Three International Film Directors Celebrated at ACMI
Cinema is a universal language, and many of its most talented speakers work far from the bright lights of Hollywood.
Before temporarily closing its doors for transformative $40 million redevelopment, ACMI will present programs focusing on three of the biggest names in international film: Germany’s Christian Petzold, Mexico’s Carlos Reygadas and Iran’s Jafar Panahi.
Whether it’s film noir, hard-edged realism or examinations of the human heart, these three filmmakers are at the forefront of modern cinema, making these sessions critical viewing for anyone looking to expand their cinematic horizons.
Transit & the Films of Christian Petzold
April 11–30
Now showing, this series explores the works of German filmmaker Christian Petzold, one of the most exciting creators to have emerged from the Berlin School in the early 1990s.
Petzold’s most recent film, the critically acclaimed Transit, is presented alongside earlier works Phoenix (2014) and Barbara (2012). These gripping existential thrillers depict the traumas inflicted on European civilians during wartime. Also showing is The State I Am In (2000), an early feature co-written with frequent collaborator the late Harun Farocki.
Capturing Existence: The films of Carlos Reygadas
April 30 to June 20
On April 25 the focus shifts to Latin America, with a program devoted to multi-award winning director Carlos Raygadas. A star since he debuted in 2002 with Japón, Raygadas has made his name with a series of existential dramas presenting a side of Mexico rarely seen on the big screen.
ACMI celebrates the release of his latest film, Our Time, with a retrospective that includes career highlights Battle in Heaven, Silent Light and Post Tenebras Lux, his award-winning fourth feature that’s part autobiography, part metaphysical deep dive.
3 Faces & the Films of Jafar Panahi
May 2–20
ACMI presents one of the most irrepressible voices of the Iranian New Wave. Lauded internationally for a series of films focusing on the struggles of women and children in Iran, Panahi was arrested, imprisoned and banned from filmmaking after he documented mass protests against the President of Iran.
Driven underground, he has since made four films in secret and, while he’s unable to leave Iran, his work has been smuggled out of the country to screen in festivals around the world.
ACMI’s exclusive season of his work includes This Is Not a Film, Closed Curtain, the Golden Bear-winning Tehran Taxi and his most recent film, 3 Faces.
This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with ACMI.
