The opening show provides an overview of the contents of this year’s festival. Numerous discursive and artistic contributions focus on the “Elevate Open Everything?” theme. The opening speech is held by the well-known Internet activist and computer security expert Jacob Appelbaum, one of the few hackers who combine intelligence, socio-political commitment and extensive knowledge. Tom Scott, a young comedian from England, addresses the ambivalence of modern technologies in two separate skits. Several contributors to this year’s program, including the Icelandic parliamentarian Birgitta Jónsdóttir and the German media and Internet activist Anne Roth, present a preview of the discourse contents of the coming days. Ann Cotten makes a literary contribution with a short essay on the festival theme. This year’s music programme is introduced as well.
The evening is presented by Johannes Grenzfurthner of the art collective monochrom.
October 23, 2013, 8 PM @ Grazer Schloßberg, Graz/Austria.