What we built in 2024
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In 2024, Rashomon developed a connected programme of film production, workshops, lectures, and public events across Görlitz and the Lusatia region. The aim was to create a working environment in which artistic practice, scientific research, and regional knowledge could intersect — not as separate formats, but as part of a shared process.
 

At the core of the programme was the Summer Film Academy, a two-week, practice-based format bringing together international participants from different disciplines and backgrounds. Working in small teams, participants developed film projects from initial ideas through to production and postproduction. The programme combined mentoring, technical support, and collaborative formats such as writer’s rooms, pitching sessions, and open workshop structures. Alongside conceptual development, participants received hands-on guidance in camera, sound, editing, and production workflows.
 

Thematically, the programme was framed by “The Origin of the World / The Origin of the [Next] World”, connecting cosmology, regional cultural contexts, feminist perspectives, and questions of artificial intelligence. This framework was explored through a series of lectures, seminars, and workshops that addressed both theoretical and practical approaches — from narrative and documentary strategies to experimental and data-driven forms.
 

A specific focus was placed on the intersection of art and science. In collaboration with DZA (German Center for Astrophysics) and CASUS, the programme included contributions engaging with cosmology, astrophysics, and data-based research.
This was further expanded through a dedicated 3D and data art workshop, led by Dr. Jiří Vyskočil, introducing participants to virtual environments, real-time simulation tools, and the translation of scientific data into visual and spatial forms.
 

An important public component was IGAL – Intergalactic Lusatia, which functioned as a hybrid science-art event within the programme. Hosted at Rabryka Görlitz, it brought together researchers, artists, and audiences in a shared setting of talks, screenings, and audiovisual works. Contributions addressed topics such as the Big Bang, gravitational phenomena, and the evolution of cosmic structures, and were combined with film, sound, and live formats.
 

Throughout the two weeks, participants worked intensively on their own projects, supported by mentors and embedded in a collaborative production environment. The programme structure allowed for continuous exchange between groups, disciplines, and approaches, creating a dynamic workflow between research, experimentation, and production.
 

The results of this process were presented in both internal and public formats. This included an internal premiere of the films, as well as a public screening in cooperation with the Lausitz Festival at Kühlhaus Görlitz, connecting the programme to a wider cultural and regional context.
 

Across its different components, the 2024 programme established a framework that connects:

film and time-based media
scientific research and data-based practices
regional and Sorbian perspectives
collaborative and experimental working methods
 

Rather than isolated events, these elements formed an interconnected structure that continues to develop. The experiences, partnerships, and formats initiated in 2024 now serve as the foundation for an expanded programme leading towards 2026.