Suzan Pitt

A short documentary about Suzan Pitt and her animated films, Asparagus (1979), Joy Street (1995) and El Doctor (2006).

Celebrated for his minimal, monumental landscape studies, James Benning turns to the intimacy of the portrait in his latest film, TWENTY CIGARETTES. Referencing Warhol’s screen tests, 1930s Hollywood glamour, and the disappearing cigarette break, the film captures 20 of Benning’s friends (including filmmaker Sharon Lockhart, cultural theorist Dick Hebdige, and book editor Janet Jenkins) satiating their smoke cravings. Each shot’s length is determined by the time it takes each subject to smoke a cigarette, and over the course of the film a dynamic range of personalities emerges out of an array of physical characteristics, distinctive settings, and personal relationships to the camera. (Amy Beste and Jessica Bardsley)

Six animated shorts eschew traditional animation by featuring supernatural elements and darker themes, such as alien snatchings, life among mannequins and a spiritual rebirth. Among the films are "Ape," which features a couple fighting over a cooked monkey every night; "The Story of the Cat and the Moon," which is a tale of unrequited love; and "Gentle Spirit," which is based on a Fyodor Dostoyevsky story.

A showcase for the MCAD Animation Workshop 1972 where each student was given one of a series of cells to animate whatever they pleased.

A symbolic reflection on issues of female sexuality, art and identity constructs.

In a crumbling 1920s Mexican hospital, patients with bizarre afflictions are in constant need of medical attention, but the miserable doctor in charge prefers to drink. However, an encounter with the Saint of Holes will rearrange the doctor's fate, sending him on a journey of altered perspective.

In a crumbling 1920s Mexican hospital, patients with bizarre afflictions are in constant need of medical attention, but the miserable doctor in charge prefers to drink. However, an encounter with the Saint of Holes will rearrange the doctor's fate, sending him on a journey of altered perspective.

As George Antheil's avant-garde composition "Ballet Mecanique (1952 revision)" plays, a dizzying array of abstract paintings are captured in close-up, spun around, and rapidly edited together. Grotesque and frightening creatures start to emerge through the flickering shapes and patterns.

A woman's nightly domestic rituals—from putting her baby to bed to making love—unspool in a playful parade of surreal, straight-from-the-id images.

A woman's nightly domestic rituals—from putting her baby to bed to making love—unspool in a playful parade of surreal, straight-from-the-id images.

A woman's nightly domestic rituals—from putting her baby to bed to making love—unspool in a playful parade of surreal, straight-from-the-id images.

In an outer-world night, creatures that live beneath human consciousness emerge and take hold of the narrator, dissecting his spirit and dismembering his thoughts. He beholds a mythical eternity filled with shadowy industrial scenes and monochrome textures—a heavenly hell of unending life and death.

In an outer-world night, creatures that live beneath human consciousness emerge and take hold of the narrator, dissecting his spirit and dismembering his thoughts. He beholds a mythical eternity filled with shadowy industrial scenes and monochrome textures—a heavenly hell of unending life and death.

In an outer-world night, creatures that live beneath human consciousness emerge and take hold of the narrator, dissecting his spirit and dismembering his thoughts. He beholds a mythical eternity filled with shadowy industrial scenes and monochrome textures—a heavenly hell of unending life and death.

A nightmare of a woman depressed by the concrete world she lives in, and her journey from suicidal despair to personal renewal with the help of an unlikely spirit guide.

In a fantasy world, life-size cardboard animations interact with children clad in clown wigs, monkey masks, and princess costumes. Together, they host a carnival of surreal goings-on.

An animated short consisting of 4 segments: bowl, garden, theatre, marble game. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in partnership with Harvard Film Archive in 2015.

A short film by Minneapolis School Children.

Films: - Asparagus (1979, 20 min, 35mm) - Joy Street (1995, 24 min, 35mm) - El Doctor (2006, 23 min, 35mm & video) - Visitation (2012, 12min, video) - Pinball (2013, 7min, video) Bonus: - Persistence of Vision, a film by Blue And Laura Kraning - 2006, 33min

In December 2013 I went to Cuba for 10 days to show my films at the Havana Film Festival. I did not intend to shoot a film about Cuba- but I fell in love with the people, music, and nature of this beautiful island. I turned my video camera on the subjects which passed in my view and then made this edit. The scenes were shot in Havana, in Las Terrazas, and in the Orchid Garden in Soroa. - to Cuba with affection!

A clay woman smokes.