24/11/2023 - Art, artificial intelligence and reflection all form the basis of the deep dive into the world of film and technology offered by Madrid’s independent and international film festival

The Márgenes Festival kicks off its 13th edition today, Friday 24 November, cementing its position as a standout international rendezvous for indie cinema in Madrid. Unspooling until 3 December, the event will offer an interdisciplinary programme encompassing film, encounters, audiovisual spectacles, round-tables and conferences.

This iteration of the gathering particularly stands out thanks to the inclusion of the first-ever all-encompassing retrospective of US filmmaker Sharon Lockhart in Spain. In addition, Austrian filmmaker Ulrich Seidl will receive the Márgenes Special Award, while a special focus will allow audiences to rediscover his documentaries made between 1980 and 1998. Both filmmakers will be offering free master classes to the public.

In the internationally orientated Official Section, renowned names such as Bertrand Bonello (with The Beast [+see also:
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interview: Bertrand Bonello
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film profile]), Angela Schanelec (with Music [+see also:
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film profile]), Radu Jude (with Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World [+see also:
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interview: Radu Jude
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interview: Bas Devos
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interview: Anthony Lapia
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interview: Virginia García del Pino
film profile] by Virginia García del Pino, On the Go [+see also:
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interview: María Gisèle Royo, Julia de…
film profile] by María Gisèle Royo and Julia de Castro, Negu hurbilak [+see also:
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interview: Colectivo Negu
film profile] by Colectivo Negu and Nights Gone By [+see also:
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interview: Alberto Martín Menacho
film profile] by Alberto Martín Menacho. Meanwhile, the MRGente strand will play host to new Madrilenian talents, presenting a selection that combines completed works, films in progress and exploratory audiovisual projects.

As proof of its support for interdisciplinary works, Márgenes will include performance-based propositions that merge sound art, music and visual arts. Among the standout offerings are presentations by upsammy and Jonathan Castro, Ana Quiroga and Estela Oliva, Annabelle Playe and Alexandra Rădulescu, and Hélène Vogelsinger.

The festival is also adding its voice to the debate on the implications of AI on society and art. The opening round-table will boast the participation of artists, experts in technological development and thinkers, who will tackle crucial subjects such as the creative limitations of AI, the predictive potential of machines, as well as the ethical and aesthetic ramifications. Claudio Celis, an expert in new media and digital culture, will present the project "The Automation of Film", exploring the impact of AI on the audiovisual industry. Artist Gala Hernández López will bring this meeting to a close with a performance focusing on our emotional connections with machines, exploring from a critical standpoint the historical and modern-day visual representations of AI from a gender-based perspective. Furthermore, on 2 December, a space will be made available to reflect on the topic of "Machines That Dream: Artistic Creation in the Era of Artificial Imagination".

With an offering as eclectic as this, the festival will not only be celebrating indie film, but will also become a hub for reflection and for an exploration of the boundaries between art, technology and AI.

(Translated from Spanish)