The Sand-Media Video Machine – Where Film Meets Sand, Interaction, and Emotion

The Sand-Media Video Machine (SMVM) is an interactive animation platform designed for museums, cultural institutions, and brand-related presentations at events. It transforms any filmic exhibit – whether from an institutional archive or a company’s collection – into a participatory experience: tangible, creative, and collective.

The SMVM deconstructs the selected film into individual frames and prints them using a unique technique onto a fragile, analogue surface made of sand. At dedicated workstations, visitors are invited to modify, comment on, or creatively transform these sand images using tools, pigments, and their own ideas.

The edited frames are then digitized, reassembled in their original sequence, and presented as a standalone “Sand Film” – displayed in close spatial proximity to the original version.

This hands-on, creative engagement opens up new ways of experiencing cinematic content – far beyond passive viewing. Children, teenagers, and adults alike can intuitively connect with the material, experiencing emotional closeness, involvement, and resonance. The film is not just watched – it is co-created, frame by frame.

The result of this interactive process is a dual presentation: the original film, and its audience-generated transformation – the Sand Film.