Two years after it’s completion, Darwin’s Nightmare has finally hit screens in Tanzania. The film depicts the downward spiral that began with the introduction on a non-native fish species into Tanzania’s Lake Victoria, linking that event to ecosystem devastation, poverty, the spread of AIDS, and weapon trafficking. The Tanzanian government is depicted as complicit in the film, and it comes as no…

in addition to all of the films that Sound Unseen brings every year, they always manage to throw some pretty incredible events as well. This year is no exception. The Sound Unseen Dance Party should prove to an unparalelled spectacle. Aaron, our trusty projectionist, and Brett, our stalwart in Visitor Services, are both involved in the production of Hardland/Heartland Lazerbeak/BlackGamut. I can’t tell…

Here’s another sneak preview for September. Hou Hsiao-Hsien’s Three Times was my favorite offering at last Year’s Toronto Film Festival, and we are very excited to present the film in Minnesota for the first time. If you have seen Hou’s previous work projected on film, you have a sense of the extreme beauty and emotion he can convey with a single frame of film. Three Times is no exception. The…

While in New York last week I finally had the opportunity to visit Anthology Film Archives (AFA), and their archivist Andrew Lampert, who I’ve connected with on several projects at the Walker over the past year. Anthology is very well-regarded for their Essential Cinema program, their ongoing presentation of works by the masters of avant-garde and experimental film. On the night I happened to stop in…

We caught the Cameron Jamie show last night at Symphony Space in NYC. He was presenting Jo along with the now complete trilogy of Kranky Klaus/Spook House/BB in conjunction with the Whitney Biennial. Jo came first with a live soundtrack from Keiji Haino. It was just Keiji, his guitar, and four amplifiers. The performance was captivating, making it difficult to focus on the film on the screen. After a…

Last night, Li Zhenhua presented The Wave, a program of new experimental film and video from China. Unfortunately, very little of this work ever gets seen outside of China, and even more rarely in the US. Thus, last night presented a fantastic opportunity to see some really innovative material. Did you miss it? Normally, I would have to say touch luck, but the Open-Ended exhibition is presenting…

That line leads off Ed Halter’s Review of Jem Cohen’s Chain in the Village Voice. I think that sentiment accurately echoes one of the films more personal points. Chain feels especially poignant for me, living here in the Twin Cities metro, amongst some of the most widespread urban sprawl I have seen. (not to mention theoriginal shopping mall) Through Jem’s poetic and beautiful imagery, Chain paints an…

Ang Lee won Best Achievement in Directing at the Academy Awards last night for his work on Brokeback Mountain. His acceptance speech acknowledged the Brokeback characters, Ennis and Jack, who “taught all of us…so much about not just all the gay men and women whose love is denied by society, but just as important, the greatness of love itself.” To glean an insight into Lee’s career, check out the…

I first heard about the artist Vladimir and her Vladmaster shows through accounts from the Portland Documentary and Experimental (PDX) Film Festival. I was instantly intrigued. Like many kids, I had a viewmaster toy growing up, and loved the thought of them being repurposed, customized, and used in a public setting. Later, I came across online video highlights from last year’s PDX festival and got a…