Paul Winkler

Infobox Writer


imagesize = 150px
name = Paul Winkler
birthdate = 22 June 1939
birthplace = Hamburg, Germany
occupation = Filmmaker
nationality = Australian
genre = Film, Experimental Film, Avant-garde Film

Paul Winkler is an internationally renowned filmmaker who lives and works in Sydney, Australia. Together with Corinne and Arthur Cantrill, Albie Thoms and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Perry_(Australian_filmmaker) David Perry] , Winkler for many years was among the nucleus of the once thriving Australian experimental filmmaker scene.

Born 22 June 1939 in Hamburg, Germany Winkler underwent a bricklaying apprenticeship before he relocated to Australia in 1959. His self education in film and film history began in 1962 when he also commenced filmmaking, initially working in 8mm on Bell & Howell and Canon cameras. In 1967 he switched to 16mm and a Bolex camera which he used ever since.

Winkler’s approach to filmmaking is primarily an organic one. His films are a synthesis of the intellect and emotion all filtered through the plastic material of film, balancing delicately between form and content. “I try to let imagines flow freely to the surface” (Winkler).

These ‘imagines’ often depict iconic aspects of Australia like Bondi Beach, Ayers Rock/Uluru and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Sometimes they take a look at her textures as in "Bark/Rind", "Green Canopy", and the Bush. As early as 1973 Winkler sided with the Aboriginal Land Right Claims in "Dark", conceived at a time of particular spirituality in his work – as in "Chants" and "Red Church". Recently, he tends to deal more with modern Australian society like in "Rotation", "Time out for Sport" and "Long Shadows". There is even the odd reminiscence to his apprenticeship as in "Brickwall", "Backyard" and "Brick and Tile".

The images in his films are clearly marked by the use of devices to create them. Winkler may briefly show the unaltered image in the beginning of a film. But inevitably processing will occur, and Winkler’s "low-tech invention pushes the possibilities of comparatively simple mechanics and long-known camera devices to their outer limits and beyond". Mostly, these are still and moving mattes and the optical printer but also some inventions of his own. They always result in refreshingly new images full of sensual impressions.

In 1995, the Museum of Contemporary Art and Sydney Intermedia Network honoured Winkler with a retrospective screening of a total of 30 of his films. The following year, [http://hcl.harvard.edu/hfa/ Harvard Film Archive] at the Carpenter Centre for the Visual Arts, Harvard University Cambridge, Boston USA screened 30 films in a three-day retrospective.

The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museum_Of_Modern_Art Museum of Modern Art] in New York holds 15 of his films in their collection. Prints are also available from [http://www.cfmdc.org/ Canadian Filmmakers Distribution Centre in Toronto] , Canada, the [http://www.film-makerscoop.com/ New York Filmmakers Coop] , [http://www.lightcone.org Light Cone] in Paris, Red Avocado Films in Germany, the [http://www.nfsa.gov.au National Film+Sound Archive] in Canberra, Australia and other outlets the world over.

His first DVD entitled "Australian Icons" contains "Ayers Rock", "Bondi", "Rotation", "Sydney Harbour Bridge" and "Time out for Sport" along with a portrait documentary entitled "© Paul Winkler".

Films in 16 mm

*"Many Buddhas" (in progress)
*"Popkitsch" (2006)
*"Fischtank" (20004)
*"Turmoil" (2000)
*"Rotation" (1998)
*"Capillary Action" (1997)
*"Time out for Sport" (1996)
*"Green Canopy" (1994)
*"Elevated Shores" (1993)
*"Long Shadows" (1991)
*"Glitter" (1990)
*"Faint Echos" (1988)
*"Facades" (1987)
*"Australian Bush" (1986)
*"Incongruous" (1984)
*"Brick and Tile" (1983)
*"Traces" (1982)
*"Ayers Rock" (1981)
*"Urban Spaces" (1980)
*"Sydney-Bush" (1980)
*"Taylor Square" (1980)
*"Cars" (1979)
*"Bondi" (1979)
*"Window" (1978/79)
*"Sydney Harbour Bridge" (1977)
*"Bark-Rind" (1977)
*"Red Church" (1976)
*"Backyard" (1976)
*"Brickwall" (1975)
*"Chants" (1974/75)
*"Dark" (1973/74)
*"Scars" (1970/71)
*"Neurosis" (1970)
*"Requiem No.1" (1969)
*"Red and Green" (1968)
*"Isolated" (1967)

Awards

*"Turmoil" --- Finalist - Dendy Awards, Sydney Film Festival 2000
*"Rotation" --- Directors Choice Award, Black Maria Film & Video Festival, Jersey City, USA 2000 & Best Experimental Film, Melbourne Film Festival 1999 & Finalist, Dendy Award, Sydney Film Festival 1998 & Honorable Mention, Ann Arbor Film Festival, USA 1999
*"Capillary Action" --- Directors Choice Award, Black Maria Film & Video Festival, Jersey City, USA 2000 & Finalist - Dendy Award, Sydney Film Festival 1998
*"Time out for Sport" --- Best Editing, Ann Arbor Film Festival, USA 1996 & Finalist - Dendy Awards Sydney Film Festival 1996
*"Long Shadows" --- Erwin Rado Award, Best Australian Short Film, Melbourne Film Festival 1992
*"Brick & Tile" --- Best Experimental Film, Australian Film Institute Awards 1984
*"Traces" --- Silver Boomerang, Melbourne Film Festival 1983 & Honorable Mention, Baltimore Film Festival USA 1984
*"Ayers Rock" --- Price money, Ann Arbor Film Festival, USA 1983
*"Urban Spaces" --- Second Price, Experimenatl, Baltimore Film Festival 1983
*"Sydney-Bush" --- Silver Boomerang, Melbourne Film Festival 1981 & Price Winner, Ann Arbor Film Festival, USA 1981
*"Bondi" --- Silver Award, Experimental, Australian Film Awards 1979
*"Sydney Harbour Bridge" --- Gold Award – Best Experimental, Australian Film Awards 1979
*"Bark Rind" --- Price Winner, Ann Arbor Film Festival, USA 1977
*"Red Church" --- Greater Union Awards: 1st Price, Experimental, Sydney Film Festival 1976
*"Chants" --- Greater Union Awards: Finalist, Experimental, Sydney Film Festival 1975
*"Dark" --- Greater Union Awards: 1st Price, Experimental, Sydney Film Festival 1974 & Silver Award: Experimental Films, Chicago International Film Festival 1974
*"Scars" --- Alan Stout Award 1st Price: Most Creative Entry, 1973 & Silver Award, Experimental Section, Australian Film Institute Awards 1973

External links

* [http://www.fh-wuerzburg.de/petzke/winkler.html Article about early films (in German only)]
* [http://www.experimenta.org/mesh/mesh06/6nery.html Article about Sydney retrospective by Robert Nery]
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0935260/ Paul Winkler at IMDB]