Special Programs coming to the 58th AAFF
Production Shot From Set of "Sweet Bananas" Image courtesy of Ariel Dougherty
The Ann Arbor Film Festival is known for bringing the best of the best in terms of contemporary experimental film, but did you know we also work with curators from around the world to present “special programs” that highlight important historical and culturally relevant films and filmmakers each year? We are very excited to once again have a line-up that brings historical, geographic, and topical perspectives to the 58th festival. Each of these programs are rare to find in any other context so be sure to check them out! You can read more about each below.
Animation artist Martha Colburn will be the Penny Stamps Distinguished Speaker on Thursday, March 26 at 5:10 pm in the Michigan Theater's main auditorium. Disquiet American: The Animated Collage Films of Martha Colburn will play on Friday, March 27 at 7:30 pm.
Two films created by co-founders of Women Make Movies, a non-profit organization that established a community media workshop for women, will be shown on Wednesday, March 25 at 7:30 pm. Sweet Bananas directed by Ariel Dougherty, and The Women’s Happy Time Commune directed by Sheila Paige. A program of films created by members of Women Make Movies, Women Make Movies workshop films: Community Women at Women Make Movies Tell Universal Cinematic Stories, will be shown on Saturday, March 28 at 3:30 pm.
Screendance is a selection of work that celebrates the global proliferation of dance on camera and will be shown on Sunday, March 26 at 12 pm in the Michigan Theater's main auditorium. Unseen Migrations is also focused on dance as well as exploring new definitions of experimental film, writing, movement, and performance. It will be on Sunday, March 29 at 2 pm in the Michigan Theater's main auditorium.
Welcome to Commie High, directed by former AAFF Executive Director, Donald Harrison explores Ann Arbor’s own Community High School. It will be shown on Saturday, March 28 at 5 pm in the Michigan Theater's main auditorium. Trees of Heaven: an underground educational film, also directed by Donald Harrison, will be shown the same day at 1 pm in the Michigan Theater's main auditorium.
Imaging the Avant-Garde: Taiwan's Film Experiments of the 1960s will be shown on Saturday, March 28 at 7:30 pm. It explores the relatively unknown experimental film scene in Taiwan. There will also be a panel discussion, Cross Talk: Taiwanese and Mainland Chinese Art Films and Documentaries, at North Quad Space 2435 on Friday, March 27 at 3 pm as part of the AAFF Off the Screen! program. Seven panelists from Taiwan and Mainland China discuss their life experience as well as are social political and cultural variations.
