13 October 2011
Dundee 'multi' project wins European acclaim
An interactive study of life in a Dundee tower block scheduled for demolition has won a major film prize in Poland.
Pawel Grzyb, a third-year Time Based Art & Digital Film student at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, won the top prize at the Filmteractive Festival in Lodz for his exploration of life for the few remaining residents in Bucklemaker Court, a 23-storey tower block in Dundee’s Hilltown area.
Pawel (26) is originally from Krakow, but has lived in Scotland for more than six years. He found out about the competition when he visited Poland during the summer and submitted the project he had worked on as part of his studies during the previous year.
After being shortlisted for the top award, Pawel presented the work to a panel of academics, filmmakers and industry representatives from Poland, and won 10,000PLN (£2,000) and a scholarship for postgraduate studies at the State Higher School of Film, Television and Theatre in Lodz. He was also awarded the Audience Prize for the most interesting idea.
Pawel says that he created ‘Fading Community’ in an attempt to preserve the unique atmosphere of the tower block and create a living memory before Bucklemaker and the neighbouring Butterburn Court are demolished next year. The giant tower blocks were built 40 years ago, and once housed hundreds of families. Only a handful of residents remain in the 'multi's' as they await re-housing.
'Coming from the part of Krakow that I do, it was quite common for me to see high-rise housing like this,' he said. 'What interested me was hearing that the multi was due to be demolished and that there was an opportunity to create something that would preserve the memory of this place for future generations.
'It provides a snapshot of late-20th century architecture and life, and it was very interesting for me to get to know about Dundee’s history in this way. Bucklemaker Court is where many people lived and played a huge role in their lives so it is important that something exists to keep help their memory alive.
'The scholarship is to one of the best universities for film studies in Europe, and it was great to win these prizes but the most important thing for me was just seeing my work recognised in this way.'
Pawel used photography, film and sound recordings to create a memoir of the council block and to document the changing nature of Dundee. He created a documentary website which interactive features which allow the viewer to hear interviews with residents and concierges, undertake a virtual tour of the building, and gain new insights into life in Bucklemaker Court, past and present.
Filmteractive is an annual festival where film talent meet to exchange experiences, ideas and establish business contacts. Young artists can see the latest trends in digital media and interactive business representatives can obtain partners for their film projects. Visitors can observe how film and the internet combine to provide a new kind of communication.
Over the two-day duration of Filmteractive, visitors can speak to people who are at the forefront of multimedia development, and take part in inspiring discussions, workshops and informal talks.
Pawel will complete his Time Based Art & Digital Film degree before taking up his scholarship at the Higher State School, or other postgraduate study.
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University of Dundee
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