Tech
The Bitcoin Halving Party combines art and technology at the Bitcoin FilmFest in Warsaw
This photograph taken on March 23, 2024 shows the Palace of Culture in Warsaw illuminated after… [+] be turned off to celebrate Earth Hour. Photo by Wojtek Radwanski
AFP via Getty Images
The 2nd annual Bitcoin Film Festival in Warsaw it coincided with bitcoin halving at block 840,000, a major event where bitcoin mining rewards are halved. This European Halving Party celebrated cinematic achievements by illustrating the close links between money, technology and sustainability.
Set against the historic backdrop of Warsaw, a city of resilience and renewal, the festival provided filmmakers and artists with a platform to question the conventional boundaries of money and authority.
The highlight of the festival was “Dirty coin“, a documentary that won Best Film for exploring how bitcoin mining uses unused and wasted energy to build renewable infrastructure. The premiere of this film took place on the day of the bitcoin halving, which has increased its impact.
It ended with a tribute to Lee Sassaman, also the protagonist of “Searching For Satoshi”, a documentary screened at the festival on the disappearance of the inventor of bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto. “In search of Satoshi” won the Short Story Award and investigated the mystery surrounding Satoshi’s identity and disappearance, but also reflected on the profound implications of his anonymity. Through interviews and accounts of the history of bitcoin, the documentary uncovered how ideas Satoshi’s fundamentals continue to influence the evolution of digital currency and test traditional notions of authority and control.
MadMunky from Art Collective 2140 talked about using art to educate people about bitcoin. His work links early cypherpunk ideas about digital money to the principles of bitcoin. Roger 9000 The “Choco Alchemy” workshop fused chocolate making with bitcoin, teaching the art and discussing the mythology of both bitcoin and cocoa.
During the Festival we talked about the parallels between bitcoin and psychedelics, both seen as tools that challenge fundamental systems. Bitcoin
Bitcoin
is known for its disruptive impact on traditional financial structures, while psychedelics induce changes in perception and mental health. Tony Acid noted, “After a psychedelic experience, you question everything.”
Ioni Appelberg described bitcoin as “a cheap psychedelic,” linking the cognitive liberation provided by psychedelics with the financial liberation promised by bitcoin. Together, these tools enhance creativity and problem solving and stimulate a critical reevaluation of authority and control within social structures. Closing the session, Monika Burra led a meditation, uniting the themes of the discussion by saying, “This is a meditation where we connect love, peace and bitcoin.”
At the end of the festival, a teaser documentary, “After It’s Said” by Ace & Sed, was presented. Set to be released in December 2024, this documentary explores the intersection of the internet, language and human rights. Examine how artificial intelligence, bitcoin, identity and cryptography will play a crucial role in shaping our communications and safeguarding our future.
Warsaw’s poignant history, its near-total destruction during the Second World War and subsequent reconstruction, provided a powerful backdrop for the festival. Discussions of hard money not only highlighted bitcoin’s potential to reshape the global economy, but also suggested that by adopting hard money, it could make costly wars less feasible.
This unique event introduced a new way of educating about bitcoin. As we anticipate BTC Prague, Bitcoin NashvilleAND Riga Bitcoin WeekBitcoin FilmFest stands out for its innovative approach to bitcoin education, embracing a renaissance through film, art and culture.