Café Cinema: Cinema of the Unusual
Matinee Movies: Mystery, Magic, and Marigolds Curated and Hosted by Maya and Noa Street-Sachs
Café Cinema: Cinema of the Unusual makes its debut at P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center with the film program Matinee Movies: Mystery, Magic, and Marigolds, curated by 12 year old and 10 year old Maya and Noa Street-Sachs, daughters of avant-garde filmmakers. Timed to coincide with Halloween, the curators have chosen a series of films from the Film-makers’ Cooperative archives that will wow, tickle, spook, and surprise a matinee audience of boys and girls who may or may not have encountered the splendor of the avant-garde cinema. The event will be held on Saturday, October 27 at 4:00 p.m.
Seven short films will be shown on 16mm film format: Gulls and Buoys (Robert Breer, 1972), a flipbook of fabulous drawings from nature; The Red Book (Janie Geiser, 1994), spectacular animated cut-outs of color and mysterious images; Little Red Riding Hood (Red Grooms, 1978), dramatic scenes of elaborate, colorful costumes; Earth Song of the Crickets (Stan Brakhage, 1999), a silent film of hand-painted abstraction with magical sparkles; Fragment of an Unidentified Horror Show (Danny Woodruff, 1993), a suspenseful masterpiece of eerie proportions; Evil of Dracula (Martha Colburn, 1998), an animated film of happy faces and long pointy teeth; Moshulu Holiday (George Kuchar, 1966), hilarious scenes of New York city life with a surprise ending!
In the true spirit of Halloween, children are encouraged to come in costume. Tricks and treats will be provided. The entire program will last approximately 48 minutes.
Café Cinema: Cinema of the Unusual is organized by M.M. Serra, Executive Director of the Film- makers’ Cooperative and produced by P.S.1 Public Programs. Following this extra special Halloween film program, the Café Cinema series will begin to explore different aspects of the New American Cinema (from 1960s onward), is inspired by a 1964 film program at the 55th Street Playhouse featuring Film- makers’ Cooperative members Ron Rice and Vernon Zimmerman. The series has adopted its name from the motto of the Playhouse – “America’s Only Cinema of the Unusual!” All of the films have been graciously provided by the Film-makers’ Cooperative.
Special thanks to GuS – Grown Up Soda, beverage sponsors of Café Cinema: Cinema of the Unusual This event is free with museum admission
Upcoming Café Cinema Events
December 1, 4 p.m. One Man Show with special guest filmmaker and video artist Jud Yalkut