PROGRAMME 10th EDITION MECAL 360

///// Free entry

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15 — DAY 1 (AFTERNOON)

Simulating the Void: AI, memory, and new visual narratives

• 17:00 – 18:00 | Aesthetics and politics of AI: from representation to intervention
  Helena Nikonole (Berlin, Germany) — Conference

  How can artificial intelligence and data modeling recover social realities that left no physical footprint? A practical exploration of collective intelligence applied to the creation of visualizations that function simultaneously as documentary evidence and video art pieces.

• 18:00 – 19:00 | Remembering the machine: vision and temporality in audiovisual archives

  Daniel Chávez Heras (London, United Kingdom) — Conference

  We use computers to store, process and synthesize images, but... Is it possible to program these machines to build a collective audiovisual memory? A journey through ten years of interdisciplinary work to understand how we move from the simple recovery of archives to the generation of new historical accounts of the past.

• 19:00 – 20:00 | ¡AI, AI, AI! AI in the search for archive images // Collaboration with Barcelona Documentary Club

  Lisa Berger / ADAE (Barcelona) — Workshop

  A critical analysis of the impact of artificial intelligence on the search and management of heritage collections. Is it better or worse to use AI tools to find archive images in contemporary audiovisual productions?

  Admission is free but you must register at the email programacion@mecalbcn.org

• 20:00 – 21:00 Barcelona Documentary Club + Opening of the festival — Networking

  The Barcelona Documentary Club is an independent cultural initiative established in Barcelona dedicated to the dissemination, analysis and promotion of contemporary documentary production. Conceived as a meeting space for industry professionals, creators and lovers of the genre, the club organizes meetings, workshops and screenings that promote debate around new audiovisual narratives, archival research and innovative methodologies in non-fiction cinema.

  If you want to be part of the Barcelona Documentary Club, send an email. Registration is free: contact@bcndoclub.com

• FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16 — DAY 2 (AFTERNOON)

The Synthetic Author: Co-creation, algorithms and new audiovisual structures

• 17:00 – 18:00 | Thinking like strangers
  Alex Verhaest (Brussels, Belgium) — Conference

  How the integration of generative AI and real-time simulation is transforming immersive works. A guide on what major festivals such as Venice Immersive, Cannes or Tribeca are looking for when selecting experiences that combine virtual reality and intelligent algorithms, and how to submit these projects to competition.

• 18:00 – 19:00 | It shapes the new frontier of narrative, creating visionary experiences that place audiences at the center of the story
  Jeanne Marchalot (Paris, France) — Conference

  Production strategies, licensing, new business models, and digital platforms. How to adapt AI-powered interactive installations to museums, art centers, and physical spaces without skyrocketing maintenance or exhibition costs.

• 19:00 – 20:00 | The sound of tomorrow: audio in cinema and AI. Challenges, modern shortcuts and time savings
  Roman Schoenbichler (Barcelona) — Workshop (In collaboration with the Barcelona Documentary Club) (Session in English)

  A hands-on workshop on the crucial role of audio in audiovisual productions and how AI is automating processes in the production chain. We will look at current tools, modern shortcuts, and the limits where AI cannot replace the nature of sound design.

  Admission is free but you must register at the email programacion@mecalbcn.org

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17 — DAY 3 (MORNING)

Audiences, Platforms and Digital Ethics

• 11:00 – 12:00 | XR Festivals in the open: how to get around the international ecosystem of festivals and markets
  Raphaël Haddad (Barcelona)— Industry Workshop (Session in English)

  Practical session aimed at professionals to learn how to design the dossier, the teaser, the budget and the circulation strategy of an Extensive Reality (XR) project based on real cases.

  Admission is free but you must register at the email programacion@mecalbcn.org

• 12:00 – 13:00 | Performance profiles: identity, gender and the implicit user
  Søren Pold (Aarhus, Denmark) — Workshop/Conference (speaker will participate online)

  Data analysis workshop applied to visual culture: how to use Natural Language Processing (NLP) in comments and public forums to understand the reception and impact of audiovisual works on the digital audience.

  Admission is free but you must register at the email programacion@mecalbcn.org

• 13:00 – 14:00 | Can AI help make better films with fewer resources?
  Sami Arpa (Lausanne, Switzerland) — Conference

  Who labels the images? What is erased during the process? A critical reflection on the path that a data archive takes to become a moving image within algorithmic creation.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17 — DAY 3 (AFTERNOON)

Women at the Digital Avant-garde: Leadership and challenges in the Catalan audiovisual sector

• 17:00 – 18:00 | Occupying the technical space: Creators in the face of digital transformation

  Natalia Gima, Marta Minguell Colomé, Louise Brix Andersen (Barcelona) — Round table /// Podcast Bit a bit. Live recorded session with an audience

  What position do women creators occupy in the digital transformation of Catalan cinema? This round table brings together three of the most prominent figures of local electronic creation to discuss the fact of occupying traditionally masculinised spaces (programming, engineering, electronics). Is programming your own tool a necessity or a political gesture? Does generative AI reduce the barrier to entry or devalue the technical competence demonstrated over the years? An open conversation about leadership and own tools.