Plateaux Festival :: November 19 - 22, 2009 :: Poland.

A 4-day festival presenting the world’s leading groundbreaking multimedia artists, praised and prize-winning audiovisual and VJ art, experimental films, and live electronic and electroacoustic music. A fully interactive event, Plateaux will be spread across Poland’s two adjacent and culturally rich cities of Toruń and Bydgoszcz, combining a number of different venues to create the widest possible range of multimedia and audiovisual performances.

Plateaux is committed to providing an extra depth of experience beyond simple spectatorship. For this reason, artists performing during the festival will also act as guide and teachers in workshops, lectures and discussions, addressing the theoretical, practical and technical aspects of audiovisual domain. A festival with a conference initiative, attendees will have the opportunity to learn from the best in dedicated tutorials, conducted with the most advanced professional equipment for creating and performing audiovisual arts.

Plateaux Festival 2008 was the first event of its kind in Poland so heavily focused on all forms of audiovisual arts, and was an immediate success. The Polish cultural environment was lacking a platform where the newest and most influencing forms of such art could be presented, despite a strong scene of creation and appreciation. Plateaux Festival became that platform, showcasing highly acclaimed artists from all over the world, and establishing a strong cross-Atlantic connection to stage performances very rarely hosted not only in Poland, but also in Europe.

This year’s festival is an event of a scale, intent and support comparable to such established projects as Transmediale or Ars Electronica. Its clearly outlined aim is in sound enhanced graphical presentation; experimental film accompanied by progressive forms of sound, their interaction and mutual influence the essence of our initiative. 2009’s carefully developed program will please even the most demanding of audiences, creating an unforgettable experience for all. Each section of the festival will have a different nature, our diverse selection of artists each bringing a different personality, different style and different form of expression. Plateaux aims to become a leading proponent and reference for developments in the technology, performance and aesthetics of electronic audiovisual multimedia. With continued coverage and recognition or their achievements and passion, this will not be a difficult task to achieve.

Plateaux prides itself on its ability to draw the world’s greatest audiovisual talent together. We are proud to announce that 2009 will see the following artists visiting Poland for the first time in their careers: Christopher Willits [US] :: Deaf Center [NO] + Claudio Sinatti [IT] :: Ezekiel Honig [US] :: Gabriel Coutu Dumont [CA] :: Glitterbug [IL] + Ronni Shendar [IL] :: James T. Cotton [US] :: Joshue Ott [US] :: Lusine [US] :: Morgan Packard [US] :: Nosaj Thing [US] :: Pillowdiver [DE] :: Richard Devine [US] :: Skoltz Kolgen [CA] :: Svarte Geiner [NO] :: snd [UK] :: Tilman Erhorn [DE] :: Twine [US] with more to be announced, as well as a wide presentation of Polish artists dedicated to media and audiovisual arts.

Included in the programme are projects and installations prepared specially for the event or showing uniquely by: Akufen [CA] :: Atom ™ [DE] :: Bodycode [US] :: Fennesz [AT] + Lillevan [DE] :: Italtek [BE] :: Kirk [PL] + Jeffers Egan [US] :: Lawrence English [AU] + Makino Takashi [JP] :: The Sight Below [US] :: 5mm (M. Lecair + G.C.Dumont) [CA] :: and others (further details to be announced).

Plus experimental cinema screenings by: RUETS [BE] :: UTP [US] :: Silent Room [CA] :: White Label [US] and more.

About the Organisation: Plateaux Foundation is a non-governmental, non-profit organization committed to popularization of contemporary audiovisual art. During the past 3 years we have organized more than 20 events, focusing on binding together music and moving picture, video art, frequently hosting projects that are fully audiovisual, utilising highly acclaimed artists to create events that made a big impact on spectators. A broad recognition of our activities throughout Poland, both in media and among art curators, have been guidance for us that our work is needed and appreciated, giving a clear sign that many different activities we’re undertaking have a firm background to flourish and expand even beyond Polish borders.