The VSW Film Series will present a screening of seminal avant garde films from the 1920’s and 1930’s. This program includes historically significant films by European artists working between world wars, who were struggling against the restrictions of classical art to re-define the role of the artist in modern society. Dada and Surrealist artists in particular began using the “new” form of cinema to experiment visually and sonically, and in doing so pushed filmmaking far beyond traditional narrative boundaries, cutting a new edge in artistic discourse. The titles in this program present a selection of influential films made by artists working at the front lines of cinema.

ALL FILMS PROJECTED ON 16mm FILM

This program is funded in part by Livingston Arts and the New York State Council of the Arts, with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. Additional support provided by the University of Rochester Film & Media Studies Program

Program:
Rhythmus 21 (1921) – Hans Richter
Symphonie Diagonale (1924) – Viking Eggling
Entr’acte (1924) – Rene Clair
Anemic Cinema (1926) – Marcel Duchamp and Man Ray
Un Chien Andalou (1929) – Luis Bunuel and Salvador Dali
The Blood of a Poet (1933) – Jean Cocteau
Total Running Time: 118 minutes