Deadline EXTENDED: August 27, 2023
The 18th edition of the SIMULTAN Festival with will take place between 5-8 of October 2023 in Timișoara and aims to explore and question various aspects of society and individual life influenced by technology, to delve into speculative situations, and to disrupt the standardized image of the future, the cult of progress, and infinite development. From the personal to the social and political, philosophical, and existential, the festival seeks to highlight how artists respond to some of the major challenges of our times and their relationship with the media, how they document change, and how they envision the future.
SIMULTAN 2023 runs under the theme OSCILLATIONS: Things to Remember
In the modern cacophony of life, technology emerges as a double-edged sword, orchestrating a complex relation with nature, information, everyday life, memory and so on. While it promises convenience and progress, its pervasive presence and relentless intrusion raise profound concerns about the erosion of genuine human experiences and memories.
The natural rhythms of existence and the authenticity of human interaction become distorted by virtual substitutes. We surrender to technology, letting it dictate our thoughts, memories, and choices, all while the digital orchestra maintains control over our actions.
Oscillation serves as a foundational principle in understanding and interacting with our world. From the smallest atomic vibrations to the grandest cosmic movements, oscillation shapes our experiences, communication, and technological advancements. Recognizing the significance of oscillation in our lives can deepen our appreciation for the complexities and beauty of the natural and technological phenomena that surround us. Our senses, such as sight, hearing, and touch, rely on oscillatory patterns to interpret the world around us.
Language and communication systems are based on patterns, whether in the form of spoken words, written text, or signs. Our interactions often involve subtle oscillatory cues, such as body language, facial expressions, and gestures. These non-verbal signals convey emotions, intentions, and attitudes, contributing to effective communication and social bonding. The interfaces we use to interact with technology are often designed with oscillatory feedback, the vibrations and haptic feedback on smartphones provide sensory cues during interactions as many everyday devices and technologies are built upon oscillatory systems. Music is fundamentally based on oscillatory patterns of sound. In various scientific fields, oscillations are essential for understanding complex phenomena, as In physics, oscillatory behavior is fundamental to studying waves, vibrations, or In biology the circadian rhythms, relies on the concept of oscillation. Oscillation is also prevalent in the natural world, contributing to various cycles, such as the Earth’s rotation, causing day and night, as well as the changing seasons due to its axial tilt.
The digital crescendo pushes everyday life into an accelerated oscillation as notifications, algorithms, and data streams flood our senses, leading into the abyss of information overload, the spontaneity and instincts that once was driving our realities give way to algorithmic predictability.
Our capacity to focus wanes as the digital glitch bombards us, diminishing our ability to savor the sound of the wind passing through the leaves.
But, how could we possibly part with our beloved screen, those ever-present companions that orchestrate the grand symphony of our lives? It’s not as if they’ve become an extension of our very beings, guiding our every move and determining our every decision. Who needs silence and solitude when we have the dulcet tones of notifications chiming ceaselessly?
Neuronal connections are disrupted by technology’s interference. As our reliance on digital tools to store and recall information grows, the depth and emotional richness of our memories fade. The act of remembering becomes merely a tap on a screen, diluting the emotional connection to our experiences and the profound narratives that once defined our identities.
Oh, the joy of trying to recall phone numbers or addresses, those ancient skills lost to the convenience of our pocket-sized wonder! Who needs memory when our smartphones are the keepers of all knowledge? They effortlessly retrieve information at the speed of thought, saving us from the tedious exercise of independent thinking.
In this dissonant symphony, we must question whether technology is truly enhancing the human experience or if it’s orchestrating our gradual disconnection from reality. The cacophony of digital distractions calls for a critical reevaluation of our relationship with technology. Can we reclaim our harmony with nature, restore the beauty of everyday life’s spontaneity, and rekindle the genuine warmth of our memories without the constant hum of digital devices?
As we cling to our smartphones like prized possessions, we playfully pretend that we couldn’t possibly live without them. In this grand farce of modern life, we dance to the tune of our pocket-sized conductors.
The corridors of mind resonate as fading echoes in the digital labyrinth, we entrust technology to store and recall our experiences, the profound emotional connection to our memories dissipates into an abstract hum. Fragments of our identity dissipate, enveloped by an enigmatic haze of data and transient recollections. The boundaries between the virtual and tangible blur, as digital realities transcend the constraints of time and space. The enigmatic rotation ensues, raising questions about the very nature of reality, existence, and the self.
But don’t worry, the symphony of memory is truly a masterpiece of chaos and confusion which never fails to add a pinch of selective amnesia to the mix. It conveniently forgets where you left your keys or the name of that person you met just yesterday. Because who needs useful information when you can have a playlist of cringe worthy memories on repeat?
Let’s raise our imaginary batons and conduct a round of applause for this delightful mess of recollections, reminding us that life is nothing if not a symphony of beautifully flawed and perfectly imperfect moments.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
The call is open for emerging and established artists, new authors and/or students. We are looking for submissions of innovative video works related to the festival theme, produced in the last two years (2021-2023).
TYPE OF WORKS
video/experimental video; narrative; digital/generative, documentary/experimental documentary; motion graphics/experimental animation.
NUMBER OF WORKS / DURATION
2 max. / author, with a duration of maximum 10 min (each)
APPLICATION
Upload a preview version of your video to youtube (can be unlisted) or Vimeo (optional with password) and include the link in the application form. The video must contain the title of the work author’s name and year of production.
AWARDS
We will reward four video works (1 Romanian artist and three international artists) with a
500 EUR artist fee.
JURY
All works will be reviewed and selected by the festival’s curatorial staff. Only those accepted will become part of the Festival screening program. The jury’s decision is final.
Selected works will be published in the Festival archive (to be agreed with the authors).
We would be happy to answer your questions, if any. Do not hesitate to contact us at simultanfestival[at]gmail[dot]com
SIMULTAN is an annual event built around an artistic concept, which channels current situations caused by various changes in contemporary society, whether socio-political, economic or technological.
The festival functions as a transdisciplinary platform dedicated to emerging media projects (audio-visual), experimental music and sonic art, in order to facilitate a meeting and presentation point for the local artistic community in relation to the international one.
The program of the festival includes a series of events and actions, such as live sound and audiovisual performances, video art screenings, exhibitions, conferences and workshops in which some themes and methods are: stylistic eclecticism, relationship between man and technology, recycling or ecological themes, dry-digital lyricism, the fusion of acoustic and electronic instruments, expanded cinema, jovial sound collage, as well as the reflection on the political valences of sound.
SIMULTAN Festival 2023 is part of the National Cultural Programme “Timisoara – European Capital of Culture in 2023” and is funded under the European Echoes programme, implemented by the Center for Projects of the Timișoara Municipality, with sums allocated from the state budget, through the Ministry of Culture budget.