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East
3rd Street, between Avenues A and B (closer to A) * New York City Inside
the Pioneer (blog) |
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JULY 2006
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Sex, Art, and Psychology ROOM (dir. Kyle Henry, 80 mins, 2005) Weds
June 28 7pm - buy tix IFP and Joseph Campbell Foundation members get member rate tickets Thurs
June 29 9pm - buy tix IFP and Joseph Campbell Foundation members get member rate tickets Fri
June 30 9pm - buy tix |
Cannes Film Festival, Director's Fortnight "Superbly directed and acted!" "Deeply compelling!"
A selection at Cannes (Director's Fortnight) and Sundance in 2005, ROOM is the disturbing, surreal story of an overworked Texas woman who cracks under the economic and psychological pressure of supporting her family. Julia (Cyndi Williams, in a stunning, gutsy performance) is barely making ends meet by working at the Paradise Bingo Hall in Houston when she begins having visions of a stark, bleak, mysterious industrial room, accompanied by intense headaches and disturbing blackouts. After waking up from a minor car accident, she robs her employer, abandons her family, grabs a plane, and arrives on the streets of New York City in search of the room itself, haunted by psychic visions that continue to drive her to extreme acts. Austin-based filmmaker Kyle Henry's first fiction feature, ROOM is a dismal portrait of George Bush's America that evokes the bleak vibe of Todd Haynes' SAFE and the splintered surrealism of FIGHT CLUB. Executive produced by Jim McKay (OUR SONG, EVERYDAY PEOPLE, ANGEL) and musician Michael Stipe. ROOM was nominated for two 2006 Independent Spirit Awards, for Best Lead Actress (Cyndi Williams) and the John Cassavetes Award. Executive Produced by Jim McKay (OUR SONG, EVERYDAY PEOPLE, ANGEL) and Michael Stipe (REM) of C-Hundred Film Corp. Produced by The 7th Floor (MANITO, BLACKBALLED: THE BOBBY DUKES STORY, TWENTYNINE PALMS, CRY FUNNY HAPPY). |
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Chicago City Limits First Sundays Comedy Films First Sundays Sun
July 2 7pm - buy tix filmmakers & special guests will attend! This is a Sunday Shorts program. Early evenings on many Sundays, the Pioneer presents programs of short films. |
Part stand-up comedy act, part film festival, part party, First Sundays is a monthly festival featuring the best in short comedy films from around the world. Each screening features new films, audience and judges awards, and an after party sponsored by Stella Artois. Hosted by the illustrious Jay Stern and Victor Varnado. |
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UNCLE SAM (dir. William Lustig, 89 mins, 1997) Screening Mr. Lustig's personal 35mm print Mon July 3 7pm - buy tix This is a "Bizarro Monday" program. Every Monday at 7pm the Pioneer presents the finest (and trashiest) in horror, sci-fi, freakshow, exploitation, martial arts, genre, b-movies, z-movies, and just plain weird stuff. |
I want YOU - Dead! Celebrate July 4th - a day early - with Uncle Sam on a murderous rampage Director William Lustig in person! Deceased Desert Storm hero Sam Harper returns from the dead to wreak vengeance on hometown residents harboring anti-American sentiment, callously slaying dissenters. Depending on how you look at it, this zealous undead soldier is either America's ultimate patriotic crusader, or a maniacal, jingoistic stars-and-stripes-clad vigilante. |
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FINAL REWARD (writ. & dir. Rachid Kerdouche, 72 mins, black and white, 1979) Tues July 4 7pm - buy tix This is a Tuesdays@7 program, generously sponsored by Magic Hat. Every Tuesday at 7pm features special guests presenting their film, and is followed by a beer and pizza reception for ticket holders. |
featuring Richard Hell, Cookie Mueller, Bill Rice, John Sex, Donna Death, Ruddy Laurent, Izzy, Geoffrey Carey, John Heyes, Terry Toye, Marie d'Anthony, Robin Harvey, Paris Rave Music by Richard Sohl (from the Patti Smith Group) A bunch of petty thieves decide to go back to do a last job to "feel alive" again. But once the job is done all they "feel" is death. FINAL REWARD - a cult movie in England, shown at the Cinémathèque Française - was shot in three weekends at the end of the 70's, and has not been seen in the US since the early 80's. Rachid Kerdouche in person! |
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HUBERT SELBY JR: IT/LL BE BETTER TOMORROW (dir. Michael W. Dean and Kenneth Shiffrin, 79 mins, 2005) Weds
July 5 7pm - buy tix
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"A
compelling crash course in the life and work of a seminal American
writer, HUBERT SELBY JR: IT/LL BE BETTER TOMORROW gives an impressive
cross-section of talking heads a sharply edited forum in which to
celebrate a talent whose prose and persona continue to reverberate
worldwide... " Featuring: Lou Reed, Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Darren Aronofsky, Uli Edel, Nicolas Winding Refn, Henry Rollins, Jerry Stahl, Richard Price, Nick Tosches, Amiri Baraka, Gilbert Sorrentino, Anthony Kiedis, James Remar, Michael Silverblatt, James Ragan and others Narrated by Robert Downey, Jr. "[Hubert
Selby, Jr. is] a major American author of a stature with William
Burroughs and Joseph Heller." HUBERT SELBY JR: IT/LL BE BETTER TOMORROW, directed by Michael W. Dean and Kenneth Shiffrin, edited by Ryan Brown, executive produced by Suzanne Selby and narrated by Robert Downey Jr., is a harrowing and engaging exploration into the life and art of the renowned author Hubert Selby Jr., who against all odds, reached international acclaim with his controversial novels. Overcoming tuberculosis, drug addiction and financial ruin, Selby eventually triumphed in his life. His novel LAST EXIT TO BROOKLYN banned upon release in England went on to become a major motion picture and to gain the literary respect it demanded. REQUIEM FOR A DREAM another of Selby's works made into a major film stunned audiences around the world. Selby's canon of work represents seven of the most remarkable and distinctly American books ever written. The feature length documentary is a fascinating look at the writer who described himself as "a scream looking for a mouth," by those who knew him best. Archival footage and new interviews from the legion of artists and friends that shared his passion for literature and love of life, drive this insightful film. Sharing their love, appreciation and insight are Lou Reed, Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Darren Aronofsky, Uli Edel, Nicolas Winding Refn, Henry Rollins, Jerry Stahl, Richard Price, Nick Tosches, Amiri Baraka, Gilbert Sorrentino, Anthony Kiedis, James Remar, Michael Silverblatt, James Ragan and others. It also features rare footage of Selby himself reflecting on his life and work. Music by Imperial Crowns, Martyn LeNoble, Steve Munger and others. |
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URBANSCAPES Weds July
5 9pm - buy
tix
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"URBANSCAPES is a fascinating documentary that
chronicles the dramatically changing topography of urban America.
Beautifully photographed, the film's compelling characters let the
viewer witness an America one could never imagine existed in the 21st
Century." "URBASCAPES is a stunning outcry of the dramatic rise
and fall of American cities. The film shows how metropolises can grow
old and die faster than human beings." "A true epiphany of contemporary America, this film is
especially poignant for me as someone who uses filmmaking to explore
the forgotten corners of our society. Will surely have a long and
valuable life!" URBANSCAPES is an intimate portrait of the margins of urban America, a fresco of its forgotten corners whose voice has remained unheard for decades. The film takes place in four different cities, Chicago, Detroit, New York and Newark, and features a total of 6 different characters who have witnessed the dramatic transformation of their neighborhoods. The documentary opens as the personal obsession of a solitary photographer, Camilo J. Vergara, who has kept track of the fate of American cities for over 30 years. Soon, through the eyes of residents and artists who have witnessed the dramatic transformation of their neighborhoods, the film reveals the urban landscape of today: its chaos, its offbeat beauty, its repulsive and seductive details. The film follows Vergara and others who have chronicled the city's changes on their spiritual journeys through their cities. |
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(dir. Michael Neel, 74 mins, 2006) Fri
July 7 11pm - buy tix
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"A paragon of guerrilla resourcefulness and a model
citizen of the global village, CAVITE is a more anxious and vivid
experience than most movies with budgets literally a thousand times
bigger." "One of those blistering no-budget thrillers, like OPEN
WATER or DETOUR,, in which the film's economy of means is the trigger
for its ingenuity." "Terrorism and cultural identity are only two of the
themes wound into a tight knot of fear and bewilderment in CAVITE, a
gripping no-budget political thriller." A gritty, low-budget thriller, CAVITE takes us on a heart-pounding ride through the seedy Filipino underworld. In the town of Cavite, Philippines, people will do just about anything to survive. This is the harsh reality for many Filipinos living in a poverty stricken nation. Adam, an American citizen visiting his home country for his father's funeral, soon realizes this when he arrives at the Philippines Airport and receives a phone call from an anonymous caller letting him know that his mother and sister have been kidnapped and will be killed if he doesn't comply with his demands. Helpless and alone in a country he barely knows he must submit himself to the fanatic's every wish or face the consequences. Soon Adam realizes that the caller on the other end is with the country's most infamous bandits, the Abu Sayyaf, a Muslim terrorist group fighting the Philippine government for Muslims to own the southern part of the country. Known for their kidnap and ransom and beheading of their victims if demands aren't met, he is at the caller's mercy. But when he finds out the caller's real motivation Adam finds himself in a dilemma to sacrifice the ones he loves or commit a horrendous act that will cost the lives of many. |
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(dir. Michael Neel, 74 mins, 2006) Sat July 8 6:45pm - buy tix |
"A sweet, wrenching, and heartfelt documentary
studying humanity and aging". "Portrays
a wide array of real seniors facing the real issues of aging." How does someone define aging? Is your age in your body or in your mind? What is the future of aging in America? GROWING OLD is a film that addresses these questions through conversations with elders, baby boomers, and people in health care. These slices of life focus on how people embrace the wonders of aging and deal with its challenges as well. |
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Pioneer Late Nights presents A special advance
screening Sat July 8 11pm - buy tix Fan
* ta * sia - Function:
noun * Date: 1724 A.D. Montreal's legendary Fantasia International Film Festival is North America's largest fantasy / horror film event and one of the most influential fantastic film festivals in the world, selling over 70 00 tickets each summer. It is where Hideo Nakata's RINGU was introduced to the West, where Jaume (DARKNESS) Balaguero first screened THE NAMELESS to an English speaking audience, where Nacho (AFTERMATH) Cerda attained worldwide fandom infamy and was the first festival in North America to show a film by Takashi (AUDITION, ICHI THE KILLER) Miike. Since its inception in 1996, Fantasia has been hugely supportive of short films, with their most recent installment showcasing over 100 of them. Hand-picked by Fantasia's Mitch Davis, SMALL GAUGE TRAUMA is an extraordinary collection of 13 award-winning shorts from 8 countries (screening here will be 11 of these selections, for a total running time of nearly 2 hours). It represents some of the strongest and most eccentric highlights from the festival's trailblazing history with the form and is a veritable must-have for lovers of the unusual, aficionados of the fantastic and anyone with an interest in world cinema. www.synapse-films.com * www.fantasiafestival.com ABUELITOS
(Grandfathers) Amor
só de Mãe (Love From Mother Only) CHAMBRE
JAUNE (Yellow Room) FLAT
- N - FLUFFY I'LL
SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS INFINI
(Infinity) MISS
GREENY THE
SEPARATION SISTER
LULU TEA
BREAK |
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Sunday Shorts Sun July 9 6:30pm - buy tix |
The Falcon Film Fiesta is a non-competive forum in which independent filmmakers have the opportunity to screen their short films before a capacity crowd in a New York City movie theatre. Our focus being the works of New York based ethnic, female, and foreign filmmakers. |
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Fangoria presents FEED (dir. Brett Leonard, 98 mins, 2005) Screening from professional quality digital video Mon July 10 6:30pm - buy tix This is a "Bizarro Monday" program. Every Monday at 7pm the Pioneer presents the finest (and trashiest) in horror, sci-fi, freakshow, exploitation, martial arts, genre, b-movies, z-movies, and just plain weird stuff. |
"Stomach-churning - serves up a horrendous climax that will have ‘em hurling in the aisles." - TOTAL FILM "A vile and gory horror flick that put us right off our Peperami. Top Notch." - FRONT "One of the most thought provoking and original thrillers you'll see in 2006." - DAILY SPORT "Comes on like SILENCE OF THE LAMBS." - TIME OUT "A one-of-a-kind psychological thriller with one of
the more revolting premises to come down the genre pike in recent
years." the gross-out film to end them all requires a strong stomach Philip Jackson is an Australian Interpol Investigator. In an attempt to reduce Internet-supported crime, he surfs the web seeking illegal material. What he finds is sicker than he could've imagined—FeederX.com, a site run by a man named Michael Carter who has a twisted love for obesity. He feeds consenting women (in this case, a woman named Deidre) excessive amounts of food in bed, tracking their measurements and vital signs as they grow bigger and bigger- and bigger still! Jackson believes Carter is a killer, feeding women to death for the sake of fetish. His mission to stop these activities immerses him in the twisted, dark underbelly of Internet perversity and takes the audience with him—whether they like it or not! |
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(dir. Rico Speight, 77 mins, 2005) Tues
July 11 5pm - buy
tix This is a Tuesdays@7 program, generously sponsored by Magic Hat. Every Tuesday at 7pm features special guests presenting their film, and is followed by a beer and pizza reception for ticket holders.
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"The universal order of
human affairs is at the dawn of profound change - globalization has
come to mean different things to different people, WHERE ARE THEY NOW
is a welcomed work that helps us understand our global
interdependency…it is a wonderful work." "Honest, direct, and hard-hitting, WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
ought to be mandatory viewing for anyone interested in contemporary
black youth culture globally. One cannot possibly see this film
and not be moved." WHERE ARE THEY NOW?, a new documentary feature on African American and Black South African ‘twentysomethings,' reframes the social and political identities of hip-hop generation WHERE ARE THEY NOW? re-visits the parallel lives of the sixteen remarkable young people first introduced during South Africa's historic transition from apartheid to democracy in the documentary WHO'S GONNA TAKE THE WEIGHT?, which presented poignant portrayals of African American and Black South African sixteen to nineteen year olds, comparing their lives and views and presenting their unique perspectives on South Africa's new democracy. WHERE ARE THEY NOW?, the new stand-alone sequel, spotlights a range of touchy topics, from race to class, to electoral politics, to ebonics and pimp culture, to the issue of opportunities for young people of color in the era of global capitalism. As in the first installment, music is an integral element of the film's style and substance. The conscious rhymes of hip hop MC Talib Kweli filmed live during his 2001 South Africa tour, provide a musical motif for the sequel. WHERE ARE THEY NOW? also introduces to US audiences, the new South African phenomenon of Kwaito, the authentic street music of township youth, which has been referred to as the South African equivalent of hip-hop. WHERE ARE THEY NOW? looks behind the headlines to highlight the critical issues at home and abroad from a unique young adult perspective. In its entirety, WHERE ARE THEY NOW? goes to the core of popular youth culture, uncovering the volatile mix of music, fashion, political apathy, social awareness and risk taking behavior encompassed in the lives of young people everywhere. Edgy and urban, the spunky sequel integrates the sensibility of twentysomethings into a visual tapestry of South African and African American young people speaking forcefully to the issues of their times. |
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(dir. Larry Kamerman, 82 mins, 2005) Thurs July 13 7pm - buy tix |
the hardest thing to change is your mind Noam (Tzahi Moskovitz), a struggling Israeli filmmaker and illegal immigrant, finds himself in a battle of loyalties on the final day of his sister's (Liat Glick) turbulent visit to Noam's basement home in Manhattan. This gripping, experimental drama chronicles a day in which the past Noam has tried to run away from and the future he hopes to have collide, triggering a poignant, resonant impact that makes him question his perceptions of both. |
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THE COLOR OF OLIVES (dir. Carolina Rivas, 97 mins, 2006) Weds July
12 9pm - buy
tix |
From Mexican director Carolina Rivas and cinematographer Daoud Sarhandi comes this elegant and visually breathtaking new film about the Palestinian experience. The Amer family lives surrounded by the infamous West Bank Wall, where their daily lives are dominated by electrified fences, locked gates, and a constant swarm of armed soldiers. This unique and intimate documentary shares their private world, allowing a glimpse of the constant struggles and the small, endearing details that sustain them. THE COLOR OF OLIVES is an artistic and beautifully affecting reflection on the effects of racial segregation, the meaning of borders and the absurdity of war.
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Female
Film MISSING IN AMERICA (dir. Gabrielle Savage Dockterman, 102 mins, 2005) Sat July 15 6:30pm - buy tix
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Plagued with guilt over lives lost under his command in Vietnam, Jake Neeley (Danny Glover) lives alone in a remote cabin in the Pacific Northwest. His only brushes with society are picking up supplies from widowed storekeeper Kate (Linda Hamilton), Jake's isolation ends when an old army buddy Henry (David Strathairn) arrives on his doorstep with his young half Vietnamese daughter, Lenny (Zoë Weizenbaum). Henry, dying of lung cancer, slips away in the night, leaving his daughter behind. Jake has no choice but to look after the girl. She persuades him to reach out to other vet living in the deep woods. One is Red (Ron Perlman), a mute, disturbed man who lost half his face to a grenade tossed by a little Vietnamese girl. Lenny becomes a catalyst for healing for these forgotten vets, and for Kate, who faces her own demons. |
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Female Film LEMORA: (aka Lemora, Lady Dracula) (dir. Richard Blackburn, 113 mins, 1975) Sat July 15 11pm - buy tix |
"This
cult chestnut is more intelligent, scary, humorous and effective than
hyped recent genre efforts by Coppola, Jordan and Carpenter." A young girl who returns to her hometown to see her dying father is drawn into a web of vampirism and witchcraft. uncut version on superb 35mm print! |
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Female
Film SCENE NOT HEARD REFLECTIONS ON WOMEN OF COLOR AND HIP HOP JUST SAY IT: A REVOLUTION IN THE MAKING Sun July 16 7pm - buy tix
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Scene Not Heard: Reflections on Women of Color and Hip Hop: A Student
Documentary Just Say It: A Revolution in the Making |
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Female
Film Bizarro
Monday! ALL IS NORMAL (dir. Todd G. Bieber and Juliana Brafa, 89 mins, 2006) Mon July 17 7pm - buy tix This is a "Bizarro Monday" program. Every Monday at 7pm the Pioneer presents the finest (and trashiest) in horror, sci-fi, freakshow, exploitation, martial arts, genre, b-movies, z-movies, and just plain weird stuff. |
Sometimes silence is the most frightening sound Janet (co-director Juliana Brafa) is a college drop-out who finds herself in a disturbing mixture of isolation, confusion, and murder when she takes a job as a house-sitter in an Appalachian mountain home to escape from her sadistic boyfriend. featuring Linda Blair (THE EXORCIST) |
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The
eighth annual |
For eight years, Chicks with Flicks has forged its way as a premier film festival by showcasing a diverse, and cutting edge collection of films made by women. One of the goals of Chicks with Flicks is to bring to the forefront the alternative, creative and fiercely independent way that women put their stories on film. Chicks with Flicks is supported by funds administered by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council/New York State Council of the Arts, and sponsored by Eastman Kodak Film, Kits and Expendables and the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers. We have awarded $1500 worth of prizes in the following categories: grand prize, best actor, best actress, best cinematography, best editing, and honorable mention. |
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Chicks with Flicks Tues
July 18 7pm - buy tix |
Tuesday July 18 at 7pm Little Spirits, 8
min. 30 sec., directed by Cecelia Condit Trimmy, 5 min.,
directed by Paula Gleeson Soaked, 9 min. 11
sec., directed by Stephanie Daniels Beauty Rides a
Lion, Recollections of a Hollywood Starlet Nemoc, 8 min. 27
sec., directed by Tess Nanavati Heroes, 8 min. 57 sec., directed by Julia Reynolds
Crossing, 18 min.,
directed by Riad Galayini |
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Weds July 19 7pm - buy tix |
Wednesday July 19 at 7pm Puerto Rican Squirrels, 13min. 41 sec., directed by
Jenna Friedenberg Evidence of an Existence, 12 min. 40 sec., directed by
Lacy Wittman Dessert's On Me, 4
min. 53 sec., directed by Alex Coe Judith, 13 min. 39
sec., directed by Caroline Bâcle 3:52, 11 min. 30
sec., directed by Shawna Baca Rumble, 7 min.,
directed by Devora Rogers OCDB, 10 min. 20
sec., directed by Angela Burris Firefighter, 20
min., directed by Vanessa Ruane |
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Female Film MAD COWGIRL
(dir. Gregory Hatanaka, 89 mins, 2006) Weds July 19 9pm
- buy
tix
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"A truly unusual kind of chaos even vegans can
appreciate." "MAD COWGIRL is just messed up enough to secure its
fate as a cult favorite." A woman who is dying of a brain disorder, and her surreal journey which descends into violence; or perhaps, it's about a woman who hates her job, and the men in her life, so she is driven to kill the Ten Tigers From Kwangtung. "Outre tale of a nymphomaniac meat inspector who
eventually goes on a murderous delusional rampage ticks off a checklist
of offenses -- incest, blasphemy, casting Star Trek's erstwhile 'Mr.
Chekhov' Walter Koenig as a dirty old man, et al. Yet it has the kind
of oddball conviction that separates a deserving cult flick from so
many aspiring ones." "A winner!" Sarah Lassez (NOWHERE, THE BLACKOUT, UNTIL THE NIGHT) delivers a star-making performance as Therese, an ass-kicking health inspector with a failed marriage, an on-going affair with a creepy televangelist, nymphomania, and an obsession with old kung-fu movies. Further complicating her life is a very questionable relationship with her brother Thierry (James Duval from THE DOOM GENERATION and DONNIE DARKO), a meat importer who may (or may not) have infected her with mad cow disease. MAD COWGIRL is practically impossible to describe, but it's a Narrative - Experimental - Art - Comedy - Horror - Tragedy - Kung Fu epic that features multiple languages, a little hardcore porn, a flying guillotine, the old ultraviolence and Walter Koenig (Cmdr. Pavel Chekov) as a slimy sex-addicted preacher. Great Scott! It could also be
described as a film about a woman who is dying of a brain disorder, and
her surreal journey which descends into violence; or perhaps, it's
about a woman who hates her job, and the men in her life, so she is
driven to kill the Ten Tigers From Kwangtung. "At a time when too many movies are strictly
connect-the-dots simple, MAD COWGIRL is a kick in the shins and a
scream in the ear to the enervated indie audience. Its experimentalism
recalls the glory days of Resnais and Godard and the groundbreaking
American underground icons who dared to ignore the conventional rules
of filmmaking in favor of shocking the senses with non-linear
storytelling, disturbing imagery, and a whirl of flashy style that also
contains a high degree of intellectual substance. It actually goes
beyond filmmaking into film provocation. MAD COWGIRL will force its
audience to think about, dissect and debate its content. It is the rare
film that stimulates the brain cells to wake up and flex. It is a
triumph of avant-garde cinema and a true work of cinematic art." |
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Cultural Thursdays MILK & OPIUM (dir. Joel Palombo, India, 2005, 83 mins, Color, 35mm) Thurs July 20 7pm - buy tix A Cultural Thursdays program. Thursdays at 7pm often feature programming presented with ethnic and cultural groups. |
The Third I New York group presents South Asian independent cinema ** Official Selection of the Berlin Film Festival (Kinderfilmfest) 2005** Gone are the days of the
Maharaja, who lavished his singers and instrumentalists with bountiful
gifts. When Swaroop accompanies his Uncle Nizam and two other musicians
on their travels, he learns that the journey of a traditional musician
in India is less fruitful than he had imagined. A talented young boy
from the small village of Keralia, Swaroop comes from generations of
musicians who played for the kings and rajputs. But now there are no
more kings, and the rajputs are broke. |
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Female Film NO! Fri July 21 6:30pm - buy tix
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Through intimate testimonies from Black women victim/survivors, commentaries from acclaimed African-American scholars and community leaders including Johnnetta B. Cole, Ulester Douglas, Farah Jasmine Griffin, Sulaiman Nuriddin, Beverly Guy-Sheftall, and Elaine Brown, impacting archival footage, spirited music, dance, and performance poetry, NO! unveils the reality of rape, other forms of sexual violence, and healing in African-American communities. Eleven years in the making this ground-breaking feature length documentary explores how the collective silence about acts of rape and other forms of sexual assault adversely affects African-Americans, while simultaneously encouraging dialogue to bring about healing and reconciliation between all men and women. Filmmaker Q&A after the film.
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Pioneer Late Nights FAT GIRL (dir. Catherine Breillat, 2001, 84 mins, 35mm) Fri July 21 11pm - buy tix
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"A strange, discomfiting and fascinating film about
the horrors of adolescence." "An absolute stunner." "As
fascinating as it is discomfiting and as intelligent as it is primal." Take two very naive, very
young French girls--one a thin 15-year-old, Elena (Roxane Mesquida),
and the other her fat 12-year-old sister, Anaïs (Anaïs
Reboux). Picture them as lambs. Add a manipulative older Italian boy,
Fernando (Libero De Rienzo). Picture him as the wolf. Witness from
close range as the one of the lambs (the thin one) is devoured by the
wolf as the other lamb (the fat one) watches in pain but does nothing.
The result is FAT GIRL, Catherine Breillat's intense, perplexing,
suffocating, grim, terrifying, sickening, dark, plotting depiction of
teenage loss of innocence. "Sinister" is what the Italian boy calls
what he does to the French girl. "Proof of love" is how the thin girl
justifies it. The fat girl, Anaïs, responds by sitting on the
beach in her new dress and letting the surf wash up on her as she
softly sings sad songs about boredom and death. Later, staring into the
mirror, alone together, eye to eye, cheek to cheek, unblinking, the fat
and thin sisters calmly share their most hateful feelings for each
other. But nothing prepares the viewer for the final blow of the film,
which sneaks up with a ferocity that pales the wolf-lamb scenario. Not
a pretty picture, Breillat's shockingly realistic work features a
fruity color scheme and an optimistic soundtrack that perfects the
film's intended confusion of mood and message. |
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Female Filmmaker, Female Programmer a panel discussion Sat July 22 5pm - free
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Filmmakers and film programmers often find themselves at odds. Filmmakers often think that programmers - like critics - don't appreciate the challenges and nuances of film production, and that film programmers assess films from an out of touch, Olympian point of view. Meanwhile, film programmers often think filmmakers don't appreciate their responsibilities to audiences, and to maintaining or developing taste and standards. But then there are the filmmakers who are also programmers. This panel features some remarkable women who have worked on both sides of the table. We expect to discuss topics including:
Panelists are some of the wonderful women featured during the Female Film program. They will include: Louise Fleming, Marie Losier, Nancy Schwartzman, and Yhane Washington. - Louise Fleming, Former Screening Series Dir/Co-Prez of CWNY is a staunch advocate for women independent filmmakers. Ms. Fleming curated programs of the work of women filmmakers at the Pioneer, Anthology Film Archives, The Rehoboth Int'l Film Festival. Most recently she was a judge for the 48Hour Film Festival/Best Of Atlanta Project. She co-founded Visionary Network, a group that in the 90s produced a popular screenplay reading series that showcased the works of writers of color and has directed several screenplay readings for the Harlem Screenwriters Workshop. She has also written a narrative short, "Askance;" on racial profiling in a post 9/11 environment. Currently she is at work on a documentary about the musician/bass player Bruce Woody. - Marie Losier is a filmmaker and curator working in New York City. She was born in 1972 in Boulogne, France. She has shown her films and videos at museums, galleries, biennial and festivals, including P.S.1, Tribeca Film Festival, Rotterdam International Film Festival, The Seoul Film Festival (Korea) , The Lausagne Film Festival (Swiss), Andrew Kreps Gallery, White Column Gallery, The Black Maria Film Festival, The Biennial of Saint Etienne (France), The York Underground Film Festival, Lake Placid Film Festival, Pleasure Dome (Toronto), Anthology Film Archives, Ocularis, British Film Institute (London), Au Grand Action (Paris) and many others. Since 2000, she has been the film programmer of a weekly film series at New York's French Institute / Alliance Française, where she has hosted many notable directors and artists, including Raoul Coutard, William Klein, Claire Denis, Isabelle Huppert, Chantal Akerman, Jane Birkin, Jeanne Moreau, Tavernier, and Anouk Aimée. She has also programmed experimental films at the Robert Beck Memorial Cinema in New York, Ocularis in Brooklyn, and many other venues across Europe and North America. - Nancy Schwartzman (director, BETWEEN US; past programmer for events at the Pioneer and elsewhere; Associate Program Director for Media Arts, Performing Arts, and Visual Arts at the National Foundation for Jewish Culture). - Yhane Washington (programmer, Chicks with Flicks) Moderated by Ray Privett, Programmer, Pioneer Theater |
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Female Film ROSITA THE ABORTION DIARIES Sat July 22 7pm - buy tix
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ROSITA THE ABORTION DIARIES |
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Female
Film FANTASY Sat July 22 11pm - buy tix
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Knospen
wollen explodieren "Exploding Buds" On
The Cliffs Sliding
Flora The
Black Plum Twitch |
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BETWEEN US (dir. Nancy Schwartzman) Sun July 23 5:30pm - buy tix Nancy Schwartzman in person
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"Blessed are those who come here..." The documentary 360 Degrees of Rape explores the intersection of sexual identity, religious culture and feminism. The filmmaker's personal experience of sexual assault while living in Israel is the point of departure for this examination of women's control of their bodies and command of public space. Themes the film explores are the subtleties of gender roles and sexual control by looking at body language and varying cultural codes. The film stimulates discussion and personal reflection by touching upon aspects of sex and sexuality that are not commonly discussed. The story is told with candor and immediacy giving the viewer intimate access to the subject. Nancy Schwartzman: "The film offers a rare glimpse into the experience of a survivor as I confront my demons and try to make sense of the world. The story is told through voice over narration, real-time documentary moments, lush views of the landscape and hidden camera footage. Through this in- depth look at my personal story, the film sheds light on a much larger problem of sexual violence and our society's double standard." Filmmaker and cultural worker Nancy Schwartzman's new film has received grants from the Lindberg Family Foundation, the Roy W. Dean foundation, and multiple individual donors. The film is currently in production and slated to be finished in June of 2006. Nancy also founded the non-profit, non-governmental educational website, NYC-Safestreets.org which creates maps to alerts pedestrians, especially women, to routes that will enhance their travel safety. NYC-Safestreets.org serves as a gateway to connect businesses, community activities and citizens who are working towards building safe communities. NYC-Safestreets has been featured in The New York Daily News, The New York Times and Gothamist. In addition, Nancy has curated numerous film events, including some at the Pioneer. |
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Female
Film I WAS A TEENAGE FEMINIST
HOW I LEARNED TO SPEAK TURKISH
BRINGING BACK VENEZUELA Sun July 23 7pm - buy tix |
I WAS A TEENAGE FEMINIST HOW I LEARNED TO SPEAK TURKISH BRINGING BACK VENEZUELA |
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LovecraCked! (dir. Elias, et al., 87 mins, 2006) 18
AND OVER ONLY. Mon July 24 7pm - buy tix This is a "Bizarro Monday" program. Every Monday at 7pm the Pioneer presents the finest (and trashiest) in horror, sci-fi, freakshow, exploitation, martial arts, genre, b-movies, z-movies, and just plain weird stuff. |
Weapon-wielding psychopaths, evil temptresses, creatures from beyond, forces of the unknown, zombie sex. . .and a journalist without a clue. "An
eclectic mix of terror and laughs." Featuring: Troma Entertainment president Lloyd Kaufman ("The Toxic Avenger"), Dan Payne ("Stargate SG1", "Smallville", "The Muppets' Wizard of Oz"), Chad Bernhard ("Tales From The Crapper", "The Dark Angel: Psycho Kickboxer"), Matt Renicks ("Pot Zombies"), Tom Wontner ("TrashHouse"), horror-porn queen Joanna Angel ("Xxxorcist") and many more! From BiFF JUGGERNAUT Productions- With tongue planted firmly in cheek, our story follows the exploits of a bumbling investigative journalist as he struggles to discover the truth behind enigmatic horror author H.P. Lovecraft. Along the way strange and macabre tales play out, pulling him deeper into the mysterious world of the writer. Will the journalist finally prevail or will he end up without a clue as usual? One thing's for sure: the truth is out there... he's just not entirely sure where. WATCH! The exploits of a very bad investigative journalist! WATCH! As he struggles to discover the truth behind Lovecraft and his mysterious past! WATCH! Hilarious and horrific tales! |
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Tuesday@7 Cinewomen NY presents Refracted Lens: Tues July 25 7pm - buy tix This is a Tuesdays@7 program, generously sponsored by Magic Hat. Every Tuesday at 7pm features special guests presenting their film, and is followed by a beer and pizza reception for ticket holders. |
a program of short films presented by the Cinewomen, NY filmmaker group
A woman
making music is a beautiful thing, but women making music videos are
all too rare. In light of the industry's overwhelming male status,
celebrating the accomplishments of women in the field becomes even
more urgent. Refracted Lens turns the spotlight on the women
behind the camera, often in collaboration with their colleagues -
or themselves - squarely in front of it. Capping
off the lineup is Deborah Schamoni's (Germany) 2005 short
film, "Visitors," featuring art-rockers extraordinaire and role
models for record label-owning aspirants everywhere, Chicks on
Speed, reimagined as aliens exploring New York City. Program detailsSadie Benning/Julie Ruin, "Aerobicide." (4:00, video, 1998) Birgit Rathsmann and Bruce Alcock/Solex, "Solex All Licketysplit." (2:26, DV, 1999) Gina Birch/The Raincoats, TBD. Julia Feyrer/They Shoot Horses Don't They, "Sunlight." (2:50. animation, 2006) Rosa Barba/Mouse on Mars, "Cache Coeur Naif." (3:30, 16mm projected as video, 1998) Rosa Barba/Microstoria, "Kontra." (3:00, Beta, 2000) Valerie Toumayan/The Organ, "Let the Bells Ring." (3:13, video, 2006) Meredith Danluck/Mu, "Paris Hilton." (4:10, video, 2005) Angie Reed, "Cosmo |
