BASEL, SWITZERLAND.- During this year's Art Basel, the special sector entitled «Art Film», to be held in the Stadtkino Basel, promises a truly impressive program. The films and video works to be screened include contributions from Europe, America and Asia. «Art Film» is being curated this year by Gianni Jetzer, the director of the Kunsthalle St. Gallen. One Swiss première will be the first full-length movie by the English artist Tracey Emin. Another highlight of «Art Film» is the pre-première of the documentary by American star director Sydney Pollack on the life and architecture of the Canadian Frank O. Gehry.

Art Basel was the first art show to create an independent platform for the medium of film. Commencing in 1999, a varied program of films by artists has been screened under optimum conditions in the Stadtkino Basel (Steinenberg 7, entrance through the garden of the Kunsthalle). Films by internationally known artists will be shown along with others by talented youngsters as yet undiscovered by the general public. This year, «Art Film» is curated by Gianni Jetzer, the director of the Kunsthalle St. Gallen. All the films to be presented at the Stadtkino Basel have been supplied by galleries taking part in Art 36 Basel.

This year's «Art Film» program includes films and video works by Susan Hiller, Debroah Ligoria, Yasumasa Morimura, Nobuyoshi Araki, Markus Schinwald, Andro Wekua, Jonathan Horowith, Anri Sala, Una Szeemann, Christoph Büchel, Foa Baclstrp, Lemmetj Amger and many others. (Please visit www.ArtBasel.com for details).

On Thursday June 16, the American star director Sydney Pollack, will show – as a première for the art world - his documentary «Sketches of Frank O. Gehry» about the life and architecture of the Canadian Frank O. Gehry. Sydney Pollack and Frank O. Gehry will be present.

Art collector This Brunner, one of the luminaries of the Swiss film scene, will present a Swiss première on Saturday, June 18: the first full-length film by English artist Tracey Emin entitled «Top Spot». This film, which tells the story of six teenagers living in the English town of Margate, is at the same time homage to Margate, the place where Tracey Emin spent her childhood. Tracey Emin will be present at the première.

Under the title «A Tribute to Steven Parrino», the artists Amy Granat, Jutta Koether and John Armleder present works by FIA Backstrom, Steven Parrino and Kenneth Anger, followed by the horror film «Necropolis» released by the Italian Franco Brocani in 1971. «Necropolis», which was filmed in 1970, has a cast that includes such terrifying figures as Frankenstein, Attila, Montezuma, Heliogabalus, the female vampire, the bloodthirsty Countess Barthory and the devil himself. Amy Granat, Jutta Koether and John Armleder will attend the screening.

Since its invention 175 years ago, the development of moving pictures has been closely interwoven with the creations of artists. Their influence on the making of films can be detected in almost every phase of this medium's history, whether as regards style, sets, costumes, imagery, lighting or colors. For their part, the icons of film history have inspired a host of artists, some of whom have literally restaged films in their own works. Yet other artists have ventured directly into the commercial film scene, creating films, sets and scenarios, or even turned actor themselves. What is more, starting from the period of the underground film, alternative forms of film-making invariably aimed at freeing the film from its limitations, from its prescribed stage and its commercial ritual. As it is, the genre is very multifaceted, starting with outdoor projections, film happenings, backcloths for music events, B-films, video and installations as well as light sculptures, etc.

The film program at Art Basel is a platform which makes it possible to trace some of the lines which link the arts of today and offers an opportunity to consider more broadly construed forms which cannot, for example, be provided by an exhibition location.