The Berlin Language of Art & Music Conference 2014

Cinematic Cultural Diplomacy: Practicing Cultural Diplomacy through Film

Conference Overview
As technological developments are accompanied by enhanced access to films, cinematography is increasingly gaining importance as an invaluable medium of cultural diplomacy. With innovative regional cinematic industries making their mark on the global artistic landscape, talent from around the world is being showcased to large audiences who would normally not have access to the cultural particularities of the diverse regions of the world.

These films, by telling stories that reflect the social, cultural and political landscapes of their origin, are serving to promote diplomatic relations on the one hand and at the same time challenge stereotypes and foster intercultural understanding on a scale never before imagined. In addition to the story-telling components inherent in films, they simultaneously raise intercultural awareness through the incorporation of art and music specific to their region of origin.

These contributions to international relations will be celebrated during two high-level conferences taking place in Berlin and in Hollywood. The conferences will examine the immense transformative value that film holds as a vehicle of Cultural Diplomacy. The conferences will gather an interdisciplinary mixture of practitioners of Cultural Diplomacy from across the globe for a true celebration of art as cultural diplomacy that will run parallel in Berlin to the world renowned Berlinale International Film Festival and in Hollywood, parallel to the 86th Academy Awards.

In both events the use of music and art as integral components of Cinematic Cultural Diplomacy will be explored and analyzed as tools for enhancing cross cultural understanding and interaction.