About Him or How He Did Not Fear the Bear

A film in search of the motives behind and the response to the nightly killer-spree by a Russian lone wolf, slaughtering an entire Armenian family.

On 12 January 2015, a Russian soldier forces his way into the home of an Armenian family in the city of Gyumri. He kills all seven members of the family. After being arrested, the soldier remains stubbornly silent. The reconstruction of this gruesome event and the aftermath can also be seen as a metaphor for a political and ethical quest.

Accueil livre d'image

The old master invites the viewer into the intimacy of a studio setting to experience his latest audio-visual musings.

To share his latest audio-visual musings, Jean-Luc Godard would ideally invite the viewer into the intimacy of his private home studio. In Rotterdam, the pre-war NH Atlanta offers an appropriate alternative to experience Le livre d’image as the old master originally envisioned.

Arabesques on the Pirosmani Theme

A documentary film about the great ‘primitive’ painter Niko Pirosmani, a Georgian equivalent to Henri Rousseau, and a role model for Parajanov.

A documentary film about the great ‘primitive’ painter Niko Pirosmani, a Georgian equivalent to Henri Rousseau, and a role model for Parajanov. 

Arquitectura de peso

On the absurdities of a country riddled with economic crisis trying to look powerful and important by way of architectural grand-standing.

On the absurdities of a country riddled with economic crisis trying to look powerful and important by way of architectural grand-standing.

Barbara Rubin & the Exploding NY Underground

Portrait of a key figure from New York's underground film scene, a rising star who disappeared as fast as she appeared.

Rubin was a hyperactive spider in the web of the New York art scene in the late 1960s until she embraced Judaism; a rising star who disappeared as quickly as she appeared. Her oeuvre remained limited to one film, which nevertheless earned her a permanent place in the canon of the avant-garde.

The Baron

A Dracula-esque nobleman reigns with terror over his fiefdom's commoners. Universal horror meets Demy-style musical comedy in this disquieting political allegory.

A Dracula-esque nobleman reigns with terror over his fiefdom's commoners. Universal horror meets Demy-style musical comedy in this disquieting political allegory based on two works by Branquinho da Fonseca, a writer especially dear to Pêra and the source of three feature masterpieces – the latest being Magnetik Pathways.

Bathtubs Over Broadway

David Letterman’s ghostwriter indulges in a curious hobby: he collects industrial musicals on vinyl, and even revives this largely underrated genre.

Did you know that the composers behind Cats, Fiddler on the Roof and Cabaret once earned their keep with assignments for McDonald's, Ford and Xerox? Ghostwriter Steve Young wants to put the forgotten genre of company musicals back on the map. What started as a jokey item on the Late Show with David Letterman developed into an obsessive quest.

Between a Gaze and a Gesture

With images sourced from the Liberty human rights archive, this installation shows post-colonial and racial tensions in mid-20th-century Britain.

With images sourced from the Liberty human rights archive, this installation shows post-colonial and racial tensions in mid-20th-century Britain.

Black Utopia LP

A constellation of sounds, images and histories from research into Sun Ra, Afrofuturism and the African diaspora is brought together in this slide-projection performance.

The Broadcast

A group of journalists interview people in the streets of Athens about their definition of the 'ideal man' – and then pick a winner. Screens before Lettre à Théo.

A group of journalists interview people in the streets of Athens about their definition of the 'ideal man' – and then pick a winner.

Caminhos magnétykos

Father cracks when daughter marries some shady entrepreneur. A grimly funny, audio-visually dazzling science fiction romp about 'kontemporary' fascism.

Father was never too happy with his daughter’s choice of husband: a gumba with government connections who gets calls from some dude called Donald. Now it's the wedding day – and he cracks, hollering his disgust at the Tagus. A grimly funny, audio-visually dazzling science fiction romp about kontemporary fascism.

Ceremony

Essayist road movie on the relation between England's Manchester and philosopher Friedrich Engels, founder of communism. Are his ideas still alive?

A dismantled statue of the philosopher Friedrich Engels travels from Ukraine to Manchester, the historic 'home' of this co-founder of communism. What's left in 2018 of his body of thought? British artist Phil Collins investigates this question in a layered, socially-committed crossover between documentary and road movie.

Chronicles of a Lying Spirit by Kelly Gabron

Speaking through her alter ego and a male voice, Cauleen Smith’s biography contrasts semi-true fiction with media representation.

Speaking through her alter ego and a male voice, Cauleen Smith’s biography contrasts semi-true fiction with media representation.

A cidade de Cassiano

A noir documentary about architect Cassiano Branco; or: Where has the promise of Modernism gone, and what could have happened to Lisbon?

A noir documentary about architect Cassiano Branco; or: Where has the promise of Modernism gone, and what could have happened to Lisbon?

Cinq minutes de cinéma pur

What is pure cinema? Henri Chomette’s answer to this question is a seminal investigation into the nature of film.

What is pure cinema? Henri Chomette’s answer to this question is a seminal investigation into the nature of film.

The Colour of Chips

The classic The Colour of Pomegranates, transposed to the no less exotic Blackpool in the UK. Soundtrack by Mica Levi (Jackie, Under the Skin).

Francesca Levi transposed Parajanov’s classic The Colour of Pomegranates to the no less exotic seaside resort of Blackpool in the UK. Her sister, film composer Mica Levi (Jackie, Under the Skin) delivered the musical equivalent for this kaleidoscopic video. Originally conceived as a part of the series ‘The Unfilmables’.

Concerning Flight: Five Illuminations in Miniature

The mystery of insect flight explored. Interpretations of a mythological and fantastical nature are illuminated in motion and time.

The mystery of insect flight explored. Interpretations of a mythological and fantastical nature are illuminated in motion and time.

Crow Requiem

Smith brings together the forced migration of birds, the treatment of people of colour and Syracuse’s connection to the birth of stereoscopic photography.

Cauleen Smith brings together the forced migration of birds, the treatment of people of colour and Syracuse’s connection to the birth of stereoscopic photography.

Curious Light

Lewis Caroll’s Through the Looking-Glass illuminated. Illustrations retreat into the fibre of the page, light dissolves into the film emulsion.

Lewis Caroll’s Through the Looking-Glass illuminated. Illustrations retreat into the fibre of the page, light dissolves into the film emulsion.

Cut from Liquid to Snake

From a phone recording made during the Trump election campaign to an eyewitness account of the bombing of Hiroshima: how to articulate an awareness of the world?

From a phone recording made during the Trump election campaign to an eyewitness account of the bombing of Hiroshima: how to articulate an awareness of the world?

As desventuras du homem-kâmara – Epizohdyus 111, 113 & 115

Let images and sounds like those of Dziga Vertov and Terry Gilliam and Walerian Borowczyk cross-pollinate and grow wondrous AV-flowers.

Let images and sounds like those of Dziga Vertov and Terry Gilliam and Walerian Borowczyk cross-pollinate and grow wondrous AV-flowers.

I diari di Angela – Noi due cineasti

Personal, moving account of Yervant Gianikian’s life and work with Angela Ricci Lucchi, until her recent death.

After the death of Angela Ricci Lucchi in February 2018, Yervant Gianikian created a moving portrait from her diaries, drawings, footage from their work and many travels together. This personal account is a pledge to continue their lives' work of 'cinematic excavations'.

Dimanche

On an ordinary road, a couple separate after a weekend away. Patricia needs a breath of fresh air. The beginning of the end?

On an ordinary road, a couple separate after a weekend away. Patricia needs a breath of fresh air. The beginning of the end?

Discoveries on the Forest Floor 1-3

Fragile leaves and fine threads of fungus string together, like an obscure genre of 17th century painting: Forest Floor Paintings.

Fragile leaves and fine threads of fungus string together, like an obscure genre of 17th century painting: Forest Floor Paintings.

Drylongso

With her Polaroid camera, art academy student Pica snaps the African-American men in her neighbourhood, before they meet a violent death.

Don’t get distracted by the drugs, violence or the serial killer. This energetic, heartwarming low-budget film is mainly about the friendship between two young African-American women who few people seem interested in. Cauleen Smith’s only feature film to date is screened here in a restored version.

És a nossa fé

Only a true football fan like Pêra could make a film so in awe of the supporter’s spectacle – and so mystified by it.

Only a true football fan like Pêra could make a film so in awe of the supporter’s spectacle – and so mystified by it.