The 46th Ann Arbor Film Festival ~ March 25-30, 2008 ~ The Historic Michigan Theater
The 46th Ann Arbor Film Festival ~ March 25-30, 2008 ~ The Historic Michigan Theater|
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Thursday, March 20, 2008
Shorts Shine in Competition Programs We're less than a week away from the 46th Ann Arbor Film Festival. Tickets are selling fast, so don't miss out on those programs you've been eyeing! Full program information, trailers and advance tickets are available at this year's colorful website. This year's festival features 14 programs of short films in competition. On Wednesday, March 26th, The Aftermath of the Clash features powerful short films that explore the internal and external impacts of conflict, including Jean-Gabriel Periot's stunning Nijuman no Borei (200000 Phantoms) and the North American premiere of Sylvia Schedelbauer's Remote Intimacy. On Thursday March 27th at 9:30pm, Pip Chodorov's Faux Mouvements (Wrong Moves) makes its U.S. premiere in the Cracking the Space/Time Continuum program of adventurous experimental films. And Saturday, March 29th at 9:00pm, Illusions of the Body Snatchers presents an unpredictable, delightful collection including new work from Phil Solomon, Michael Robinson and Jennet Thomas. You can view more complete list of short competition programs here. < = > = < = > = < = > < = > = < = > = < = > < = > = < = > = < = > Additional Special Programs  This year's festival will also feature special programs exploring the earth and its colorful inhabitants. Films from the Live Earth series address the climate change crisis and provide inspiration for taking action. Jim Trainor presents The Animals and Their Limitations, a dark and humorous program of his remarkable animated films. Debra Miller returns for another edition of short films for "Out Night" at the AAFF with Queer Realities: Fact and Fiction! And Nathaniel Dorsky returns to the AAFF with three of his sublime silent films in Devotional Songs. Panels & Presentations  Also slated for the festival are Mitch Levine of The Film Festival Group, Christopher Holland of B-Side Entertainment, and Bob Alexander of IndiePix for an intensive short film distribution panel titled Multiplying Eyes. The AAFF is also excited to have Chris Gore of Film Threat return to host Flipping the Coin, a provocative panel about copyright and fair use that includes Emily Berger of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Exploring the mind-bending side of this year's time-based theme, film professor Dan Herbert will present a lecture A Brief History of Time Travel in Cinema. < = > = < = > = < = > < = > = < = > = < = > < = > = < = > = < = > Filmmaker Focus: Lynn Hershman Leeson The AAFF is committed to championing bold, pioneering, and artistically-inspired filmmakers. And we're dedicated to bringing creative, quality content to our audience. This month we hear about a new project in development from Lynn Hershman Leeson, whose Strange Culture screens at the 46th AAFF on Saturday, March 29th at 10:00pm.  1. What's your newest project about and what motivated you to make it?The newest project is about the history of the feminist art movement and the impact it had on culture. I began to shoot this footage nearly 40 years ago when I felt something important was going on. Consequently I have all of the women who were part of this when they were 20, 30, 50, 70 and we see their aging as the movement progresses. It is more than just a film about art, it is about freedom of expression, it is about civil rights, it is about integration. It is a crucial element of culture that this innovative and insistent work found its way, after a long battle into our language of art. The struggles were enormous and inspiring. Tactical and funny. 2. What's your approach and process for making this film? The film shows the themes of the 60's and how the woman's movement, including the first demonstrations at the Miss America pagaent, affected women, art and culture. How the revolution in art happened, what it meant, what innovative forms occurred and how the women broke the glass ceilings that had denied access to the art world. I have stories, incidents, performances, that no one knows happened. I think this will tell this important story in a way no one else has been able to do. 3. Is there anything unusual or different to how you've approached previous work? I believe it is more accessible, probably more conventional in some sense. But I wanted a broad audience and I have an editor working now who did the film Citizen King, an 8 hour epoch and I felt he understood the subtleties of prejudice that show up ini this film. Actually not so subtle. What is innovative is the distribution model. I intend to put this all on line, all 300 hours, so people can access the entire interviews, not just a segment in the 90 minute version. I also intend to have what i call a "womanpedia" a wiki that is robust enough to allow images and footage to be added, making the history and process ongoing, corrective and interactive. 4. What are the objectives of your project, both internally (for yourself) and externally (for the world)? My hope is that this will bring about a deeper understanding of the passion and courage of the first generation women who opened the gallery and museum doors to women. It will clarify a history that is not only skewed but in many cases does not even exist. Women on my crew were shocked to learn that even in 1960-70 most galleries would not show women. It is also a deeply affecting inspirational story of freedom, on many levels. In some cases this is the only footage that exists of important women, such as Marcia Tucker, the first woman curator, who founded the New Museum. 5. What are the most challenging aspects of your project content, structure and/or story-wise? I think the challenge is making it accessible, funny and moving, like most films. 6. Have you discovered anything unexpected or surprising so far on this project? Absolutely, I have found that young women have a deep thirst for this missing information. They are moved and deeply appreciative any time they see some of this remarkable footage. That is very gratifying. To find out more about Lynn Hershman Leeson, you can visit her website: www.lynnhershman.com < = > = < = > = < = > < = > = < = > = < = > < = > = < = > = < = > We Want to Hear From You Help the AAFF set its future course as we head toward our 50th anniversary! Take just a few minutes to add your voice to our conversation by joining our online survey. Your responses will be anonymous and appreciated. Click HERE to take the survey.
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