The Video Association of Dallas announced the first films chosen to screen during the 27th edition of the Dallas VideoFest from October 8-19, 2014. Overall, approximately 175 videos including narrative and documentary features, shorts, animation, and experimental videos will be screened during the expanded 12-day Festival.This year’s films will run the gamut from documentaries about the simplicity of expressive dance to the absurd history of theme songs for professional wrestlers. VideoFest will also showcase student Academy Awards winners: Helen Hood Scheer (APOTHECARY) and J. Christian Jensen (WHITE EARTH).
First Selected Dallas VideoFest Films
1971 (USA)
The FBI was unaccountable and untouchable until 1971, when a group of ordinary citizens uncovered its illegal domestic spying programs. Forty-three years later, these everyday Americans publicly reveal themselves for the first time and share their story in the documentary: 1971. Director: Johanna Hamilton
50 YEARS (USA)
This short documentary explores The Civil Rights movement of the 1960s and its place in the narrative of America. Made on behalf of The Department of Education, the documentary features footage and interviews with original members of The Freedom Rides during a celebratory day of events, held in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the enactment of The Civil Rights Act of 1964. Filmmaker in attendance. Director: Christian VasquezA FILM IS A FILM IS A FILM (USA)
As celluloid film slowly disappears from her workplace, the director, a movie projectionist herself, begins to investigate what makes the material special. Director: Eva von Schweinitz
ABOVE AND BEYOND (USA/Israel)
In 1948, a group of World War II pilots, mostly from America, volunteered to fight for Israel in the War of Independence. As members of “Machal”—volunteers from abroad—this ragtag band of brothers not only turned the tide of the war, preventing the possible annihilation of Israel at the very moment of its birth; they also laid the groundwork for the Israeli Air Force. Filmmaker in attendance; producer Nancy Spielberg via Skype. Co-presented by 3 Stars Jewish Cinema. Director: Roberta Grossman Watch the Trailer
ACTRESS (USA)
Brandy Burre had a recurring role on HBO’s “The Wire” when she gave up her career to start a family. When she decides to reclaim her life as an actor, the domestic world, she’s carefully created, crumbles around her. Using elements of melodrama and cinema verité, ACTRESS is both a present tense portrait of a dying relationship and an exploration of a complicated woman, performing the role of herself, in a complex-yet-familiar story. It’s a film about starring in the movie that IS your life. This is what happens when we break the rules. Filmmaker in attendance. Director: Robert Greene
BACK TO BADSTREET (USA)
BACK ON BADSTREET is all about the creation of the first theme song that has become the norm in the Professional Wrestling world. Told through the eyes of the people who witnessed it and with never-before-seen footage, BACK ON BADSTREET is a documentary celebrating the 30th anniversary of the song, “Badstreet USA,” and the people that made it happen. Filmmaker in attendance. Director: Keith Alcorn
BEYOND CLUELESS (UK)
Beyond Clueless is a dizzying journey into the mind, body and soul of the teen movie, as seen through the eyes of more than 200 modern teen classics. Metta Media Award Winner. Director: Charlie Lyne Watch the Trailer
BEYOND THE WALL (USA/Argentina)
People around the world go to the walls, painting their stories to give voice to life experiences. BEYOND THE WALL brings their stories to life. Filmmaker in attendance. Director: Gayle Embrey
COTTON ROAD (USA/China)
COTTON ROAD follows the commodity of cotton from farm to factory, across industrial landscapes, to illuminate the human experiences within a global supply chain. Director: Laura Kissel
MIMI AND DONA (USA)
A 92-year-old mother, Mimi, must part ways with her 64-year-old daughter, Dona, who has an intellectual disability and has lived at home her entire life. Filmmaker in attendance. Co-presented by 3 Stars Jewish Cinema. Director: Sophie Sartain
About Mimi and Dona | Watch the Trailer
About Mimi and Dona | Watch the Trailer
REGARDING SUSAN SONTAG (USA)
Regarding Susan Sontag, is an intimate and nuanced investigation into the life of one of the most influential and provocative thinkers of the 20th Century. Director: Nancy D. Kates Watch the TrailerTHE STARFISH THROWERS (USA/India)
Worlds apart, a five-star chef, a twelve year-old girl, and a retired schoolteacher discover how their individual efforts to feed the poor ignite a movement in the fight against hunger. Director: Jesse Roesler
THE WILD YEARS (Spain/Ethiopia)
Three kids in the streets of a city in Africa. A mafia-like gang. Fights. The smallest kid kills his stepmother. The kids flee; the journey begins. Maybe the wild years will not come back. Director: Ventura Durall
About The Wild Years | Watch the Trailer
THIS MAY BE THE LAST TIME (USA)
A heartfelt journey of award-winning filmmaker Sterlin Harjo as he interweaves the tale of a mysterious death in 1962 with the rich history of the powerful hymns that have united Native American communities in times of worship, joy, tragedy, and hope. Co-presented by UTA’s Native American Student Association. Director: Sterlin Harjo
About This May Be the Last Time | Watch the Trailer
WAGING PEACE: THE PEACE CORPS EXPERIENCE (USA)
The Peace Corps Experience, a documentary film by Allen Mondell, weaves the letters written by Volunteers with the profiles of former Volunteers whose work today shows the enduring impact of their experiences. Filmmaker in attendance. Director: Allen Mondell Watch the Trailer
VideoFest 27 presented by the Video Association of Dallas
October 8 — Hitchcock’s THE LODGER opening night with Dallas Chamber Symphony
Dallas City Performance Hall
October 9 – 12
Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas Richardson
Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas Richardson
October 13 — Native American community screening with Native American Student Association
University of Texas at Arlington
Fine Art Building
October 14 and 15 — African American community screening
South Dallas Cultural Center
October 16 – 19 —
Angelika Film Center, Mockingbird Station
For information on parking, please visit: http://videofest.org/dallas-videofest-parking-information/ PASSES and TICKETS: Available onlineOpening Night tickets: $19-$59$19 – Regular Admission$34 – Preferred Seating$59 – VIP Tickets with After Party Access to meet the composer and members of the orchestraOpening Night tickets available onlineAll-Festival Pass: $250 (includes VIP Opening Night Tickets)Student Passes: $150 (with Student ID), Weekend Passes: $50Day Passes: Saturday or Sunday: $25Individual tickets: $8/regular programs, Spotlight showcases will vary. Seniors and students tickets: $6/regular programs
About Dallas VideoFest 27
VideoFest officially opens at Dallas City Performance Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 8. For the first time ever, the festival will be in three locations throughout the 10-day long run from Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Richardson, Friday Oct.9-12th, Oct. 13th, University of Texas at Arlington, Oct 15th, South Dallas Cultural Center and wrapping up at the Angelika Theater, Friday, Oct. 16th-19th.
VideoFest (VideoFest.org) is now the oldest and largest video festival in the United States and continues to garner critical and popular acclaim. VideoFest prides itself on bringing films to the theater that are rarely available to be seen anywhere else. Films like Experimental/Art Films, Animation, Narrative and Documentary Shorts as well as Documentary and Narrative Features and some hard-to-find Classic TV episodes and Classic Films are often in the mix.
History of VideoFest: Cutting-Edge Art
Merging art and technology since 1987, VideoFest has specialized in independent, alternative, and non-commercial media, presenting hard-to-find works rarely seen on television, in movie theaters, or elsewhere, despite their artistic excellence and cultural and social relevance. Even in a Web 4.0 environment where everything is seemingly available on the Internet, the VideoFest provides curatorial guidance, a critical voice in the wilderness navigating the vast and diverse landscape of media, helping to interpret its cultural and artistic significance. The event provides a communal environment for real-time, face-to-face dialogue between makers and audiences.
ABOUT VIDEO ASSOCIATION OF DALLAS
The mission of the Video Association is to promote an understanding of video as a creative medium and cultural force in our society, and to support and advance the work of Texas artists working in video and the electronic arts. The Video Association of Dallas (VAD) is a 501(c)(3) organization incorporated on April 25, 1989. It began in 1986 as a weekend event, “Video As A Creative Medium”, presented at the Dallas Museum of Art by independent curators Barton Weiss and John Held. That first event, which included two nights of video by selected local and national video artists, was a great popular success, which led to the founding of the Dallas Video Festival (DVF) in 1987. Video Association of Dallas also presents the 24 Hour Video Race, the Texas Show Tour, North Texas College Film Festival, Texas Fllmmakers Production Fund workshops, Three Star Cinema, and other programs throughout the year.