From: Weekly Listing (email suppressed)
Date: Sat Apr 10 2010 - 07:09:05 PDT
Part 2 of 2: This week [April 10 - 18, 2010] in avant garde cinema
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SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 2010
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4/17
New York: Anthology Film Archives
http://www.anthologyfilmarchives.org/
8:30 pm, 32 Second Avenue
THUNDERCRACK!
by Curt McDowell 1975, 152 minutes, video. Written by and featuring
George Kuchar. ULTRA-RARE SCREENINGS OF THE COMPLETE VERSION! "Witness
if you dare, the world's only underground kinky art porno horror film,
complete with four men, three women, and a gorilla. Ecstasy so great
that all heaven and hell becomes just one big old Shangri-La! … With the
initial setup of an atmospheric gothic horror tale – dark stormy night
breakdown featuring a creepy old house on the hill – it quickly turns
into a bawdy, graphic, and darkly comic orgy. Dead drunk, horny, and
delirious Marion Eaton commands the screen as one of cinema's weirdest
female characters, while George Kuchar falls madly in love with a
gorilla. … The most dialogue you will ever see in porn and the most porn
you will ever see in a melodrama, THUNDERCRACK! is a volatile marriage
of genres, fluid sexuality, and depraved perversion." –D.A. Johnston,
FRAMELINE
4/17
New York: Anthology Film Archives
http://www.anthologyfilmarchives.org/
3:00 pm, 32 Second Avenue
GEORGE KUCHAR SHORTS PROGRAM
LIBIDO LAGOON (2009, 30 minutes, video) The plot involves the corruption
of a Christian community by the vapors that emanate from those baptized
in Libido Lagoon: a drainage pond for everything vile and vitalizing
(below the belt)." – G.K. BURRITO BAY (2009, 25 minutes video) "This
video diary/travelogue centers on a tropical trip to Acapulco where
yours truly hits both sand and surf with maximum impact. The actual
movie that's being documented throughout this video bit the dust via a
hard-drive malfunction, so this is almost all that remains (so far) of
the doomed yet enjoyable venture." –G.K. CALORIE COTTAGE (2010, 10
minutes, video) "Encompassing both Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the
exploding New Year's Eve celebrations, this holiday video is chock full
of chicken and chatter befitting the season. Come join the merry mayhem
as young and old devour what's left of the old year to burp up the new
one!" –G.K. THE HAIRY HORROR (2009, 10 minutes, video) "A chance
encounter with a sober student reveals the mystery of a woodland wonder
that has left a mark on his youthful psyche just as it leaves huge
footprints on the forest floor. –G.K. MELLOW MAGIC (2009, 15 minutes,
video) "The viewer is whisked through a lovely cat-house, which also
includes a turtle along with the whiskered pets, and then is suddenly
immersed in the painted output of my old (yet still young and vibrant
looking) friend, Michelle Joyce. The artist's positive outlook, in
contrast to my up and down yo-yo swings, makes for a saucy finale of
simmering meatballs in this rosy colored stew of our own making." –G.K.
Total running time: ca. 95 minutes. Screening as part of KUCHAR BROTHERS
FESTIVAL
4/17
New York: Anthology Film Archives
http://www.anthologyfilmarchives.org/
5:30 pm, 32 Second Avenue
SECRETS OF THE SHADOW WORLD
by George Kuchar 1998-99, 140 minutes, video. As audacious as it is
rewarding, SECRETS OF THE SHADOW WORLD is one of George's true
masterpieces. It's rarely screened, so take advantage! "Centering on the
paranormal ideas of UFO author John Keel, this sprawling mini-series
spans the four corners of tolerance as it delves into mysteries
whispered about on national television and tacky talk-fests worldwide.
Not simply about little green or gray beings from other planets, this
video's endless delving into a rainbow display of people and places
tries to put the whole kit and caboodle into perspective. Proving that
it's not all a crock of crap but a cornucopia of corned beef and cabbage
plus a ton of other culinary concoctions, the secrets that you will
crack in this caloric overdose will split your trousers and expand both
buttocks and cosmic consciousness at the same time. And that time clocks
in at about two hours and twenty minutes. So prepare yourself for a
three-course feast of triple-scooped treats." –G.K. Screening as part of
KUCHAR BROTHERS FESTIVAL
4/17
San Francisco, California: Other Cinema
http://www.othercinema.com/
8:30 PM, 992 Valencia St.
OTHER CINEMA, 4/17: CUMP’S CALIFORNIA IS AN ISLAND + DENNING + BRAVOS +
Drawing on accounts of Conquistador Hernan Cortes' attempt to colonize
Baja California, 16th Century cartographies, and a romance/adventure
novel ripe with Amazons; this sneak-preview of (in person) Sarolta
Cump's 20-min. experimental doc investigates the fantasies, fears, and
fetishes of European explorers through a post-colonial queer lens, and
with a bawdy sense of humor to boot! ALSO here for intro and Q&A, Nara
Denning's Neurotique No. 6 is an 8-min. "neo silent film" of erotic
fantasy, rife with surreal imagery and dark humor. Denning combines the
influences of German Expressionism and avant-garde cinema to breathe new
life into the notion of the cine-poem. PLUS Former SF artiste and now
new faculty at UMich, Alexis Bravos' Argonaut, a 16mm biography of the
19th Century writer/explorer Eliza Farnham., in which a single event in
her life is oh-so-cinematically re-imagined. AND Martha Colburn's Wonder
Woman animation, Mike Kuchar's Paradise Gone, 3-D Venus Fly-Traps, and
Handsome Sam Green, segueing from a Sarah Jacobson clip into an
invitation to apply for the grant in her name, for emerging women
makers. Sangria! *$7.
4/17
San Francisco, California: San Francisco Cinematheque
http://www.sfcinematheque.org
1:00 pm, Victoria Theater, 2961 16th Street (Between Mission and Capp)
CROSSROADS: A FESTIVAL OF NEW AND REDISCOVERED FILM - PROGRAM 2
HAMMER! MAKING MOVIES OUT OF SEX AND LIFE. Barbara Hammer performance
and book release. Cinematheque presents an afternoon tribute to and an
illustrated lecture from Barbara Hammer on the occasion of the
publication "HAMMER! Making Movies Out of Sex and Life," the first book
by the influential filmmaker whose life and work have inspired a
generation of queer, feminist, and avant-garde artists and filmmakers.
The wild days of non-monogamy in the 1970s, the development of a queer
aesthetic in the 1980s, the fight for visibility during the culture wars
of the 1990s, her search for meaning as she contemplates mortality in
the past ten years–Hammer will guide us through these years with this
enlivened and engaging talk and performance. Co-sponsored by Frameline.
4/17
San Francisco, California: San Francisco Cinematheque
http://www.sfcinematheque.org
3:30 pm, Victoria Theater, 2961 16th Street (Between Mission and Capp)
CROSSROADS: A FESTIVAL OF NEW AND REDISCOVERED FILM - PROGRAM 3
SHORTS PROGRAM 1 - The first of three short film programs of new and
rediscovered works at Crossroads: Paul CLIPSON: "Chorus" (2009) 7 min.,
Shambhavi KAUL: "Scene 32" (2009) 6 min., Karl LEMIEUX: "Mamori" (2010)
8 min., Caryn CLINE: "In the Conservatory" (2010) 7 min., Krišs
SALMANIS: "Swelter" (2009) 9 min., Marcy SAUDE: "This Kind of Town" 5
min., Bryan BOYCE: "More is Always on the Way" (2010) 11 min. (excerpt),
Mark TOSCANO: "Finding the Horn" (2008) 4 min., Lewis KLAHR: "Wednesday
Morning Two A.M." (2009) 6 min., Vanessa WOODS: "The Chambered Nautilus"
(2010) 4 min., Guy MADDIN: "Night Mayor" (2010) 14 min., Frank
STAUFFACHER: "Zig Zag" (1948) 8 min. - Curated by Jonathan Marlow.
4/17
San Francisco, California: San Francisco Cinematheque
http://www.sfcinematheque.org
7:00 pm, Victoria Theater, 2961 16th Street (Between Mission and Capp)
CROSSROADS: A FESTIVAL OF NEW AND REDISCOVERED FILM - PROGRAM 4
IN THE JUNGLE: STEPHANIE BARBER PERFORMANCE - Stephanie Barber returns
to San Francisco for the West Coast debut of her piece, "In the Jungle,"
a multi-media performance piece with live musical accompaniment by Adam
Puls. "Part musical, part poetic lecture, part video transpiration
soaked performance, "In the Jungle," playfully and sorrowfully tells the
tale of an unreliable narrator in a self imposed exile... Thinking of
all the implications of fear and understanding...the way these two ideas
are constantly referenced, metaphorically, in the flora she set out to
study. Barber is again toying with the lines between literature and the
other mediums she uses as armatures upon which to construct her unique
experimental essays." (HT)
4/17
San Francisco, California: San Francisco Cinematheque
http://www.sfcinematheque.org
9:00 pm, Victoria Theater, 2961 16th Street (Between Mission and Capp)
CROSSROADS: A FESTIVAL OF NEW AND REDISCOVERED FILM - PROGRAM 5
KEN PAUL ROSENTHAL'S "CROOKED BEAUTY" - Ken Paul Rosenthal in person.
The world premiere of Ken Paul Rosenthal's long-awaited "Crooked
Beauty," a poetic documentary that explores positive and compassionate
models for transforming the experience of madness in our culture. "Birds
with perfectly symmetrical feathers cannot fly." — Ashley McNamara. An
artist/writer challenges Western stereotypes of madness by transforming
her experiences with psychiatric institutions and mood-altering
medications into innovative mental health activism and creative
expression. "Crooked Beauty" reshapes perspectives on the diagnosis and
treatment of mental illness by presenting madness as a tool of insight
and integration for individuals who openly struggle with their mental
health, and anyone who might feel "crazy" in today's chaotic world.
Ashley's poignant and revealing testimonials reach beyond the
stereotypes of mental health problems to suggest that extreme sadness
and sensitivity is not an illness, but a part of human experience to be
explored with creativity and compassion. Thematically progressive and
formally beautiful, "Crooked Beauty" establishes a common ground from
outside the mainstream through a story of personal transformation,
courage, and empowerment. Preceded by Ken Paul Rosenthal's short film
"Near Windows." Co-sponsored by the Icarus Project.
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SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 2010
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4/18
Los Angeles, California: Filmforum
http://www.lafilmforum.org/
7:30 pm, Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd. at Las Palmas
LOS ANGELES FILMFORUM PRESENTS STEPHANIE BARBER: LITTLE PRESENTS
Laden and light, with ideas and technology and analogy and analogue
essences, whimsical manipulations of time and text, suffused with the
emotional heft needed for these heart-wrenching, media mad times, the
works of Stephanie Barber are among the most unique and delightful being
produced these days. We've lucky to have her in Los Angeles for a night
of a West Coast jaunt from Baltimore. Don't miss this rare opportunity
to explore these films and converse with the artist about them… or let
them play in your dreams for the weeks to follow.
4/18
New York: Anthology Film Archives
http://www.anthologyfilmarchives.org/
4:00 pm, 32 Second Avenue
MIKE KUCHAR PROGRAM 1
WIDOW'S WEB (2003, 15 minutes, video) A verbal slugfest between mother
and daughter, money and love. HUSH-A-BYE-BABY (2005, 15 minutes, video)
Love comes in all shapes and sizes. PEEK-A-BOO (2007, 10 minutes, video)
…I see you. A MIDSUMMER'S NIGHTMARE (2008, 15 minutes, video) Things
crawl out of the woodwork in broad daylight. IDYLL (2008, 20 minutes,
video) …All spun on the web of a spider. THE TIGER (2009, 10 minutes,
video) A devoured heart is chewed up and spit out. Total running time:
ca. 90 minutes.
4/18
New York: Anthology Film Archives
http://www.anthologyfilmarchives.org/
6:00 pm, 32 Second Avenue
MIKE KUCHAR PROGRAM 2
EPHEMERAL SEIZURE (2009, 20 minutes, video) A new age trip splashed with
stained-glass colors. ZOOLOGY (2006, 20 minutes, video) Organic life
infests the mind. BEDEVILED (2009, 20 minutes, video) The ups and downs
of the human phoenix. SWAN SONG (2009, 20 minutes, video) A poem of
passion dressed in warm skin. Total running time: ca. 85 minutes.
Screening as part of KUCHAR BROTHERS FESTIVAL
4/18
New York: Anthology Film Archives
http://www.anthologyfilmarchives.org/
8:00 pm, 32 Second Avenue
SECRETS OF THE SHADOW WORLD
by George Kuchar 1998-99, 140 minutes, video. As audacious as it is
rewarding, SECRETS OF THE SHADOW WORLD is one of George's true
masterpieces. It's rarely screened, so take advantage! "Centering on the
paranormal ideas of UFO author John Keel, this sprawling mini-series
spans the four corners of tolerance as it delves into mysteries
whispered about on national television and tacky talk-fests worldwide.
Not simply about little green or gray beings from other planets, this
video's endless delving into a rainbow display of people and places
tries to put the whole kit and caboodle into perspective. Proving that
it's not all a crock of crap but a cornucopia of corned beef and cabbage
plus a ton of other culinary concoctions, the secrets that you will
crack in this caloric overdose will split your trousers and expand both
buttocks and cosmic consciousness at the same time. And that time clocks
in at about two hours and twenty minutes. So prepare yourself for a
three-course feast of triple-scooped treats." –G.K. Screening as part of
KUCHAR BROTHERS FESTIVAL
4/18
San Francisco, California: San Francisco Cinematheque
http://www.sfcinematheque.org
2:00 pm, Victoria Theater, 2961 16th Street (Between Mission and Capp)
CROSSROADS: A FESTIVAL OF NEW AND REDISCOVERED FILM - PROGRAM 6
SHORTS PROGRAM II - Curated by Steve Polta. The second of three short
film programs: Tsen—Chu HSU: "Cotton Sugar" (2009) 4 min., Eddie
KAMMERER: "The Bobsled, (1972) 4 min., Sylvia SCHEDELBAUER: "way fare"
(2009) 7 min., Katherin MCINNIS: "too close, too far" (2009) 15 min.,
Beverly D'ANGELO: "The Lonely Chicken Dream" (1954) 3 min., Vincent
GRENIER: "Straight Lines" (2009) 5 min., Robbie LAND: "Floridaland"
(2010) 5 min., Mary Helena CLARK: "Sound Over Water" (2009) 5 min.,
Philip WIDMAN: "Destination Finale" (2008) 10 min., Linda SCOBIE: "Road
Not Taken" (2009) 6 min., Christopher HARRIS: "28.IV.81 (Bedouin Spark)"
(2009) 3 min. Roger DEUTSCH: here and there (2008) 15 min.
4/18
San Francisco, California: San Francisco Cinematheque
http://www.sfcinematheque.org
4:30 pm, Victoria Theater, 2961 16th Street (Between Mission and Capp)
CROSSROADS: A FESTIVAL OF NEW AND REDISCOVERED FILM - PROGRAM 7
SHORTS PROGRAM III - Curated by Vanessa O'Neill. The final short film
program of the festival: Ann STEUERNAGEL: "Charades" (2009) 7min.,
Charles CHADWICK: "The Circle to Vanish" (2009) 7.5 min., Coleen
FITZGIBBON: "FM/TRCS" (1974) 11min., Jennifer REEVES: "Trains are for
Dreaming" (2009) 7 min., Michael WALSH: "Ascent" (2009) 23 min., Barbara
STERNBERG: "Once" (2007) 4.5 min., Barbara STERNBERG: "Time Being"
(2007), 8 min., Peter ROSE: "Journey to Q'xtlan" (2009), 7.5 min.
4/18
San Francisco, California: San Francisco Cinematheque
http://www.sfcinematheque.org
8:00 pm, Victoria Theater, 2961 16th Street (Between Mission and Capp)
CROSSROADS: A FESTIVAL OF NEW AND REDISCOVERED FILM - PROGRAM 8
"SLEEP FURIOUSLY" - We conclude the First Annual Report of Crossroads
with the West Coast premiere of Gideon Koppel's remarkable "Sleep
Furiously" (which received its U.S. premiere at the Telluride Film
Festival). "Set in a small farming community in mid Wales, a place where
Koppel's parents - both refugees - found a home. This is a landscape and
population that is changing rapidly as small scale agriculture is
disappearing and the generation who inhabited a pre-mechanised world is
dying out. Koppel leads us on a poetic and profound journey into a world
of endings and beginnings; a world of stuffed owls, sheep and fire."
(Anon) - Preceded by Ben Rivers' most recent short "I Know Where I'm
Going." "What would be left of human action, human traces, human
constructions, human buildings and wider ripple effects of humans after
that length of time...assuming, that humans disappear in the
geologically near future." A fragmented road trip through Britain on the
peripheries. Down empty roads, off in the wilderness, a few lone
stragglers. My first stop geologist Jan Zalasiewicz, talking about the
Earth in One-hundred millions years time. - BR
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For info on FrameWorks, contact Pip Chodorov at <email suppressed>.