By Sonja Walker
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March 31, 2025
Showlight 2025 has produced a programme full of treats for its delegates with over 30 speakers lined up to bring their expertise to Dijon this May. Tickets are selling fast so don’t delay in securing yours today! Here’s our latest offerings from the worlds of film, live events, large scale art installations and illuminated fashion design! Schrödinger’s Dimmer; controlling the uncontrollable Award-winning lighting designer, cinematographer, writer and director, and fellow of Rose Bruford college, Roger Simonsz , will discuss how difficult it is to achieve the kind of slow lighting changes so easily performed in theatre within the film environment. Using examples from “Engrenages/Spiral” as well as the recent “Piper” his paper explores how to achieve control on location, in daylight, while cueing the sun, with the help of Schrödinger’s dimmer. The Maiden Tower Istanbul - Lighting and Beyond. The iconic Maiden Tower in Istanbul - a symbol of 2,500 years of history - was brought to life through a large-scale immersive outdoor installation, featuring dynamic lighting, lasers, projections, and audio, by German lighting designer, Martin Kuhn . Kuhn’s extensive experience on a wide range of global projects, from concerts and events to museums and architectural lighting, plays into this captivating experience which reimagines the Tower’s legacy with innovative and inspiring storytelling and cutting-edge technology. Beyond Illumination: The Experimental Language of Light in Performance and Public Space Known for his experimental yet assured approach, Jesper Kongshaug has created evocative theatrical landscapes for over 25 years. At Showlight, he will present key examples from his work designing lighting and stage visuals for internationally renowned performance group Hotel Pro Forma , showcasing his innovative approach to theatrical lighting. He will also introduce the Copenhagen Light Festival, which he curates. Reveal the Invisible Reveal the Invisible examines the work of fashion designer/artist Clara Daguin through several projects, collections and collaborations. Clara, whose collaborations with artists, researchers and institutions include Google, Baccarat, Nike, will focus on the process behind the creation of her illuminated silhouettes and the evolution of her work over the past few years. Utilising Local Resources to Benefit Filmmaking Speaking in his native French (with simultaneous translation available in four languages), director of photography Thierry Goron will share insights on leveraging local knowledge and resources to establish a sustainable film industry in emerging countries. He will explore the "can-do" spirit required on set, especially when working in challenging conditions, such as fixing broken lights, cameras, and essential equipment, becomes part of the process. Over time, this necessity fosters a resourceful approach, leading to the development of locally built equipment using available materials and expertise. Thinking in Another Language: Improvised Lighting in Live Events With a career that has embraced theatre, dance, opera and teaching, Ken Coker has been involved in lighting for the live music and conference industry for the last fourteen years. His paper will look at the processes of creating improvised lighting within the live music and events sphere. It will cover workflows, desk-layouts, effects and movement control along with some notions of a philosophy of improvised lighting. Language is no barrier Historically, Showlight is conducted solely in English but this year, located in Dijon, France and supported by French lighting manufacturer and Headline Sponsor, Robert Juliat, we look forward to welcoming many local delegates as well as international attendees. As a result, we are offering simultaneous translation of the Papers and Q&A sessions across four languages. Delegates can choose to listen – and ask questions - in English, French, Italian and Spanish, via the AI translation system, Interprefy . This instantly translates to both voice and text, which can be listened to on your headphones or read on your smartphone or iPad. Q&A sessions will also be translated on demand. Ticket holders to Showlight can request additional languages at time of purchase by contacting info@showlight.org . Don’t miss your chance to be part of Showlight yourself! Tickets for Showlight are on sale now and can be purchased from the Showlight website at www.showlight.org. A list of discounted hotels is also available ( www.showlight.org/hotels-travel ) on a first come, first served basis, so be quick to make your booking! Finally, don’t forget you can sign up to the Showlight Mailing List to hear the latest news as it breaks.