Hundreds of Cultural Institutions and Film Festivals Worldwide Join in films4peace Peace Initiative

AsiaNet 50633

LONDON, Sept. 13, 2012 / PRN=KYODO JBN/ --

    - New Films by Gregory Crewdson, Yang Fudong, Isaac Julien, Michael Nyman

and more for World Peace Day, 21 September

    Today, PUMA.Peace announced that hundreds of cultural institutions

worldwide, from Australia to Zimbabwe, are supporting films4peace to celebrate

World Peace Day on 21 September 2012-an international UN day of ceasefire, and

a day for individuals, organizations and countries to demonstrate acts of peace.

     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120912/559925 )

    films4peace, an annual short film commission by PUMA.Peace, features 21 of

today's most innovative contemporary artists visually interpreting the subject

of peace. These art films will be released at cultural venues globally on 21

September 2012. Launched through the dedicated films4peace.com website, the

initiative encourages the films to be screened and shared across the world,

through social networking websites, blogs and media channels.

    "Artists confront us with the challenges of our time," said Mark Coetzee,

films4peace curator. "films4peace are both disturbing and inspiring, responsive

to the reality of our time but they also ask us to be responsible for our

actions. PUMA.Peace wishes to contribute to making the world a better place. A

world that is safer, more peaceful and more creative. We are honoured that so

many amazing and high profile museums, galleries and online partners have

joined us in this important initiative."

    Curator Mark Coetzee has invited 21 artists to create 17 works:

    Janet Biggs (USA)

    Ergin Cavusoglu (Bulgaria)

    Magali Charrier (France)

    Gregory Crewdson and Costanza Theodoli-Braschi (USA and UK)

    Yang Fudong (China)

    Tom Gran and Kayleigh Gibbons (UK)

    Max Hattler (Germany)

    Isaac Julien (UK)

    Peterson Kamwathi (Kenya)

    Joe Lawlor and Christine Molloy (Ireland)

    Nandipha Mntambo (Swaziland)

    Michael Nyman (UK)

    Noriko Okaku (Japan)

    Jacco Olivier (Netherlands)

    Bill Porter (UK)

    Levi van Veluw (Netherlands)

    Hank Willis Thomas and Terence Nance (USA)

    Live screenings will accompany the online release at major museums

globally, including the Bass Museum of Art (Miami, USA), Centro Nacional de las

Artes, (Mexico City, Mexico), Design Museum, London (UK), Musee d'art

contemporain de Montreal (Canada), Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Puerto Rico

(San Juan) and The Phillips Collection (Washington, D.C.); in public urban

spaces including the Denver Theatre District (USA), La Virreina Centre de la

Imatge (Barcelona, Spain) and the Laumeier Sculpture Park (St. Louis, USA);

educational institutions and youth leadership conferences, including the H&R

Block Artspace at the Kansas City Art Institute (USA), New World School of the

Arts (Miami, Florida), The Banff Centre (Banff, Canada) and the 2012 One Young

World summit (Pittsburgh, USA); and international film festivals including

Addis Foto Fest (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia), Afrika Film festival (Leuven,

Belgium), Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival (Port of Spain, Trinidad) and West

Midlands Human Rights Film Festival (Birmingham, UK).

    Online screenings include Blink Video Art, Creative Art Network,

Dailymotion, MiShorts, MTV Voices, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Shooting

People, Streaming Museum, Vimeo and YouTube.

    In keeping with the spirit of the commission, these films will be gifted to

the world, within public domain and free from screening fees, as tools for

peace. By releasing these short films as broadly as possible, on multiple live

and virtual platforms, the aim is to effect positive social change and broaden

the discussions around peace globally.

    The films include 35 mm live action, experimental animation and fine art

approaches. The artists were selected for the quality and scope of their work

and their sensitivity in interpreting the theme. Shooting People has been the

production management of this initiative (http://www.shootingpeople.org).

    Editors Notes

    films4peace will be available to download and watch online at

http://www.films4peace.com from 21 September 2012-World Peace Day.

    Images

    For more information, to download the press release, film stills, artists'

statements, biographies and headshots, please visit

http://www.films4peace.com/admin/login

    PUMA.Peace

    Through its PUMAVision platform, PUMA is working towards creating a better

world for generations to come, and as a part of this platform, PUMA.Peace is

working to inspire and educate individuals around the globe that peace is

possible. Through the initiatives of PUMA.Peace, PUMA is providing real and

practical expressions of this vision by strategically implementing long-term

partnerships, creative initiatives and raising global awareness. For more

information, please visit http://peace.puma.com

    Media Contacts

    Worldwide:

    Marlene Ringel

    marlene.ringel@puma.com

    +49(0)91-3281-3134

    UK:

    Elizabeth Benjamin

    elizabeth@margaretlondon.com

    +44(0)20-7923-2861

    UK:

    Emma Pettit

    emma@margaretlondon.com

    +44(0)20-7923-2861

    SOURCE: PUMA.Peace