Pedal Power Cinema

Since 2012, the idea for a bicycle powered cinema has been realized at the ufaFabrik.

The bicycle powered cinema in 2014 and 2015 was a collaboration between the Bildungswerk der Heinrich Böll Stiftung, with Korina Gutsche / BLUECHILDFILM and the ufaFabrik e.V. and funded by the Stiftung Deutsche Klassenlotterie Berlin.

How does the bicycle powered cinema work?

The electricity that is needed for the beamer is generated by ten bicycles that are connected to dynamos. The generated power is changed from DC (direct current) to AC (alternating current) by a voltage transformer. This electricity enables the beamer to project the film onto the screen. 

Ten people from the audience are cycling to generate the power. If a cyclist wishes to stop, another person may take over. During this change, when one of the bicycles is temporarily unoccupied, the resistance of the other nine cyclists’ bicycles is temporarily increased, to ensure the same amount of power is being generated. 

Being able to generate the power for the beamer is of course an extra element of fun for the viewers, while this simultaneously addresses the issue of consumption of electricity vs. green electricity. Every year, the films that are screened address sustainable issues, like trash, plastic, food or fair fashion. After the screening, experts are invited for a panel discussion to provide viewers with an opportunity to further discuss the themes of the film.  

The events in 2012 and 2013 were organised in the frame of the project Creative strategies of sustainability.

The bicycle powered cinema in 2014 and 2015 was a collaboration between the Bildungswerk der Heinrich Böll Stiftung, (by the Stiftung Deutsche Klassenlotterie Berlin), with Korina Gutsche / BLUECHILDFILM and the ufaFabrik e.V.

List of events:

2012: Waste Land
Bras. /GB 2010 | 99 Min. | Regie: Lucy Walker | Produktion: Angus Aynsley/Hank Levine
www.wastelandmovie.com
Guests: Hank Levine, Produzent, São Paulo/ Berlin
Moritz Grund, Sustainable Design Center / Berlin
Moderator: Daniel Gäsche, rbb.

2013: Canned Dreams
FIN, 2012 | 78 Min. | Regie: Katja Gauriloff | Produktion: Joonas Berghäll
http://vimeo.com/34325456
Guests: Dennis Buchmann, Geschäftsführer von www.meinekleinefarm.org.
Helge Grotelüschen, Rohkost-Koch www.gesundundsuendig.de
Tanja Krakowski, Culinary Misfits  www.culinarymisfits.de.
Moderator: Daniel Gäsche, rbb.

2014: Trashed - No Place For Waste
USA 2012 | 97 Min. | Regie: Candida Brady | Produktion: Candida Bradley, Titus Ogilvy | Darsteller: Jeremy Irons, u.a.
www.trashedfilm.com
Guest: Regisseurin Candida Brady;
Moderator: Daniel Gäsche, rbb.

2015: The True Cost
USA 2015 | 92 Min. | Regie: Andrew Morgan | Produktion: Michael Ross http://truecostmovie.com/

Guests: Prof. Friederike von Wedel-Parlow, Director of „Sustainability in Fashion“ , Internationalen Kunsthochschule für Mode, Esmod
Christian Findeisen, Greenpeace/Detox-Kampagne
Moderator: Daniel Gäsche, rbb.