Diagonale 2011: Solo Retrospective Peter Tscherkassky

One of the highlights of this year’s festival is the solo retrospective on filmmaker Peter Tscherkassky, which introduces and honors his work. Tscherkassky is one of the internationally most prominent and renowned representatives of avant-garde film. Since the mid-80’s, the 52-year old Viennese has produced unique films drawing upon found footage of largely Hollywood productions. Frame for frame the filmmaker copies details and fragments from these sources in the dark room by using elaborate exposure equipment and assembles them manually to new narrations. The results are fascinating and humorous film art works, between sensuality, reflection and dream. Peter Tscherkassky’s work was showered with national and international awards and premiered at prominent festivals like Cannes, Venice, Rotterdam, Montréal, and New York. You can also encounter a Tscherkassky film at the documenta 12, at renowned institutes like the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, or the Louvre in Paris. Tscherkassky’s oeuvre plays a central role in reviving the interest in avant-garde film, and is a role model for young independent filmmakers in Austria and abroad that must not be underestimated. Diagonale presents Peter Tscherkassky’s current success Coming Attractions in the context of his complete works, as well as a Carte Blanche prepared by the filmmaker himself on the big screen. A special highlight will be Peter Tscherkassky’s lecture, in which he will analyze one of his own films and introduce the audience to its complex production process.