OFFF_Post2 OFFF 2011, Barcelona, June 9.10.11, 2011 Foto copy Pere Virgili OFFF_Post3

More than a decade ago, a young visionary Héctor Ayuso had the revolutionary idea of organizing a festival for the digital design lovers. In this way, around the year 2000, the Online Flash Film Festival emerged, known as the OFFF, an encouraging event that with the passing of the years has come to top European displays, showing the most avant-garde styles according to the digital creation in fields like cinema, editorial art, advertisement and design.

Its offer is so varied and interesting that besides gathering the most influential creators, photographers, programmers and theoreticians in the world, equally attracts the famous coolhunters and earlyadopters, who end up importing the trends proposed in this event `to the real world´, among them the graphics of the new magazine covers, the look of the most transgressive video clips or the appearance of the big productions of Hollywood, where special effects always carry a considerable weight.

A whole colossus of creation that emerged with a less ambitious and more pragmatic aim. And this Valencian designer -collaborator of important brands like Diesel and Red Bull– was visited by the muse of inspiration in a relaxed afternoon of football in which suddenly he had a fantastic idea for a short film. Trained in film directing and with some renowned productions like his documentary about the first festival of Benicàssim, this great dreamer lacked time to imagine his work in Flash format. With an anxious character, soon he was aware of the need of an event at an international level in which this kind of animated pieces could be made known. That same evening, Ayuso was immersed in the creation of what would become the official web site of the festival. Nowadays, the OFFF has evolved towards new areas of visual communication but he continues to keep alive his initial spirit of innovation and his essential respect to the diffusion of that kind of projections.

This year, after touring capital cities like Berlin, Lisbon, Paris and New York through OFFF in tour, the festival returns again to the city which saw it grow. OFFF Barcelona 2014 – Let’s feed the future will take place on 15, 16 and 17 May in the DHUB (Disseny Hub Barcelona), an innovative and modern building located in the Poblenou neighbourhood, a district that has already started to be known as the new `Catalan Soho ´. Three days to soak in the whole magic is possible with the power of the imagination and a computer, and where the most astute people will not hesitate to carve a niche to promote themselves through the networking of the habitual Bazaar, a space in which all kinds of artistic works can be acquired.

The highlights among the invitees of this festival include the great virtuous of the papercraft, Lobulo Design; master of typography Erik Spiekermann; designer Pomme Chan (famous for the typographic illustrations inspired by nature); creator of the font Soho Gothic, Seb Lester; Kate Moross (director of the Studio Moross who has worked for brands like Converse, Adidas, Google and NOKIA); and the famous director Casey Neistat, who invested all the budget for the filming of the promotional video of The secret life of Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller) to acquire help for the victims of typhoon Haiyan, a great example of the kind of minds participating in this festival.

On this 14th occasion, the people in charge of the Main Title –those final credits which in an audiovisual format present the artists to the participants– are the creator of great impact images, Ash Thorp, and the independent film director, Anthony Scott Burns. A highlight of the event that without any doubt will astound the guests.

  • When: 15th, 16th y 17th of May from 10:30h until 21:30h
  • Where: DHUB, Glories Catalanes Square 37, Barcelona (Spain).
  • Artists: http://www.offf.ws/offf-barcelona-2014/featured-artists-1
  • Programme: http://www.offf.ws/offf-barcelona-2014/schedule-1
  • Workshops: http://www.offf.ws/offf-barcelona-2014/workshops-3