SURVIVOR MANIFESTO – THE ART OF MAKING KIN
Experimental film | documentary, 11 min
Screenplay, director, cinematography, editing: Dan Dansen
Starring Joshua Lerner, Zafira Vrba Woodski, Dan Dansen
What if we lived in a society in which people who harmed and people who were harmed could heal simultaneously?
“Survivor Manifesto – The Art of Making Kin” is a video essay on survivorhood in which trauma survivors cast a wild vision of a utopian society.
The experimental film unfolds a hypnotic undertow that pulls the spectator into a journey from despair to self-love. The documentary narrates dealing with trauma as
a sophisticated skill. Poetic and multi-layered imagery of traveling create a metaphorical space in which narration and imagination melt into a unique story. Different
voices of trauma survivors tell about a survivor collective they have formed and they invite the viewers to join them. They encourage an emotional journey to the
viewer's very own abyss. Trauma is often related to speechlessness and isolation, but the film provides collectivity and the idea that healing is a continuing process.
The film creates the restlessness that is typical for surviving through imagery and music. But it also makes clear that the transition from surviving to living is
characterized by hope: the chorus of survivors shares their skills and their ideas on dealing with violence, the art of making kin and on queer love.
“Survivor Manifesto” is a political essay that will change your perspective on trauma.
UPCOMING
December 2023
Bogotá, Colombia
10.12.2023
Survivor Manifesto. The Art of Making Kin at the
21. Bogoshorts Short Film Festival as part of the
International Experimental Film Competition
8:00 p.m. screening with Q&A
At the
Cinemateca de Bogotá - Saal 3, Carrera 3 No. 19-10, Bogotá, Colombia
Bogotá, Colombia
07.12.2023
Survivor Manifesto. The Art of Making Kin at the
21. Bogoshorts Short Film Festival as part of the
International Experimental Film Competition
3:00 p.m. screening with Q&A
At
Centro Ático, Universidad Javeriana, Calle 40B No. 6 - 23, Bogotá, Colombia
November 2023
Poznań, Poland
18.11.2023
Survivor Manifesto. The Art of Making Kin at the
15th Shortwaves Festival
as part of the short program
The Art of Making Kin
6:00 p.m. screening
At
Pawilon, Ewangelicka 1, Poznań, Poland
Melbourne, Australia
13.11.2023
Survivor Manifesto. The Art of Making Kin at the
33rd Melbourne Queer Film Festival as part of the program
Out-There Shorts
09:00 p.m screening
At
Village Jam Factory Cinema, 500 Chapel Street, Melbourne, VIC 3141
September 2023
Regina, Canada
14.09.2023
Survivor Manifesto. The Art of Making Kin at the
19. Queer City Cinema as part of the short program
Screening 1
7:30 p.m. screening
At
Regina Public Library Film Theatre, 2311 12th Avenue – Lower Level, Regina, Canada
July 2023
Cologne, Germany
01.07.2023
Survivor Manifesto. The Art of Making Kin at
Bonanza Fest Cologne as part of the program
The Art of Making Kin
6:00 p.m. screening
At
Altes Pfandhaus, Kartäuserwall 20, 50678 Cologne
June 2023
Bochum, Germany
23.06.2023
Survivor Manifesto. The Art of Making Kin at
Bochum Pride as part of the program
Survival and Desire
7:00 p.m. screening
At
endstation.kino, Wallbaumweg 108, Bochum
Berlin, Germany
17.06.2023
Survivor Manifesto. The Art of Making Kin at the
17th XPOSED Queer Film Festival as part of the short program
How to get more followers
6:00 p.m. screening with Q&A
At
Moviemento, Kottbusser Damm 22, Berlin
Leipzig and Halle/Saale, Germany
17.06.2023
Survivor Manifesto. The Art of Making Kin as part of the exhibition of
membra(i)nes, the 12th Gender Studies Association Annual Conference
At the
Academy of Fine Arts Leipzig, Wächterstraße 11, 04107 Leipzig, 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. and at
Burg Galerie Halle, Schleifweg 8 a, 06114 Halle, daily 2:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Leipzig and Halle/Saale, Germany
16.06.2023
Survivor Manifesto. The Art of Making Kin as part of the exhibition of
membra(i)nes, the 12th Gender Studies Association Annual Conference
At the
Academy of Fine Arts Leipzig, Wächterstraße 11, 04107 Leipzig, 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. and at
Burg Galerie Halle, Schleifweg 8 a, 06114 Halle, daily 2:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Leipzig and Halle/Saale, Germany
15.06.2023
Survivor Manifesto. The Art of Making Kin as part of the exhibition of
membra(i)nes, the 12th Gender Studies Association Annual Conference
At the
Academy of Fine Arts Leipzig, Wächterstraße 11, 04107 Leipzig, 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. and at
Burg Galerie Halle, Schleifweg 8 a, 06114 Halle, daily 2:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Berlin, Germany
09.06.2023
Survivor Manifesto. The Art of Making Kin at the
4th Videoaktion of
attaqu(e)r le visible
07:00 p.m. screening as part of the program Projection I
At
Raum für drastische Maßnahmen, Oderstr. 34, Berlin-Friedrishain
April 2023
Berlin, Germany
28.04.2023
Survivor Manifesto. The Art of Making Kin and
"The Crisis Keeps Me Going" as video installation at the Berlin
Gallery Weekend as part of the serial
INTERVENTION
9:00 p.m. - 11:59 p.m. screening as loop
At
ZF Projektraum, Harzer Str. 91, Berlin, Germany
Dortmund, Germany
21.04.2023
Survivor Manifesto. The Art of Making Kin at the
40th International Women's Film Fest Dortmund | Cologne
4:00 p.m. screening as part of the section
desired! film lust & queer
At
Schauburg, Brückstraße 66, 44135 Dortmund, Germany
March 2023
Belgrade, Serbia
30.03.2023
Survivor Manifesto. The Art of Making Kin at the
70th Martovski Festival - Belgrade Documentary and Short Film Festival
26th Jihlava International Documentary Film Festival
9:00 p.m. screening as part of the
International Short Film Competition
February 2023
Mühlheim, Germany
05.02.2023
Survivor Manifesto. The Art of Making Kin at the
FEEVA - Forum for experimental and emancipatory video art
4:00 om Screening
At
Makroscope, Friedrich-Ebert-Straße 48, Mülheim/Ruhr, Germany
October 2022
Jihlava, Czech Republic
27.10.2022
Worldpremiere: "Survivor Manifesto. The Art of Making Kin" at the
26th Jihlava International Documentary Film Festival
11:30 a.m. screening as part of the experimental film competition
Fascinations
At
DIOD, Tyršova 12, Jihlava, Czech Republic