In its eleventh edition, Videobrasil already has its roots firmly planted as a national institution. By extending its horizons and overcoming limitations it has become a cultural reference and symbolizes the consecration of a new tendency in artistic expression, communication and a mean for imaginative exploration of technical resources. Not content, Videobrasil renews and updates itself every year to the tune of current tendencies and with a rhythm imposed by electronic, technical, aesthetical and formal evolution.

In its thirteen years of existence, with eleven editions, Videobrasil has been conquering territory and offering means for a wide spectrum of professional and artistic manifestations. Through its years of existence it has been committed to fundamental videographic propositions and to the effort to keeping its main goal alive and vigorous: to aid and support this novel form of expression on its journey.

Since its beginning in 1983 it has sought to offer a place, for the then new born, video manifestations in Brazil, revealing talents and systematizing the knowledge in its various forms - institutional, commercial, artistic and broadcasted. Through the years, more than 5 thousand video productions have entered the Competitive Exhibit, from which 425 were chosen - the authors of which today constitute a substantial part of the artists and producers which represent the national video graphic scene. Videobrasil has also been a stage for discussions which have led to a better understanding of the limits and resources available in video graphic expression. Debates were promoted which covered the most exciting themes and aspects of video - techniques, language, the role of independent producers and television, broadcasting freedom, alternative and conventional markets, creative processes and technological innovation.

The acceptance and recognition of video graphic productions in various markets, through publicity, institutional exposure and television, is another of Videobrasil's causes and undertakings, attempting to unite producers with an undefined and hesitant market, to whom it revealed the immense prospects of video resources. For the past thirteen years, Videobrasil has promoted workshops, speeches and courses that have put, side by side, young independent producers with representatives of important television companies who are able to clear way for video graphic language - Channel Four, England, RTBF, Belgium, Canal Plus, France and Telemadri, Spain.

At the same time, Videobrasil has contributed to open to the market and producers the scope of technological innovations which have helped to define the limits and specifications of the different formats of equipment. It established an access to technical information necessary for the development of video graphic production, in a period noted for its lack of resources and information.

Videobrasil's natural course of evolution was through the conquest of international unity and to officially establish itself as the voice of Brazilian production. Videobrasil has currently ratified permanent communication with distinguished festivals in the international circuit - as World Wide Video Festival, Holland; Imagina, France; Ondavideo, Italy; and European Media Art Festival, Germany. It has cultivated recognition - an intercourse with some of the most important cultural and artistic institutions of the world - such as London Electronic Arts, Centre Georges Pompidou, Center International Video Montbeliard, Institut National de L'Audiovisuel de France, Video Data Bank of Chicago, Electronic Arts Intermix, Contemporary Art Television Fund, and The Kitchen. It promoted an intense exchange program between Brazilians and foreigners, bringing to Brazil for the first time notable exponents of the video artistic universe - Bill Viola, Breda Beban, Hrvoje Horvatic, Bruce Yomemoto, Dominik Barbier, John Wyver, Julian Temple, Jean Marie Duhard, Yoiciro Kawaguchi, Gianni Totti, Peter Callas, Breda Beban, Jrvojehorvalic, George Snow, Dieter Kiessling, Jaap de Jonge and Dieter Myers. In all, 250 important personalities from videoart and production have been present in these eleven years - to transmit experience, offer opportunities, face controversy and help mold a universal identity.

This year Videobrasil pays homage to the three decades of videoart existence through the exhibition of an important collection of works and artists and through an ample and profound presentation of the creator and principle exponent of videoart: Nam June Paik. Thirteen years later, Videobrasil, through its institutional commitment, is its own reason for existence.

Solange Oliveira Farkas
Diretor and Curator of 11TH Festival Internacional Videobrasil