While the current state-of-the-art for timelapse filmmaking showcases amazing imagery from around the world, the art form has much room to progress. Gary Yost, photographer and filmmaker, believes the genre needs to evolve to convey a conscious message to the audience. "Timelapse needs a narrative. Rather than just making a beautiful timelapse of the aurora borealis, you should interview the people who live with that phenomenon and find out how it affects them as human beings. Make timelapse a part of an overall engaging story.”

Reggio agrees. With regard to the narrative of Koyaanisqatsi, he states:

"The film's role is to provoke”

...to raise questions that only the audience can answer. So while I might have this or that intention in creating this film, I realize fully that any meaning or value Koyaanisqatsi might have comes exclusively from the beholder."

Peter Bill, artist and activist, who has been experimenting with timelapse since the ‘90s states, "The future of timelapse is wide open. The medium will expand to utilize crowd-sourcing techniques for gathering footage and films will ultimately provide completely immersive 360 experiences. We will begin to see timelapse films representing longer periods of time; spanning years, decades, even centuries."

The first annual Timelapse Film Festival...

...was held at the historic Aero Theater in Santa Monica, California on August 12-14, 2016. The three-day event offered a unique opportunity to view some of the essential films of the genre, as well as new films from around the world. Additionally, some of the top timelapse filmmakers, including Reggio, were on hand for Q&A.

"The motivation for the creation of the Timelapse Film Festival is to bring together the best timelapse films from around the world. Ultimately, our goal is to propel the art form forward.” states Kiernan. "We received over 120 submissions from 25 countries our first year; clearly timelapse is a world-wide phenomenon that deserves recognition."

"The requirement for submission is explicitly vague,", continues Kiernan, "it only calls for 'altered time'. The requirements do not mandate any specific filming technique, process or style of imagery. As judges, we want to be surprised; we want the audience to be surprised. In order to push the boundaries of timelapse, we offer categories in experimental, social commentary and documentary."

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For information about the Timelapse Film Festival, click here.

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