Fluxus Experimental Film Festival

Fossiles Possibles – Charline Dally, 2019
09:00
French with English Subtitles

It was said that fresh water still existed, there, in the depths of the Earth. As I delve deeper into this unknown architecture, a question persists: does my perception open on to what is real? It was as if I suddenly became aware of being immersed in an illusory space, a space that collapses and escapes my gaze each moment, constantly thrown into question by the other possible spaces which interpenetrate it.

Transmute III – M Armstrong, 2024
08:36

Transmute III is part of a series of animations produced by capturing images revealed when sanding through blocks made of (de/re)constructed neuroscience laboratory notebooks. 

a screen is a good servant – Lauren Prousky, 2024

05:06

This is a poetry video for a body work by the same name. In this age of overwhelming and inescapable 24-hour news cycles, where the constant inundation of information necessitates swift and careful reflection, I found myself turning to the cuttlefish for insight. What does visual literacy mean in a world so saturated with images? I felt that perhaps cuttlefish have something to teach us about processing our surroundings and navigating the inevitable puzzle of figuring out when it is ethical to remain soft and open and when it is necessary to become callous and turn away. This body of work casts cuttlefish as a type of aquatic Atlas— shouldering an ancient artistic burden that asks its bearers to reflect and respond to their surroundings for public consumption while simultaneously carrying the weight of that which is reflected.

vigor in a zipper – Jasmine Liaw, 2024
09:59

“vigor in a zipper” is an experimental documentary addressing methods of queering Time Displacement through interdisciplinary practices of dance-technology. The film reimagines the associated binaries in technology and dance through queer theories; embracing concepts of failure as validation, creating room to let go of expectations towards the dancer’s body, and “unzipping” the body into the present moment.

why some people be mad at me sometimes – Mahlet Cuff, 2024
02:40

why some people be mad at me sometimes is a single channel experimental film that cites the mother of Dancehall Sister Nancy singing her song bam bam in dialogue with Maya Angelou’s performance of the poem The Mask. The video is a meditation on the misappropriation of Blackness within music, and how often Black folks are told to not criticize but to smile and be grateful. All while tracing the filmmakers’ relationship to Dancehall and Afro Caribbean culture through archival footage of themselves as a young person dancing at Folklorama. Folklorama has the intention to be a space for sharing diverse cultures but oftentimes a space of cultural consumption that erases the colonial history of the countries that are on display.

Finding another entrance, trying the same door – Adrienne Scott, 2024
15:00

‘Finding another entrance, trying the same door’, is an experimental animation that considers drawing, perception, and agnosticism. Abstract images are accompanied by an artist statement-like voiceover which considers these themes. This text, which is written in a personal voice, wrestles with the feeling of uncertainty and hesitation, while recognizing the limited guarantee of leaving these states.

Somewhere Real – Kate Solar, 2023
05:00

Roads fall into the sea and a travelogue breaks against the landscape. Image fails, then writing. Somewhere Real attempts to find a way to inhabit the margin between place and passage, between experience and representation. If a physical space can’t be represented as text, can text itself become a physical space? The writing and audio were created in Hydra, Greece: an island simultaneously ancient and ever-changing. Back in Kjipuktuk, on the shores of a different sea, the text was stop-motion animated on a 16mm Oxberry animation camera. Words shape themselves into latent image, flickering and rippling, never a permanent record. The film concludes with abstraction: the tactile manipulation of the filmstrip plunges the viewer underwater and creates an experience that the traveler’s camera and journal never reach.

Beauford the Pigeon – full of it films: Ben Cumming & Serena Zena, 2024
02:04

Beuford the Pigeon is just trying his best. He’s doing all he can to keep up with the fast paced nature of adulthood, but his world is falling apart. Will he be able to keep pace with the unyielding chaos of life?

Astrantia – Eniolauoluwa Olawale-Yusef, 2024
06:27

Astrantia is a short film that explores the extensive appreciation of Black African women through the lens of culture and personal narratives. The collection of scenes displays some women while engaging in traditional practices, expressing themselves through dance and music, and sharing stories of resilience and strength. The film ultimately celebrates the beauty and power of Black African women in a way that is both visually captivating and emotionally moving. Through its vibrant visuals and intimate storytelling, Astrantia provides a nostalgic and empowering view of the elegance, intersectionality, and vibrance of the Black African women around the world. The film highlights the importance of representation and amplifies the voices of these women, shedding light on their rich heritage and contributions to society. 

Tape-stry – Rennie Taylor, 2023
02:10

Rip, cut, paste, repeat. “Tape-stry” is a short animation designed with Japanese washi tape being directly applied to 16mm film leader. Washi tape is a recent invention, created in the mid-2000s, and is known for its variety of colourful decorative designs, ease of use and having a sticky quality that leaves no residue. Inspired by the pattern films of Jodie Mack and Scott Fitzpatrick, this film layers numbers, cartoon cats and geometric shapes, and text. Artist Abby Brock created animated titles and an original flute soundtrack to accompany the film. The audio mirrors the layering and patterns of the washi tape through a stacked, non-melodic woodwind sound, while the fast-paced animation follows the abruptness of the visuals. “Tape-stry” is a playful manipulation of rice paper tape: rip, cut, paste, repeat. 

The Word is a Hug – Charlie Saltzman, Amelia Doty, & Koko Kumazawa, 2024
04:32

“The Word is a Hug” (2024) is about building a queer life. The film follows three friends finding comfort in the home that they create together. From struggling to feel seen in their identities, the friends learn to love themselves through loving each other. The film portrays the undervalued love that is held in platonic queer friendships. Filmed in the rural forests of Ontario, the natural setting serves as a tranquil alternative to typical loud and busy urban queer media. The display of living freely and queerly in unlikely (but likely) places allows others to imagine queer life in any place. This is how it feels to be queer sometimes — we must build our homes, families, and selves from scratch in the middle of nowhere. It is unglamorous and the road is unpaved, but our collective effort keeps our love alive.