Shorts 4: New Visions
Description
An eclectic array of experimental short films and videos that points to new filmic terrain and new approaches to subjectivity, narrative, history and form. From the beautiful choreography in Arrowed, NO ID and Blackout to the abstract beauty of The Stream 5 and Picture Particles, and including master makers such as Jay Rosenblatt and Ben Russell, these challenging and thoughtful shorts reestablish the inherent power in motion pictures to create moving experiences.
Arrowed
Former Batsheva Dance Company member Bobbi Jene Smith’s ongoing choreographic project is brought to life in this insightful and affecting portrait. (Celia Rowlson-Hall, USA 2014, 10 min)
Atlantis
A documentary portrait of Utopia, Ben Russell’s contemplative work refigures the rising sea as an imaginary haven. Through interviews and observation, Russell reveals the joys and burdens of idealism. (Ben Russell, Malta 2014, 24 min)
Blackout: John Burris Speaks
Part of an interventionist campaign to call people to boycott Black Friday, traditionally the biggest shopping day of the year, this short from the director of An Oversimplification of Her Beauty (SFIFF 2012) features Oakland’s Turf Feinz dance crew. (Terence Nance, USA 2014, 2 min)
This is a Cinema by the Bay and SFFS-supported film.
The Boombox Collection: Boots Riley
Local luminary Boots Riley is always ready to represent the philosophy of his specific brand of activism and he doesn’t shy away from spitting lyrics as a means to do it. (Mohammad Gorjestani, USA 2015, 7 min)
This is a Cinema by the Bay and SFFS-supported film.
Bus Nut
An archival educational movie on public transportation is given ideological analysis through its recreation. (Akosua Adoma Owusu, USA 2014, 7 min)
Discussion Questions
There is a long list of questions we should address if you will let us get to them. Maybe that’s the first question: Can we get to the questions? (Jonn Herschend, USA 2014, 6 min)
This is a Cinema by the Bay film.
A Long Way from Home
Rosenblatt’s latest is a deeply beautiful, optically printed alchemical gem. (Jay Rosenblatt, USA 2015, 3 min)
This is a Cinema by the Bay film.
NO ID
A lonely stretch of desert road becomes the scene of a dance battle where an unexpected occurrence yields surprising results. (Emnet Mulugeta, Sweden 2014, 3 min)
Picture Particles
The director of this film describes it as following: “Individual elements from a carrier of visual information have been isolated to construct alternative visual reagents.” And, we couldn’t agree more (we think). (Thorsten Fleisch, Germany 2014, 6 min)
SoundPrint
This fascinating study comprehensively explores the material and perceptual properties and effects of sound through imagery. (Monteith McCollum, USA 2014, 8 min)
The Stream 5
The natural means by which water flows is affected by the construction of man-made waterways, opening opportunities for the new relationships and forms of beauty seen here. (Hiroya Sakurai, Japan 2014, 6 min)
—Sean Uyehara