Sound Unseen Film + Music Festival announces films for 25th Anniversary edition
The Sound Unseen Film + Music Festival (November 13-17 in Minneapolis, December 5-8 in Rochester, and December 12-14 in Austin) announced the film lineup for this year’s 25th Anniversary edition, presented by Pryes Brewing Company, of the groundbreaking film festival. The rare three-city presentation this year will not simply be a celebration of Sound Unseen’s impact on the world of music documentary filmmaking but will also mark the festival’s last in the current format, as Sound Unseen will take a festival hiatus beyond its monthly screening series and special one-off presentations for the next calendar year.
In Minneapolis, Chris Smith’s DEVO (Opening Night), Don Hardy’s Linda Perry: Let It Die Here (Closing Night), and Don McGlynn’s Spider John Koerner: Been Here…Done That (Tribute Screening), will be lead the impressive Sound Unseen lineup screening in three cities over two months in November and December.
Rochester will also feature Dana Flor’s 1-800-On-Her-Own, the second screening ever of Twin/Tone Records’ 7 Nights In The Entry (2007) and a special presentation of Robert Wiene’s classic German Expressionist film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) accompanied by a live music performance of the film’s score. Austin will highlight Paul Levantino’s Bastards of Soul, and J. Budro Partida’s Bloody & Bruised: The Untold Story Of The Back Room among its screenings
For their 25th year Sound Unseen is also making live music a much bigger priority than it has in the past. Grammy nominated Linda Perry anchors the music lineup with solo acoustic performances in both Minneapolis and Austin alongside screenings of her documentary, and a live performance by REVO will accompany the Opening Night presentation of DEVO. Highlights for Minneapolis include folk mainstay Charlie Parr playing before Spider John Koerner: Been Here…Done That, two nights with Bloodshot Records artist Lydia Loveless, a post Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted performance by Soul/R&B legend Swamp Dogg, and a closing night live show by Minneapolis glam trailblazer Venus Demars. The Rochester festival will feature an opening night party with punk heavyweights Rad Owl and Scrunchies along with a closing night party featuring surf rock trio Black Widows and country artist James Eugene Russell.
Sound Unseen’s Festival Director, Jim Brunzell, said, “Being that this is both Sound Unseen’s 25th Anniversary along with a planned break from organizing an annual festival, our entire programming team wanted to offer an eclectic mix of the best rock documentaries on the festival circuit and something completely different in our programming with a few special sidebars including Sounds Like WTF? (music films with Genre elements) and Land of 10,000 Sounds (featuring Minnesota based artists and films). This year’s lineup includes films from across the globe from top tier festivals including Sundance, Berlin, SXSW, Tribeca, Venice, TIFF and Edinburgh festivals and our short programs really capture this year’s overall vibe of artists and filmmakers taking risks in their storytelling. The bands we have scheduled to perform at our partnered music venue Cloudland, the panels we have planned, and all of the events that we have made a name for ourselves with film and music festivals in each of these three cities. It is an exciting and diverse program with documentaries, narrative films, shorts, music videos, returning alumni, and new discoveries - all designed to have a much beloved celebration and intermission.”
Headlining the screenings in Minneapolis are the Opening Night presentation of Chris Smith’s DEVO, an exploration of the band’s 50-year career and odyssey looking at the growth of their "de-evolution" from a cult following to near-rock star status featuring their groundbreaking 1980 hit "Whip It", all while preaching an urgent social commentary. Don Hardy’s Linda Perry: Let It Die Here focuses on Perry’s extensive influence far beyond “What’s Up” and her band 4 Non Blondes offering an intimate look at a vulnerable and courageous woman who dreams big but still struggles with the past and present, with fear, shame, identity, and the burdens of family. Hardy and Perry will both be on hand for a post -screening Q&A. A Special Tribute screening of Don McGlynn’s Spider John Koerner: Been Here...Done That will make for a prime-Minneapolis moment celebrating a stalwart in the local music scene, who also touched many familiar music icons along the way like The Kinks and David Bowie and Ian Anderson, The Doors, Bonnie Raitt, and more. McGlynn will attend the screening as well.
Highlighted films in Sound Unseen’s Rochester screenings include Dana Flor’s 1-800-On-Her-Own, about the brutally honest, famously foul-mouthed and totally hilarious musical force Ani DiFranco and how she became a worldwide phenomenon when she beat the male-dominated music industry at its own game by founding Righteous Babe Records, the first “woman-run non-corporate queer-happy” label, still going strong after nearly 35 years. Twin/Tone Records’ 7 Nights In The Entry (2007) is a film that was shown once before, at Sound Unseen in 2007, and likely won’t be seen for another 20 years. It captures bands like the Replacements and Hüsker Dü in their beginnings and offers a rare chance to relive being in the room when it was dirty and dangerous. Sound Unseen will also present a special screening of Robert Wiene’s classic German Expressionist film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) accompanied by a live music performance of the film’s score.
Additional films getting the spotlight in Austin will be Paul Levatino’s Bastards Of Soul offers a deep dive into the heart of an electrifying Texas band on the cusp of international recognition, providing an intimate behind-the-scenes look at frontman Chadwick Murray and the band's final recording sessions, their lives, and the electric energy they command on stage. J. Budro Partida’s Bloody & Bruised: The Untold Story Of The Back Room chronicles one of the most notoriously known (and often disregarded) music venues in Austin, Texas telling the story of the club through nearly 70 interviews with various musicians, former staff, journalists, and fans, and incorporates thousands of pieces of archive videos, photos, ticket stubs, flyers, and even highly stylized reenactments. Both Levatino and Partida will be in attendance to participate in post-screening Q&As.
Additional highlights in Minneapolis include Sander Maran’s Chainsaws Were Singing, an absolutely bonkers action-horror-musical-comedy B-movie epic from Estonia which was a fan favorite at the most recent Fantasia and Fantastic Fests. Director Kurt St. Thomas remake of the film noir D.O.A. starring legendary musician and actor John Doe (X) as a detective who, dying from a slow-acting poison, must bring his own killer to justice. The film is shot in black and white with a cast that includes Matt Pinfield and John Byner and John Doe will be in attendance to introduce the film and participate in a Q&A afterwards. Al X Gav’s M-80 is another rarely screened concert gem from Minneapolis (circa 1979) featuring performances by The Fleshtones, The Suicide Commanders, The Monochrome Set, Tuxedomoon, The Suburbs, Dark Day, James Chance and the Contortions, Judy Nylon, and a host of others – including rare footage of DEVO performing under the name ‘Dove’. Sound Unseen will also present a 100th Anniversary screening of Robert Wiene’s The Hands Of Orlac (1924) featuring a live performance of the score by Katie Condon.
The 2024 Sound Unseen Film Festival official selections:
SCREENING IN MINNEAPOLIS
OPENING NIGHT FILM
DEVO
Director: Chris Smith
Country: USA, UK; Running Time: 94 minutes
Explore Devo's 50-year career through never-before-seen archival and interviews with co-founders Mark Mothersbaugh and Jerry Casale. Born in response to the Kent State massacre, Devo took their concept of "de-evolution" from a cult following to near-rock star status with their groundbreaking 1980 hit "Whip It", all while preaching an urgent social commentary.
CLOSING NIGHT FILM
Linda Perry: Let It Die Here
Director: Don Hardy
Country: USA; Running Time: 93 minutes
As one of the most recognizable artists of the last 30 years, Linda Perry became an icon with her signature hat, attitude and chart-topping hit “What’s Up” with her band 4 Non Blondes. Since then, she has gone on to make a name for herself as a Grammy-nominated songwriter and producer, creating hits for artists such as Adele, Christina Aguilera, Brandi Carlisle, Miley Cyrus, Celine Dion, Ariana Grande, Alicia Keys, Dolly Parton, Pink and Gwen Stefani.
SPECIAL SCREENINGS
D.O.A.
Director: Kurt St. Thomas
Country: USA; Running Time: 82 minutes
Frank Bigelow is a private detective hired to follow the husband of a St. Augustine socialite. He has been poisoned and has only days to live. Can he solve the mystery, exact his revenge, and save his own soul before time runs out? Legendary musician and actor John Doe (X) stars in this reimagining of the classic noir tale of a detective who, dying from a slow-acting poison, must bring his own killer to justice.
Spider John Koerner: Been Here...Done That
Director: Don McGlynn
Country: USA; Running Time: 98 minutes
Spider John Koerner and his pals Dave Ray and Tony Glover, along with their coffee house friend Bob Dylan, were a primary inspiration to the music scene in Minneapolis in the early 1960s. Band members from The Beatles, and many musicians from the British Invasion like The Kinks and David Bowie and Ian Anderson, and on the West Coast The Doors, were fascinated with Koerner, Ray and Glover’s part wild style and part reverence toward the Blues tradition. Bonnie Raitt covered his songs and became a lifelong friend. And more recent musicians like Beck loved his music.
Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted Land of 10,000 Sounds
Directors: Isaac Gale, Ryan Olson
Country: USA; Running Time: 97 minutes
Hidden away in the suburbs of Los Angeles, legendary cult musician Swamp Dogg, along with housemates Moogstar and Guitar Shorty, have transformed their home into an artistic playground. Together, they navigate the tumultuous music industry, forging a unique and inspiring bond across time and space.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
1-800-On-Her-Own
Director: Dana Flor
Country: USA; Running Time: 79 minutes
1-800-ON-HER-OWN takes us on a wild cinematic road trip, from Ani DiFranco’s punk-folk past to her life today as she reinvents herself as a passionate activist and revered rock star. Throughout the ride, she’s brutally honest, famously foul-mouthed and totally hilarious. Her daily challenges resonate as we reveal both an enduring, inspiring musical icon and a very relatable contemporary “everywoman” with her own epic fails and hard-won victories.
7 Nights In The Entry Land of 10,000 Sounds
Director: Twin/Tone Records
Country: USA; Running Time: 70 minutes
For a week in September of 1981 Twin:Tone Records took over this recently started small stage at First Avenue, back before it was legendary, and did a show that helped start the legend. This film was only shown once before, for sound Unseen '07 and likely not to be screened again for 20 years, so this a rare chance to see it in movie theater gloriousness. This film captures bands like the Replacements and Hüsker Dü in their beginnings. A rare chance to relive being in the room when it was dirty and dangerous. The film also captures groups like Things That Fall Down, and the Hypstrz, that never found commercial success but had a massive impact on bands that did.
A Desert Sounds Like WTF?
Director: Joshua Erkman
Country: USA; Running Time: 103 minutes
A past his prime photographer heads out on a road trip across the American Southwest to recapture the magic and success of his previous work. Instead, he finds himself thrust into the dark and chaotic underbelly of America and unwittingly drags his wife and a shady private detective down into this nightmare world with him. Director Joshua Erkman’s feature debut A Desert is a special kind of genre hybrid, taking inherently dark narrative touchstones from noir cinema and darkening them even further with visceral horror featuring a hypnotic and pulsating score by indie-rocker Ty Segall and intense supporting role played by The Jesus Lizard's David Yow.
Art & Life: The Story Of Jim Phillips
Director: John Makens
Country: USA; Running Time: 90 minutes
A pioneer of graphic art, Jim Phillips, known for his bold and eye-popping imagery, has left an unforgettable mark on the world of rock posters, surf, and skateboard art. Drawing inspiration from his life in Santa Cruz, California, Jim's journey from publishing his first artwork in 1962 to becoming the art director for Santa Cruz Skateboards, shaped the golden era of skateboarding. Beneath the thriving success, however, lay the weight of high demands and built up tensions, leading to the closure of Phillips Studios. A resilient spirit, Jim bounces back by freelancing and reviving his rock poster art career, crafting cherished collectible posters for renowned musicians.
Born To Be Wild: The Story Of Steppenwolf
Director: Oliver Schwehm
Countries: Canada/Germany; Running Time: 88 minutes
Steppenwolf is one of the most iconic and enigmatic bands in the history of rock music. On the edge of mainstream and the psychedelic underground, their song “Born to Be Wild” opened the cult movie Easy Rider and became an anthem for an entire generation. Steppenwolf’s sound descended upon the 60’s music scene like a dagger in the heart of the summer of love: it is no coincidence that they were the very first band to use “Heavy Metal” in their lyrics.
Chainsaws Were Singing Sounds Like WTF?
Director: Sander Maran
Country: Estonia; Running Time: 117 minutes
Monty Python meets Texas Chainsaw Massacre meets... Les Misérables. Chainsaws Were Singing is an absolutely bonkers action-horror-musical-comedy B-movie epic from Estonia. Shot guerilla style in 2013, this true love letter to crowd-pleasing exploitation cinema then spent a modest 10 years in post-production and is finally out in 2024.
Decibel Sounds Like WTF?
Director: Zac Locke
Country: USA; Running Time: 80 minutes
Decibel follows Scout, a talented but struggling musician, who performs in a small, sparse club. Her unique looping performance catches the attention of Donna Alby, a wealthy and enigmatic former biotech entrepreneur turned record label owner. Donna invites Scout to record at her isolated, cutting-edge studio in the desert, promising her creative freedom and financial reward. Scout is intrigued and agrees, seeing this as a chance to elevate her music. However, upon arriving at Donna's high-tech, wirelessly integrated studio, Scout quickly realizes that Donna's intentions go beyond mere music production. The studio is more than it appears—its technology monitors and manipulates Scout’s biorhythms, and Donna pushes Scout to create under increasingly stressful and invasive conditions.
Fifty Years In Sixty Minutes: Films From The Bob Dylan Archive Land of 10,000 Sounds
Director: Various
Country: USA; Running Time: 60 minutes
Spanning decades and musical styles, this far-ranging one-hour program of short films and videos from the Bob Dylan Archive features rare and previously unreleased clips of Dylan on stage and in the studio. Selections include Dylan’s first film soundtrack for 1961’s “Autopsy on Operation Abolition;” a devastating solo rendition of “Ballad of Hollis Brown” from the 1963 TV special “Folk Songs and More Folk Songs;” a rollicking 1976 take on “I Pity the Poor Immigrant” with Joan Baez; a gospel-infused “Blowin’ in the Wind;” an apocalyptically rocking “When the Night Comes Falling from the Sky” with Dylan backed by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers; loving tributes to Johnny Cash and Tony Bennett; a glimpse into the Archive’s film restoration project with never-before-seen footage of “It’s All Over Now Baby Blue” from 1966; and many more treasures from the Archive.
Garland Jeffreys: The King Of In Between
Director: Claire Jeffreys
Country: USA; Running Time: 70 minutes
Hubris, anger, prejudice...doo-wop, reggae, rock...expectations, heartbreak, transformation... Garland Jeffreys: The King of In Between examines the fifty-year career of this genre-bending, biracial singer-songwriter. An enigmatic performer since his start in the Greenwich Village clubs, Jeffreys never reached the success predicted for him. The film asks why, and explores how his commitment to writing about race in America is more relevant now than ever.
Hello Dankness Sounds Like WTF?
Director: Soda Jerk
Country: Australia; Running Time: 70 minutes
Hello Dankness is a political fable that bears witness to the psychotropic spectacle of American politics from 2016 to 2021, and the mythologies and lore that took root around it. Taking form as a suburban stoner musical, the film follows a neighborhood through these years as consensus reality disintegrates into conspiracy and other contagions. What unfolds is a rogue retelling of history in which hotdogs debate the culture wars, trashcans preach QAnon, zombies rally for revolution, and real events are refashioned as Broadway bangers from Cats, Les Miserables, Annie, and The Phantom of the Opera.
It Was All A Dream
Director: dream hampton
Country: USA; Running Time: 80 minutes
The year is 1993 and hip-hop is primed for its eventual global takeover. Wu-Tang’s “Enter The Wu-Tang” and A Tribe Called Quest’s “Midnight Marauders” are released on the same day, Salt-N-Pepa’s fourth album “Very Necessary” pushes them into the mainstream while Doggystyle breaks into the Billboard 200 at number one, and all this is just the tip of the iceberg. Armed with a camera and a front-row seat is provocative music journalist dream hampton.
It's All Gonna Break
Director: Stephen Chung
Country: Canada; Running Time: 88 minutes
In the early 2000’s in Toronto, a group of young creative musicians collectively known as, Broken Social Scene, got together and soon became a worldwide phenomenon. Cinematographer and friend, Stephen Chung was there, behind the lens of his camera, capturing it all. Words were not his strong suit, but his camera was. Friendships, relationships, business and art… Stephen lovingly documents the highs and lows of a band who only wanted to create music on their own terms, and ended up changing everything.
M-80 Land of 10,000 Sounds
Director: Al X Gav
Country: USA; Running Time: 90 minutes
In September of 1979, the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis hosted the first ever “New-No-Now-Wave Festival”, featuring music by The Fleshtones, The Suicide Commanders, The Monochrome Set, Tuxedomoon, The Suburbs, Dark Day, James Chance and the Contortions, Judy Nylon, and a host of others – including rare footage of DEVO performing under the name ‘Dove’. This is a concert film of New Wave in its infancy before MTV.
New Wave
Director: Elizabeth Ai
Country: USA; Running Time: 88 minutes
Filmmaker Elizabeth Ai embarks on a project to tell a story of joy and youthful defiance as she explores a musical phenomenon in the 1980s known to Vietnamese American teens as new wave. As she delves into the lives of family members and icons of the new wave scene, she uncovers much more than just music and fashion. In the heart of Orange County, California, this counterculture movement takes the youth by storm, becoming a sanctuary for rebellious teens.
Omar And Cedric: If This Ever Gets Weird
Director: Nicolas Jack Davies
Country: Germany; Running Time: 127 minutes
Get an all-access pass into the masterminds behind Grammy award-winning band The Mars Volta: Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and Cedric Bixler-Zavala. Whittled down from hundreds of hours of footage shot by Omar throughout their lives, the film shows the iconic duo’s journey from the hardcore scene in El Paso, Texas, to rock and roll acclaim; from growing up as minorities to their rise to success; from struggles with loss, addiction, and scientology to their blazing come-back.
Pavements
Director: Alex Ross Perry
Country: USA; Running Time: 128 minutes
An examination of the iconic 1990s indie band Pavement appears to be just another music documentary—until it isn’t. A prismatic hybrid of narrative, scripted, documentary, musical, and metatextual forms, the film intimately shows the band preparing for their sold-out 2022 reunion tour while simultaneously tracking the preparations for a musical based on their songs, a museum devoted to their history, and a big-budget Hollywood biopic inspired by their saga as the most important band of a generation.
Pretty Ugly - The Story Of The Lunachicks
Director: Ilya Chaiken
Country: USA; Running Time: 91 minutes
30 years after their teenaged debut, we meet the Lunachicks as they convene to work on their memoir “Fallopian Rhapsody." From their gritty ‘80s punk roots to '90s worldwide cult band, defying a sexist industry with their irreverent humor, theatricality, and musical chops, the film brings their history to life while documenting their hilarious and poignant journey back to the stage.
S/He Is Still Her/e
Director: David Charles Rodrigues
Country: USA; Running Time: 97 minutes
Very few artists lived their art, Genesis died three times for it. Pioneering electronic musician/avant garde artist/spiritual explorer/gender revolutionary/cult leader? Genesis P. Orridge has been featured in numerous films and videos, but never the full story…never this intimate... until now. In this authorized but extremely raw and personal documentary, award-winning director David Charles Rodrigues (Gay Chorus Deep South) documents the final year of P-Orridge’s existence as they grapple with mortality.
Salad Days: A Decade Of Punk In Washington Dc (10 Year Anniversary: Director's Cut)
Director: Scott Crawford
Country: USA; Running Time: 102 minutes
Salad Days: A Decade of Punk in Washington, DC (1980-90) is a documentary film that examines the early DIY punk scene in the Nation’s Capital. It was a decade when seminal bands like Bad Brains, Minor Threat, Government Issue, Scream, Void, Faith, Rites of Spring, Marginal Man, Fugazi, and others released their own records and booked their own shows—without major record label constraints or mainstream media scrutiny. Contextually, it was a cultural watershed that predated the alternative music explosion of the 1990s (and the industry’s subsequent implosion). Thirty years later, DC’s original DIY punk spirit serves as a reminder of the hopefulness of youth, the power of community and the strength of conviction.
Shari & Lamb Chop
Director: Lisa D'Apolito
Country: USA; Running Time: 92 minutes
Shari Lewis changed the face of children’s television even before Mr. Rogers and Sesame Street. Through the creation of her sock puppet sidekicks, Hush Puppy, Charlie Horse, and the beloved Lamb Chop, Shari created a playful, non-judgmental world for children and adults alike. As the daughter of the Official Magician of New York City and a performer with her own aspirations, Shari rose to fame at a young age, hosting pioneering children’s shows. When her own national show was unexpectedly canceled, Shari moved to Hollywood – and later to Las Vegas – to reinvent herself as an actress and dancer. But no matter how hard she worked, audiences only wanted to see Lamb Chop. It was a blessing and a curse that she created something as magical as Lamb Chop, who was becoming a cultural icon and threatened to overshadow Shari herself.
Since Yesterday: The Untold Story Of Scotland’s Girl Bands NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
Directors: Carla J. Easton, Blair Young
Country: UK; Running Time: 85 minutes
A feature-length documentary unearthing the Scottish girl bands from 1960 onwards that are missing from the ranks of global success; artists whose work was, and continues to be, ignored by the selective bias of a male-dominated industry. Blending personal anecdotes with a scrapbook-style audiovisual aesthetic, the film takes us on a decade-by-decade adventure, crafting the ultimate visual mixtape.
Something Better Change
Director: Scott Crawford
Country: USA; Running Time: 79 minutes
In 2018, after 40 years of fighting against oppression, homelessness, and corporate greed in the U.S. and in his native Canada, D.O.A. frontman, activist, and cultural politician Joey “Shithead” Keithley decided to turn art into life and run against the outspoken Mayor of Burnaby (population: 250,000+), Derek Corrigan. Against all odds—and with only a $7000 campaign budget—Keithley won a city councilor seat in Burnaby, BC that year and helped to unseat the entrenched five-term Corrigan who once famously said, “I would never bend over to give a homeless person a dime because he might steal my watch.”
Soundtrack To A Coup D'etat
Director: Johan Grimonprez
Country: Belgium; Running Time: 150 minutes
United Nations, 1961: the Global South ignites a political earthquake, jazz musicians Abbey Lincoln and Max Roach crash the Security Council, Nikita Khrushchev bangs his shoe, and the U.S. State Department swings into action, sending jazz ambassador Louis Armstrong to the Congo to deflect attention from the CIA-backed coup. Director Johan Grimonprez explores a moment when jazz, colonialism, and espionage collided, constructing a riveting historical rollercoaster that illuminates the political machinations behind the 1961 assassination of Congolese leader Patrice Lumumba.
Takin' Care Of Business
Director: Tyler Measom
Country: USA; Running Time: 80 minutes
From a young age, Canadian Randy Bachman dreamed of becoming a famous rock star. His aspirations took off when he invested in a 1957 Gretsch 6120 guitar, which seemed to have a magical quality that inspired him to write hit songs effortlessly. His bands, The Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive, became famous with chart-toppers like "American Woman" and "Takin' Care of Business," all written on that Gretsch guitar. Despite his success, his world came crashing down when the guitar was stolen in 1977, triggering a series of personal and professional setbacks. The documentary film Takin' Care of Business explores the ups and downs of Randy's life, his relentless 45-year search for the stolen guitar, and his journey of hope, determination, and resilience.
Teaches Of Peaches
Directors: Philipp Fussenegger, Judy Landkammer
Country: Canada, Germany; Running Time: 102 minutes
Capturing Peaches' transformative journey on 'The Teaches of Peaches Anniversary Tour' in 2022, this documentary blends exclusive archival gems with dynamic tour footage. From stage show inception to riveting performances, it offers an intimate look at the inner workings of feminist icon Peaches, a fearless force challenging gender norms for over two decades. Her biting wit advocates for LGBTQIA+ rights and confronts societal stereotypes, leaving an indelible mark on popular culture.
The Hands Of Orlac (100th Anniversary, Live Score W/Katie Condon)
Director: Robert Wiene
Countries: Austria/Germany; Running Time: 112 minutes
A pianist has a transplant operation that gives him a new pair of hands. Unfortunately, the hands belonged to a murderer, and he finds the hands starting to take over his life and commit crimes. A seedy magician suspects what is happening and tries to blackmail him.
The Target Shoots First
Director: Chris Wilcha
Country: USA; Running Time: 70 minutes
Christopher Wilcha’s fascinating feature-length video reminds us how seldom we’re allowed to see certain businesses operating from the inside. Wilcha, a 22-year-old college graduate and alternative-rock enthusiast, was hired by the Columbia Record and Tape Club—apparently as a fluke—to help launch a whole new niche-marketing division, which brought him face-to-face with the contradictory meanings of the term ‘alternative’ once it’s been embraced by the mass market. He brought his video camera to work every day, and what emerge are selective glimpses of—and thoughtful reflections on—his extended stint with the company.
The World According To Allee Willis
Director: Alexis Manya Spraic
Country: USA; Running Time: 98 minutes
Take one look at award-winning songwriter/artist Allee Willis and you see someone unafraid to be themselves. Dressed in a cacophony of prints and colors, her signature asymmetrical haircut and famed parties at her real-life Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, Allee didn’t waste any opportunity to tell you what she was about. But privately, Allee struggled with not fitting established gender and sexual norms. She buried herself in her work, until true love manifested her ultimate masterpiece - self-acceptance.
This Is A Film About The Black Keys
Director: Jeff Dupre
Country: USA; Running Time: 89 minutes
This is a film about The Black Keys traces Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney's journey from a jamming session in a basement in Akron, Ohio, to rock ’n’ roll super-stardom. They barely knew each other when they made their first recordings, yet quickly realized they shared a powerful musical connection and a drive to succeed. Touring relentlessly for ten years, the duo navigated the highs and lows of life on the road, finally reaching escape velocity with their hit records Brothers and El Camino.
Zenithal Sounds Like WTF?
Director: Jean-Baptiste Saurel
Country: France; Running Time: 80 minutes
Ti-Kong, the famous Kung-fu master, is found dead. Could the assassin be the Machiavellian doctor Sweeper? Insecure Francis falls into his clutches as he becomes a crucial part of Sweeper’s scheme to preserve absolute male domination over the globe. That is unless Sonia, Francis’ girlfriend, decides to take action to save him, restore their relationship, and establish peace between the sexes.
SHORT FILMS
À Toi Les Oreilles
Director: Alexandre Isabelle
Country: Canada; Running Time: 13 minutes
Baseball Furies: Extra Innings
Director: Jason Dummeldinger
Country: USA; Running Time: 7 minutes
Beijing Story
Director: Khalid Ali
Country: USA, China; Running Time: 22 minutes
Dale
Director: Justin Streichman
Country: USA; Running Time: 9 minutes
Dion & Denver
Director: Zack Hosseini
Country: USA; Running Time: 15 minutes
Farm Grrrl Folk Punk: Motherwort
Director: Austin Bunn and the students of "Documenting Local Lives"
Country: USA; Running Time: 5 minutes
Heavy Metal Parking Lot
Directors: John Heyn, Jeff Krulik
Country: USA; Running Time: 16 minutes
Hi! You Are Currently Being Recorded
Directors: Anna Maguire, Kyle Greenberg
Countries: USA/UK/Canada; Running Time: 8 minutes
Keep The Party Going
Director: Mick Marseilles
Country: Canada; Running Time: 15 minutes
Look At My Furniture
Director: Michael X. Ferraro
Country: USA; Running Time: 21 minutes
Stud Country
Directors: Lina Abascal, Alexandra Kern
Country: USA; Running Time: 11 minutes
The Falcons
Director: Taniel Kilajian
Country: Armenia; Running Time: 14 minutes
The Machine Room
Director: Jack Ethan Perry
Country: UK; Running Time: 16 minutes
The Music Factory
Directors: Cina Espejond og, Alf Martin Løvvold
Country: Norway; Running Time: 9 minutes
Tr(Ol)L: New Kids On The Block, Total Request Live And The Chain Letter That Changed The Internet
Director: Yourgo Artsitas
Country: USA; Running Time: 17 minutes
Used To Be
Director: Dan Schneidkraut
Country: USA; Running Time: 12 minutes
MUSIC VIDEOS
Ed Sheeran - "That's On Me"
Director: Beatriz Santamaria Pinha
Country: UK; Running Time: 5 minutes
Gozie Ukaga - "Interstate Ninety-Four"
Director: Gabriel Broderick
Country: USA; Running Time: 3 minutes
Holding Hour - "Parallel Lines"
Director: Hannah Rosalie Wright
Country: USA; Running Time: 4 minutes
In The Darkness
Director: Adilet Abish
Country: Kazakhstan; Running Time: 6 minutes
Murf - "5 Iron"
Directors: Dane Cree, Dan Hoffstrom
Country: USA; Running Time: 4 minutes
Seesaw
Directors: Daniel Bloch, Jan Bloch
Country: USA; Running Time: 6 minutes
MUSIC PERFORMANCES
Wed. Nov. 13
Dead History + Gay Witch Abortion + Big Salt
Cloudland | 6:30pm | $12 / $15
REVO w/ DEVO (Opening Night film)
Parkway Theater | 7pm | $25 / $30
Transmission
VFW Uptown | 9pm | FREE
Thu. Nov. 14
Lydia Loveless + Faith Boblett
Cloudland | 6:30pm | $28 / $30
Charlie Parr w/ SPIDER JOHN KOERNER: BEEN HERE… DONE THAT screening
Parkway Theater | 7pm | $30 / $35
Fri. Nov. 15
Lydia Loveless + Jesse Thorson
Cloudland | 6:30pm | $28 / $30
Sat. Nov. 16
Linda Perry w/ LINDA PERRY: LET IT DIE HERE closing night screening
Parkway Theater | 5:15pm | $35 / $40
Venus DeMars + Elour + Partial Traces + DJ Shannon Blowtorch
Cloudland | 7:30pm | $15
Swamp Dogg w/ SWAMP DOGG GETS HIS POOL PAINTED screening
Parkway Theater | 9:30pm | $30 / $35
Sun. Nov. 17
Courtney Yasmineh w/ FIFTY YEARS IN SIXTY MINUTES: FILMS FROM THE BOB DYLAN ARCHIVE screening
Parkway Theater | 11:30am | $20 / $25
SCREENINGS IN ROCHESTER
1-800-On-Her-Own
Director: Dana Flor
Country: USA; Running Time: 79 minutes
Ani DiFranco crashed onto the music scene in the early ‘90s, a thundering new voice in the cultural wilderness, unapologetically bisexual, political and feminist. She toured relentlessly, thrashing out hundreds of frenzied shows that were part mosh pit, part hootenanny and part full-on tent revival, then selling cassette tapes from the trunk of her car to make it to the next gig. Ani became a worldwide phenomenon when she beat the male-dominated music industry at its own game by founding Righteous Babe Records, the first “woman-run non-corporate queer-happy” label, still going strong after nearly 35 years. The press called her “an entrepreneurial wonder” and “the industry’s worst nightmare.” Prince called her “my hero.” Ani simply called herself a folk singer, dedicated to art, activism and staying true to herself, no matter the cost.
7 Nights In The Entry
Director: Twin/Tone records
Country: USA; Running Time: 70 minutes
For a week in September of 1981 Twin:Tone Records took over this recently started small stage at First Avenue, back before it was legendary, and did a show that helped start the legend. This film was only shown once before, for sound Unseen '07 and likely not to be screened again for 20 years, so this a rare chance to see it in movie theater gloriousness. This film captures bands like the Replacements and Hüsker Dü in their beginnings.
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)
Director: Robert Wiene
Country: Germany; Running Time: 67 minutes
At a carnival in Germany, Francis (Friedrich Feher) and his friend Alan (Rudolf Lettinger) encounter the crazed Dr. Caligari (Werner Krauss). The men see Caligari showing off his somnambulist, Cesare (Conrad Veidt), a hypnotized man who the doctor claims can see into the future. Shockingly, Cesare then predicts Alan's death, and by morning his chilling prophecy has come true -- making Cesare the prime suspect. However, is Cesare guilty, or is the doctor controlling him?
The Secret of Sleep (1970)
Director: Spider John Koerner
Country: USA; Running Time: 59 minutes
Percival (John Koerner) gets a call in which he's told to go on a mysterious quest. Percy and his buddy (Willie Murphy) wander around in various utopian settings, but in the end, they return to the city to contend with reality.
Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted
Directors: Isaac Gale, Ryan Olson
Country: USA; Running Time: 97 minutes
Hidden away in the suburbs of Los Angeles, legendary cult musician Swamp Dogg, along with housemates Moogstar and Guitar Shorty, have transformed their home into an artistic playground. Together, they navigate the tumultuous music industry, forging a unique and inspiring bond across time and space.
This Is A Film About The Black Keys
Director: Jeff Dupre
Country: USA; Running Time: 89 minutes
This is a film about The Black Keys traces Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney's journey from a jamming session in a basement in Akron, Ohio, to rock ’n’ roll super-stardom. They barely knew each other when they made their first recordings, yet quickly realized they shared a powerful musical connection and a drive to succeed. Touring relentlessly for ten years, the duo navigated the highs and lows of life on the road, finally reaching escape velocity with their hit records Brothers and El Camino.
Zombies Live (2003)
Director: Dee Limvere
Country: USA; Running Time: 35 minutes
Zombies Live is a DIY zombie film made by skaters and punk rockers in Rochester, MN. The film was screened once at the LoVEuGLY Cabaret in 2003 and then a limited number of VHS copies were sold at local shows and record shops. This is the first and last time (maybe) the film will be shown publicly since the premiere.
MUSIC PERFORMANCES
Thu. Dec. 5
Rad Owl + Scrunchies + TBA
Treedome Records | 7pm | $10
Sun. Dec. 8
James Eugene Russell + Black Widows + TBA
Thesis Beer Project | 7pm | $10
SCREENINGS IN AUSTIN
FEATURES
Bastards Of Soul
Director: Paul Levatino
Country: USA; Running Time: 83 minutes
Bastards of Soul offers a deep dive into the heart of an electrifying Texas band on the cusp of international recognition. As they navigate their burgeoning success and spellbinding live performances, a global pandemic and the sudden tragic loss of their unexpected frontman, Chadwick Murray, cast a somber shadow. Having made his mark primarily as a bass player, Chadwick's transition to lead singer was captivating, revealing a dynamism that few could have predicted.
Bloody & Bruised: The Untold Story Of The Back Room
Director: J. Budro Partida
Country: USA; Running Time: 104 minutes
A documentary feature film that chronicles one of the most notoriously known (and often disregarded) music venues in Austin, Texas. It’s a film that spans the 33 year history of the east Riverside club, from its meager beginnings in the early 70s as a watering hole for country folk and bikers, to its glory years of 80s glam rock and metal, through its 90s grunge and hardcore era, and into the early 2000s punk and hip hop scene, before it’s demise in 2006.
Linda Perry: Let It Die Here
Director: Don Hardy
Country: USA; Running Time: 93 minutes
Linda Perry is one of the most outspoken and recognizable artists of the past 30 years. The hat, tattoos, attitude, and of course, her massive hit single "What's Up" with her band 4 Non Blondes made her an icon. But, in the decades since that song topped the charts, Linda's been even more successful as a songwriter and producer for artists like Dolly Parton, Christina Aguilera, and Pink.
Takin' Care Of Business
Director: Tyler Measom
Country: USA; Running Time: 80 minutes
From a young age, Canadian Randy Bachman dreamed of becoming a famous rock star. His aspirations took off when he invested in a 1957 Gretsch 6120 guitar, which seemed to have a magical quality that inspired him to write hit songs effortlessly. His bands, The Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive, became famous with chart-toppers like "American Woman" and "Takin' Care of Business," all written on that Gretsch guitar. Despite his success, his world came crashing down when the guitar was stolen in 1977, triggering a series of personal and professional setbacks.
SHORTS/MUSIC VIDEOS
Dale
Director: Justin Streichman
Country: USA; Running Time: 9 minutes
Dion & Denver
Director: Zack Hosseini
Country: USA; Running Time: 15 minutes
In The Darkness
Director: Adilet Abish
Country: Kazakhstan; Running Time: 6 minutes
Pizza My Heart WORLD PREMIERE
Director: Elizabeth V. Newman
Country: USA; Running Time: 12 minutes
Stud Country
Directors: Lina Abascal, Alexandra Kern
Country: USA; Running Time: 11 minutes
The Heart Of Texas
Director: Gregory JM Kasunich
Country: USA; Running Time: 14 minutes
Tr(Ol)L: New Kids On The Block, Total Request Live And The Chain Letter That Changed The Internet
Director: Yourgo Artsitas
Country: USA; Running Time: 17 minutes
Too Much
Director: Bobby Ross
Country: USA; Running Time: 4 minutes
Variety - Plover
Director: Taylor Browne
Country: USA; Running Time: 3 minutes
MUSIC PERFORMANCES
Thu. Dec. 12
Linda Perry w/ LINDA PERRY: LET IT DIE HERE opening night screening
Austin Film Society | 7:30pm | $35
Sponsors for this year’s festival include: Pryes Brewing Company, Moxy Minneapolis Uptown Hotel, Dark Star Pictures, Frances Modern Inn, Campari, Film Festival Alliance, Love & Victory, Sociable Cider Werks, Selig Polyscope Co., Liaison Creative Marketing and Extreme Noise Records
Media Partners include: The Current, KUTX, Racket, Austin Chronicle
Community partners include: Consulate General of Canada, FilmNorth, Pop’s Art Theater, Thesis Brewing, Treedome Records, Austin Film Society, Cloudland Theater, The Parkway Theater, Trylon Cinema, Bryant Lake Bowl, The Main Cinema, Uptown VFW, East Lake Legal, EMI Audio, Familia Skateshop, Twin Cities Gay Scene, and Transmission
