Heliopolis Heliopolis

Heliopolis Heliopolis was the name of a metropolitan simulacrum devised as a training tool for urban planning at the NoUn School of Architecture in Egypt in the 3rd century BC. Heliopolis Heliopolis was created by an insurgent priest (whose name has been lost) as a tool to train students in the design of a revolutionary city meant to surpass the ancient city of Heliopolis. This in spite of the fact that the priest and his students appear never to have visited Heliopolis and based their model exclusively on texts and secondhand knowledge. Eventually this became a source of pride within the school and descriptions of Heliopolis gained a fantastical nature, becoming both meticulously elaborate and wildly implausible.
Heliopolis Heliopolis is a cinematic interpretation of the simulacrum and the hypnotic, trance-inducing ritual connected to its use.
by Anja Dornieden, Juan David González Monroy
with Jonathan Failla
Germany 2016 English 26’ Colour

With

  • Jonathan Failla

Crew

Written and Directed by Anja Dornieden, Juan David González Monroy
Cinematography Anja Dornieden, Juan David González Monroy
Editing Anja Dornieden, Juan David González Monroy
Sound Design Christian Obermaier
Producers Juan David González Monroy, Anja Dornieden

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Anja Dornieden

Anja Dornieden is a filmmaker based in Berlin. Since 2010 she has been working together with Juan David González Monroy under the moniker OJOBOCA. Together they practice Horrorism, a simulated method of inner and outer transformation. They have presented their films and performances in a wide variety of venues and festivals worldwide. Their film Heliopolis Heliopolis was included in Forum Expanded 2017. Dornieden is a member of the artist-run film lab LaborBerlin.

Filmography (with Juan David González Monroy)

2011 Awe Shocks; 3 min. 2012 Oro Parece; 6 min. · The Handeye (Bone Ghosts); 7 min. · Eigenheim; 16 min. 2013 A flea‘s skin would be too big for you; 47 min. · Come and Dance with Me; 4 min. 2014 Gente Perra; 25 min. · Wolkenschatten; 17 min. 2015 The Masked Monkeys; 30 min. 2016 Heliopolis Heliopolis; 26 min., Forum Expanded 2017 2018 Comfort Stations; 26 min. · The Skin is Good; 12 min. 2020 Her Name was Europa; 76 min., Forum Expanded 2020 2022 Enthusiasm; 8 min. · Natural Human; 31 min. · Instant Life

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2022

Juan David González Monroy

Juan David González Monroy is a filmmaker based in Berlin. Since 2010 he has been working together with the artist Anja Dornieden under the moniker OJOBOCA. Together they practice Horrorism, a simulated method of inner and outer transformation. They have presented their films and performances in a wide variety of venues and festivals worldwide. Their film Heliopolis Heliopolis was included in Forum Expanded 2017. González Monroy is a member of the artist-run film lab LaborBerlin.

Filmography (with Anja Dornieden)

2011 Awe Shocks; 3 min. 2012 Oro Parece; 6 min. · The Handeye (Bone Ghosts); 7 min. · Eigenheim; 16 min. 2013 A flea’s skin would be too big for you; 47 min. · Come and Dance with Me; 4 min. 2014 Gente Perra; 25 min. · Wolkenschatten; 17 min. 2015 The Masked Monkeys; 30 min. 2016 Heliopolis Heliopolis; 26 min., Forum Expanded 2017 2018 Comfort Stations; 26 min. · The Skin is Good; 12 min. 2020 Her Name was Europa; 76 min., Forum Expanded 2020 2022 Enthusiasm; 8 min. · Natural Human; 31 min. · Instant Life

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2022