CULTURAL & ARTISTIC EVENT ORGANISATION
CLOSEFILM ASSOCIATION ِDIRECTOR
LINZ INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL MANAGER
Linz ISFF 2018 – 2019 – 2020 – 2021
The LINZ INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL was founded in 2018 by Ashkan Nematian & Parisa Ghasemi with the aim of supporting young, talented filmmakers in their qualitative work and giving them the opportunity to present their creations in a professional setting. The thematic focus is on diversity and “independent films” with strong characters and plots, virtuoso creative and entertaining narratives.
With hundreds of independent short films on 4 festival days, the festival throws a spotlight from the screens of Linz cinemas, beyond the borders of Europe, into the wide world and underlines the lively interest of the international short film scene for the festival as well the location Linz. The concentrated, diverse programme is combined with a varied programme of discussions, nightlines and workshops for filmmakers and amateurs.
With the help of numerous, motivated film enthusiasts and the CLOSEFILM association, the festival director and founder Parisa Ghasemi managed the first 2018 festival edition, which immediately met with great approval. 800 submissions for the first edition, from which 114 favourites from around 40 countries were selected, speak for themselves and for the diversity of the festival. In 2019 we received again around 800 submissions from 75 different nations. This year we were pleased about more than 3400 submissions from 121 countries for our online edition of the festival, which means an increase of 300% compared to the previous year.
From the very beginning, the LINZ INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL has made an important contribution to the Linz cultural scene, creating a productive environment for local artists and filmmakers as well as space for collaborative artistic exchange. In the long term, the festival aims to support filmmakers in building up an international network.
The promotion of FILM EDUCATION and the FILM INDUSTRY in Linz by establishing an international NETWORKING PLATFORM is our overriding goal, to which we dedicate our working hours in our association.
Interested film lovers and cinema fans are in turn increasingly attracted to the cinema as well as to talks and workshops through festivals, which strengthens local cinema operations and the film industry in general.
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IFFV DIRECTOR
The Intercultural Film Forum Vienna
was founded to promote art, culture, film and especially international cultural exchange. The non-profit Intercultural Film Forum Vienna has the aim to present independent films and to promote the engagement for art, culture and film. To achieve this goal, the association offers support for film projects throughout the year and organizes Festivals, workshops, seminars and film screenings.
The Intercultural Film Forum Vienna is dedicated to the promotion of cultural and artistic activities, especially the promotion of engagement in film education and film industry, as well as the establishment of international cooperation with other associations and groups of similar industries.
CULTURAL DIALOGUE WITH AN EMPHASIS ON DIVERSITY
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Cooperation in Organising KINOPHILIA KINOKABARET 2015 & 2016
In April 2015 and 2016, the first and second KinoKabaret took place in Linz. International directors, actors, technicians, musicians and artists – both professionals and amateurs – met to jointly realize film ideas. What they had in common was the desire to make short films, to try things out and to make them, and the will to create a film within two to three days that would then be shown in the cinema.
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Cooperation with TADAEX
In cooperation with the city of Linz, the Linz Art University and TADAEX, CLOSEfilm invited ten students and two professors from the Art University to the annual digital art exhibition in Tehran to exhibit their interactive artworks.
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Cooperation with Kooshk Residency
In cooperation with Kooshk Residency and Austrian Cultural Forum Tehran, LINZ ISFF and CLOSEfilm Association organized an art residency of talent winner Paul Ploberger at Kooshk Residency Tehran. His film was also screened at ÖKF Tehran and Deegar Platform as part of Iran-Austria exchange 2019.
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Participation at Clermont Ferrand Film festival
In 2020, Linz ISFF festival directors Ashkan Nematian and Parisa Ghasemi were invited to attend the world’s largest short film festival, the Festival du Court Métrage de Clermont-Ferrand in France.
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Participation at Festival de Cannes
Ashkan Nematian was personally present at the Festival de Cannes 2018 and 2019, 2021, and at the Cannes Court Metrage – Short Film Corner.
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MUSIC VIDEO
Fåhrurteile
Music SEPP
Music Video Ashkan Nematian
Link https://vimeo.com/288465369
Director, Editing, DOP Ashkan Nematian
Camera Parisa Ghasemi, Clemens Niel, Thomas Guggenberger
Bass clarinet, composition, band leader Christopher Haritzer
Vocals Gizem Kuş
Soprano saxophone Victoria Pfeil
Signal horn Lothar Beyschlag
Fretless guitar Bilge Kaan Kuş
Frame drums, percussion Tobias Steinberger
Violin Tomáš Novák
Double bass Iradi Luna
Dance Homam Al Najdi
Sound: Sabina Schöberl ( live recording + mixing ) Alex Jöchtl ( mastering )
Recorded in 2018 at OBN, thanks to Daniel Bierdümpfl and his roommates.
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Beziehungsweisen
Music SEPP
Music Video Ashkan Nematian
Link https://vimeo.com/288468893
Director, Editing, DOP Ashkan Nematian
Camera Parisa Ghasemi, Clemens Niel, Thomas Guggenberger
Bass clarinet, composition, band leader Christopher Haritzer
Vocals Gizem Kuş
Soprano saxophone Victoria Pfeil
Bugle Lothar Beyschlag
Fretless guitar Bilge Kaan Kuş
Frame drums, percussion Tobias Steinberger
Violin Tomáš Novák
Double bass Iradi Luna
Dance Homam Al Najdi
Sound: Sabina Schöberl ( live recording + mixing ) Alex Jöchtl ( mastering )
Recorded in 2018 at OBN, thanks to Daniel Bierdümpfl and his roommates.
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EXPERIMENTAL DANCE VIDEO
Studententum III von Collective B
Link https://vimeo.com/147575642
Producer: Kollektiv B
Film: Parisa Ghasemi, Ashkan Nematian.
Director und DOP: Ashkan Nematian
Editing & Sound Design: Parisa Ghasemi
Concept: Elsa Mourlam, Thomas Novak.
Choreography: Elsa Mourlam, Sonia Borkowitz
Body Sound Space, Kapu, Linz, Austria
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Studententum I von Collective B
Link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4PVxpKNVNQ
Producer: Kollektiv B
Film: Parisa Ghasemi Ashkan Nematian
Dance: Sonia Borkowicz, Elsa Mourlam
Music: Victoria Pfeil, Paul Schuberth, Christopher Haritzer, Tobias Ennemoser, Tomas Novak, Florian Eibel
Space design: Babsi Post, Linda Mühlbacher, Alexandra Mitterhuber
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Trois femmes à la tête blonde von Elsa Mourlam, Collective B
Link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auu1AxDvZ18
Producer: Kollektiv B
Director und DOP: Ashkan Nematian
Editing & Sound Design: Parisa Ghasemi
Performers: Sonia Borkowicz, Elsa Mourlam, Vilte Svarplyte
Music: Tomas Novak
Sound recording: Florian Eibel
Set Design: Alexandra Mitterhuber, Linda Muhlbacher, Barbara Post
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