (please register on the website to get the Zoom link).

This masterclass will provide an insight into Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and techniques. The workshop will introduce the topic in “easy language” and is aimed at anyone interested in AI, especially young artists, and art students. The workshop will be led by Mārtiņš Dāboliņš.

• Workshop “Creativity through Improvisation and Play”

Thursday, 30 March, from 17.00 to 19.00 online (please register on the website to get the Zoom link).

Participants will embark on a self-discovery voyage, seeking to uncover the boundaries we have created for ourselves. The workshop host Tobin Asher will also talk about his own art and research projects and share his experience of his art and research practice.

• Audio-visual performances and an exhibition of workshop outcomes

Friday, 31 March, Art Research Lab, MPLab (Kūrmājas pr. 13, basement). Entrance from 19.00

“Update” will culminate with a unique audio-visual performance “Random Encounters”, a collaboration between the experimental music group “Nejauši” (Robert Dinters, Valdis Skarevičs) and the French performance artists “Live Animated Orchestra” (Marie-Anne Bacquet, Stéphanie Cadoret), created exclusively for the festival.

The performance starts at approximately 20.00.

A pop-up exhibition of the results of the week’s workshops will also be on display in the Art Research Lab (MPLab).

“Update” is organised by the Association of Liepāja Media Artists “ASTE” (https://aste.gallery ) and the Art Research Laboratory of the University of Liepāja (MPLab, https://mplab.lv ). “Update” is supported by the State Culture Capital Foundation (SCCF).

For more information: Maija Demitere (maija.demitere@gmail.com  +37129948430).