Computer Animation
Honorary Mention

Ad Hominem

Alex Verhaest (BE)

Change is an old revolutionary, returning to its hometown looking for recognition for all it has done. Upon its arrival, it becomes clear that an event is organized in its honor. Change talks to four people, who guide it towards the event, but seem to hold different views on what Change should bring in the future. Change has to choose its answer to their questions and is judged for all responses. In the end, it becomes clear that Change is never really welcome. 

 

Ad Hominem is an interactive philosophical choose-your-own-adventure film, based on Sofie Verhaest’s brilliant doctoral thesis Eutopia Unbound, in which the player is cast in the role of Change. The player is invited to pick an answer to questions proposed by four different characters representing four distinct utopic ideas. Through a maze of historical quotes on collectivism, individualism, progressive thinking and conservatism, the player is guided towards an event, organized in honor of Change's arrival.

Change is an old revolutionary, returning to its hometown looking for recognition for all it has done. Upon its arrival, it becomes clear that an event is organized in its honor. Change talks to four people, who guide it towards the event, but seem to hold different views on what Change should bring in the future. Change has to choose its answer to their questions and is judged for all responses. In the end, it becomes clear that Change is never really welcome. 

 

Ad Hominem is an interactive philosophical choose-your-own-adventure film, based on Sofie Verhaest’s brilliant doctoral thesis Eutopia Unbound, in which the player is cast in the role of Change. The player is invited to pick an answer to questions proposed by four different characters representing four distinct utopic ideas. Through a maze of historical quotes on collectivism, individualism, progressive thinking and conservatism, the player is guided towards an event, organized in honor of Change's arrival.

vimeo.com/681538774

 

Credits 

Written & directed: Alex Verhaest  

Produced: Melissa Dhondt  

 

In the role of: 

Progressive collectivist: Hélène Devos 

Progressive individualist: Aurélie Lannoy 

Conservative individualist: Marijke Pinoy  

Conservative collectivist: Anemone Valcke 

 

Director of photography: Korneel Moeyaert 

Gaffer: Korneel Moeyaert 

Production manager: Julie Piessens 

Production assistant: Zara Van Den Bergh 

Focus puller: Pieter-Jan Neirynck 

Costume design: Gudrun Wylleman 

Make-up artist: Dorien Van Poucke 

Sound engineer: Gedeon Depauw 

Set dresser: Evi Cremers 

 

Music: Théo Pogoza  

Sound design & mix: Théo Pogoza  

Scoring of theme song: Maxime Denuc 

Singer: Lieselot De Wilde 

Recording & theme song mix: Ångstrom records 

 

VFX by Skerm West 

VFX supervisor: Stijn Calis 

VFX artists: Florian D'heer, Oussama Mahieddine & Franceska-Victoria Indeherberge 

 

Production manager: Julie Piessens  

Production assistant: Zara Van Den Berg 

Head software development: Karyme Hisham 

Bèta development: Benoit Jollivet 

 

Ad Hominem was made with the support of: Flanders Audiovisual Fund (VAF); Kunsten en Erfgoed – Flemish Government; Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles; Stad Roeselare; Cultuurcentrum De Spil; Barakat Contemporary, Seoul; in Hinterland

Alex Verhaest (BE) studied at Luca School of arts, where she is currently teaching. Her work has been exhibited at numerous institutions (ZKM Karlsruhe, HKW Berlin, Bozar). She won the New Face Award at the Japan Media Arts Festival and her work has been awarded with the prestigious 2015 Ars Electronica Golden Nica. In 2019 she graduated valedictorian from Le Fresnoy, studio national des arts contemporains. Verhaest’s work is focused on story and influenced by Expanded Cinema and a youth of video games. With each new film, Verhaest dives into what it means to make films in a multi-screen post-Nintendo society.

Alex Verhaest (BE) studied at Luca School of arts, where she is currently teaching. Her work has been exhibited at numerous institutions (ZKM Karlsruhe, HKW Berlin, Bozar). She won the New Face Award at the Japan Media Arts Festival and her work has been awarded with the prestigious 2015 Ars Electronica Golden Nica. In 2019 she graduated valedictorian from Le Fresnoy, studio national des arts contemporains. Verhaest’s work is focused on story and influenced by Expanded Cinema and a youth of video games. With each new film, Verhaest dives into what it means to make films in a multi-screen post-Nintendo society.