Video city

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by LORRAINE CARPENTER

With so many filmmakers jumping to the beat of the latest technological innovation, it's nice to know that the New York Video Festival promotes artistry in a tried and true (and cheap) format.

 The 1999 collection includes Christopher Wilcha's The Target Shoots First, a documentary about Wilcha's rapid rise to power at the Columbia House record club due to his Gen-X grunge fandom. Wilcha, who brought his Hi-8 to work daily, captures unexpected drama and exposes the cheap, laughable side of music marketing. Similarly, Theresa Duncan's animated piece, The History of Glamour, follows the rags-to-riches story of Charles Valentine, a Courtney Love-esque figure who falls into the pretensions of alternative rock and fashion.

 With videos ranging from highly experimental to knowingly absurd, this festival is a refreshing change. Montrealers can catch all of the festival's 22 shorts from Feb. 8-12, 7:30 p.m., at the Cinematheque quebecoise (335 de Maisonneuve E.). :