- Occupation
Producer, Director - Country
Austria
Schmiderer Othmar
Back to Africa
They fascinate us with their show. They inspire us with their vibrant vitality and their zest for life. They show us their history and lead us to understand that we never knew about Africa until now … André Heller's circus "Africa! Africa!" is a major event in Europe which is constantly sold out weeks prior to its premiere. 120 acrobats, dancers, artists, and musicians from the African continent perform in the show. Drawing on the circus and its highlights, Othmar Schmiderer's film switches from Europe to Africa andback, tracing the origins of four performers in their home countries.
The Fabric of Home
The Fabric of Home - what is the texture of this material - what does it feel like? The film investigates the phenomenon of traditional costumes in all its diversity - including their cultural and political background, and the national legends surrounding them - from the earliest times to the present-day, featuring examples from Austria, Bavaria, Switzerland and South Tyrol. It focuses on the habitat and dress-codes of the individual protagonists or groups, exploring the political and social significance of rituals and lifestyles, and the exuberant symbolism associated with them. It shows different approaches to tradition in relation to the conflicting demands of modern times, and examines the construction of identity and the idea of "home".
They fascinate us with their show. They inspire us with their vibrant vitality and their zest for life. They show us their history and lead us to understand that we never knew about Africa until now … André Heller's circus "Africa! Africa!" is a major event in Europe which is constantly sold out weeks prior to its premiere. 120 acrobats, dancers, artists, and musicians from the African continent perform in the show. Drawing on the circus and its highlights, Othmar Schmiderer's film switches from Europe to Africa andback, tracing the origins of four performers in their home countries.
The Fabric of Home
The Fabric of Home - what is the texture of this material - what does it feel like? The film investigates the phenomenon of traditional costumes in all its diversity - including their cultural and political background, and the national legends surrounding them - from the earliest times to the present-day, featuring examples from Austria, Bavaria, Switzerland and South Tyrol. It focuses on the habitat and dress-codes of the individual protagonists or groups, exploring the political and social significance of rituals and lifestyles, and the exuberant symbolism associated with them. It shows different approaches to tradition in relation to the conflicting demands of modern times, and examines the construction of identity and the idea of "home".
Othmar Schmiderer was born in 1954 in Lofer in Austria. After doing a variety of jobs, he started working in the theatre in 1980, assisting in production and direction at the ‘Theaterkooperative zur Schaubude’, incl. Der Zusammenstoss by Kurt Schwitters, a Vienna Festival production at the Museum of the 20th Century. He also collaborated with the performance artists Alfons Egger and Beatrix Sunkovsky. Finally, in 1983, he began working in film. He assisted in diverse functions on numerous documentary and feature films, incl. work with Michael Pilz, Valie Export and many others; he took part in various productions as camera man and sound engineer and developed own projects.
Since 1987 he has worked as an independent film-maker
www.othmarschmiderer.com
The Match Factory
Balthasarstr. 79-81
50670 Cologne
Balthasarstr. 79-81
50670 Cologne
Phone:
+49 221 539 709 45, +49 221 539 709-0
Fax:
+49 221 539 709-10
WWW:
Email:
Othmar Schmiderer
Kellerhausgasse 1
3484 Grafenwoerth
Kellerhausgasse 1
3484 Grafenwoerth