Discourse and documentary film

ELEVATE OPEN EVERYTHING?

'Offshore Leaks' exposed secret tax-haven account details, WikiLeaks was responsible for the release of politically explosive documents, while Edward Snowden uncovered intelligence agencies and private businesses that were spying on innocent citizens. These are all vivid examples of the ambivalence of new technologies. On the one hand, they can ensure transparency of financial flows and power relations, facilitating new forms of democracy; on the other hand, they can be used for total surveillance which would put an end to the human right to privacy. This ambivalence also applies to Open Hardware blueprints, Open Materials and 3D printing for the production of material goods. With the help of these applications machines of all kinds can be self-built at low cost; not only products that are beneficial to society, but also weapons. "Open" is therefore not necessarily good.

At the Elevate Festival 2013 the risks and potential of this new "Openness" were discussed extensively.

Participants:

Birgitta Jónsdóttir (IS), Jacob Appelbaum (US), Robert David Steele (US), Anne Roth (DE), Volker Ralf Grassmuck (DE), Marion Walton (ZA), Nadim Kobeissi (CA), Alicia Gibb (US), Sam Muirhead (NZ), Catarina Mota (US), Katrín Oddsdóttir (IS), Griffin Boyce (US), Johannes Grenzfurthner (AT), Ksenia Ermoshina (RU), Stefan Meretz (DE), Tom Scott (UK), Gregor Kaiser (DE), Andreas Krisch (AT), Linnea Riensberg (DE), Michael Bauer (AT), Ulli Klein (AT), Sonja Bettel (AT), Thomas Lohninger (AT), Claudia Garád (AT), Herr Hermes (AT), …..

MUSIC & ARTS

Against the backdrop of this year’s “Open Everything?” motto which will deal with the highly topical group of themes revolving around transparent society, surveillance, open democracy and open society, the music and arts segment of the festival was posing the question of strategies, approaches and positions in an ever-expanding sea of opportunity. The ongoing discourse in the world of electronic music and advanced pop music is to be accurately portrayed; free from prefabricated propositions and one-dimensional programme concepts. The common ground that all performing artists share is the unconditional and declared intention to immerse themselves in unconventional languages and expressions far removed from the mainstream, to take artistic risks and to dig deep instead of scratching the surface of things already in existence.

Artists:

Ann Cotten (US|AT) Bibio (UK) Blood Music (UK) Blue Willa (IT) bulbul (AT) Cid Rim (AT) Clement Meyer & Tomas More (FR) clipping. (US) Cut Hands (US) Daedelus (US) Dat Politics (FR) Delroy Edwards (US) Didi Kern / Philipp Quehenberger (AT) Die Hand (AT) dieb13 (AT) DJ Marcelle/Another Nice Mess (NL) Dorian Concept (AT) Electric Indigo (AT) Émotional (FR) Fabian Faltin (AT) FALKNER (AT) Felix Kubin & James Pants (DE|US) Gassnhauer (AT) Hand mit Auge (AT) Heifetz (AT) Hella Comet (AT) Interpenetration DJ Team (AT) Jameszoo (NL) Jay Smoo (AT) Jon Hopkins (UK) Jupiter Live (AT) KAJKYT (BA) kon.txt (AT) Konsul Gnadenwalze (AT) Lil Louis (US) luX (AT) Macello Basstrojani (AT) Magic Mountain High (DE|IL) Majestic Mood (AT) Marko Dinic (AT) Masha Dabelka (AT) Mimu (AT) Moony Me (DE) Ninos du Brasil (IT) OchoReSotto (AT) Ogris Debris (AT) Olga Flor (AT) Opcion (AT) orjo (AT) Peverelist (UK) Pharmakon (US) Phil Minton (UK) Powell (UK) RDMH (AT) Re-lay & 19 Hertz (AT) Rer Repeter (AT) Ritornell (AT) Robert Prosser (AT) Ron Morelli (US) SEAD Academy Members (IS|IL) Simon/off (AT) Special Request / Paul Woolford (UK) SRGJ (DE) Stellar OM Source (FR) T.W.a.t.E.o.T. (AT) ThE CLoniOUs (AT) The Haxan Cloak (UK) The New Tower Generation (AT) Tumido (AT) Vakula (UA) Wolfwetz (AT) Wrekmeister Harmonies (US) – with Alex Hacke (DE) & Chris Brokaw (US) Xosar (NL)

>> Elevate Festival 2013 website

2012 - The Apocalypse was placed as the central theme of the Elevate Festival in the form of a question: Are we going to achieve the much-needed shift towards solidarity-based economies and lifestyles that respect inherent ecological limits? Or will major disasters be necessary to bring about fundamental changes?

"Doomsday 2012" has been a reoccurring theme in the media for several years now - not least due to various predictions allegedly derived from Mayan traditions. The Winter Solstice on 21 December 2012 is incorrectly referred to as the end of the Mayan calendar, and used as an opportunity to spread dubious disaster scenarios - triggered by an abrupt geomagnetic reversal or by the sudden appearance of a "Planet X".

Beyond this, however, lie a whole lot of actual threats: unless a fundamentally different course is struck, the current economic crisis will continue to worsen, and the apparent de-democratization in the Western world will proceed. If we fail to keep climate change in check to a certain extent, significant parts of this planet may become uninhabitable for humans even within this century. And not to forget: the nuclear threat still persists even within Austria, especially by outdated nuclear reactors near the border, although it hardly crosses our mind these days. For an increasing number of people, however, especially in the global south, the major catastrophe has already ceased to be a future threat, and become everyday life: The rise of hunger, poverty and misery is the result of a global economic system that demands continual economic growth and therefore drives an ever-increasing resource consumption which leads to the destruction of vital ecosystems and arable soils.

As part of the three theme days "Understand!", "Act!" and "Develop!", the discourse program offers analyses of the latest developments by renowned experts (Understand!), presents forward-thinking alternatives that invite to become active (Act!), and tries, in cooperation with the audience, to further develop important pillars of our society (Develop!).

Concrete examples of alternative practices in the areas of food, energy and construction / housing will be presented, as well as strategies and concepts for a comprehensive democratization of societies, new forms of communication and solidarity-based models of economic activity - beyond exploitation, competition and profit.

A dialogue forum, organized in cooperation with the Austrian Broadcasting Association (ORF), deals with various approaches to the theme of the festival and examines psychological aspects and the role of the media. At the concluding Elevate Awards Show, awards are given out for the first time, to individuals and initiatives that are helping to make this world a better place.

The winner of the International Elevate Award was the woman-grassroots initiative REFDAF from Senegal. Susanne Posegga won the Elevate Artivism Award and the Hofkollektiv Wieserhoisl won the Elevate Award Steiermark.

Speakers and participants:

Sarah Kumnig (AT) Briar March (NZ) Christian Payne (UK) Clemens Haipl (AT) Cynthia McKinney (US) Daniel Reichert (DE) David Salomon (DE) Elisabeth Voß (DE) Ernst Preininger & Angela Hirmann (AT) Frank Deppe (DE) Franziskus Forster (AT) Hannes Püschel (DE) Herr Hermes (AT) Ina Zwerger (AT) Irmi Salzer (AT) Jacob Appelbaum (US) Judith Schossböck (AT) Kathrin Röggla (DE) Kurt Langbein (AT) Luise Tremel (DE) Mark Stevenson (UK) Markus Sabadello (AT) Matthias Schmelzer (DE) Mietshäuser Syndikat (DE) Nafeez Mosaddeq Ahmed (UK) Noam Chomsky (US) Occupy Wall Street (US) Paul Adrian Schulz (AT) Paul Friedrich (AT) Polly Higgins (UK) Rafael SMP (ES) Sascha Vanicek (AT) Stefan Rahmstorf (DE) Ulli Klein & Karin Schuster (AT) Ursula Tischner (DE) Vandana Shiva (IN) Wolfgang Kromp (AT)

Arists:

Moodymann (US) The Bug feat. Daddy Freddy & Miss Red (UK) Mosca (UK) A Made Up Sound / 2562 (NL) Ras G (US) Redshape (DE) DJ Rashad & DJ Spinn (US) Skudge (SE) French Fries (FR) disrupt feat. Solo Banton (DE) Sensational feat. KOYXEи + DJ Scotch Bonnet (US) LE1F (US) Andrés (US) Roly Porter (UK) Sixtus Preiss (AT) Letherette (UK) UMA (AT) Pional (ES) Hot City (UK) Project MOE II (HR) Radikal Satan (FR) Dead Fader (UK) DEVILMAN feat. Paul PM (JP) Kakawaka (DE) Burek DJs (HR) C_C (FR) fšk & linx (SI) A(ffine)-Team (AT) willFling & Kido Soon (AT) Koenig Leopold (AT) Barbi Marković (RS) Bodo Hell (AT) Burkhard Stangl (AT) Christian Steinbacher (AT) Christine Schörkhuber (AT) Ensemble EIS (AT) / Christoph Herndler (AT) Kathrin Röggla (AT) OchoReSotto (AT) Polwechsel (AT) Ritornell (AT) Robert Menasse (AT) Veronika Mayer (AT) Runes (AT) Slack Hippy (AT) Black Manna (AT) Lois Lane (IT) Wattican Punk Ballet (AM) M.A.R.S. (AT) Franjazzco (AT) antiehdas (AT) DJ Die Soon (JP) DJ Dizzy (AT) Fauna (AT) feelipa (HR) Florian Puschmann  (AT) Citizens (AT) iBootz (AT) Macello Basstrojani (AT) Tornquist (AT) Melodien für Millionen (AT) Re-lay (AT) Cheever (AT) Gassnhauer (AT) Mike Fidel & finna (AT) Bert Bricht (AT) Phil Madeiski (AT) Interpenetration DJ Team (AT)

>> Elevate Festival 2012 website

Under the motto „Elevate the 21st Century“, the development of past years and perspectives for the future were discussed. Although there was a huge progress in technical issues, a positive change of society has to come from human beings.

In addition to the Festival Opening, Sunday was certainly one of the festival’s highlights. The documentary film “The Crisis of Civilization” and the main discussion in the evening brought different perspectives of experts together. National and international guests like Mark Stevenson, Corinna Milborn and James Vasile shared their ideas and seeded a lot of motivation with the audience.

This year, the music-program again presented a mixture of electronic music, far away of mainstream. In discussions on Saturday and Sunday, artists took a look at the future of bass- and electronic-music. Workshops also offered the opportunity to improve the personal knowledge about music practically.

The literature-program was held in cooperation with the Kulturzentrum bei den Minoriten again as hörgeREDE – the festival inside the festival. 

 The Elevate Festival has been known internationally for many years. This time a Bavarian Broadcast–team came to the Styrian capital to report live on the festival and the city. In addition, cooperation with national Media was supported – Radio Helsinki and okto.tv put some of the discourse events live on air. FM4 and the Kleine Zeitung reported on the festival constantly.

By using the technology of the 21st century, it was also possible to see the discourse program online. Some hundred viewers were counted on the Live-Stream of the Festival’s mediachannel. Data transmission was supported by the new cooperation partner Citycom, which also enabled free WLAN-access at the Forum Stadtpark and the Dom im Berg.

Speakers and participants:

Andrea Bührmann (DE) Andrea Kretschmann (DE) Angela Köppl (AT) Bernd Röttger (DE) Carolin Wiedemann (DE) Christian Holter (AT) Christian Payne (UK) Christian Pointner (AT) Christian Siefkes (DE) Corinna Milborn (AT) Dean Puckett (UK) Erich Moechel (AT) Ernst Schriefl (AT) James Vasile (US) Jens Schanze (DE) Johan Galtung (NO) Johanna Muckenhuber (AT) Juan Manuel Biaiñ (AR) Karen Kastenhofer (AT) Kumi Naidoo (ZA) Margarethe Holzer (AT) Mark Stevenson (UK) Marlies Ortner (AT) Max Schrems (AT) Michael Bauer (AT) Mona Bricke (DE) Nafeez Mosaddeq Ahmed (UK) Niels Boeing (DE) Ondi Timoner (US) Pat Mooney (CA) Rainer Rosegger (AT) Richard Heinberg (US) Robert Stachel (AT) Sharif Abdel Kouddous (US) Teresa Distelberger (AT) Theresa Schütz (AT) Tim Stüttgen (DE) Urban Liberation Front (AT) Vina Yun (AT) Volker Eick (DE) Werner Zittel (DE)

Artists:

Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. (JP) Adnan Popovic (AT) aiko aiko (AT) Alfred Schwarzbauer & Top*S (AT) Anja Utler (DE) Anstam (DE) B. Fleischmann (AT) bad wolf (AT) Bernstein (AT) Biomat (SK) Bitz & Puschmann (AT) Boddika (UK) Captain Pressure (AT) cfsn Djs (HR) Cheever (AT) Cherry Sunkist (AT) Chez Damier (US) Christof Kurzmann (AT) Citizens (AT) Clara Moto (AT) Crazy Bitch in a Cave (AT) Daniela Seel (DE) Dark Sky (UK) DeepChord (US) Die sehr guten Textroller 2000 (AT) DJ Glow (AT) DJ Rak3te (AT) DJ Redstar aka Bogdo (AT) Dorian Concept (AT) doze (AT) Dylan Ettinger (US) Element012 (AT) Fantastic Mr. Fox (UK) Favela Gold (AT) feelipa (AT) Ferdinand Schmatz (AT) Fontarrian (AT) Franz Hautzinger (AT) Fuckhead (AT) Gerhard Rühm (AT) Henry Bootz (AT) Herwig Holzmann (AT) High Wolf (FR) Holy Other (UK) Hype Williams (UK) Id (AT) IZC (AT) IZEN (AT) Janine Rostron (DE) Jon Hopkins (UK) Josip Klobucar (HR) Kajkyt (BA) kon.txt (AT) Konrad Becker (AT) Kyle Hall (US) Laokoongruppe (AT) LE TAMTAM (AT) Loefah (UK) Low Frequency Orchestra (AT) luX (AT) M.A.R.S. (AT) Maria Minerva (EE) Mark E (UK) Marlene Streeruwitz (AT) Michal Zietara (IT) Morphosis (LB) Move D (DE) NA (AT) neurologic b2b ib..noze (AT) Nite Jewel (US) onoxo & Liik (HR) Opcion (AT) orjo (AT) PDF a.k.a. Phil da Funk (AT) Pearson Sound aka Ramadanman (UK) Phon.o (DE) Photek (US) PLANNINGTOROCK (DE) Point (AT) Rainer Klang (AT) Raz Mesinai aka Badawi (US) Reddey (IT) redekraM – Markeder (AT) Reflector (AT) Robin Fox (AU) RocketNumberNine (UK) Rockwell (UK) Roman Rauch & Alex Bayer (AT) Sansculotte (DE) Simon Reynolds (US) Simon/off (AT) Slack Hippy (AT) Solar Bears (UK) Somatic Responses (UK) Space Dimension Controller (UK) STRAßE DER ENTHUSIASTEN (AT) The Clonious vs. Cid Rim (AT) TwatEoT (AT) White Elephant (AT) Yukon, Fnord & Marv on Tagtool (AT) Zanshin (AT)

>> Elevate Festival 2011 website

The Elevate Festival 2010 - "Elevate Civil Society" - presented internationally acclaimed guests like Iara Lee, Béatrice Achaleke and Mike Bonanno of The Yes Men and featured discussions on some of the most important issues of our time and tried to find ways for everyone to work against the climate and economic crisis.

At the same time Elevate offered a wide range of electronic music, which inspired conscious listening. Big names like Robert Hood, Joy Orbison and Merzbow made music aside the mainstream and showed their desire for experiments.A newly created literature program was featured, as well as workshops in the Elevate Lab and a new discourse part in tthe music secion called "Elevate Music Talks".

 

Participants / Discourse:

Anjali Kamat (IN) Anna Daimler (AT) Béatrice Achaleke (AT) Bill McKibben (US) Clemens Apprich (AT) Daniela Kraus (AT) Franziskus Forster (AT)    Frederick Baker (AT) Fritz Pichlmann (AT) Gerald Bäck (AT) Hans G. Zeger (AT) Herwig Schuster (AT) Iara Lee (BR) Irmi Salzer (AT) Katharina Soos (AT) Kathrin Hartmann (DE) Klaus Schönberger (DE) Klaus Unterberger (AT) Mercedes Bunz (DE) Micha Matzer (AT) Michaela Moser (AT) Mike Bonanno of The Yes Men (US) Niklas Schinerl (AT) Nnimmo Bassey (NG) Ove Sutter (AT) Rahel Sophia Süß (AT) Rob Hopkins (UK) Robert Foltin (AT) Robert Misik (AT) Wenonah Hauter (US) Wolfgang Rehm (AT)

Artists:

a thousand fuegos (AT) Actress (UK) Altered Natives (UK) Anna Leiser (AT) B.L.O. (AT) Baconhead (UK) Bernstein (AT) Cheever (AT) Chris Corsano (US) Chrissy Murderbot (US) Christof Dienz (AT) Christoph de Babalon (DE) Claro Intelecto (UK) Dead Fader (UK) DJ Moodswinger (CS) DJ Spinn (US) Dr. Blake (AT) Dub Coretette (AT) Duodroume (BR) Elektro Guzzi (AT) elffriede i.a. (AT) Emeralds (US) F. Puschmann (AT) Felix Kubin (DE) Felony Flats (CS) Florian Scheibein (AT) Fontarrian (AT) Fritz Ostermayer (AT) Funk Guru (HR) Giles Smith (UK) Girl Unit (UK) Hella Comet (AT) Hudson Mohawke (UK) Id (AT) Incredible Bob (CS) Istari Lasterfahrer (DE) Jamie xx (UK) Jörg Piringer (AT) jopa (AT) Joy Orbison (UK) Krach der Roboter (DE) Lisa Spalt (AT)  M.A.R.S. (AT) Martin Kober (AT) Melita Jurisic (HR) Merzbow with Balázs Pándi (JP) metalycée (AT) Mischa (AT) Mount Kimbie (UK) Mussurunga (AT) Nik Bärtsch (CH) Oddsac (US) Oneohtrix Point Never (US) orjo (AT) Oswald Egger (AT) Otto von Schirach (US) Over At The Stars (AT) Physically F!T (AT) Piece of Shh... (CS) Project MOE (HR) Pursuit Grooves (US) Robert Hood (US) Rotator (FR) Sandwell District (Regis & Fun...) (UK) Slobodan Milosevic (BH) Soundscapes A/V event (CS) suffix.tv (CH) Terre Thaemlitz (US) The Tweakers (AT) Tingel Tangel (AT) Tomoroh Hidari (AT) Toro y Moi (US) Trash Van Traxxx (ES) Vikkake (AT) VJ Pora (BR) Waikiki Star Destroyer (AT) Walls (UK) Wilhelm DJ Team (AT) WoO (CS) Yoko Tawada (JP)

>> Elevate Festival 2010 website

With an extensive program of discussions, workshops, lectures, and film presentations, Elevate Festival 2009 fostered a better understanding of serious world crises (in the areas of climate and energy, natural resources, nutrition, economy, politics and media) that are currently posing significant challenges to humanity. At this juncture, the focus was on examinations of alternative perspectives and analyses diverging from inadequate explanatory models, which are frequently distorted by political interests and dominated by mainstream media and public discourse.

Participants:

Leading expert on the ecological crisis, geoengineering and nanotechnology, and laureate of the Right Livelihood Award, Pat Mooney (CA); NY Times journalist and winner of the 2009 Pulitzer Price for investigative reporting, David Barstow (US); co-founder of the daily news program Democracy Now! and laureate of the 2008 Right Livelihood Award, Amy Goodman (US); historian and long-standing reporter for Austrian public TV ORF, Raimund Löw (AT); leading expert on agricultural policy and sustainable food systems, and winner of the 2008 and 2009 Derek Cooper Award at the BBC's Food and Farming Awards, Geoff Tansey (UK); bestselling author and Attac Austria co-founder Christian Felber (AT); renowned journalist and lecturer at the University for Journalism FH Vienna, Anneliese Rohrer (AT); professor of geophysics and director of the Wegener Center for Climate and Global Change, Gottfried Kirchengast (AT); outstanding economist and political scientist, Gabriele Michalitsch (AT); organic farmer and ÖBV Via Campesina Austria speaker, Irmi Salzer (AT); journalist and author of the Austrian media encyclopedia, Harald Fidler (AT); distinguished political scientist and professor emeritus of Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt am Main, Joachim Hirsch (DE), and many more..

 

participating artists:

.mrt (AT) ]BANDE[ (Yukon, Fnord) & Marv on Tagtool (AT) 00Piano (AT) A:lex (AT) Bass Clef (UK) Bitz (AT) Byetone (DE) Canc (AT) Channel-f (AT) Christoph Fringeli (CH) Clara Moto (AT) Cluster (DE / AT) Cooly G (UK) Damo Suzukis Network (JP) Darkstar (UK) Dave Aju (US) Despoilah (BE) Dual (AT) Dub Coretette (AT) Elexx.Ender + Henry Bootz (AT) Evangelista (US) F. Puschmann (AT) feelipa & El Rakkas (AT) FFF (NL) Glitterbug (DE) Gross Prophet (AU) Grzek & d.nye (AT) I:Gor (PL) Ikonika (UK) Jackmaster (UK) Jahcoozi (DE) Jon Hopkins (UK) King Midas Sound (UK) KK Null (JP) Kode9 & The Spaceape (UK) L`Orange (AT) L-Vis 1990 (UK) Ladyscraper (UK) luma.launisch (AT) M.A.R.S. (AT) Markus Lindner (AT) Martyn (NL) Micachu & The Shapes (UK) Microthol (AT) Mr. Monkeyshines (AT) Next Life (NO) Omar S (US) orjo (AT) Phillipe (HR) Portable aka Bodycode (PT) Ray Okpara (DE) Redstar (AT) Reflector (AT) Rhythmus 42 (AT) Ritornell (AT) Sebastian Feyerabend (AT) sebo.n (DE) Seefeel (UK) Simon/Off (AT) Sito (AT) Slack Hippy (AT) Sterling (AT) The Clonious (AT) The Incredible Hexadecibels (NZ) The Striggles (AT) woei (AT)

>> elevate 2009 website