Announcing the 49th AAFF Special Programs

The AAFF is pleased to welcome past festival award winners, Telcosystems and Duke & Battersby, for the North American premieres of their new works as part of this year's special programs.

Groundbreaking audio and visual artists Telcosystems will present and perform a selection of new media works including LOUDTHINGS (47th AAFF Best Experimental Film Award winner) and the North American premiere of their newest work. Lucas van der Velden and Gideon Kiers, members of Telcosystems and curators of the biennial festival SONIC ACTS, will also present a special program of works exploring space in performance and audiovisual art, film, music and architecture. Their visit is supported by the UM School of A&D.

Emily vey Duke and Cooper Battersby make their first visit to Ann Arbor for a partial retrospective of their collaborative video projects. Works featured include the North American premiere of their new video LESSER APES and 48th AAFF Best of Festival award winning, BEAUTY PLUS PITY. Duke and Battersby will also have a sculptural exhibition on display in the Michigan Theater through the festival.


Special Programs Continued:

University of Michigan alum Sam Green and Japanese animator Keita Kurosaka join the AAFF to present their acclaimed new works.

Academy Award nominated director Sam Green (THE WEATHER UNDERGROUND) presents his live documentary performance UTOPIA IN FOUR MOVEMENTS. This 'live documentary' includes onstage narration by Green, live sound mixing by collaborator Dave Cerf and a performance by the Brooklyn-based band The Quavers, with special guest Brendan Canty from Fugazi. This program is presented in partnership with the Penny W. Stamps Speaker Series. Green will also be in attendance for a partial retrospective of his acclaimed short work.

Japanese animator Keita Kurosaka will be in attendance to present his highly anticipated feature film, MIDORI-KO. More than ten years in the making, employing three different modes of animation production, and consisting of more than 20,000 carefully crafted images of consumption, expulsion, mimicry, and love, MIDORI-KO asks a fundamental question of an ecologically thinking society: at what point, is eating immoral? Kurosaka’s visit is supported by the UM Center for Japanese Studies.

Opening Night Dinner

You are invited to celebrate the start of the 49th Ann Arbor Film Festival with a special backstage dinner and reserved seating for the Opening Night screening of short films in competition. Experience our backstage lounge while you enjoy a strolling dinner provided by eat catering and open bar. Guests are also welcome to join the main reception in the Michigan Theater lobby.

The Opening Night Dinner is a fundraiser to support free public programs at the 49th AAFF. Tickets are limited for this event.

LOCATION: Backstage at the Michigan Theater
DATE: Tuesday, March 22nd
TIME: Dinner 6PM | Screening 8-10PM