St. Moritz Art Film Festival

After the themes Face-to-Face (about Portraiture) and Becoming-Landscape (about Space), the third edition of SMAFF focuses on the notion of Time. In fact, the common understanding of TIME is associated with History, which is perceived as a linear succession of one thing after another.

But Time is an overlapping of multiple events and experiences that occur simultaneously.

There are always multiple sides to events and occurrences. However, the dominant historical perspective often cancels the multiplicity in favour of a linear understanding of events. What remains is always set by the main narrative, which has the ability to shape and control how history is remembered, what is neglected and silenced, and crucially, what history is passed to future generations.

In order to approach minor or forgotten histories, perhaps it would be helpful to think of alternative temporalities in terms of ‘meanwhile’. When we read the dominant history, we have to think about what else was happening ‘meanwhile’.

With the theme Meanwhile Histories comes the opportunity to challenge the dominant narratives and perspectives that have shaped our understanding of history. By acknowledging the existence of parallel histories and alternative temporalities, we can uncover the stories and experiences that have been overlooked or silenced.

Screenings, talks and panel sessions are organised around the theme of conflicting temporalities: history, memory, iteration, obsolescence, ownership, transmission, and material decay.

Topics included the problematics of original and copy in the case of iterative works; the time-based or event-like nature of the unique versus the replicated object in that context; the definition of memory as a concept or value given technologies of replication; models of collaborative recording and paperwork—how contracts, working drawings, certificates, and the like serve as representations of objects and ideas.

Exploring Meanwhile Histories allows us to consider personal accounts, marginalized archives and neglected memories, providing a more comprehensive and accurate account of reality. It invites us to question who has been given the power to shape history and whose voices have been suppressed.

Furthermore, alternative histories not only offer us a deeper understanding of the past, but they also have the potential to shape our future. By recognizing and amplifying the experiences of marginalized groups such as black communities, women, L.G.B.T. individuals, and the environment, we can challenge the inequalities and injustices that persist in our society today.

In essence, Meanwhile Histories encourages us to engage with a multiplicity of perspectives and imagine a more inclusive and equitable future. They allow us to navigate beyond the limitations of linear historical narratives and embrace the complexity and diversity of human experiences. By striving to discover “what else was happening meanwhile,” we can gain a more complete understanding of our shared reality and actively contribute to reshaping our collective memory.

The Jury changes every year, is composed of international members and according to the annual topic. The Jury for the 2024 edition is composed of: Luciano Rigolini, Natalia Sielewicz and Chomwan Weeraworawit Huang.