Double Play: James Benning and Richard Linklater

In 1985, former oil rig worker Richard Linklater began a film screening society in Austin, Texas, that aimed to show classic art-house and experimental films to a budding community of cinephiles. Eventually incorporating as a nonprofit, the newly branded Austin Film Society raised enough money to fly in their first out-of-town filmmaker: James Benning. Accepting the invitation, Benning met Linklater and the two began to develop a personal and intellectual bond, leading to many future encounters. Starting in the 1960s, Benning had been creating low budget films mostly on his own, while Linklater had just begun to craft his first shorts. The filmmakers have remained close even as their careers have diverged. After the cult success of Slacker, Linklater went on to make films with Hollywood support. Benning, meanwhile, has stayed close to his roots and is mainly an unknown figure in mainstream film culture.

The Peasants

A historical revolutionary film depicting the struggle of peasants and the Baku proletariat against landowners and Musavatists in 1919.

Skin of a Mandarin

The film delicately follows 25-year-old Anna, whose mother has died suddenly. She wants to send her Orthodox mother on her last journey according to customs, but she runs into bureaucratic rules that do not allow Anna to dress her departed mother herself. This conflict brings her together with Maria, a 45-year-old funeral home worker, who in this story represents the hidden fears of death and grief on a deep emotional level.

El Asesino del Zodiaco

Dharmaveer 2

Explores Anand Dighe's life, tracing his political journey and capturing the essence of his impactful legacy as a prominent figure.

Das Leben ist ein Bauernhof

6 weeks before her 18th birthday Katharina inherits her mothers farm with all it's problems. At the funeral she meets her two uncles, which she never met before, but turn out to be very helpful.

Ken at Abel

Director: Karlo Montero (as Carlo Montero) Writer: Jigs Recto (screenplay) Stars: Norris John, Sofia Lee, Winston De Dios

Views on Trial

The demonic Nicholas Diabolus is put on trial accused of interfering with people's lives.

The Lottery of Happiness

Mr Lucas, a grocer, wants to attract the clientele; he imagines a lottery; every week, you can win a bike. It's a big success.

Fault

Past grudges, fresh injuries, bad serves and death threaten the weekly tennis match of four lifelong friends.

Four Jacks

Four guys plot revenge on the businessman who ripped them off.

As a Boy Dreams

A cabin-boy gets to take center stage during a riotous adventure story involving mutineers and pirates and buried treasure.

Devil's Island

After Italian capitulation in WW2, German forces are rushing to take control of the Dalmatian coast, forcing thousands of people to take refuge. One partisan boat, filled with refugees, tries to reach a safe area, but because of a storm it must stop near a small island. While the crew tries to repair it, a German gunboat comes from nearby.

Homecoming

A man babysits his girlfriends kid, and after a short while screams come from her room. Apparently she believes there's a monster under her bed.

Girl

Ever since the 2011 revolution in Egypt, dozens of women have come forward about their experience with sexual harassment on the streets. Since then, a number of individuals and organizations have begun to monitor and help combat the situation. In this short film, Sondos Shabayek offers an animated reflection on how she believes Cairo society perceives women. In her signature style, Sondos uses a variety of characters and expressions to light-heartedly explore this serious issue. The audience is taken on a girl's experience of walking down a street – simultaneously sharing her journey and her responses.

1001 Frames

In the studio of a well-known director, female actors audition for the role of Scheherazade in “A Thousand and One Nights”. But the women gradually realise that the director has more in mind than just casting the leading role.

Don Juan Tenorio

Don Juan Tenorio makes a bet with a friend as to which of them will commit more outrages in a year. He wins, killing twirty-two men and seducing seventy-two women. In the end, however, he is saved from damnation through a return to true belief and the love of a saintly woman, Doña Inés.

Assemblage

A feature length film from acclaimed dance choreographer Merce Cunningham.