Traditionally, the Festival of Lights offers a competition in which the best video artists are awarded. It is with great pleasure that we present to you the Festival of Lights Award 2024.

Under the motto “Share your Light – Express yourself”, the TV tower becomes a stage for avant-garde works of art that transform the building into a dynamic light sculpture.

Captain Energy presents THE MERMAID: The television tower begins as a cold, metallic monument – a symbol of the rigid boundaries of human order and control. But piece by piece, the metal facade crumbles under the influence of the imagination. A new world bubbles up from the cracks in the steel – a deep, shimmering underwater landscape full of vibrant marine life. In the midst of this mysterious transformation, a mermaid appears with a radiant light that transforms the tower into a beacon of freedom. Her light reveals the beauty and freedom that lies dormant in each of us, just waiting to be unleashed.

Jérémy Oury, an artist from France and Mexico, presents his work POV, which puts the viewer in the unique perspective of an artist. In this mapping, the architecture itself becomes a canvas on which the cursor glides over the building through fascinating 3D effects. With every click, every movement, a new dimension is revealed, as if the building were the interface between artist and audience. The work invites the viewer not only to look at the external form of the building, but also to experience the creative process behind it – a special perspective that shows the building in a completely new light.

Kurba’s production team from Ukraine tell the story with their work INVICTUS: “The video mapping reflects on the concept of freedom and conveys its story through visual elements. Each pixel vibrates with an ethnic code, a testimony to the pursuit of individuality. This digital ornament pulsates with the spirit of those who came before us. A new generation blossoms, rising from the ashes of Invictus ancestors who remained steadfast in the face of darkness. Great collective freedom thrives on the foundation of the personal, inherent freedom that lives within each of us.”

With THE FREEDOM OF LIFE, Spanish Studio Momap has created an impressive symbiosis of art, technology and nature. Snakes in bright colors wind their way across the television tower and show how everything in life is connected. Images of nature such as flying birds, tree roots and storms symbolize the close connection between freedom and the forces of nature.

REBELBERLIN by Pani Pawlosky captures the rebellious spirit of Berlin. It is a visual and musical journey that celebrates the freedom and creative expression of the city. The projection uses surrealistic elements and vibrant colors to embody the energy of Berlin through techno, movement and abstraction. The constant transformation and play with shapes and music reflect the dynamism and unconventionality that makes Berlin so unique. It is a tribute to the city that unites freedom, art and rebellion as the cornerstones of its identity.

studio eigengrau from Berlin presents MORE FREEDOM, a haunting visual reflection on the fragility of freedom. This work is more than just a projection – it is a shining memorial that reminds us that freedom should never be taken for granted. Often overlooked or forgotten, it is revived in this art installation as a silent but powerful message to all those who have lost sight of its value. MORE FREEDOM asks us to pause, remember and become aware of the precious essence of freedom again – a visual poem that speaks to us quietly yet unmistakably.

Outstanding artists bring their impressive visions of freedom to the facades of the Hotel de Rome under the motto “Freedom of Thoughts”, creating an inspiring space in the heart of Berlin that celebrates freedom of thought and creative ideas.

Ari Dykier‘s light show THE SKY is an impressive celebration of freedom and the possibilities it opens up. People who live in a world in which they raise their voices together with their android companions and realize their dreams – those of flying and love. A timeless story is told in a nostalgic vintage style, using surreal elements to create a balance between reality and dream. Inspired by Wim Wenders’ “Der Himmel über Berlin”, Dykier tells of the freedom that inspires us and gives us the opportunity to reach the sky.

LUMINOUS MINDSCAPES is a mesmerizing video mapping show by successful visual artist Hermes Mangialardo, whose aim is to show and explore the vast and complex landscapes of the human mind. Viewers are taken on a journey through abstract representations of thoughts, emotions and subconscious images. Blurring the boundaries between reality and fantasy, Hermes Mangialardo invites the audience to experience the fluidity and vastness of the mind in this luminous way.

The Indonesian multimedia artist team The Fox, The Folks enriches the Festival of Lights with the show RADIANT, which is reminiscent of an intoxicating computer game. At the beginning, everything appears gloomy, with gray clouds and lifeless water. But suddenly the sound of a liberation bell breaks through the darkness. A glistening light changes the scenery, which could not be more contrasting: Hypnotically swirling tunnels teleport the viewer into brightly colored worlds with lush flower meadows. A highly enjoyable journey that you will want to take again.

For the Festival of Lights Award under the motto “United We Shine”, the artists transform the Brandenburg Gate into an impressive homage to freedom. Whether through luminous plays of color that celebrate the spirit of independence or powerful stories that focus on the freedom of self-expression – each projection tells a unique vision.

SKG+ interprets the motto through the CIRCLE as a symbol of harmony and unity. Colorful circles that overlap and create new colors and shapes through their combination – a symbol of a diverse society that forms a unity despite its differences. Inspired by Chinese culture, in which circles stand for family and happiness, the meaning of the Circle of Life is not only reflected in the projections, but also in the artist’s private life. She is expecting her baby in November, and if you look closely, you will recognize the symbolism of life taking shape.

Vanessa Cardui transforms the Brandenburg Gate into a stage for giant insects in her stop-motion work BUILDING INSECTS. Beetles and caterpillars formed from paper crawl across the façade, while a 20-metre spider stretches its legs over the landmark. The video projection draws attention to the decline in the insect population and gives them an important place in the heart of the city of Berlin. The Berlin video artist is internationally renowned for her imaginative paper worlds. Her work focuses on the environment, sustainability and questions humanity and womanhood in times of change.

Magic Innovations presents a magical, overwhelming show in the truest sense of the word. Small worlds blur like raindrops and reveal an entire universe on closer inspection. Fields of sunflowers and golden trees grow up the pillars of the Brandenburg Gate and bear glowing fruit. The message is clear: together we can achieve an energy that is as boundless and infinite as the universe itself.

VAMOS Animation celebrates freedom and life. THE NATURAL ORDER is based on the quote by Samuel Beckett: “Dance first. Think later. It’s the natural order.” This work celebrates dance as a spontaneous and liberating expression that reflects personal and cultural identity. Colorful, dancing people show how movement connects people, strengthens social bonds and tells universal stories of joy, sadness and hope. It is not for nothing that people dance at important festivals and celebrations!

MP-STUDIO from Bulgaria is presenting an extraordinary show at this year’s Festival of Lights as part of the awards. The renowned team of artists will revive the greatest highlights from 20 years of festival history. Numerous motifs have traveled the world in the past and found their place as iconic projections on Berlin’s most famous landmarks. Now it is time to put these masterpieces back in the spotlight and let them shine in new splendor.

On the castle facade, the 3D mapping PERPLEXITY by RE:SORB (Germany) celebrated the poetic meeting of man, nature and the enigmatic realm of artificial intelligence. Through evocative projection art, we journey into the heart of our ancient connection with nature – a ribbon of light, air and green. This natural dance is juxtaposed with Artificial Intelligence, a being detached from these elemental needs. This luminous tableau is thought-provoking: When the boundaries between the organic and the synthetic dissolve, where do we find our place in the cosmos? RAINBOW REVERIE by Segal Media (Iran) was a captivating show that fuses light and colour into a mesmerising masterpiece. The dynamic interplay of colours and the strategic use of light elements have a harmonious effect and transport the audience into a vivid world full of glamour and liveliness.