LAFA

About LAFA

The Laboratory for cinematic autosociobiographies (“Labor für filmische Autosoziobiografien”, LAFA), is located at the Film Academy Vienna and provides space for the development, production and reflection on cinematic autosociobiographies. The LAFA is conceived as a participative and collaborative framework for work and research, one in which not only filmmakers but also interested artists from other professional fields work on cinematic autosociobiographies together with the project team. The LAFA is seen as an explorative free space and field for experimentation in which not only result-oriented work but also work that focuses on process can take place. The inseparability of artistic practice and theory is a principle of primary importance; production and reflection go hand in hand and together constitute a process of mutual exchange.

The development of cinematic autosociobiographies within the framework of an artistic research process can be subdivided into various steps of reflection and work: The first important step is for one to delve into one’s own biography asking the question: How can this biography be expressed in a sociopolitical context, in other words, how can it be conceived as an autosociobiography? Secondly, the question arises as to what filmic forms (fiction, documentary, hybrid, experimental, etc.) and techniques (fictionalization, retelling, alienation, etc.) exist that can help cinematic autosociobiographies to take shape. Thirdly, the task of embedding the biography in its contexts must be addressed; and fourthly, one must continuously reflect on the artistic and theoretical processes set in motion in the LAFA. Accordingly, within the context of the LAFA, four levels have been established on which the artistic research on cinematic autosociobiographies is to take place.

The process of artistic research will therefore be based on collective exchange: Over the course of several months per cycle two groups of diverse composition, each consisting of several artistic researchers and an artistic-scientific lead researcher, engage in an intensive work-and-exploration process; together they will explore their sociobiographies and then set out to cast their findings into cinematic form. The actual work on films is not seen as something separate from the level of “autosociobiographical exploration”; it is closely interwoven with the exploration process. The specific mechanisms of filmic forms and methods of cinematographic representation are closely examined. Attention is paid to camera movements, distances and perspectives, to the use of sound, movement, material texture and cadrage as well as questions of film production and its challenges.

The artistic-scientific head researchers Nina Kusturica and Barbara Wolfram both have considerable experience with various forms of collaborative artistic work. For the past five years, Barbara Wolfram, in collective work with her group .EVOLve Theatre Company, has, as director, elaborated six theatrical works in biographical/documentary form; in addition, holding a MSc degree in psychology, she possesses the psychological expertise necessary to provide support in this work. Nina Kusturica can already look back on an extensive career as a filmmaker; she has worked in the formats of fictional, essayistic and documentary film as well as in theatre and has explored alternative working methods; she has frequently grappled with the themes of migration and flight of refugees. The synergy between the approaches and perspectives of both artists promises optimal conditions for the work on cinematic autosociobiographies.