Sunday's focus is a basic examination of the role of protest movements, social movements and other progressive actors of civil society in local, regional as well as global processes of change.

First, the documentary film “Widerstand in Haiderland - Masse ohne Macht?" deals with the diverse protest movements against the FPÖVP government under Schüssel/Haider. Following the screening, director Frederick Baker will answer questions concerning the movie.

The two subsequent, distinguished panels put their discussion focus on various historical and current important movements and initiatives. Which role and which influence do civil society initiatives and movements have in Austria? „Protest movements and civil society initiatives in Austria – Yesterday, today and tomorrow“ will shine a light on the local prostest culture. This first discussion round is with Béatrice Achaleke, Robert Foltin, Frederick Baker, Rahel Sophia Süß and Wolfgang Rehm.

The second discussion continues this topic within the global context: „It´s All About The Movement“ focuses on the countless local and global initiatives and movements, which are fighting for more democratic, socially just and ecologically sustainable conditions worldwide. How can power relations be shifted, so that a good life is possible for everyone? Which role can progressive civil society initiatives and social movements play? Which common strategies could they develop? These questions, amongst others, will be addressed by Anjali Kamat, Mike Bonanno, Iara Lee, Wenonah Hauter and Irmi Salzer.

The first presentation starts at 10 am and offers a unique opportunity to get to know a variety of local communities, NGO`s, initiatives and activists. GET ACTIVE! will provide information on how those different organisations work but it will also offer the chance to participate actively and exchange ideas. The event will present local activists of Amnesty International Graz, Amsel, Attac, Uni Brennt, Global 2000, Radio Helsinki, Rettet die Mur and many others.

The following discussion and presentation „For Environment and Health“ will emphasise local developments of protest and civil society action. Two local movements,which are fighting against environmentally endangering projects of the local industries for more than a year, will introduce themselves. They protest against the rebuilding of Voitsberg´s coal power station, and the hydroelectric station, which the energy corporation ESTAG wants to build in the south of Graz. Both power stations embody a threat to the ecological balance of the respective areas.

„Creative Forms of Protest“ will give an insight into the various forms of civil resistance. Ove Sutter and Klaus Schönberger, authors of the book „Kommt herunter, reiht euch ein“, present the history of creative forms of protest from 1848/49 up to now. Additionally, Clemens Apprich will shine a light on resistance within the digital world in his talk on „Protest 2.0“.

The panel discussion on „Ways out of the crisis“ will deal with the question of how we all could mobilize and pool forces in order to find ways out of the crisis.

Austrian première of the documentary film „Cultures of Resistance“ by film-maker Iara Lee will demonstrate what currently happens in areas of conflict worldwide. But it will also show how communities achieve to advance positive changes, how they protest against unfair conditions, and how they counteract the crises. The Brazilian film-maker, who travelled through five continents in order to produce the documentary, will attend the première and answer questions after the film.

Elevate Civil Society!

We all know about the progressing change of the earth´s climate. However, the established media treat this topic rather marginal and tend to eliminate this unpleasant fact from their news. The Elevate Festival makes a difference: CHANGE! is the motto of the panel discussions and film screenings taking place on Friday 22.10. at Forum Stadtpark. CHANGE! will remind us that climate change actually is happening and that counteracting it is inevitable, but it will also show how this can be achieved.

Thus, Elevate invited guests, who have been dealing with this issue for several years and who constantly work on developing strategies to counteract climate change. At the opening event on Thursday 21.10., Nnimmo Bassey – chairman of Friends of the Earth International, awarded with the Right Livelihood Award 2010 – and Bill McKibben – environmental activist, author and founder of the climate-action platform 350.org – will hold their opening speeches on the issue of climate change.

Discourse programme on Friday:

The documentary film „In Transition“ provides an introduction and insight into the philosophy and operating principles of the transition movement. After the filmscreening, a workshop will offer the opportunity to gather more information on local transition movements in Austria, and ideas for own initiatives may be developed. Subsequently, Rob Hopkins, the founder of the transition movement himself, will give a talk via video-livestream and demonstrate with examples of his work, how this new form of co-operative living may contribute to an improvement of the world climate and to counteract the climate catastrophe we are facing.

The following discussion panel will deal with CHANGE concerning nutrition habits. „Good food for everyone?“ questions together with representatives of NGO´s, producers and activists the ideological facade of so called Lohas, aka Livestyle Ecologists, in relation with new trends in eating behaviours and consumerism. One of the guests is Kathrin Hartmann, author of the book „Ende der Märchenstunde“.

Finally, the documentary film „The 4th Revolution – Energy Autonomy“ will shine a light on the difficulties promoters of alternative forms of energy production still have to deal with, when facing the superior forces of major corporations and criticises the capitalistic approach to the question of money versus (our) future. After the filmscreening, there is an open space for discussions and meeting the panelists.

>> Programme Overview Friday / CHANGE!

Last year the Elevate Festival screened the documentary film „The Yes Men Fix The World“. This year one half of The Yes Men, the filmmaker and media activist Mike Bonanno, will be a guest of the festival and do a presentation at the opening event as well as participate in a discussion panel on Sunday evening.

The media activist, who has caused a worldwide sensation with his partner Andy Bichlbaum in the communication guerrilla collective The Yes Men, will be a first time guest in Graz and humorously present some of his most successful actions.

The Yes Men have been called "the Jonathan Swift of the Jackass generation" by author Naomi Klein. They pose as corporate bigwigs, infiltrate the world of big business, and scandalize unsuspecting audiences in ways that shame the world's biggest corporate criminals. Although fronted by Andy Bichlbaum and Mike Bonanno, their membership includes hundreds of secret agents.

The group first gained international notoriety a decade ago by impersonating World Trade Organization spokesmen on international TV and at business conferences. In 2004, United Artists released a feature documentary about their hijinks (The Yes Men, directed by Chris Smith, Sarah Price, and Dan Olman) that was distributed theatrically around the globe, and won numerous awards.

On their journey, The Yes Men act as gonzo journalists, delving deep into the question of why we have given the market more power than any other institution to determine our direction as a society. And as they appear on the BBC before 300 million viewers, or before 1000 New Orleans contractors alongside Mayor Ray Nagin, the layers of lies are peeled back to reveal the raw heart of truth - a truth that brings with it hope.

Don't miss them at Elevate:

- Thursday, October 21st - Opening Night @ Dom im Berg (2000 CET)

- Sunday, October 24th - Panel Discussion @ Dom im Berg (2000 CET)