The Austrian Contemporary Witness Archive
Since 1995, Ruth Deutschmann, filmmaker and founder of the Austrian Contemporary Witness Archive, has been working on the realisation of her dream of “filling Austria’s written history with life”.
From the very beginning she has been supported in her ambitious project by cameraman Benjamin Epp and dramaturge, author and narrative researcher Ekkehard Schönwiese. The team has so far captured hundreds of hours of life memories on film. Among the special treasures are the shots of old Austrians born before 1900.
The association “Die Chronisten” was founded within the framework of the project “Österreichisches FilmTageBuch – Die Chronisten: ZeitzeugeInnen der Donaumonarchie erinnern sich”. Its aim is, among other things, “… to research and document the living conditions of the population of Austria and within the EU in political, economic, cultural and social terms. … The documentation covers the changes in living conditions in the past up to present and future developments.
Under the umbrella of the association “Die Chronisten”, Ruth Deutschmann collects, administers and publishes with the Austrian Contemporary Witness Archive the memoirs of her life which are recorded on video.
Forwarding
Of course, life storytelling is about capturing memories “so that it is not lost”. But this “holding on” has nothing to do with preserving or reconstructing. On the contrary. Life story telling is an act of letting go, an act of liberation, an act of passing on, of passing on, of sharing, which only fulfils its meaning with the share-take.
