Some of the greatest movies started out as novels or
short stories. Join filmmakers whose screenplays came from literary adaptations to discuss how they approached their source material and the delicate creative process of successfully reworking the written word into film.

60 min

Join Festival filmmakers for a discussion about the
intersection of art and politics in Middle Eastern cinema. How do the political situations in different Middle Eastern countries affect a filmmaker’s access to funding and resources? Do filmmakers in the Middle East feel a responsibility to challenge the prevailing ideologies of their leaders, and what are the repercussions when they do? In the politically charged climate of many Middle Eastern countries, can art exist without politics?

60 min

USA
Director: Nadav Kurtz

Three Mexican immigrants risk their lives washing windows on some of the tallest skyscrapers in Chicago. This thoughtful portrayal of their everyday lives reveals their thoughts about working, mortality, and the people they observe inside the high-rises they clean.

Part of: Shorts 1: City & State

English and Spanish subtitles, 10 min

Austria / Germany
Director: Ulrich Seidl

Teresa, a middle-aged mother, vacations alone on the picturesque beaches of Kenya, one of many “Sugar Mamas” looking for love, sex, and companionship among the local gigolos, known as “Beach Boys.” Teresa goes from one disappointing relationship to the next until she is forced to confront the limitations of her attempts to purchase love. The first film of a projected trilogy, Paradise: Love is a controversial, provocative work from acclaimed filmmaker Ulrich Seidl (Dog Days).

English, German, and Swahili with subtitles, 120 min

USA
Director: King Vidor

A delightful late-silent era masterpiece from the great King Vidor (The Crowd), The Patsy follows Pat (a thoroughly charming Marion Davies), the overlooked, put-upon member of her family. Glamorous and popular, her sister Grace gets all attention. When the two sisters find themselves in competition over a boy, Pat must employ all her wiles to win him over. This beloved classic is presented with live musical accompaniment by David Drazin.

Post-screening discussion led by renowned silent film expert, David Robinson

English, 78 min