Here are some pictures that I have taken during my stay at the DigiFestival. OK these are not swowboarding pictures, but there is a link with our sport: the video "
Lifted" could be watched by many people who don't know alpine snowboarding. Indeed the festival took place in a bigger event in Florence: the Festival of Creativity ("Festival della Creatività" in Italian). This was good for promoting our sport.
The event was great! It was a delight meeting the artists who have won in the other categories beside "sport video": "music", "movies", "video art", "animation" and "audience". They were all professional, talented, warm, witty and open people. The atmosphere was excellent and very friendly. The jurors were impressive people with a big experience (record producer, US film/TV producer, etc.).
Florence (Italy) is a very beautiful town full of history about art and science. You can see there the Cathedral "Duomo".
In the "Basilica di Santa Croce" (not on this picture) you can see many personalities' tombs: Galileo (my idol!), Michelangelo, Machiavelli, etc.
The bridge "Ponte Vecchio" is very famous, with houses and shops built on it! The river is named "Arno".
Festival of Creativity ("Festival della Creatività") entrance. DigiFestival took place in one of the pavilions.
One of the 6 screens in the pavilion (one screen per category). Guess which screen it is there and who is the guy.
In the back you can see other screens. From left to right:
- Francesco (aka "
Silber" in this Forum)! This Italian extremecarver (Swoarder!) joined the festival and we had great time together!
- Amanda Baker: she is a singer / songwriter / musician from Australia. Her voice is amazing! She has won the "music" award there for her song "Addictions". She has won other awards recently and she is one of the hottest emerging soul / blues / rock diva. Discover her album and songs on MySpace:
www.myspace.com/amandabakersmusic .
- An unkown guy named Patrice
- Raistalla: she is an electro-funk pop princess from USA. After being a professional dancer, touring with top artists such as Madonna, Outkast, Christina Aguilera, and more, she is now emerging as a singer. Her song "Long Way" in her first album is number one is some charts. She has won the "audience" award in the festival with her new song / video "Shut It down" which is great! Listen to it there:
www.raistalla.com .
On Saturday night the pavilion was full. Drinks, good eletro music (scene in the middle) and the 6 screens (on the right).
The Award Ceremony and the "sport video" award. I dedicated it to Guillaume Bourgeois ("Slalom"): we won't forget him...
After the ceremony, we had 3 nice concerts: Bohagey Bowes (USA), Amanda Baker (Australia) and The Mirrors (Italy).
On the left: Amanda (what a voice!). On the right: one of the cool musicians from "Bohagey Bowes".
In conclusion it was a great experience for me! I would not have suspected that snowboarding could make me meet such nice and great persons. Life is cool!
Special thanks to the festival organizers (Federico and Lorenzo) for this event and for their wonderful Italian hospitality.
Patrice Fivat
Festival "Digifestival": www.digifestival.net (organized by www.digichannel.net )
you and the swoard team deserve this winner 
