Open call for filmmakers and their grandmothers

To the women of Europe and Israel,

We are four women from Austria (a filmmaker, a political scientist, a German philologist and an interpreter) and we are currently in the process of applying for funding from the European Union for a large-scale cultural project that aims to explore Europe’s history through its female narratives.

We want to find artists and grandmothers who have stories to tell and who would like to be part of our project entitled the ‘European Grandma Project’.

We are looking for women and their grandmothers (born between 1920 and 1935) from nine different countries who are willing to share with us a new and different perspective on European history.

Together we want to create a piece of art about the stories of these women with the aim of piecing together a powerful portrait of the lives these individuals have lived during their almost 1000 collective years on earth.

The nine contributions will be mainly documented using classic documentary film-making methods whilst also taking into account the filmmakers’ individual artistic means of expression. The relationship between grandmother and granddaughter will be a key touching point throughout the film, and relationships, living conditions, personal development and philosophies will be at the heart of each contribution. Moreover, each story will aim to identify the extent to which the political situation in different parts of Europe has changed, determined or shaped these women’s lives.

The project will consist of your films and photos, as well performances which will form part of wider exhibitions (detail on these events will be communicated later on in the application process). Our mission is for these elements to connect with both the audience, as well as us as participants, with the aim of finding the release from solitude one feels upon realising that, despite all our cultural differences, we are all in many ways actually quite similar.

If you wish to participate, please send us a short message either in English or German, including a few lines about yourself, your grandmother and your motivation for taking part, via e-mail to:

european.grandma.project@gmail.com

We look forward to finding out more about your story,

Alenka Maly, Barbara Steiner, Nora Gumpenberger, Veronika Peterseil