This weekend flickered past. At first the thought of an ‘intensive weekend’ seemed somewhat daunting but within the first half an hour all that was left at the door. It was such a pleasure to get to know everyone that little bit more. Everyone seems so interesting and, without pause, engaging and just easy to talk to. Already I am looking forward to knowing more about each person, how they think and what everyone comes up with both individually and collaboratively over the course of this program. It is such a dynamic group and I am so glad to be a part of this.

Programming a film festival resonated with me as being akin to the curation I have had experience of, however with Fine Art exhibitions and events the curation is more of a tactile process. You are able to move each work around one another, fit the pieces together to make a cohesive whole. It is much more evident when you have something that you can arrange physically. It’s almost like making a collage and it is then that meanings begin to emerge.

Whilst cupped in the shadowy seats of the Cinema watching the selection of short films for Encounters I began to realise that programming was a more internal and progressive arrangement. The stages of the process were not as instantaneous.  Each films themes and imagery lay in my mind slightly muddled and hazed at first – not yet full realised – as I could not compare them simultaneously. It was only upon reflecting back on my notes and rewatching each film through memory did my understanding branch out and clarify. I also felt so responsible ! So much thought, energy and talent has gone into each film… but it was exciting nonetheless and even more so when we all came together the next day to finalise the program. Hearing everyone else’s comments really put my own thoughts into context and I just found the whole selection process fascinating and it is has really opened my eyes to the world of programming and producing.