Interview
Telemach Wiesinger
Telemach Wiesinger, born in 1968 in Bielefeld, Germany, is a filmmaker and visual artist known for his innovative and captivating works. He studied Visual Communication at the Universität Gesamthochschule Kassel, earning his Master of Arts degree in 1995.
Wiesinger's films and solo performances have been showcased at numerous prestigious festivals and venues around the world, reflecting his diverse and extensive artistic journey. His creations have been featured at renowned events such as the Edinburgh International Film Festival, International Film Festival Rotterdam, and European Media Art Festival Osnabrück, among many others.
Beyond his filmography, Wiesinger is also recognized for his expertise as a photographer, with his works displayed in various exhibitions and art books globally. He has held solo exhibitions at esteemed institutions like the Contemporary Art Center Athens and the Smokebrush Gallery Colorado Springs. In addition to his creative pursuits, Wiesinger shares his knowledge and insights as a visiting lecturer at several universities and art institutions worldwide, inspiring the next generation of artists and filmmakers.
His film 1:1 was the grand winner in the Best Experimental Abstraction category at the Experimental Brasil 2024.
1-To start, could you tell us a bit about yourself and how you began your journey as an experimental filmmaker?
I made my last short film with "feature film" ambitions while I was still studying at art college (until 1994). After that, I only made so-called "experimental films" or art films.“
2-How was your experience studying Visual Communication at the Universität Gesamthochschule Kassel? How did this influence your work as a filmmaker?
In retrospect, as an experimental filmmaker, not very much. But as an artist.
3-Could you share with us some of your artistic inspirations and influences throughout your career?
I was less inspired by movies than by literature and music. Perhaps this explains the independence of my film work ?
4-With such an extensive and diverse career, showcasing your work in a wide variety of festivals and venues, how would you describe the evolution of your style and cinematic approach over the years?
The joy of the craft is unbroken and I'm already looking forward to the next movie!
5-In such an experimental field as filmmaking, how do you approach the relationship between form and content in your works?
Each film is the approach of a new solution to bring form and content together
6- Could you tell us about a specific project that has been particularly challenging or meaningful for you in your career so far?
They are perhaps my films "10" and "1:1", because here I also refined the independence for the chemical self-development and gained the concentration on each individual film image by means of the trick table single-frame projection.
7-How do you see the role of the experimental filmmaker in today's society, and what do you believe is the impact of your work on the audience?
I actually didn't give it much thought... However, I always take a lot of interest in the audience's response in Q&As and thus also get to know the effect on the viewer/listener
8-What are the challenges and rewards of creating experimental films compared to more conventional productions?
It's probably the independence, but also the challenge of creating many of the individual components of the film independently and without teamwork.
9- Over the years of experience, what have been the most important lessons you've learned as a filmmaker?
To develop as much know-how as possible for your own analog film equipment and to collect spare parts for repairs in advance...
10-Finally, what advice would you give to aspiring filmmakers who are interested in exploring the world of experimental cinema?
To be motivated to make films not by funding or scholarships, but by the need to realize film works
