I’ve been making 16mm durational urban landscape voiceover films, slowly but surely, since the late ‘90s. My short film Blue Diary premiered at the Berlinale in 1998. My two features, The Joy of Life (2005) and The Royal Road (2015) both premiered in the prestigious New Frontiers section at the Sundance Film Festival and have been as wildly successful as experimental films can be. Which is to say, they remain fairly obscure. My small but enthusiastic fan-base frequently asks me for recommendations of films that are similar to my own in terms of incorporating durational landscapes and voiceover and a meditative pace. While it is certainly one of the smallest subgenres in the realm of filmmaking, here are a handful of excellent landscape cinema examples by the practitioners I know best. I confess that my expertise here is limited and hope that the learned Mubi community will chime in with additions in the comments field below.
- 10/11/2016
- MUBI
The mighty and all-powerful Chicago Underground Film Festival has done the absolute unthinkable: Reached their 20th year of operation! How many underground festivals have accomplished that feat? None, until now! Well, “now” being March 6-10 at the fest’s new location: The Logan Theatre.
Obviously, there are a lot of people who have worked with the fest over the years to help make it last for exactly two fantastic decades, but, truly, there is one special person who has to be specially lauded for his tireless dedication to the advancement of underground film and its makers. Especially because Cuff hasn’t just been around for 20 years: It’s been fucking awesome for 20 years.
That person, of course, is Artistic Director Bryan Wendorf, who has been with the fest for the very first edition to it’s most recent, mind-blowing one. Year after year, Wendorf has guided Cuff into defining, challenging,...
Obviously, there are a lot of people who have worked with the fest over the years to help make it last for exactly two fantastic decades, but, truly, there is one special person who has to be specially lauded for his tireless dedication to the advancement of underground film and its makers. Especially because Cuff hasn’t just been around for 20 years: It’s been fucking awesome for 20 years.
That person, of course, is Artistic Director Bryan Wendorf, who has been with the fest for the very first edition to it’s most recent, mind-blowing one. Year after year, Wendorf has guided Cuff into defining, challenging,...
- 2/13/2013
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The 7th annual Wndx Festival of Moving Image, in addition to the fest’s usually fantastic lineup of new experimental film and video, is presenting a virtual smorgasbord of special events. So, be on the look out for them as they completely take over the city of Winnipeg on Sept. 26-30.
The fun kicks off on Sept. 26 with the debut of “Situated Cinema,” a roving microcinema created by Thomas Evans and Craig Rodmore that will screen at different venues throughout the entire festival. The opening night will take place at Raw Gallery and feature five films curated by Solomon Nagler that will connect viewers with their environment. The filmmakers presenting work at this unique screening experience are Heidi Phillips, Alexandre Larose, Caroline Monnet, Izabella Pruska-Oldenhof and Alex MacKenzie.
Another fantastic multi-part special event at Wndx will be hosted by underground film historian Jack Sargeant, the world’s foremost authority on Beat Cinema.
The fun kicks off on Sept. 26 with the debut of “Situated Cinema,” a roving microcinema created by Thomas Evans and Craig Rodmore that will screen at different venues throughout the entire festival. The opening night will take place at Raw Gallery and feature five films curated by Solomon Nagler that will connect viewers with their environment. The filmmakers presenting work at this unique screening experience are Heidi Phillips, Alexandre Larose, Caroline Monnet, Izabella Pruska-Oldenhof and Alex MacKenzie.
Another fantastic multi-part special event at Wndx will be hosted by underground film historian Jack Sargeant, the world’s foremost authority on Beat Cinema.
- 9/24/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Having been around for eighteen years, the Chicago Underground Film Festival has continually changed what it defines as “underground.”
So its 19th annual edition, which will be held on May 31 to June 7 at the Gene Siskel Film Center, feels like its most experimental edition in recent years.
While things kick off on the 31st with the Vice-produced anthology film The Fourth Dimension by Alexsei Fedorchenko, Harmony Korine and Jan Kwiecinski, the rest of the fest is packed with feature-length and short experimental work, documentaries and alternative narratives.
Some of the experimental feature highlights include the vastly prolific Robert Todd‘s Master Plan, which examines theories of modern housing from private residences to prisons; Australia’s two-person art collective Soda_Jerk’s epic rip on media piracy, Hollywood Burn; Michael Kosakowski’s compendium on murder fantasies, Zero Killing; L.A. filmmaker Daniel Martinico’s meditation on the acting process, Ok, Good...
So its 19th annual edition, which will be held on May 31 to June 7 at the Gene Siskel Film Center, feels like its most experimental edition in recent years.
While things kick off on the 31st with the Vice-produced anthology film The Fourth Dimension by Alexsei Fedorchenko, Harmony Korine and Jan Kwiecinski, the rest of the fest is packed with feature-length and short experimental work, documentaries and alternative narratives.
Some of the experimental feature highlights include the vastly prolific Robert Todd‘s Master Plan, which examines theories of modern housing from private residences to prisons; Australia’s two-person art collective Soda_Jerk’s epic rip on media piracy, Hollywood Burn; Michael Kosakowski’s compendium on murder fantasies, Zero Killing; L.A. filmmaker Daniel Martinico’s meditation on the acting process, Ok, Good...
- 5/8/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The 14th annual Revelation Perth International Film Festival is, once again, packed to the gills with worldwide wonderful, weird and revelatory filmmaking. The fest runs this year on July 14-24.
The highlight of the festival is the once-in-a-lifetime live performance of Gravity Was Everywhere Back Then, which will be performed on July 17 at 7:15 p.m. American animator Brent Green will be traveling Down Under to provide the live musical score and narration for his emotional, live-action animated tale about undying love and creation. He will also be accompanied by band mates and foley artists, Mike McGinley, John Swartz, Donna K and Drew Henkles.
Some other films to look out for at the fest will be the Australian premiere of Zach Clark‘s terminally twisted Vacation!, a black comedy about four girls on a debauched weekend of drinking and drugging that ends horribly for all involved; Marie Losier’s acclaimed...
The highlight of the festival is the once-in-a-lifetime live performance of Gravity Was Everywhere Back Then, which will be performed on July 17 at 7:15 p.m. American animator Brent Green will be traveling Down Under to provide the live musical score and narration for his emotional, live-action animated tale about undying love and creation. He will also be accompanied by band mates and foley artists, Mike McGinley, John Swartz, Donna K and Drew Henkles.
Some other films to look out for at the fest will be the Australian premiere of Zach Clark‘s terminally twisted Vacation!, a black comedy about four girls on a debauched weekend of drinking and drugging that ends horribly for all involved; Marie Losier’s acclaimed...
- 6/17/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The 2011 Milwaukee Underground Film Festival, which was held back on May 6-8, gave out awards to four deserving filmmakers and also gave Honorable Mentions to six filmmakers.
The three-day experimental and avant-garde short film festival is a student-run event organized by students of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Screenings took place both on campus and at the Walker’s Point Center for the Arts.
Jurors for this year’s edition were University of Florida film professor Roger Beebe; experimental filmmaker Lori Felker; and local curator Nicholas Frank.
Congratulations to the Uwm students who put on another amazing show this year. (The full lineup is here.) And special congrats to the festival winners, all of whom received $100. Here is the full list of winners:
Top Prize Winners (each receiving $100)
Tokyo-Ebisu, dir. Tomonari Nishikawa (5 min, 16mm, 2010; Binghamton, NY)
In Between, dir. Mike Stoltz (4.5 min, 16mm, 2006; Providence, Ri)
Aliki, dir. Richard Wiebe (5 min, video,...
The three-day experimental and avant-garde short film festival is a student-run event organized by students of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Screenings took place both on campus and at the Walker’s Point Center for the Arts.
Jurors for this year’s edition were University of Florida film professor Roger Beebe; experimental filmmaker Lori Felker; and local curator Nicholas Frank.
Congratulations to the Uwm students who put on another amazing show this year. (The full lineup is here.) And special congrats to the festival winners, all of whom received $100. Here is the full list of winners:
Top Prize Winners (each receiving $100)
Tokyo-Ebisu, dir. Tomonari Nishikawa (5 min, 16mm, 2010; Binghamton, NY)
In Between, dir. Mike Stoltz (4.5 min, 16mm, 2006; Providence, Ri)
Aliki, dir. Richard Wiebe (5 min, video,...
- 5/18/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Every year, the student-run Milwaukee Underground Film Festival shows off a collection of world-class experimental and avant-garde films, screening work from some of today’s most acclaimed filmmakers. This year’s stellar event will take place on May 6-8 and will screen at several venues, including Uwm’s Union Theatre, the Walker’s Point Center for the Arts and Uwm/Psoa Kenilworth Square East.
Included in the lineup, which is printed in full below, are two films by prolific experimental animator Jodie Mack, Unsubscribe #1: Special Offer Inside and Unsubscribe #4: The Saddest Song in the World; Kerry Laitala‘s eye-popping ChromaDepth experiment Afterimage: A Flicker of Life (Version 2); Self Improvement by Clint Enns, one of Canada’s finest filmmakers; Zachary Epcar‘s haunting architecture study, A Time Shared Unlimited; and Steve Cossman‘s Jive.
Serving on this year’s jury are film professor at the University of Florida, Roger Beebe...
Included in the lineup, which is printed in full below, are two films by prolific experimental animator Jodie Mack, Unsubscribe #1: Special Offer Inside and Unsubscribe #4: The Saddest Song in the World; Kerry Laitala‘s eye-popping ChromaDepth experiment Afterimage: A Flicker of Life (Version 2); Self Improvement by Clint Enns, one of Canada’s finest filmmakers; Zachary Epcar‘s haunting architecture study, A Time Shared Unlimited; and Steve Cossman‘s Jive.
Serving on this year’s jury are film professor at the University of Florida, Roger Beebe...
- 5/3/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
It’s lucky 13 for the Boston Underground Film Festival as they celebrate their raucous 13th annual edition this year. Opening with the much buzzed about bloody feature film Hobo With a Shotgun starring Rutger Hauer and directed by Jason Eisener, the fest then barrels on for eight wild nights and days from March 24-31.
While there’s plenty of underground goodness from the U.S.A., this year Buff feels like it’s a much more international affair with several sick features from around the globe. There’s gory horror and quirky black comedy from Japan in the guise of Yoshihiro Nishimura’s Helldriver and Sion Sono’s Cold Fish; the Argentinian freak-out Phase7 by Nicolas Goldbart; David Blyth’s Wound is a psychological thriller from New Zealand; and Mark Hartley’s Machete Maidens Unleashed! is a look at Philippine exploitation cinema from the ’70s.
Stateside there’s Usama Alshaibi‘s Profane,...
While there’s plenty of underground goodness from the U.S.A., this year Buff feels like it’s a much more international affair with several sick features from around the globe. There’s gory horror and quirky black comedy from Japan in the guise of Yoshihiro Nishimura’s Helldriver and Sion Sono’s Cold Fish; the Argentinian freak-out Phase7 by Nicolas Goldbart; David Blyth’s Wound is a psychological thriller from New Zealand; and Mark Hartley’s Machete Maidens Unleashed! is a look at Philippine exploitation cinema from the ’70s.
Stateside there’s Usama Alshaibi‘s Profane,...
- 3/10/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The 39th annual Festival du Nouveau Cinema is set to run in Montreal on Oct 13-24. But, within the overall, massive festival is the Fnc Lab, the avant-garde and experimental section that will be having screenings and live film performances every night on Oct. 14-22.
This year, the Fnc Lab is showcasing two retrospectives; plus, a short film program of strictly 16mm films, films from the Korean Jeonju Digital Project, four feature-length projects and several special one-of-a-kind performances.
The retrospectives are of two key American women experimental filmmakers. First, in conjunction with the Double Negative Collective, the fest presents a career overview of Chick Strand, the eminent ethnographic filmmaker who sadly passed away last year at the age of 77.
Then, there’s also a retrospective of playful avant-garde filmmaker Marie Losier, who is well known for her collaborations with and film portraits of key underground figures like George Kuchar, Tony Conrad and Genesis P-Orridge.
This year, the Fnc Lab is showcasing two retrospectives; plus, a short film program of strictly 16mm films, films from the Korean Jeonju Digital Project, four feature-length projects and several special one-of-a-kind performances.
The retrospectives are of two key American women experimental filmmakers. First, in conjunction with the Double Negative Collective, the fest presents a career overview of Chick Strand, the eminent ethnographic filmmaker who sadly passed away last year at the age of 77.
Then, there’s also a retrospective of playful avant-garde filmmaker Marie Losier, who is well known for her collaborations with and film portraits of key underground figures like George Kuchar, Tony Conrad and Genesis P-Orridge.
- 10/6/2010
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Chicago – The winners of the 17th Chicago Underground Film Festival were announced, with the short film winners awarded on June 27th, and the feature-length winners revealed on July 2nd.
The festival kicked off on June 24th, and included two world premieres, five Midwest premieres and four Chicago premieres. The Audience Award went to local favorite “Scrappers,” from documentarians Ben Kolk, Brian Ashby and Courtney Prokopas. Winners received handmade art pieces constructed by Chicago artist Luke Breckon.
Frankie Latina’s ‘Modus Operandi’ won the Honorable Mention at the 17th Chicago Underground Film Festival
Photo credit: Frankie Latina Motion Pictures
This year’s Cuff jury included media exhibition coordinator Ross Nugent, filmmaker Spencer Parsons and the Assistant Director of Video Data Bank, Brigid Reagan. Here are the complete lists of winners:
Chicago Underground Film Festival: Feature Film Competition Winners
Best Documentary Feature: “Scrappers” by Ben Kolak, Brian Ashby and Courtney Prokopas
Best...
The festival kicked off on June 24th, and included two world premieres, five Midwest premieres and four Chicago premieres. The Audience Award went to local favorite “Scrappers,” from documentarians Ben Kolk, Brian Ashby and Courtney Prokopas. Winners received handmade art pieces constructed by Chicago artist Luke Breckon.
Frankie Latina’s ‘Modus Operandi’ won the Honorable Mention at the 17th Chicago Underground Film Festival
Photo credit: Frankie Latina Motion Pictures
This year’s Cuff jury included media exhibition coordinator Ross Nugent, filmmaker Spencer Parsons and the Assistant Director of Video Data Bank, Brigid Reagan. Here are the complete lists of winners:
Chicago Underground Film Festival: Feature Film Competition Winners
Best Documentary Feature: “Scrappers” by Ben Kolak, Brian Ashby and Courtney Prokopas
Best...
- 7/8/2010
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Update: Cuff has announced their feature award winners. Congrats to everyone!
Best Documentary Feature
Scrappers, dir. Ben Kolak, Brian Ashby, and Courtney Prokopas
Best Narrative Feature
Stay the Same Never Change, dir. Laurel Nakadate
Honorable Mention
Modus Operandi, dir. Frankie Latina
The 17th annual Chicago Underground Film Festival wraps up on July 1, but they’ve already announced their award winners. Although, as of right now, they’re still determining the Best Narrative Feature and Best Documentary Feature winners, but all the rest of the winners are listed below. I’ll update this post when the last two awards are announced.
And the winners are:
Made in Chicago Award
Fantasy Suite, dir. Kent Lambert
Best Animation
Everybody, dir. Steve Reinke and Jesse Mott
Best Experimental Film
L’Internationale, dir. Marianna Milhorat
Best Documentary Short
Sincerity: The Character of Ronald Reagan, dir. Chris Royalty
Best Narrative Short
Home Movie, dir. Braden King
Audience Award
Scrappers,...
Best Documentary Feature
Scrappers, dir. Ben Kolak, Brian Ashby, and Courtney Prokopas
Best Narrative Feature
Stay the Same Never Change, dir. Laurel Nakadate
Honorable Mention
Modus Operandi, dir. Frankie Latina
The 17th annual Chicago Underground Film Festival wraps up on July 1, but they’ve already announced their award winners. Although, as of right now, they’re still determining the Best Narrative Feature and Best Documentary Feature winners, but all the rest of the winners are listed below. I’ll update this post when the last two awards are announced.
And the winners are:
Made in Chicago Award
Fantasy Suite, dir. Kent Lambert
Best Animation
Everybody, dir. Steve Reinke and Jesse Mott
Best Experimental Film
L’Internationale, dir. Marianna Milhorat
Best Documentary Short
Sincerity: The Character of Ronald Reagan, dir. Chris Royalty
Best Narrative Short
Home Movie, dir. Braden King
Audience Award
Scrappers,...
- 6/30/2010
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The Chicago Underground Film Festival is always a special occasion, but the 17th edition of this venerable institution, which runs on June 24 – July 1, is a little bit extra special. This year, Cuff will be honoring the lifelong underground film champion Jonas Mekas with their Lifetime Achievement Award!
Mekas will be in attendance at the festival at will appear at several screenings in his honor. On the 25th, there will be a screening of the new documentary Visionaries: Jonas Mekas and the (Mostly) American Avant-Garde, at which director Chuck Workman, Mekas and underground film historian Fred Camper will participate in a Q&A. Then, on the 26th, several of Mekas’ own films will screen and he’ll be presented with his award.
As for the rest of the fest, Cuff usually has some sort of unifying theme, at least as far as the features go. It’s not typically a stated theme,...
Mekas will be in attendance at the festival at will appear at several screenings in his honor. On the 25th, there will be a screening of the new documentary Visionaries: Jonas Mekas and the (Mostly) American Avant-Garde, at which director Chuck Workman, Mekas and underground film historian Fred Camper will participate in a Q&A. Then, on the 26th, several of Mekas’ own films will screen and he’ll be presented with his award.
As for the rest of the fest, Cuff usually has some sort of unifying theme, at least as far as the features go. It’s not typically a stated theme,...
- 6/3/2010
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
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