The Black Sea resort Vama Veche, in Constanta county, will host at the end of August, between 22nd and 31st of the month, the fifth edition, an anniversary one, of the visual arts festival Oscar Lights Vama (Vama Sub Lumini de Oscar - VSLO).  The festival promotes the arts of photography, film and painting. The manifestations, offer the passionate the possibility to participate to exhibitions, and movie projections in preview, but also tacking part to workshops and specialization classes held by national and international famous artists.

The unique feature of the VSLO is that it is the first festival in Romania which offers enthusiasts the possibility to participate, free of charge, to 10 days of specialized classes in the photography, film and painting techniques, to tens of exhibitions of photography and painting. Also, it is the only festival where 14 photography and 5 film workshops, photo and movies projections, as well as theory classes take place simultaneously.

Having in mind such rare characteristics, we’ve asked Catalin Rudolf, director of the VSLO Festival to tell us more about the story behind the festival.

“The idea of organizing a festival came from an invitation, five years ago, of holding a two days photography workshop within the music festival in Vama Veche, Stufstock. From that moment on, we became unstoppable. We’ve transformed a two days seminar into six workshops which took place within seven days. Year by year we transformed the initial idea into a festival with tens of workshops, seminars, courses and exhibitions, which take place within a 10 days period”, said Catalin Rudolf. About the objectives of the festival he added that they wanted to create a powerful community of photography in Romania, to find real talents with regards to film and photography. Another purpose of the festival is the promoting of Romanian and even international culture through image and the creation of a free and creative way of thinking, outside the boundaries set through different customs.  Also the festival is a great networking opportunity for those interested of the visual arts, while the participants and the teachers from the festival keep in touch even after several editions since it all started.

The results registered by the previous editions show us that all these objectives were achieved. “One of our greatest satisfactions, as initiators and organizers of the festival is the fact that a real community was formed during these years. We have participants who book their calendar with the yearly attendance to VSLO, the number of participants increased constantly from one edition to another, and there is a joyful sentiment among all participants at the beginning of the festival, while a sadness wave touches everyone at the end. We’ve even got feedback messages saying that the festival changed destinies. No one can remain indifferent to this. The last minute of the festival brings standing ovations for the entire activity, so that is the most pleasing moment for me”, said Rudolf.

When we are talking about the workshops attendance, where the places are limited, the previous editions brought together close to 1,000 participants while the classes, exhibitions and other activities within the festival, were attended by tens of thousands. But, the road to success was also full of challenges and most of the financing came from the organizers’ pockets. “In the first year we had close to zero financing, no one was brave enough to invest in such a unique project, except four of the teachers which are still part of the festival. We were so determined that in the first two years we managed to receive some support from Samsung, while in the last two years, and also for this edition, we have the support of Nikon. Also we’ve managed to be also recognized by the state institutions as being a cultural event and we’ve got financing from the National Cultural Fund Administration (AFCN)”, added Catalin Rudolf.

This year’s anniversary edition brings new activities and arts manifestations within the festival, like theater and painting, said the director. “We will have special seminars about books and specialized publications, we will have a new type of workshops, those which will happen in night time, and we will also have trophies, for the sections of photography and film, and also a unique one for the entire festival”, he added.  

More details about the festival and its’ complete agenda are available on www.vslo.ro.

VSLO 2014, the fifth edition, the photography section is a cultural project financed by National Cultural Fund Administration.  The Festival is organized by New Ad Zone in collaboration with Visual Art association, with the support of Nikon and in partnership with Epson, Skoda, 4K Broadcast Solutions, Noumax, Schneider, Kreatif, Dedolight, KinoFlo, WM Broadcasting and Aztec Inflatables.

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