Laura Sophia Taler

Vita

Romanian born director Laura Taler has been creating award-winning performing arts films for over ten years. Her work has been praised for its unique combination of emotional resonance, wit, and striking visuals. Taler’s background as a choreographer is evidenced in her films through their sense of movement and rhythm, and in her keen understanding of art and artists.

During her career as a choreographer, Taler intertwined movement with photography, text, and film footage: in a cemetery, a bar-room, on the stage, and on the screen. Her choreographic work was driven by building character through movement and gesture and by exploring the effect of movement in different media and in unusual places. These drives came together in 1995 when Taler made her directorial debut with the award-winning dancefilm “the village trilogy”.

Since then Taler has created over a dozen films that focus on telling stories with movement and music. These documentaries, dance films, music films and silent dramas have been broadcast on the CBC (Canada), Bravo! (Canada), W (Canada), TfO (Ontario), ARTV (Quebec), Bravo (U.S.), Channel 4 (U.K.), NPS (The Netherlands), Kunstkanaal (The Netherlands), ABC (Australia), IBA (Israel), SVT (Sweden) and screened in numerous festivals and special screenings internationally. Taler also conducts dancefilm workshops and master classes around the world. In 2002 a screening of Taler’s work at the Getty Center earned her the following review in the Los Angeles Times: “For depth of feeling, photographic sensitivity and movement invention … her mastery of choreography and direction is unquestioned”.

ICI Project (2009)

Uniglory

A six-channel video installation composed of existing footage shot in 2004 in Montevideo, Uruguay, UNIGLORY will explore the interaction of bodies in space and address the determination to create a physical connection with another person.

Based on two very different dance improvisations, one contact jam and one tango practice, the piece will investigate how improvisational dance duets reflect universal themes of attraction and repulsion. More than just the representation of bodies existing together, the installation will confront the viewer with questions about how to share an experience with another body.

How much tension is required to create the delicate equilibrium necessary to move together, to exist together? The title UNIGLORY comes from a shipping crate just outside the dance space. The word points to the feeling of great happiness that is the result of two bodies moving with a sense of unity.

Publications

Selected Awards and Filmography:

the village trilogy (1995):
Best Canadian Dancefilm, Moving Pictures Festival of Dance on Film & Video
Best Experimental Film Award, Worldwide Short Film Festival
Gold Hugo, Chicago International Film Festival

Heartland (1997):
Best Canadian Dancefilm, Moving Pictures Festival of Dance on Film & Video
Best Experimental Documentary, Hot Docs! Int. Documentary Festival

Dances For A Small Screen (1997):
5 Gemini Award Nominations, Academy of Canadian Film & Television
Gemini Award for Best Editing, Academy of Canadian Film & Television

A Very Dangerous Pastime (2000):
Special Jury Mention, IMZ dance screen
Best of the Festival, Dance On Camera Festival
2 Gemini Award Nominations, Academy of Canadian Film & Television

Perpetual Motion (2002):
Gemini Award Nomination, Academy of Canadian Film & Television

DEATH and the MAIDEN (2003)
Gemini Award Nomination, Academy of Canadian Film & Television

FORSAKEN (2005)

THE SORCERER (2007)

LOVE SONG (2008)