For the 5th time in succession the VideoFest offers a Latin America focal point. On one hand, we do this because of long established personal contacts which help us locate works whose stamina sets itself apart from works made in the Northern hemisphere. On the other hand, the latin american people or aficionados living in Berlin enjoy seeing which themes from their continent in­ spire video artists, and how the video scene there is de­ veloping.
Our Latin America Program is moreover about the 'present state of affairs'. These works don't have to satisfy the VideoFest's innovation-oriented conditions of selection. Documented here is what the video scene, over the last year or two, has concerned itself with in the individual countries.
This year emphasis is given to Chile for the first time. Through the democratizing in 1990, video work has suf­ fered a breakdown. We hope to bring to Berlin a central figure in Chile's world of video, Nestor Olhagaray: video­ maker and director of Bienal de Video y Artes Electrónicas in Santiago. (At the time of going to press, it was still unclear whether funds could be made available for the visit.)
For the second time, Cuba is given special attention. Like last year, communication was difficult and limited to tele­ phone and fax. "But under surveillance" on neutral territory we finally obtained two videos considered politically subver­ sive and underground in Cuba - but whose content does not seem directly political.
The Latin America Programme is rounded off with videos from Argentina, Mexiko, Peru and Venezuela.
Wherever possible, I plan to provide background commen­ taries. chile
. Winners of the Second Biennal for Video and Electronic Art (1995)
This young festival, initiated by Nestor Olhargaray, offers a summary of new video works from Chile. By welcoming the participation and videos of foreign guests, the festival aims to attract new impulses into the coun­try. Sindrome camboya, La juventüd de Chile, 9 1/2 Finger, El dia del roto chileno, Una fuga del mar, Moujoskine, Corazón de acero, El hombre detrás de la piedra
¿Donde está Leonardo?, Allende Pixel, Estación terminal, Síntesis
Lennon en la Habana, Provocación, Música para la ciudad, Reynold Campbell Cuba, Nube de otoño, El Andén, No digas que pienso en ti, Prado Pacayal, Los hijos del orden: jovenes en tiempos de violencia