Cinematography retrospectives are the way to go—more than a thorough display of talent, it exposes the vast expanse a Dp will travel, like an education in form and business all the same. Accordingly I’m happy to see the Criterion Channel give a 25-film tribute to James Wong Howe, whose career spanned silent cinema to the ’70s, populated with work by Howard Hawks, Michael Curtz, Samuel Fuller, Alexander Mackendrick, Sydney Pollack, John Frankenheimer, and Raoul Walsh.
Further retrospectives are granted to Romy Schneider (recent repertory sensation La piscine among them), Carlos Saura (finally a chance to see Peppermint frappe!), the British New Wave, and groundbreaking distributor Cinema 5, who brought to U.S. shores everything from The Man Who Fell to Earth and Putney Swope to Pumping Iron and Scenes from a Marriage.
September also yields streaming premieres for the recently restored Bronco Bullfrog, Ang Lee’s Pushing Hands,...
Further retrospectives are granted to Romy Schneider (recent repertory sensation La piscine among them), Carlos Saura (finally a chance to see Peppermint frappe!), the British New Wave, and groundbreaking distributor Cinema 5, who brought to U.S. shores everything from The Man Who Fell to Earth and Putney Swope to Pumping Iron and Scenes from a Marriage.
September also yields streaming premieres for the recently restored Bronco Bullfrog, Ang Lee’s Pushing Hands,...
- 8/22/2022
- by Leonard Pearce
- The Film Stage
Chicago – In the age of Donald Trump, the number of citizen protests have increased in size and scope. But what are the results of these gatherings and what does it really mean? A new documentary film by co-directors Michael Galinsky and Suki Hawley entitled “Working in protest” uncovers a bit of unvarnished truth in these demonstrations, as it covers the protest years of 1987 through 2017. This is part of the final day of the 25th Chicago Underground Film Festival (Cuff), which includes the Closing Night film “Future Language: The Dimensions of Von Lmo,” directed by Lori Felker.
“Working in protest” is an intently rich premise, as it encapsulates different type of American demonstrations, including the Black Panther Party, Confederate Flags, the Iraq War, Occupy Wall Street and of course, Donald J. Trump. By skipping around the years, not only do Galinsky and Hawley expose how “everything old is new again,” but...
“Working in protest” is an intently rich premise, as it encapsulates different type of American demonstrations, including the Black Panther Party, Confederate Flags, the Iraq War, Occupy Wall Street and of course, Donald J. Trump. By skipping around the years, not only do Galinsky and Hawley expose how “everything old is new again,” but...
- 6/10/2018
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Chicago – Tonight is the 89th Academy Awards, and Hollywood will honor their own in the annual lavish ceremony. In Chicago, there will be a similar celebration, as the Gene Siskel Film Center is throwing a “Hollywood on State” party, and honoring four local filmmakers at the event. Joining honorees Lori Felker, Jennifer Reeder and Michael Smith is filmmaker Lonnie Edwards, whose voice has made an impact ever since his awarding-winning debut in 2014, the short film “Parietal Guidance.”
After growing up in Chicago, Edwards was an installation artist before turning to filmmaking at the age of 32. After “Parietal Guidance” won numerous film festival awards, he turned his unique eye and filmmaking sensibilities toward the Michael Brown incident and Ferguson, Missouri, in “A Ferguson Story,” a film that began as a full length quasi-documentary that garnered interest from outside studios. Dissatisfied with that experience, Edwards recut the film to a shorter length,...
After growing up in Chicago, Edwards was an installation artist before turning to filmmaking at the age of 32. After “Parietal Guidance” won numerous film festival awards, he turned his unique eye and filmmaking sensibilities toward the Michael Brown incident and Ferguson, Missouri, in “A Ferguson Story,” a film that began as a full length quasi-documentary that garnered interest from outside studios. Dissatisfied with that experience, Edwards recut the film to a shorter length,...
- 2/26/2017
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Film News: Gene Siskel Film Center to Honor Four Filmmakers at ‘Hollywood on State’ on Feb. 26, 2017
Chicago – As Chicago evolves as a film town, so do its parties. The annual “Hollywood on State” gathering, put together by the Gene Siskel Film Center, is enhancing their Oscar watching event by honoring four prominent and emerging Chicago filmmakers – Lonnie Edwards, Lori Felker, Jennifer Reeder and Michael Smith. For more details, and to be a part of the magical evening, click here.
Watch the 89th Academy Awards at the Gene Siskel Film Center
Photo credit: SiskelCenter.org
Since 1972, the Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago has presented cutting edge cinema, as vital part of the school’s offerings, and as a continuous celebration of the cinema for the general public. The Film Center’s programming includes specialized film festivals, trailblazing work by today’s independent filmmakers, restorations and revivals of essential films from cinema history, and discussions with filmmakers and media artists.
Watch the 89th Academy Awards at the Gene Siskel Film Center
Photo credit: SiskelCenter.org
Since 1972, the Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago has presented cutting edge cinema, as vital part of the school’s offerings, and as a continuous celebration of the cinema for the general public. The Film Center’s programming includes specialized film festivals, trailblazing work by today’s independent filmmakers, restorations and revivals of essential films from cinema history, and discussions with filmmakers and media artists.
- 2/24/2017
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
In late November, Slamdance presented the 20 titles lined up for its narrative and documentary competitions. Today, the festival’s rounded out the program for its 2016 edition, running from January 22 through 28. Special screenings include Adam Rifkin's tag>Director's Cut, written by tag>Penn Jillette. Narrative shorts include tag>Lori Felker's tag>Discontinuity. Documentary shorts include tag>John Wilson's tag>Temporary Color with tag>David Byrne. And the Anarchy shorts include tag>Gabriel Sunday's tag>Hi How Are You Daniel Johnston? with, yes, tag>Daniel Johnston. » - David Hudson...
- 12/8/2015
- Keyframe
In late November, Slamdance presented the 20 titles lined up for its narrative and documentary competitions. Today, the festival’s rounded out the program for its 2016 edition, running from January 22 through 28. Special screenings include Adam Rifkin's tag>Director's Cut, written by tag>Penn Jillette. Narrative shorts include tag>Lori Felker's tag>Discontinuity. Documentary shorts include tag>John Wilson's tag>Temporary Color with tag>David Byrne. And the Anarchy shorts include tag>Gabriel Sunday's tag>Hi How Are You Daniel Johnston? with, yes, tag>Daniel Johnston. » - David Hudson...
- 12/8/2015
- Fandor: Keyframe
This year’s student-run Milwaukee Underground Film Festival runs four days on April 30-May 3 at the Union Theater on the campus of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and at the Microlights Cinema.
The fest kicks off on April 30 with two films by one of this year’s jurors, Marika Borgeson: The Starry Messenger, which used the sun as it’s only developing agent; and the work-in-progress Excerpt From Arcanam Terra Lacrimarum; plus films by other artists selected by Borgeson.
On the following afternoon, May 1, there will be a presentation by this year’s other two jurors, Kelly Gallagher and Ben Balcom, which will include their own films, plus others selected from the Uwm Archives.
The rest of the festival features an explosion of terrific experimental films, including work by Lori Felker, Turn on the Hill; Zachary Epcar, Under the Heat Lamp an Opening; Mike Olenick, Beautiful Things; Josh Weissbach, Model Fifty-One Fifty-Six; Clint Enns,...
The fest kicks off on April 30 with two films by one of this year’s jurors, Marika Borgeson: The Starry Messenger, which used the sun as it’s only developing agent; and the work-in-progress Excerpt From Arcanam Terra Lacrimarum; plus films by other artists selected by Borgeson.
On the following afternoon, May 1, there will be a presentation by this year’s other two jurors, Kelly Gallagher and Ben Balcom, which will include their own films, plus others selected from the Uwm Archives.
The rest of the festival features an explosion of terrific experimental films, including work by Lori Felker, Turn on the Hill; Zachary Epcar, Under the Heat Lamp an Opening; Mike Olenick, Beautiful Things; Josh Weissbach, Model Fifty-One Fifty-Six; Clint Enns,...
- 4/30/2015
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Read More: Fandor Aims to Help Filmmakers and Film Festivals with New Initiatives Fandor, the subscription-based film streaming and video sharing platform, announced this week that it will push into original content creation with the launch of FIXshorts. Under Fandor's Fix program, five talented filmmakers were chosen out of 34 to use Kickstarter to fund 50% of the production for their FIXshorts. The other 50% will be covered by Fandor itself in addition to the promise of distribution. Together, directors Ben Russel, David Schendel, Lori Felker, Maximon Monihan and Maya Erdelyi campaign for their stories to be transformed onto the silver screen beginning on March 12th. Their short films were ultimately chosen to reflect a diverse collection of content for Fandor including, one animated documentary, three narratives, and one documentary. The future filmmakers are hopeful that their campaigning efforts will allow them to join the ranks of the 120+ directors that Fix...
- 3/13/2015
- by Elle Leonsis
- Indiewire
Maya Erdelyi's Anyuka, Lori Felker's Discontinuity, Maximon Monihan's Sea to Shining Sea, Ben Russell's He Who Eats Children and David Schendel's Dead Ink Archive are the first five projects in the new FIXshorts program, we here at Fandor are launching today. We're putting up half the budget for five new works and providing reward benefits on each of their campaigns at Kickstarter, where you can chip in to help see these projects through. As Dave McNary reports at Variety, "When completed, Fandor will premiere the FIXshorts exclusively in tandem with their respective festival premieres and the rights to each film will remain with the individual filmmakers." » - David Hudson...
- 3/12/2015
- Keyframe
Maya Erdelyi's Anyuka, Lori Felker's Discontinuity, Maximon Monihan's Sea to Shining Sea, Ben Russell's He Who Eats Children and David Schendel's Dead Ink Archive are the first five projects in the new FIXshorts program, we here at Fandor are launching today. We're putting up half the budget for five new works and providing reward benefits on each of their campaigns at Kickstarter, where you can chip in to help see these projects through. As Dave McNary reports at Variety, "When completed, Fandor will premiere the FIXshorts exclusively in tandem with their respective festival premieres and the rights to each film will remain with the individual filmmakers." » - David Hudson...
- 3/12/2015
- Fandor: Keyframe
Maya Erdelyi's Anyuka, Lori Felker's Discontinuity, Maximon Monihan's Sea to Shining Sea, Ben Russell's He Who Eats Children and David Schendel's Dead Ink Archive are the first five projects in the new FIXshorts program, we here at Fandor are launching today. We're putting up half the budget for five new works and providing reward benefits on each of their campaigns at Kickstarter, where you can chip in to help see these projects through. As Dave McNary reports at Variety, "When completed, Fandor will premiere the FIXshorts exclusively in tandem with their respective festival premieres and the rights to each film will remain with the individual filmmakers." » - David Hudson...
- 3/12/2015
- Fandor: Keyframe
Maya Erdelyi's Anyuka, Lori Felker's Discontinuity, Maximon Monihan's Sea to Shining Sea, Ben Russell's He Who Eats Children and David Schendel's Dead Ink Archive are the first five projects in the new FIXshorts program, we here at Fandor are launching today. We're putting up half the budget for five new works and providing reward benefits on each of their campaigns at Kickstarter, where you can chip in to help see these projects through. As Dave McNary reports at Variety, "When completed, Fandor will premiere the FIXshorts exclusively in tandem with their respective festival premieres and the rights to each film will remain with the individual filmmakers." » - David Hudson...
- 3/12/2015
- Keyframe
Hosted by Open City Cinema, the 2nd annual Winnipeg Underground Film Festival will be a raucous three-day celebration of fantastic avant-garde and experimental short films and videos from around the world. This year’s edition will run on June 27-29.
The fest opens on June 27 at 7:00 p.m. with a unique bang of an idea: “The 90 Second.” This is a program super-duper short films collected from all over the world, from right in the fest’s hometown of Winnipeg to Auckland to Chicago to London and numerous points in between.
Another one of the fest’s main highlights is a two-part celebration of the work of prolific Canadian film artist Mike Hoolboom. Two programs of two short films each will be featured. The first runs on June 28 at 3:30 p.m. with the films Frank’s Cock and Tom; and the second will close the fest on June 28 at 8:00 p.
The fest opens on June 27 at 7:00 p.m. with a unique bang of an idea: “The 90 Second.” This is a program super-duper short films collected from all over the world, from right in the fest’s hometown of Winnipeg to Auckland to Chicago to London and numerous points in between.
Another one of the fest’s main highlights is a two-part celebration of the work of prolific Canadian film artist Mike Hoolboom. Two programs of two short films each will be featured. The first runs on June 28 at 3:30 p.m. with the films Frank’s Cock and Tom; and the second will close the fest on June 28 at 8:00 p.
- 6/18/2014
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The 5th annual Strange Beauty Film Festival will feature three nights — and one afternoon — of gorgeous short films by local filmmakers and from filmmakers around the world on June 12-14 at the Manbites Dog Theater in Durham, North Carolina.
The Opening Night selection on June 12 will feature local films such as Shambhavi Kaul’s Mount Song, Alina Taalman’s The Descening Package and D.L. Anderson’s Bili Rubin; aswell as films from Rochester, NY; Chicago, Il; and as far away as London and Watford, England.
Some films to look out for throughout the rest of the festival include Fall 1+2 by Canadian filmmaker Aaron Zeghers; Lori Felker‘s award-winning Scattered in the Wind; and Frontier Journals 03: Aztec Baldwin Collage by acclaimed documentarian Georg Koszulinski that features the legendary Craig Baldwin.
Also, the Closing Night program on June 14 will feature Strange Beauty’s Aural Fixation, a program of experimental soundscapes curated by Jenny Morgan.
The Opening Night selection on June 12 will feature local films such as Shambhavi Kaul’s Mount Song, Alina Taalman’s The Descening Package and D.L. Anderson’s Bili Rubin; aswell as films from Rochester, NY; Chicago, Il; and as far away as London and Watford, England.
Some films to look out for throughout the rest of the festival include Fall 1+2 by Canadian filmmaker Aaron Zeghers; Lori Felker‘s award-winning Scattered in the Wind; and Frontier Journals 03: Aztec Baldwin Collage by acclaimed documentarian Georg Koszulinski that features the legendary Craig Baldwin.
Also, the Closing Night program on June 14 will feature Strange Beauty’s Aural Fixation, a program of experimental soundscapes curated by Jenny Morgan.
- 6/5/2014
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The 9th annual Montreal Underground Film Festival is three nights of short experimental films from around the world and one after-fest feature film the following early afternoon. It runs May 22-25 at the Bar Populaire for the Opening Night festivities, then at the microcinema at 6029A Ave. du Parc for the rest of the fest.
Opening Night consists of two short film compilations and will feature animation by Ben Popp, sci-fi by Brian Lonano, an experimental short by Neil Ira Needleman and lots more.
Other shorts blocks of the festival are broken up by subject, such as experimental documentaries, horror(ish) films, personal works, meditations on water, and other intriguing concepts.
Some films to look out for are Lori Felker‘s naturally electric music video, Scattered in the Wind; Dan Browne‘s epic lifetime amalgamation of images, Memento Mori; Joseph Christiana‘s hair-raisingly eerie Meat Cycle; a new collaborative piece between Karen and Jaimz Asmundson,...
Opening Night consists of two short film compilations and will feature animation by Ben Popp, sci-fi by Brian Lonano, an experimental short by Neil Ira Needleman and lots more.
Other shorts blocks of the festival are broken up by subject, such as experimental documentaries, horror(ish) films, personal works, meditations on water, and other intriguing concepts.
Some films to look out for are Lori Felker‘s naturally electric music video, Scattered in the Wind; Dan Browne‘s epic lifetime amalgamation of images, Memento Mori; Joseph Christiana‘s hair-raisingly eerie Meat Cycle; a new collaborative piece between Karen and Jaimz Asmundson,...
- 5/19/2014
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
This year’s student-run Milwaukee Underground Film Festival will screen on May 1-4 at various locations on the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee campus and off-campus at the Microlights Cinema. Once again, the festival will feature eclectic and amazing avant-garde and experimental short films in video, 16mm and 8mm formats.
The fest opens on May 1 with a screening of films made by this year’s three-member jury — David Witzling, Diane Kitchen and Scott Stark — followed by a special presentation of works from NYC’s Lgbt screening series, “Dirty Looks,” including Michael Robinson‘s hilarious The Dark, Krystle, Luther Price‘s recently restored Home and Michael Lucid‘s online video sensation Dirty Girls.
Other films to look out for are a pair of award-winning pieces: The May 2 at 2:00 p.m. shorts block will conclude with Jennifer Reeder‘s absolutely amazing A Million Miles Away, which took home the Best Short Film at the Chicago Underground Film Festival.
The fest opens on May 1 with a screening of films made by this year’s three-member jury — David Witzling, Diane Kitchen and Scott Stark — followed by a special presentation of works from NYC’s Lgbt screening series, “Dirty Looks,” including Michael Robinson‘s hilarious The Dark, Krystle, Luther Price‘s recently restored Home and Michael Lucid‘s online video sensation Dirty Girls.
Other films to look out for are a pair of award-winning pieces: The May 2 at 2:00 p.m. shorts block will conclude with Jennifer Reeder‘s absolutely amazing A Million Miles Away, which took home the Best Short Film at the Chicago Underground Film Festival.
- 5/1/2014
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The 21st annual Chicago Underground Film Festival, which will run April 2-6 at the Logan Theater, will be extra special this year. Why? Because Mike Everleth, the Executive Editor of the Underground Film Journal, is sitting on this year’s festival jury! And looking over the fest lineup below, he is incredibly excited to witness this visual extravaganza of revolutionary cinematic madness. (Other jurors are Brian Chankin, Therese Grisham and Alison Cuddy.)
Opening Night Film: What I Love About Concrete is the debut feature by the directing team of Katherine Dohan and Alanna Stewart and is a surreal suburban tale about a teenage girl who believes she is transforming into a swan.
Closing Night Film: Usama Alshaibi will be making his triumphant return to Chicago with his latest documentary, American Arab, a personal and sociological examination of what it means to be an Arab in a post-9/11 United States. This...
Opening Night Film: What I Love About Concrete is the debut feature by the directing team of Katherine Dohan and Alanna Stewart and is a surreal suburban tale about a teenage girl who believes she is transforming into a swan.
Closing Night Film: Usama Alshaibi will be making his triumphant return to Chicago with his latest documentary, American Arab, a personal and sociological examination of what it means to be an Arab in a post-9/11 United States. This...
- 3/28/2014
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Lori Felker says:
Hi!
This is me: Runts
I’m a Chicago-based filmmaker and I make weird videos and films that vary in shape and size. I was also a programmer and organizer for the Chicago Underground Film Festival for a little while, until I took this year off.
My cat’s name is Czubek (it’s Polish), she’s 16 (on March 18!) and feisty. She likes to sit on my lap while I edit, and she consoled me after I tripped and fell on my face while carrying a bunch of equipment home from an off-season Cuff screening. She’s made appearances in a few of my experiments, but I’m working on a film that will feature her. She’s that amazing.
Lori’s website.
Underground Film Journal says:
Lori Felker is one of the foundations of the Chicago filmmaking community. As she says above, she has worked for...
Hi!
This is me: Runts
I’m a Chicago-based filmmaker and I make weird videos and films that vary in shape and size. I was also a programmer and organizer for the Chicago Underground Film Festival for a little while, until I took this year off.
My cat’s name is Czubek (it’s Polish), she’s 16 (on March 18!) and feisty. She likes to sit on my lap while I edit, and she consoled me after I tripped and fell on my face while carrying a bunch of equipment home from an off-season Cuff screening. She’s made appearances in a few of my experiments, but I’m working on a film that will feature her. She’s that amazing.
Lori’s website.
Underground Film Journal says:
Lori Felker is one of the foundations of the Chicago filmmaking community. As she says above, she has worked for...
- 3/25/2014
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The 52nd annual Ann Arbor Film Festival will be a jam-packed experimental feature and short film screening event running for six days and nights, this time on March 25-30.
Opening Night will feature a reception and an after-party, and stuffed between those will be a block of nine short films, including new ones by Bryan Boyce, Michael Robinson, Jennifer Reeder and Martha Colburn, as well as a never-before-released work by the legendary Bruce Baillie called Little Girl in which Baillie captured scenes of natural beauty.
Special Events scattered throughout the festival include a retrospective of indie filmmaker Penelope Spheeris that will feature her rock ‘n’ roll-based work, including the original The Decline of Western Civilization, plus The Decline of Western Civilization Part III, her influential punk film Suburbia (screening twice) and a collection of short films.
There will also be several films and presentations by filmmaking scholar Thom Andersen, such...
Opening Night will feature a reception and an after-party, and stuffed between those will be a block of nine short films, including new ones by Bryan Boyce, Michael Robinson, Jennifer Reeder and Martha Colburn, as well as a never-before-released work by the legendary Bruce Baillie called Little Girl in which Baillie captured scenes of natural beauty.
Special Events scattered throughout the festival include a retrospective of indie filmmaker Penelope Spheeris that will feature her rock ‘n’ roll-based work, including the original The Decline of Western Civilization, plus The Decline of Western Civilization Part III, her influential punk film Suburbia (screening twice) and a collection of short films.
There will also be several films and presentations by filmmaking scholar Thom Andersen, such...
- 3/18/2014
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The Ann Arbor Film Festival, having survived their half-a-century blowout in 2012, is back with another rip-roarin’ 51st edition in 2013, which will run from March 19-24, screening a mind-boggling amount of experimental short films and a few features.
Highlights of the fest include:
Special presentations by this year’s jurors, including Marcin Gizycki round-up of Polish animation from the 1950s to the present; Laida Lertxundi’s selection of some of her films as well as her biggest influences; and Kevin Jerome Everson’s mini-retrospective of his own films.
There’s also special tributes to Pat O’Neill, including a retrospective of his short films from the ’70s to the present as well as a screening of his 1989 35mm experimental epic Water and Power; Suzan Pitt, with selections of short films from her career; and a screening of Ken Burns’ latest doc The Central Park Five, co-directed with his daughter Sarah Burns and son-in-law David McMahon,...
Highlights of the fest include:
Special presentations by this year’s jurors, including Marcin Gizycki round-up of Polish animation from the 1950s to the present; Laida Lertxundi’s selection of some of her films as well as her biggest influences; and Kevin Jerome Everson’s mini-retrospective of his own films.
There’s also special tributes to Pat O’Neill, including a retrospective of his short films from the ’70s to the present as well as a screening of his 1989 35mm experimental epic Water and Power; Suzan Pitt, with selections of short films from her career; and a screening of Ken Burns’ latest doc The Central Park Five, co-directed with his daughter Sarah Burns and son-in-law David McMahon,...
- 3/19/2013
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The 9th annual Florida Experimental Film/Video Festival, aka Flex, was held on February 15-17 in Gainesville, Florida. This year was one of the fest’s competitive years — (it alternates years with a curated event) – so they gave out 12 awards to 14 deserving filmmakers.
Awards were given out to both film and video artists and were broken up into both long form and short form categories. The film awards included projects in 35mm (Scott Stark), 16mm (Robert Todd) and Super 8 (Paul Clipson).
Below is the full list of winners. And below that is the full program lineup of the fest.
Film (long)
1. Scott Stark, Traces ($600 Kodak product grant)
2. Josh Gibson, Kudzu Vine ($200)
3. Shinya Isobe, Eden ($100)
Film (short)
1. Anja Dornieden and Juan David González Monroy, Awe Shocks ($600 Kodak product grant)
2. Robert Todd, Cove ($200)
3. Paul Clipson, Compound Eyes No. 1 ($100)
Video (long)
1. Ben Russell and Jim Drain, Ponce de León ($300)
2. Benjamin Pearson, Former Models ($200)
3. Paul Tarragó,...
Awards were given out to both film and video artists and were broken up into both long form and short form categories. The film awards included projects in 35mm (Scott Stark), 16mm (Robert Todd) and Super 8 (Paul Clipson).
Below is the full list of winners. And below that is the full program lineup of the fest.
Film (long)
1. Scott Stark, Traces ($600 Kodak product grant)
2. Josh Gibson, Kudzu Vine ($200)
3. Shinya Isobe, Eden ($100)
Film (short)
1. Anja Dornieden and Juan David González Monroy, Awe Shocks ($600 Kodak product grant)
2. Robert Todd, Cove ($200)
3. Paul Clipson, Compound Eyes No. 1 ($100)
Video (long)
1. Ben Russell and Jim Drain, Ponce de León ($300)
2. Benjamin Pearson, Former Models ($200)
3. Paul Tarragó,...
- 2/20/2013
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
My apologies to everyone who’s missed these links posts that I’ve been slacking off on recently, which is the result of a combination of things — being out of town, being busy and being brain-fried again. Mostly the last option, though, in all honesty.
If you love classic ’70s movie posters, then you absolutely have to read Temple of Schlock’s interview with Mort Künstler who painted posters for The Poseidon Adventure, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three and more. Plus, Joshua and the Blob?The Austin Statesman interviewed filmmaker Don Swaynos about his directorial debut, Pictures of Superheroes. Most interestingly, why did Don, an awesome professional film editor, direct a feature film? Well, out of a fear of going blind! That’s motivation for you! P.S. Pictures of Superheroes is an amazing comedy — To be reviewed on Bad Lit soon!The One+One Filmmakers Journal takes...
If you love classic ’70s movie posters, then you absolutely have to read Temple of Schlock’s interview with Mort Künstler who painted posters for The Poseidon Adventure, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three and more. Plus, Joshua and the Blob?The Austin Statesman interviewed filmmaker Don Swaynos about his directorial debut, Pictures of Superheroes. Most interestingly, why did Don, an awesome professional film editor, direct a feature film? Well, out of a fear of going blind! That’s motivation for you! P.S. Pictures of Superheroes is an amazing comedy — To be reviewed on Bad Lit soon!The One+One Filmmakers Journal takes...
- 10/28/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
This week’s Must Read: Making Light of It has posted another one of its wonderful filmmaker profiles, this time for Marie Menken.Here’s a new site to take notice of: The Avant-Garde Film Index, which does exactly what its name implies, indexing experimental, avant-garde and underground films. The site appears to be in its very early stages, but we wish them the best of luck and we’ll keep our eye on it as it grows into the essential resource we’re sure it’ll become.At the Chicago Reader, Ben Sachs interviewed filmmaker Lori Felker about a program of films by Robert Nelson that screened over the weekend at the Gene Siskel Film Center.The Tucson Weekly profiles the Arizona Underground Film Festival, which is going on right now and is having its biggest year ever, especially focusing on the film The Exhibitionists.For the next couple of months,...
- 9/23/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The 24th annual Onion City Experimental Film and Video Festival is the largest, most jam-packed edition of Chicago’s long-running avant-garde and experimental media fest ever! Held at the Gene Siskel Film Center on June 21 and at Columbia College on June 22-23, this year’s event features two days and three nights of fantastic experimental work, including both short films and feature-length productions.
Two feature-length films will get two screenings each. First, there’s collage animator Lewis Klahr‘s latest epic work The Pettifogger, a film noir about the year in the life of a ’60s era gambler; and Tributes – Pulse, a collaboration between filmmaker Bill Morrison and Danish composer Simon Christensen. Both films will screen on the 22nd and the 23rd.
Other feature-length works include Wolfgang Lehmann’s experimental nature film Dragonflies With Birds and Snake, Barry Doupé’s computer animated mystery The Colors That Combine to Make White Are Important,...
Two feature-length films will get two screenings each. First, there’s collage animator Lewis Klahr‘s latest epic work The Pettifogger, a film noir about the year in the life of a ’60s era gambler; and Tributes – Pulse, a collaboration between filmmaker Bill Morrison and Danish composer Simon Christensen. Both films will screen on the 22nd and the 23rd.
Other feature-length works include Wolfgang Lehmann’s experimental nature film Dragonflies With Birds and Snake, Barry Doupé’s computer animated mystery The Colors That Combine to Make White Are Important,...
- 6/12/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Student-run at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, the Milwaukee Underground Film Festival will once again screen a selection of phenomenal experimental and avant-garde short films from all over the world. The 2012 edition will run May 4-5 at various locations around Milwaukee, including the Uwm Union Theatre, Walker’s Point Center for the Arts and the the Peck School of the Arts Kenilworth Studios.
Some films to look out for at the fest include Georg Koszulinski‘s tranquil landscape experimental documentary The Search for Norumbega; new animation films by Jodie Mack (Point de Gaze) and Ben Popp (Lazslo Lassu); Clint Enns‘ environmental search for the spiritual, Connecting With Nature; two films by Winnipeg’s Aaron Zeghers, The Story of Thomas Edison and I See a Light; a visually arresting Chromadepth experiment from Kerry Laitala, Chromatic Cocktail 180 Proof; plus, films by Jim Haverkamp, Lyn Elliot, Tony Gault, Kelly Sears and more.
The...
Some films to look out for at the fest include Georg Koszulinski‘s tranquil landscape experimental documentary The Search for Norumbega; new animation films by Jodie Mack (Point de Gaze) and Ben Popp (Lazslo Lassu); Clint Enns‘ environmental search for the spiritual, Connecting With Nature; two films by Winnipeg’s Aaron Zeghers, The Story of Thomas Edison and I See a Light; a visually arresting Chromadepth experiment from Kerry Laitala, Chromatic Cocktail 180 Proof; plus, films by Jim Haverkamp, Lyn Elliot, Tony Gault, Kelly Sears and more.
The...
- 4/30/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The 7th annual Experiments in Cinema, or v7.9 if you prefer, will feature 7 days of fantastic experimental films from all over the world on April 16-22 at various locations across Albuquerque, New Mexico, including the Guild Cinema, the Southwest Film Center and the National Hispanic Cultural Center.
This year’s festival is jam-packed with a gaggle of short films, one feature and several workshops. It all kicks off on the 16th with an event devoted to films made with the Pxl 2000 video camera that was briefly produced as a kids toy, but has been adopted by visual artists. Pixel visionary Gerry Fialka will present films and a history of the camera’s use.
Some of the other special programs include a Cinegram Workshop taught by Kerry Laitala, another workshop taught by David Finkelstein on how to work with improvisational actors, a special screening of botanical-themed 16mm films curated by Caryn Cline and more.
This year’s festival is jam-packed with a gaggle of short films, one feature and several workshops. It all kicks off on the 16th with an event devoted to films made with the Pxl 2000 video camera that was briefly produced as a kids toy, but has been adopted by visual artists. Pixel visionary Gerry Fialka will present films and a history of the camera’s use.
Some of the other special programs include a Cinegram Workshop taught by Kerry Laitala, another workshop taught by David Finkelstein on how to work with improvisational actors, a special screening of botanical-themed 16mm films curated by Caryn Cline and more.
- 4/11/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Get a taste of the goings on at the 2011 Chicago Underground Film Festival, which was held back on June 2-9 in the Windy City, courtesy of F Newsmagazine, a publication of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Most appropriately, the above embedded video includes an interview with filmmaker Jerzy Rose, an alumni of Saic, whose feature film Some Girls Never Learn opened this year’s Cuff.
More interesting, though, for those interested in underground film history is festival founder Bryan Wendorf revealing the secret origin of Cuff. Ok, not so secret, really, but not something one hears very often of how he and a partner organized the first Cuff way back in 1994. Wendorf plays it off kind of modestly, but as Bad Lit: The Journal of Underground Film uncovered recently, the first ever Cuff was a rather large, significant event, sitting at the intersection of avant-garde, experimental and exploitation.
More interesting, though, for those interested in underground film history is festival founder Bryan Wendorf revealing the secret origin of Cuff. Ok, not so secret, really, but not something one hears very often of how he and a partner organized the first Cuff way back in 1994. Wendorf plays it off kind of modestly, but as Bad Lit: The Journal of Underground Film uncovered recently, the first ever Cuff was a rather large, significant event, sitting at the intersection of avant-garde, experimental and exploitation.
- 8/2/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Part experimental film, part horror movie, Runts by Lori Felker and Jeffrey Schreckengost is one hell of a sick and disturbing nightmare. Told almost entirely with baby dolls, a pair of conjoined twins are separated and cast out into the world where they do terrible things to each other, including morbid mutilation and incest. Filmed with in dark sepia tones with jumpy editing and a nerve-jangling soundtrack, Runts is an unnerving piece of work.
Although I’ve been known in the past to read religious imagery into films that the filmmaker didn’t intend, I can’t help but see some sort of Garden of Eden connection in Runts. A man and a woman are born of the same parentage and cast out into the unknown. And if Adam and Eve both had the same father, wouldn’t their coupling be an incestuous union? Plus, the unpleasant birth somehow makes...
Although I’ve been known in the past to read religious imagery into films that the filmmaker didn’t intend, I can’t help but see some sort of Garden of Eden connection in Runts. A man and a woman are born of the same parentage and cast out into the unknown. And if Adam and Eve both had the same father, wouldn’t their coupling be an incestuous union? Plus, the unpleasant birth somehow makes...
- 5/7/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Chicago – The winners of the 17th Chicago Underground Film Festival were announced, with the short film winners awarded on June 27th, and the feature-length winners revealed on July 2nd.
The festival kicked off on June 24th, and included two world premieres, five Midwest premieres and four Chicago premieres. The Audience Award went to local favorite “Scrappers,” from documentarians Ben Kolk, Brian Ashby and Courtney Prokopas. Winners received handmade art pieces constructed by Chicago artist Luke Breckon.
Frankie Latina’s ‘Modus Operandi’ won the Honorable Mention at the 17th Chicago Underground Film Festival
Photo credit: Frankie Latina Motion Pictures
This year’s Cuff jury included media exhibition coordinator Ross Nugent, filmmaker Spencer Parsons and the Assistant Director of Video Data Bank, Brigid Reagan. Here are the complete lists of winners:
Chicago Underground Film Festival: Feature Film Competition Winners
Best Documentary Feature: “Scrappers” by Ben Kolak, Brian Ashby and Courtney Prokopas
Best...
The festival kicked off on June 24th, and included two world premieres, five Midwest premieres and four Chicago premieres. The Audience Award went to local favorite “Scrappers,” from documentarians Ben Kolk, Brian Ashby and Courtney Prokopas. Winners received handmade art pieces constructed by Chicago artist Luke Breckon.
Frankie Latina’s ‘Modus Operandi’ won the Honorable Mention at the 17th Chicago Underground Film Festival
Photo credit: Frankie Latina Motion Pictures
This year’s Cuff jury included media exhibition coordinator Ross Nugent, filmmaker Spencer Parsons and the Assistant Director of Video Data Bank, Brigid Reagan. Here are the complete lists of winners:
Chicago Underground Film Festival: Feature Film Competition Winners
Best Documentary Feature: “Scrappers” by Ben Kolak, Brian Ashby and Courtney Prokopas
Best...
- 7/8/2010
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Update: Cuff has announced their feature award winners. Congrats to everyone!
Best Documentary Feature
Scrappers, dir. Ben Kolak, Brian Ashby, and Courtney Prokopas
Best Narrative Feature
Stay the Same Never Change, dir. Laurel Nakadate
Honorable Mention
Modus Operandi, dir. Frankie Latina
The 17th annual Chicago Underground Film Festival wraps up on July 1, but they’ve already announced their award winners. Although, as of right now, they’re still determining the Best Narrative Feature and Best Documentary Feature winners, but all the rest of the winners are listed below. I’ll update this post when the last two awards are announced.
And the winners are:
Made in Chicago Award
Fantasy Suite, dir. Kent Lambert
Best Animation
Everybody, dir. Steve Reinke and Jesse Mott
Best Experimental Film
L’Internationale, dir. Marianna Milhorat
Best Documentary Short
Sincerity: The Character of Ronald Reagan, dir. Chris Royalty
Best Narrative Short
Home Movie, dir. Braden King
Audience Award
Scrappers,...
Best Documentary Feature
Scrappers, dir. Ben Kolak, Brian Ashby, and Courtney Prokopas
Best Narrative Feature
Stay the Same Never Change, dir. Laurel Nakadate
Honorable Mention
Modus Operandi, dir. Frankie Latina
The 17th annual Chicago Underground Film Festival wraps up on July 1, but they’ve already announced their award winners. Although, as of right now, they’re still determining the Best Narrative Feature and Best Documentary Feature winners, but all the rest of the winners are listed below. I’ll update this post when the last two awards are announced.
And the winners are:
Made in Chicago Award
Fantasy Suite, dir. Kent Lambert
Best Animation
Everybody, dir. Steve Reinke and Jesse Mott
Best Experimental Film
L’Internationale, dir. Marianna Milhorat
Best Documentary Short
Sincerity: The Character of Ronald Reagan, dir. Chris Royalty
Best Narrative Short
Home Movie, dir. Braden King
Audience Award
Scrappers,...
- 6/30/2010
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The Chicago Underground Film Festival is always a special occasion, but the 17th edition of this venerable institution, which runs on June 24 – July 1, is a little bit extra special. This year, Cuff will be honoring the lifelong underground film champion Jonas Mekas with their Lifetime Achievement Award!
Mekas will be in attendance at the festival at will appear at several screenings in his honor. On the 25th, there will be a screening of the new documentary Visionaries: Jonas Mekas and the (Mostly) American Avant-Garde, at which director Chuck Workman, Mekas and underground film historian Fred Camper will participate in a Q&A. Then, on the 26th, several of Mekas’ own films will screen and he’ll be presented with his award.
As for the rest of the fest, Cuff usually has some sort of unifying theme, at least as far as the features go. It’s not typically a stated theme,...
Mekas will be in attendance at the festival at will appear at several screenings in his honor. On the 25th, there will be a screening of the new documentary Visionaries: Jonas Mekas and the (Mostly) American Avant-Garde, at which director Chuck Workman, Mekas and underground film historian Fred Camper will participate in a Q&A. Then, on the 26th, several of Mekas’ own films will screen and he’ll be presented with his award.
As for the rest of the fest, Cuff usually has some sort of unifying theme, at least as far as the features go. It’s not typically a stated theme,...
- 6/3/2010
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The teasing is over! This here is the real deal. The moment we wait all year for: The lineup for the powerful, the mighty Boston Underground Film Festival, which is set to run March 25 to April 1. Now in its 12th year, Buff shows no sign of slowing down or taking it easy. In fact, this might be their most demented and transgressive edition yet.
There are homages to Giallo horror, tributes to the grand grindhouse tradition of sleaze and exploitation, sex and violence galore — both separately and together — plus, a resurrected ’80s slasher classic that all combine into an epic celebration of everything that is vicious and twisted in this world. But, in a fun way, ya know.
Alas, I haven’t seen any of the feature films that are playing this year, so I can’t offer any special recommendations of those. Although, there are many (most) that I...
There are homages to Giallo horror, tributes to the grand grindhouse tradition of sleaze and exploitation, sex and violence galore — both separately and together — plus, a resurrected ’80s slasher classic that all combine into an epic celebration of everything that is vicious and twisted in this world. But, in a fun way, ya know.
Alas, I haven’t seen any of the feature films that are playing this year, so I can’t offer any special recommendations of those. Although, there are many (most) that I...
- 3/12/2010
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
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