63rd AAFF Feature Film Lineup

Strange, Abandoned, Deranged

We are pleased to announce the official feature film lineup for the 63rd Ann Arbor Film Festival (AAFF), taking place from March 26-30, 2025. This year’s selection includes eight feature films, many are paired with a short film in competition. The lineup showcases a variety of perspectives and themes, from personal histories to environmental issues, offering a diverse range of experimental cinema.

Feature Films in Competition

• Strange Abandoned Deranged by Ceylan Özgün Özçelik, Turkey, 2024 – North American PremiereAn exploration of one of the first "eco-friendly" hotels, Naturland, and its unintended descent into dystopia.Playing with: Rain, Rain, Go Away (Ronan Mackenzie, UK) – An animated film about a woman’s inner turmoil as rain drips into her house.March 26, 7:00 PM | Michigan Theater Screening Room

• Billy by Lawrence Côté-Collins, Canada, 2024 – U.S. PremiereA filmmaker’s journey alongside Billy, a schizophrenic man, examining his violent past and the broader issues of untreated mental illness.Playing with: Shadow of the Butterflies (Sofia El Khyari, Morocco) – A mysterious animated story set in a forest where a woman is drawn into a daydream.March 26, 9:00 PM | Michigan Theater Screening Room

• Roohrangi by Tusharr Madhavv, India, 2025 – World PremiereA personal exploration of queer identity through dreams, memories, and archival footage, set against the backdrop of a forest reserve.Playing with: Mr. Bound & Gagged (Carson Parish, USA, 2024) – A documentary about the Bound & Gagged gay porn magazine and its cultural impact within the LGBTQ+ community.March 27, 7:00 PM | Michigan Theater Screening Room

• Republic by Jiang Jin, China, 2023A documentary about a secretive Beijing space where a group of friends live an idealized, carefree existence, disconnected from time and real-world concerns.March 28, 5:00 PM | Michigan Theater Screening Room

• A Body to Live In by Angelo Madsen, USA, 2024A film exploring body modification, sexuality, and spirituality, following artists who challenge the boundaries of self-expression.Followed by a discussion between the filmmaker and University of Michigan associate professor of anthropology Gayle Rubin, a foundational theorist in queer studies and feminist theory.March 28, 9:00 PM | Michigan Theater Screening Room

• Among the Palms the Bomb, or: Looking for Reflections in the Toxic Field of Plenty by Lukas Marxt & Vanja Smiljanić, 2024 – North American PremiereA documentary about the ecological collapse of the Salton Sea and the resilient community living amidst this environmental crisis.Playing with: Il Burattino e la Balena (Roberto Catani, France) – An animated story about a puppet who does not become a child.March 29, 5:00 PM | Michigan Theater Screening Room

• ¡Aoquic iez in Mexico! / Mexico will no longer exist! by Annalisa Donatella Quagliata, 2024An experimental exploration of Mexico City’s relationship with colonial violence and identity through a series of vivid and fragmented images.Playing with: Mnemonic (Raffaele Gans-Pfister, USA) – An animated meditation on thought and realization.March 29, 9:00 PM | Michigan Theater Screening Room

• The Latest News from Deseret by Christopher Pavsek, 2024 – World PremiereA follow-up to Deseret (1995), this experimental film examines the transformation of Utah over the past three decades, blending history, politics, and film technology.Playing with: Heartbeat (Jay Rosenblatt, Stephanie Rapp, USA) – U.S. Premiere: A personal documentary about the filmmakers’ journey toward parenthood. March 30, 2:30 PM | Michigan Theater Main Auditorium

We look forward to presenting these films at the 63rd Ann Arbor Film Festival, offering a diverse range of experimental works. For tickets and more information, visit aafilmfest.org.