For a long time, the "city of culture" Berlin and its officials had been neglecting the medium video, despite the existence of a "scene" within the visual arts (WolfKahlen, WolfVostell, Mike Steiner and the Video- Forum of the Neuer Berliner Kunstverein). A broader public was reached with the MedienOperative's initiative to organize a video festival to cope with the increase of video entries for the Internationale Forum des Jungen Films of the Berlin Film Festival. Organizing the VideoFest parallel to the Film Festival has been and will be in future very attractive in various ways: the professional audience has opportunities to be informed about the development in the electronic media and to confront that with the more traditional medium film. Hence the VideoFest is not marginal to the Film Festival but an equal partner that represents an important event in the calender of media festivals and that offers more and more every year. Besides the selection for the programme, conferences, meetings and a video market will be held, and there will be again an exhibition with video sculptures. Finally, for the first time, there will be several monetary awards. All this proves the organizer's high claims that are combined with a presentation of high quality. Thanks to all of them, and also to all supporters and sponsors. Although the Senate of Berlin, by now, has raised the funds that largely finance the festival, additional support from open-minded public institutions or private sponsors is needed. I'd like to address especially the latter to make an effort to meet the challenge of cultural commitment in the field of media. The building of the Academy of Arts in East-Berlin at the Robert-Koch-Platz, although not meant to serve as a festival location and also reclaimed by its former proprietors, is the ideal setting for a festival of video culture. The following proprietors can hopefully be convinced to grant their space to the festival or cultural events. The organizers' fear from last year that the audience might not find their way to the Academy proved to be wrong. I am looking forward to a continued increase. To the VideoFest my best wishes for success, and to the public many unusual discoveries as well as a productive communication.

Ulrich Roloff-Momin, Senator for Cultural Affairs