Run That Back: Moviegoers brave the elements for Ann Arbor Film Festival

First-time attendee’s top 3 experimental films 

The 63rd Ann Arbor Film Festival draws crowds to the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor. Patrick Sullivan | The Washtenaw Voice

Jada Hauser | The Washtenaw Voice

Yana McGuire | Staff Writer 

Echos of cell phone alerts warning of severe weather filled the Michigan Theater as guests arrived for the 63rd Ann Arbor Film Festival Winners Night on March 30. Finding a seat in an unusually decorated theater while facing the threat of personal safety definitely goes against the norm and was the perfect setting to present the best of this year’s experimental film entries.  

Experimental films use various abstracting techniques that differ from traditional mainstream and documentary filmmaking. Also known as the avant-garde cinema, this style of filmmaking has been around since the creation of the camera, according to Deadline, an entertainment news website. 

Although there were many talented winners showcased on this stormy night, let’s take a look at three films that stood out to me as a first-time festival attendee and why.

Ken Burns Award for Best of Festival 

Title: “Razeh-del  راز دل “

Filmmaker: Maryam Tafakory

Learn more: https://www.instagram.com/maryamtafakory/

While this film is mostly a silent film with subtitles, Iranian filmmaker Maryam Tafakory uses strategically placed, emotionally evoking visuals to tell the story of two schoolgirls who sent a letter to Iran’s first-ever women’s newspaper, “Zan”. 

For example, a match was lit after the girls completed a task, instantly turning the scene into a thermal night vision filter scene, which was used throughout the movie to represent the heat and intense scrutiny they faced during their journey. This visual style allowed the audience to grasp the severity of their situation and was brilliantly used.

Use of various abstracting techniques to encourage viewers to dive deeper into an internationally relatable story made this film not only award-winning but the night’s crowd favorite. 

The No. 1 African Film Award

Title: “We Are Not Alone” 

Filmmaker: Adebukola Bodunrin

Learn more: https://www.adebukolabodunrin.com/

An introverted Nigerian immigrant believes the solution to her loneliness is a mysterious object approaching Earth’s orbit and seeks help from a stranger to make contact. 

Bodunrin’s ability to mesmerize movie-goers with the film’s experimental animation techniques infused into textured live-action was proven as the crowd promptly shushed Bodunrin when he explained to the projectionist that the movie had audio during the first run. No one cared that they couldn’t hear the dialogue because the visuals were stunning.

The Edge of Your Seat Award

Title: “The Princess and the Peacock”

Filmmaker: Daniel Baker-Wells 

Learn more: https://www.instagram.com/daniel.baker.wells/#

An experimental documentary that follows European transfeminine “freak-show” performer Mona Guyard discovery of drag. 

The film vividly displays Guyard as she puts needles attached to peacock feathers in her skin and performs in front of a female, lesbian, inter, non-binary, trans and agender people (FLINTA) audience. The intensity of the feather removal was hard to watch, especially for someone who may have a fear of needles. Yet, no one could turn away from the oddly beautiful display of human pain. 

Capturing the essence of that performance that happened live with an audience was challenging, according to filmmaker Daniel Baker-Wells. However, being granted the opportunity to showcase Guyard in a unique way was a true honor.

“The most enjoyable thing was really working closely with Mona, and being invited into her practice and her work,” Baker-Wells said.

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