WHAT IS THE MAIN IDEA OF THE PROJECT AND WHO IS THE TARGET GROUP?

Nice to meet you– cultural collisions in 100 sec was organised by radio multikulti and the House of World Cultures in Berlin as part of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue.

The project makes a creative contribution to the theme of intercultural dialogue. This may be a part of everyday life in Berlin, but is by no means lived out here as a matter or course.

What does intercultural dialogue mean exactly? Is it merely a well-meant but antiquated code that obscures reality, or is it something that really can be filled with life? What is cultural identity in a mobile, globalised society? Berlin, in particular, is linked with a great variety of places, languages, histories and patterns of perception in many ways. All of these different aspects point beyond a merely territorial identity. With the competition and the accompanying range of programmes supplied by radio multikulti, the organisers hoped to find answers to these questions and to stimulate discussion.

WHAT DOES THE PROJECT INCLUDE?

The multimedia competition encouraged people of all ages, genders and nationalities to produce a short video or audio clip in order to show the multicultural nature of everyday life in the form of cultural clashes or examples of cultural tolerance and understanding in a funny or touching way. The aim was to demonstrate that ‘Intercultural Dialogue’ is not just an empty political term but something that ordinary people may encounter when going about their everyday business.

A jury panel made up of prominent figures from the cultural sphere included Swiss director and actor Dani Levy, authors Vladimir Kaminer and Buket Alakus and pop singer Muhabbet. It was their job to choose the most interesting and exciting video that best captured the multicultural nature of today’s societies. The competition attracted over 160 applicants, who, although they live in Germany, have their roots in over 27 different countries.

A jury consisting of prominent figures selected the most interesting, moving, exciting or funniest 100-second film or soundtrack. The prizes were presented at the House of World Cultures on 11 November 2008. The winning entry came from 16-year-old Berliner Anton Schreiber with his film Toleranz am Spinatsee. The second and third prizes went to Ahmed Shah from the UK for his video Biometrisch and Chilean Robinson Zuniga for Valentino respectively.