Returning for its eighth year is the Cinetopia Film Festival. This yearÂ’s iteration will once again span 10 days and will feature more than 60 feature narrative and documentary films, as well as four shorts programs and more than 30 filmmakers from all over the world in theaters across Ann Arbor and metro Detroit. See our critics’ picks here, or peruse this slideshow for a sampling of what’s in store. The full schedule is available at cinetopiafestival.org.

One Child Nation China’s One Child Policy, the extreme population control measure that made it illegal for couples to have more than one child, may have ended in 2015, but the process of dealing with the trauma of its brutal enforcement is only just beginning. From award-winning documentarian Nanfu Wang (Hooligan Sparrow, I Am Another You) and Jialing Zhang, the sweeping One Child Nation explores the ripple effect of this devastating social experiment, uncovering one shocking human rights violation after another – from abandoned newborns, to forced sterilizations and abortions, and government abductions. Wang digs fearlessly into her own personal life, weaving her experience as a new mother and the firsthand accounts of her family members into archival propaganda material and testimony from victims and perpetrators alike, yielding a revelatory and essential record of this chilling, unprecedented moment in human civilization. Sun, May 12 1:15 p.m.; Fri, May 17 7:15 p.m.
Framing John DeLorean Money, power, politics, drugs, scandal, and fast cars. The incredible story of John DeLorean is the stuff of a Hollywood screenwriter’s dreams. But who was the real John DeLorean? To some, he was a renegade visionary who revolutionized the automobile industry. To others, he was the ultimate con man. For the first time, Framing John DeLorean recounts the extraordinary life and legend of the controversial automaker, tracing his meteoric rise through the ranks of General Motors, his obsessive quest to build a sports car that would conquer the world, and his shocking fall from grace on charges of cocaine trafficking. Interweaving a treasure trove of archival footage with dramatic vignettes starring ALEC BALDWIN, Framing John DeLorean is a gripping look at a man who gambled everything in his pursuit of the American Dream. Both screenings featuring a special guest appearance by producer Tamir Ardon. Sat, May 11 7:00 p.m.; Tue, May 14 7:00 p.m.
Funan Cambodia, April 1975. Chou is a young woman whose everyday world is suddenly upended by the arrival of the Khmer Rouge regime. During the chaos of the forced exile from their home, Chou and her husband are separated from their 4-year-old son, who has been sent to an unknown location. As she navigates her new reality, working in the fields day and night under the careful watch of soldiers, and surviving the small indignities and harrowing realities of the increasingly grim work camps, Chou remains steadfast in her determination to reunite her family – even if it means risking everything. Winner of the top prizes at the Annecy Animation Festival and the Animation is Film Festival, Funan is a searing and remarkable debut from filmmaker Denis Do, who uses his own family history as inspiration for a thrilling story of love, loss and enduring hope in the most trying of times. Featuring the voices of BÉRÉNICE BEJO (The Artist) and LOUIS GARREL (The Dreamers). Sat, May 11 8:30 p.m.; Sun, May 19 1:30 p.m.
Budapest Noir Part of the Jewish Film Festival!A beautiful girl is found dead in Budapest 1936 and no one wants to investigate — except Zsigmond Gordon, a world-weary reporter who asks unwanted questions about the seemingly unimportant murder of a young prostitute found beaten to death and dumped in a courtyard. While supposedly covering the funeral of Fascist-leaning Hungarian Prime Minister, Gyula Gombos, Gordon’s investigation leads him deep into the city’s dark underbelly, a shady world of pornographers, fixers, boxing rings, seedy brothels and powerful crime syndicates. Along the way, everyone’s motives are suspect from the lowlifes in the street, to the political activists, to the highest echelons of business and power. Sun, May 12 8:00 p.m.
Health Undocumented (Salud Sin Papeles) Sparked by backlash to a neo-Nazi rally and a stream of strict anti-immigrant laws passing in Arizona, a group of activists organize to build Phoenix Allies for Community Health, a unique free clinic serving undocumented immigrants. The film follows their journey, delves into the heart and history of the clinic, and chronicles the poignant stories of undocumented patients as well as their courage and resilience. Health Undocumented captures the inspirational birth of a local grassroots movement, full of beautiful human portraits including those of doctors, nurses, and activists who would stop at nothing to make a difference. With special guest appearances from director Juan Freitez and executive producer Chelsea Soyring. Tue, May 14 9:00 p.m.
Dalya’s Other Country In 2012 Dalya and her mother Rudayna fled Aleppo for Los Angeles as war took over. Months before, Rudayna learns a secret that destroys her marriage, leaving her single at midlife. Arriving in LA, Dalya enrolls as the only Muslim at Holy Family Catholic High School. Can mother and daughter remake themselves while holding on to their Islamic traditions? Immediately following the film, we will be joined by Muslim Americans from the community to discuss being Muslim American in today’s world and navigating identities in today’s political and social climate. Sat, May 11 6:45 p.m.
Wild Rose Rose-Lynn Harlan, played by BAFTA Rising Star nominee JESSIE BUCKLEY (Beast), is bursting with raw talent, charisma and cheek. Fresh out of jail and with two young kids, all she wants is to get out of Glasgow and make it as a country singer in Nashville. Her mum Marion (JULIE WALTERS) has had a bellyful of Rose-Lynn’s Nashville nonsense. Forced to take responsibility, Rose-Lynn gets a cleaning job, only to find an unlikely champion in the middle-class lady of the house (SOPHIE OKONEDO). Directed by TOM HARPER, Wild Rose is an uplifting story with an original soundtrack about family, dreams and reality, and three chords and the truth. Sat, May 11 6:30 p.m.; Sat, May 18 2:45 p.m.
After So Many Days After a decade of making music together, Jim and Sam, a recently married singer/songwriter duo from Los Angeles, were not the successful band they hoped they’d be. Feeling stuck and anxious about their future, the duo made a spontaneous decision to go “all in,” making a pact to play one show every day for a year. With suitcases and a guitar, the troubadours ventured out for a 365-day tour down unexplored roads, and onto unexpected stages, bringing their music to new audiences throughout 14 different countries. After So Many Days, is an intimate front row seat to the highs and lows of what it’s like for two people to pursue a dream, together. Thu, May 16 6:45 p.m.; Fri, May 17 8:00 p.m.; Sat, May 18 12:45 p.m.
Well Groomed WELL GROOMED travels a year in the humorous and visually stunning world of competitive creative dog grooming alongside the women transforming their beloved poodles into living sculptures.Competitive creative dog grooming is the most colorful competition in America. WELL GROOMED poignantly captures the creative process and traveling with four women at the center of the competition as they enrich their lives through this fascinating intersection of art and animals. Following champion groomers and their gorgeous, vibrant dogs through a year in the life on the technicolor competition circuit, WELL GROOMED effervescently explores an American not often portrayed in cinema. From South Carolina to California, New York to Arkansas, the film follows dog groomers from their homes to large-scale dog grooming competitions and showrooms where their communities meet, discuss, and compete with technicolor exuberance. With special guest appearance by producer Justin Levy on May 18. Sat, May 11 1:30 p.m.; Tue, May 14 7:00 p.m.; Sat, May 18 3:15 p.m.
The Farewell After learning their beloved matriarch has terminal lung cancer, a family opts not to tell her about the diagnosis, instead scheduling an impromptu wedding-reunion back in China. Headstrong and emotional writer Billi (AWKWAFINA) rebels against her parents’ directive to stay in New York and joins the family as they awkwardly attempt to rekindle old bonds, throw together a wedding that only grandma is actually looking forward to, and surreptitiously say their goodbyes.A heartfelt celebration of both the way we perform family and the way we live it, The Farewell masterfully interweaves a gently humorous depiction of the good lie in action with a thoughtful exploration of how our cultural heritage does and does not travel with us when we leave our homes. Featuring a post-film Q&A with Executive Director Eddie Rubin at both screenings! Sat, May 11 3:30 p.m.; Thu, May 16 6:30 p.m.
Bite Me A subversive romantic comedy about a real-life vampire and the IRS agent who audits her. Set in modern-day New York City, the film follows two, seemingly incompatible misfits as they struggle to break free from their identity crises and discover who they really are. The central tension and heart-warming joy of the film comes from watching these two outsiders surrender to the terrifying act of falling in love. Bite Me is a love song to the unsung weirdos of our generation. Both screenings with special guest appearance by director Meredith Edwards! Fri, May 17 9:30 p.m.; Sat, May 18 6:00 p.m.
Gaza It’s hard to imagine anybody living a normal life in the Gaza Strip. Frequently labeled as the world’s largest open-air prison, it makes an appearance on news reports every time a confrontation erupts between Israel and Hamas. From TV sets thousands of miles away, this tiny piece of land has been reduced to an image of violence, chaos and destruction. So what do the people do when they’re not under siege? Gaza will introduce the audience to the surprising and the unexpected, the unfamiliar stories that portray its true face. It takes an atypical approach to finding out what makes this remarkable place tick as it introduces to the world extraordinary stories of everyday characters leading ordinary lives. Fri, May 17 6:45 p.m.; Sat, May 18 12:01 p.m.
Kinshasa Makambo In January 2015, the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Joseph Kabila, sought a constitutional amendment that would allow him to be elected president for a third time. This film documents the resulting demonstrations and follows three protagonists of the resistance. Ben, who lives in exile in New York, takes the advice of his fellow countrymen in exile and decides to join the struggle in the Congo. Jean Marie, who has just been released from prison, continues his public campaign for his country’s freedom and is persecuted by the secret service. Christian fights unperturbed in the streets of Kinshasa, even after former Prime Minister Etienne Tshisekedi, on whom the opposition had pinned their hopes, dies and the movement against Kabila’s extension of his time in office seems paralysed. Should one resist in exile, or fight on the ground in the Congo? Should resistance be non-violent or should force be used if required? Mon, May 13 8:15 p.m.; Sat, May 18 12:30 p.m.
The Last Suit (El último traje) Part of the Jewish Film Festival!At 88, Abraham Bursztein (Miguel Ángel Solá) is seeing his place in the world rapidly disappear. His kids have sold his Buenos Aires residence, set him up to move to a retirement home, and disagree on how to handle his fading health. But Abraham survived the Holocaust, made a successful life in a foreign land, and isn’t about to quietly fade away. Instead, he plots a secret one-way trip to Poland, where he plans to find the Christian friend who saved him from certain death at the end of World War II, and to keep his promise to return one day. Comedic and poignant in equal measure, from Argentina to Spain, across Germany and finally to Poland, Abraham is on his own but also accompanied by the characters he meets along the way, who both help him and need his help. Thu, May 16 8:00 p.m.
Artifishal A film about wild rivers and wild fish that explores the high cost — ecological, financial and cultural — of our mistaken belief that engineered solutions can make up for habitat destruction. The film traces the impact of fish hatcheries, and the extraordinary amount of public money wasted on an industry that hinders wild fish recovery, pollutes our rivers and contributes to the problem it claims to solve. Artifishal also dives beneath the surface of the open-water fish farm controversy, as citizens work to stop the damage done to public waters and our remaining wild salmon. Thu, May 16 4:00 p.m.; Fri, May 17 7:00 p.m.
Mapplethorpe No photographer of the twentieth century was as renowned for his ability to capture such great beauty—and court such great controversy—as Robert Mapplethorpe. Though he died nearly thirty years ago, Mapplethorpe’s name remains synonymous today with boundary-pushing and bold artistic contrasts, owing to both his gorgeous black-and-white prints of voluptuous flowers and his stunning, provocative nude studies of the BDSM subculture. The first-ever biopic of the artist, MAPPLETHORPE stars a revelatory Matt Smith (Doctor Who, The Crown) in the title role. The award-winning British actor portrays Mapplethorpe from his early days in New York City, chronicling his relationships with musician Patti Smith (Marianne Rendón) and curator Sam Wagstaff (John Benjamin Hickey), to his death in 1989 from HIV/AIDS at age 42. Wed, May 15 5:45 p.m.; Sat, May 18 3:00 p.m.
Amateurs (Amatörer) Welcome to Lafors! A small Swedish community in desperate need of a fresh start. Hope rises when the German low-cost superstore Superbilly is considering setting up business in the area. 500 new jobs, that would change everything! Musse at the local government office gets the honour to make the commercial that will be selling Lafors. But Aida and Dana pick up the fight and turn their mobiles and selfie sticks towards everyone that isn’t allowed to take part in the commercial. The battle of who has the right to tell the story of Lafors has begun. Sun, May 12 8:45 p.m.; Sat, May 18 12:15 p.m.
Leto Leningrad, one summer in the early eighties. Smuggling LP’s by Lou Reed and David Bowie, the underground rock scene is boiling ahead of the Perestroika. Mike and his beautiful wife Natasha meet with young Viktor Tsoï. Together with friends, they will change the destiny of rock’n’roll in the Soviet Union. With special guest appearance by co-writer Michael Idov on Monday May 13th at the State Theatre. Mon, May 13 3:15 p.m.; Fri, May 17 9:15 p.m.
Midnight In Paris Midnight in Paris follows a small group of Flint, Michigan, teenagers in the lead-up to their Senior Prom – an event that has transcended the typical black-tie affair and become a rare communal opportunity to celebrate the achievements of its youth. The film looks at the significance of the dance in the lives of the children of Flint, the preparation and effort involved in participating, and the precarious juncture between expectation and reality. Sat, May 11 10:15 p.m.; Sat, May 18 8:15 p.m.
An American Story: Norman Mineta and His Legacy A film about injustice, redemption, and a burning desire for all people to be treated equally. A son of immigrants and forced into a U.S. World War II concentration camp as a child, NORMAN MINETA became the first Asian American mayor of a major city (San Jose, California); leading to a distinguished 20-year career in Congress; the first Asian American Cabinet member, serving two U.S. Presidents, a Democrat and Republican. He never forgot his roots or the shame and humiliation he and his family felt during WWII, leading the way for an apology from the U.S. government and redress for Japanese Americans. On September 11, 2001, his leadership as U.S. Secretary of Transportation, would ensure that what happened to Japanese Americans during WWII did not happen to any other group based on ethnicity or religion. Followed by a Q&A with Norman Mineta, Co-producer Debra Nakatomi and Director Dianne Fukami. Thu, May 16 7:00 p.m.
Mr. Jimmy In snowbound Tokamachi, Japan, teenaged Akio Sakurai took refuge in his room, escaping to another world with a pair of headphones and a pile of Led Zeppelin records. Moving to Tokyo, Akio worked as a kimono salesman by day, but by night became “Mr. Jimmy,” adopting the guitar chops and persona of Jimmy Page. For 35 years, Akio recreated vintage Zeppelin concerts note-for-note in small Tokyo clubs, until the “real” Jimmy Page stopped by one night, and Akio’s life changed forever. Inspired by Mr. Page’s ovation, Akio quits his “salary man” job, leaving behind his family to move to Los Angeles and join “Led Zepagain.” Soon cultures clash, and Akio’s idyllic vision of America meets with reality. With special guest appearance by director Peter Dowd and assistant editor Yukari Kamiya at both screenings. Thu, May 16 3:45 p.m.; Fri, May 17 9:00 p.m.
To Dust Grieving the recent death of his wife, Shmuel (Géza Rohrïg), decides that, in order to move on, he must understand the science behind the decomposition process of his wife’s body—despite the blasphemy inherent in any scientific inquiry. To assist his sinful pursuit, he seeks out Albert (Matthew Broderick), a community-college biology professor who Shmuel enlists to teach informal science lessons. These soon grow to include homemade experiments and a road trip to a body farm, and, as their macabre misadventures and unlikely friendship grow ever more peculiar, the odd couple prove they will stop at nothing to satiate their curiosity and, ultimately find Shmuel the peace he seeks. Sun, May 12 12:30 p.m.; Fri, May 17 6:30 p.m.; Sat, May 18 7:15 p.m.
To The Stars In a god-fearing small town in 1960s Oklahoma, bespectacled and reclusive teen Iris endures the booze-induced antics of her mother and daily doses of bullying from her classmates. She finds solace in Maggie, the charismatic and enigmatic new girl at school, who hones in on Iris’s untapped potential and coaxes her out of her shell. When Maggie’s mysterious past can no longer be suppressed, the tiny community is thrown into a state of panic, leaving Maggie to take potentially drastic measures and inciting Iris to stand up for her friend and herself. MARTHA STEPHENS directs this period piece with flair, utilizing classic black-and-white landscape cinematography to create an aesthetic feast. With special guest appearance by director Martha Stephens on Sunday May 12th at the State Theatre. Sun, May 12 12:45 p.m.; Mon, May 13 7:00 p.m.
Styx ER doctor Rike (Susanne Wolff) embarks on a one-woman solo sailing trip to Ascension Island in the Atlantic. When Rike comes across a sinking ship of refugees, she is quickly torn out of her contented and idealized world and must make a momentous decision. Aptly named after the mythological river that separates the living from the dead, STYX is an astute modern day parable of Western indifference in the face of marginalized suffering. Carrying practically the entire film, Wolff is riveting as a woman pushed to her physical, psychological and moral limits. Sat, May 11 1:00 p.m.; Tue, May 14 4:30 p.m.
The Infamous Future The Infamous Future focuses on the unique perspectives of inspired educators and their remarkable students, as educator David C. Banks and his Eagle Academy Foundation strive to change an entrenched American mindset, insisting that young black and brown men are not going to be one of America’s problems, but instead one of its greatest successes. With special guest appearances by school CEO David C. Banks, writer John Campbell, and alumnus Christopher on Friday May 17th at Emagine Royal Oak. Fri, May 17 7:00 p.m.; Sat, May 18 2:45 p.m.
The Map To Paradise THE MAP TO PARADISE is an adventure-filled and spectacularly gorgeous tale about the birth of the global movement to protect the sea. From underwater worlds of ice to glistening coral sanctuaries, discover what it takes to build a movement and to create positive change. Filmed across six continents, the filmmakers have set out to challenge the mainstream narrative of hard-hitting environmental documentaries with a “doom and gloom” message, and replace it with one of hope and courage. Along the way, we meet a prince, a president, a pirate, and also an island chief—among others—who are all playing a role in the quest to save the planet. Mixing colorful character-driven stories and hand-rendered animations, THE MAP TO PARADISE is a rare urgent environmental wake-up call that retains a sense of awe and wonder for the kind of beauty that is still possible. Tue, May 14 4:00 p.m.; Thu, May 16 7:15 p.m.
Them That Follow Snake handlers are spiritual renegades belonging to an obscure sect of American Pentecostalism: part of a century-old tradition of worshipping with venomous snakes during church services. Seeing themselves as the vanguards of salvation in a morally bankrupt world, believers put their lives on the line, each and every week, to prove themselves before God. Set deep in the hills of Appalachia, Them That Follow explores this unseen way of life—telling the story of a pastor’s daughter whose forbidden relationship forces her to confront the dangerous traditions of her father’s church. Featuring Olivia Colman and Jim Gaffigan. Sun, May 12 9:00 p.m.; Fri, May 17 9:00 p.m.; Sat, May 18 5:15 p.m.
Complicity (Kazenokiwa Kotono Youni) Chen Liang, a young Chinese man is an illegal immigrant in Japan. One day he receives a call about a job offer meant for someone else. In his desperation, he pretends to be the intended recipient in order to get the job, which turns out to be work at a traditional Japanese soba restaurant. He starts his new life living and working with the elderly soba master with the fear that his identity could be exposed at any moment. Wed, May 15 8:45 p.m.; Thu, May 16 4:15 p.m.
Crossing Beyond “Flowers bloom on every border” wrote Korean poet Ham Min-Bok, a metaphor which inspired acclaimed documentarian Yi Seung-jun to explore how the Olympic values reach across borders of all kinds to deliver hope. Crossing Beyond follows a select group of athletes from diverse backgrounds – British snowboarder Billy Morgan, Ghanaian skeleton racer Akwasi Frimpong, ice hockey player Park Yoon-jung and the unified Korean team, Austrian ski jumper Daniela Iraschko-Stolz, and Afghani Alpine skiers Sayed Alishah Farhang and Sajjad Husaini – as they navigate the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018. It tells the stories of athletes compelled to confront personal, social, political and geographical boundaries in the face of daunting challenges. YI SEUNG-JUN captures the Olympic spirit and soul of this edition of the Olympic Games, celebrating their essence by asking deeper questions about the value of sport beyond the podium. Sun, May 12 6:00 p.m.; Sat, May 18 3:00 p.m.
Fonotune: An Electric Fairytale In another time and place, where people barely communicate and an impending apocalypse is in the air, lone drifter Mono makes an odyssey to experience mysterious rock star Blitz’s final cosmic performance out in the Big White Nothing, a desert surrounding the city. Here, people escape from reality, and each other, through music. A constant companion in their headphones is Radio, nihilistic DJ of radio station FONOTUNE, playing his own joyous soundtrack to destruction! On his journey, Mono shares fleeting connections with a gang of strangers: Teen-hooker Stereo, lo-fi cowboy Analog, and the sassy Bubblegum. Their paths finally collide in an audiovisual showdown with the mythical musician many thought dead or long-gone. Tue, May 14 9:15 p.m.; Fri, May 17 9:45 p.m.
The Sharks (Los Tiburones) The quiet atmosphere at a small beach resort is rattled by the suspicion of an unheard-of shark invasion, which alarms the locals. 14-year-old Rosina, the middle child of three siblings, has no friends, and her exchanges with the world only consist of monosyllables and the occasional short phrase. She thinks she saw something in the water, but no one seems to be paying much attention to her. Her family is more concerned about their tight economic situation, work and the approaching summer season. When her father recruits her to do maintenance work at some summer houses around town, she meets Joselo, a slightly older fisherman. To get his attention, she comes up with a convoluted, poorly planned strategy, going about it stealthily and menacingly, as if inspired by the mysterious predators. Sat, May 11 9:00 p.m.; Fri, May 17 4:30 p.m.
Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am TONI MORRISON: THE PIECES I AM offers an artful and intimate meditation on the life and works of the acclaimed novelist. From her childhood in the steel town of Lorain, Ohio to ‘70s-era book tours with Muhammed Ali, from the front lines with Angela Davis to her own riverfront writing room, Toni Morrison leads an assembly of her peers, critics and colleagues on an exploration of race, America, history and the human condition as seen through the prism of her own literature. Inspired to write because no one took a “little black girl” seriously, Morrison reflects on her lifelong deconstruction of the master narrative. Woven together with a rich collection of art, history, literature and personality, the film includes discussions about her many critically acclaimed works, including novels “The Bluest Eye,” “Sula” and “Song of Solomon,” her role as an editor of iconic African-American literature and her time teaching at Princeton University. Mon, May 13 7:00 p.m.; Wed, May 15 8:30 p.m.; Fri, May 17 4:00 p.m.
In Fabric A lonely woman (Marianne Jean-Baptiste), recently separated from her husband, visits a bewitching London department store in search of a dress that will transform her life. She’s fitted with a perfectly flattering, artery-red gown—which, in time, will come to unleash a malevolent curse and unstoppable evil, threatening everyone who comes into its path. From acclaimed horror director Peter Strickland (the singular auteur behind the sumptuous sadomasochistic romance The Duke of Burgundy and auditory gaillo-homage Berberian Sound Studio) comes a truly nightmarish film, at turns frightening, seductive, and darkly humorous. Channeling voyeuristic fantasies of high fashion and bloodshed, In Fabric is Strickland’s most twisted and brilliantly original vision yet. Fri, May 17 10:15 p.m.; Sat, May 18 7:45 p.m.
Killing God (Matar a Dios) Killing God takes place at an isolated house in the countryside over New Year’s Eve: Carlos and his wife Ana invite Carlos’s brother and father to spend the holidays with them at the rented house. But a strange small homeless man crashes the party claiming to be God, and announces that all of humanity will perish at dawn with the exception of two survivors – to be chosen by the dinner party. With special guest appearance by director Caye Cabas and art director Cristina Borobia on Friday May 17th at Emagine Royal Oak! Sat, May 11 8:45 p.m.; Fri, May 17 4:15 p.m.
Welcome to Commie High During the late 1960s, a wave of experimental public schools based on humanistic and anti-establishment ideas, began spreading across the United States. Community High School, situated in downtown Ann Arbor, MI and considered a “school without walls” by its founders, was challenged from its opening day in 1972. Maligned with a bad reputation, threatened regularly with closures, it was called “Commie High” by some that questioned its merits (and proudly by many within its culture). Fast forward twenty years later, Community High had became so popular that long lines formed to attend, culminating in a two-week camp out in 1996, and a subsequent lottery system for admission. Today “Commie High” remains one of the only schools from this movement to do school differently that survived and continues to evolve and thrive. With special guest appearance by director Donald Harrison. Sun, May 12 6:30 p.m.
The Ancient Law (Das alte Gesetz) Part of the Jewish Film Festival!The digital restoration of this lost gem from the silent era features with an original live score by the extraordinary violinist Alicia Svigals (who accompanied The Yellow Ticket at the Michigan Theater in 2018) and acclaimed pianist Donald Sosin! In a shtetl in Galicia, the son of a rabbi gets a bug for acting and is swept into a glamorous lifestyle, much to the chagrin of his very traditional father. The son becomes the object of a Viennese arch duchess’s affections, and, with a sweetheart waiting back home, he must decide between two divergent paths. The Ancient Law offers a nuanced depiction of both the shtetl and the Jewish ideals of the era, steering clear of caricature at every turn. The cinematography is spectacular, emulating the light and shadow of a Rembrandt etching. With a live accompaniment by Alicia Svigals and Donald Sosin. Tue, May 14 7:30 p.m.
The Third Wife (Nguoi Vo Ba) In 19th century rural Vietnam, 14-year-old May becomes the third wife of wealthy landowner Hung. Soon she learns that she can only gain status by asserting herself as a woman who can give birth to a male child. May’s hope to change her status turns into a real and tantalizing possibility when she gets pregnant. Faced with forbidden love and its devastating consequences, May finally comes to an understanding of the brutal truth: the options available to her are few and far between. Sat, May 11 6:00 p.m.; Sun, May 19 11:30 a.m.
93Queen Part of the Jewish Film Festival! Set in the Hasidic enclave of Borough Park, Brooklyn, 93QUEEN follows a group of tenacious Hasidic women who are smashing the patriarchy in their community by creating the first all-female volunteer ambulance corps in New York City. With unprecedented—and insider—access, 93QUEEN offers up a unique portrayal of a group of empowered women who are taking matters into their own hands to change their own community from within. Sun, May 12 5:00 p.m.
Cassandro, The Exotico! (Cassandro El Exotico!) This stirring feature portrait of lucha libre star Cassandro in his waning years in the ring is less a swan song than a meteor shower rendered in Technicolor. Famed as much for his flamboyant drag and sky-high pompadour as for his show-stopping kicks and flips, Cassandro’s trailblazing ascent as one the industry’s first openly gay wrestlers has resonated internationally for a quarter century. Marie Losier captures the moving, at times humorous, and always colorful dualities of this legendary figure with her talent for forging intimacy with a subject while celebrating his individuality broadly. Wed, May 15 3:45 p.m.; Sat, May 18 8:30 p.m.
Fiction & Other Realities Bobby, a New York born and raised Korean American is a struggling singer-songwriter that still lives at home with his widowed Korean mother. Bobby is presented with the opportunity to travel on a world tour as a roadie for his best friend Billy’s electro-pop band. He abandons the tour upon reaching Seoul, Korea. In Korea he befriends INA who becomes his guide in Seoul and also a partner in music. They perform music together and begin to find success. Just as things are looking positive for the duo, things come to a halt and Bobby needs to decide what’s important to him. Returning to his old life or continuing his journey for self worth in Korea. His time in this land where everyone looks like him helps close certain gaps in his life that question his heritage and his inability to feel fully accepted at home in America. May 14th at the State Theatre with special guest appearance by director/star Bobby Choy! Tue, May 14 6:15 p.m.; Thu, May 16 9:00 p.m.
Jules of Light and Dark In present-day Texas, Maya (Tallie Medel) and her on again, off again girlfriend Jules (Betsy Holt) total their car after a night of backwoods raving and teen mischief. They’re rescued from the wreckage by Freddy (Robert Longstreet), a divorced oil worker whose stoic facade crumbles as he comes to see himself, and his repressed desires, in Maya. As Jules recovers, Maya and Freddy develop a rapport that dulls the debilitating silence of their small-town lives. Together, they subtly encourage one another to chase after what they want the most (or at least figure out what that might be). JULES OF LIGHT AND DARK is an iridescent coming-of-age story boasting the rural isolation of Deb Shoval’s AWOL and the wanderlust of Andrea Arnold’s AMERICAN HONEY. Defined by earnest, full performances and a blue palette, Daniel Laabs’ first feature solidly articulates the universality of queer loneliness and uncertainty across genders and generations. With special guest appearance on May 18. Sun, May 12 9:15 p.m.; Sat, May 18 8:45 p.m.
Dirt Part of the U-M Mavericks and Makers Symposium! Dolores Del Rosario (JULIETA ORTIZ) is an illegal immigrant from El Salvador who works as a maid for wealthy New Yorkers. Treated patronizingly whenever she isn’t simply ignored, she witnesses all her privileged employers’ quirks and indiscretions, including affairs and other secrets. When she loses her highest-paying job because the family’s political ambitions preclude employing an illegal immigrant, Dolores’ neighbors, led by her best friend, Mona (YVETTE MERCEDES), come to her aid. Sat, May 11 12:30 p.m.
Dogfight Part of the U-M Mavericks and Makers Symposium! A young Marine named Eddie Birdlace (RIVER PHOENIX) is set to spend his last night in San Francisco with his military friends before they are deployed to Vietnam in 1963. Eddie and his friends plan to attend a cruel bar event called a “dogfight,” which requires Marines to bring unattractive dates who will be judged for their ugliness. Eddie encounters a shy, frumpy girl named Rose (LILI TAYLOR) whom he brings to the dogfight but finds himself falling for as the night goes on. Directed by NANCY SAVOCA (True Love), The New York Times calls this film “intelligent … affecting … astonishing,” and the Wall Street Journal calls it “a delight … a romance with heart.” Sun, May 12 1:30 p.m.
Household Saints Part of the U-M Mavericks and Makers Symposium!Household Saints is a leisurely-paced portrait of three different generations of working-class, New York-based, Italian women. Carmela Santangelo (JUDITH MALINA) is an elderly immigrant whose son (VINCENT D’ONOFRIO) wins a wife, Catherine Falconetti (TRACEY ULLMAN), during a pinochle game. The pair have a daughter, Teresa (LILI TAYLOR), who becomes obsessed with religion, eventually believing that she will become the bride of Christ. Fri, May 10 6:00 p.m.
Making Montgomery Clift Montgomery Clift was one of the most influential actors in the history of cinema, bucking traditions on and off screen, but countless biographies have reduced him to labels like “tragically self-destructive” and “tormented.” Now, nephew Robert Clift and Hillary Demmon rigorously examine the flawed narratives that have come to define Monty’s legacy. Drawing on interviews with family and loved ones and a rich collection of unreleased archival materials from Monty and his brother, Brooks Clift, this fresh portrait of the actor’s passions, contributions and commitment to living and working in his own way gives one of Hollywood’s underappreciated legends his due. With special guest appearance by directors Hillary Demmon Clift & Robert Clift on Wednesday May 15th at the State Theatre. Sat, May 11 4:00 p.m.; Wed, May 15 3:30 p.m.; Fri, May 17 4:45 p.m.; Sat, May 18 6:00 p.m.
Midnight Traveler In 2015, after HASSAN FAZILI’s documentary Peace aired on Afghan national television, the Taliban assassinated the film’s main subject and put a price on Hassan’s head. Hassan looked at his wife and his daughters, and he knew they had to flee their home. Over the course of their multi-year saga in search of safety, the family grasped onto the only means they had to assert control over their situation: their camera-phones. Midnight Traveler is a gripping vérité story made by a family on the run. Their unique access and artistic vision provide an intimate portrait of a loving family and the myriad fellow travelers they meet on their odyssey. Sat, May 11 6:15 p.m.; Wed, May 15 6:15 p.m.; Thu, May 16 4:45 p.m.; Sat, May 18 8:00 p.m.
Seattle Children’s Film Festival Animation PROGRAM #1: THROUGH THE RAINBOW – Dive into vibrant colors with this timeless collection of prizewinning and audience-favorite animated films from Children’s Film Festival Seattle. These short films tell big stories and will take you on a trip around the world with stop-motion, hand-drawn, and other amazing animation techniques. During the program, you’ll see stories about animal friends, overcoming challenges, deep family love, and learning how to be the best you can be. The program is suitable for all ages. Sun, May 12 12:15 p.m.
Shoelaces (Srohim) Part of the Jewish Film Festival!Enter the complicated relationship between an aging father and his special-needs son, whom he abandoned while he was still a young boy. Reuben’s (60) kidneys are failing and his son Gadi (35), wants to donate one of his own kidney’s to help save his father’s life. However, the transplant committee objects to the procedure claiming that Rueben, acting as Gadi’s sole legal guardian, does not have the right to authorize such an invasive procedure. Gadi, who recently lost his mother, is afraid of losing his father as well. He feels he finally has the chance to do something meaningful; to become a man and stand on his own. He’s furious with the committee’s decision and sets out to fight for his right to save his father’s life. Wed, May 15 8:00 p.m.
The Samuel Project Part of the Jewish Film Festival!The comedic drama The Samuel Project is about a teenager (Ryan Ochoa) who gets to know his grandfather Samuel (Hal Linden) for the first time when he makes him the subject of a senior year animated art project. With dreams of becoming a professional artist, the teen discovers that his grandpa, a Jewish dry cleaner, was heroically saved from Nazi capture in Germany by a young woman when he was a boy. After hesitating, Samuel agrees to tell his story for the project—a story he hasn’t told in over 75 years. In the end Eli’s project makes the finals in a countywide art showcase where he unveils his animated ‘Samuel Project’ with the help of his unlikely friend Kasim, an electric guitar wielding school misfit. And after decades, three generations of Eli’s family finally connect with one another. Tue, May 14 5:00 p.m.
The Unorthodox Part of the Jewish Film Festival!Tired of being pushed around, a disenfranchised Sephardic father launches an improvised campaign to establish influence in 1980s Israeli society, in this lively, crowd-pleaser. A Jerusalem widower with no money or connections, everyman Yaakov Cohen (Shuli Rand) is incited to act when his daughter is expelled from a prestigious religious school just for her ethnicity. Fueled by only willpower and a raging sense of inequity, Yaakov and his friends unite to form the ultra-Orthodox Shas Party. A nascent challenge to the ruling Ashkenazi establishment, their grassroots movement sets off one of the most strange, surprising and transformative elections Israel has ever had. Based on actual events, Eliran Malka’s accomplished feature debut is animated with suspense and humor, relating a tale of underdog activism and dirty politics, which reshaped Israel and continues to reverberate today. Mon, May 13 2:00 p.m.
Yomeddine Beshay – a man cured of leprosy – has never left the leper colony in the Egyptian desert where he has lived since childhood. Following the death of his wife, he finally decides to go in search of his roots. With his meagre possessions strapped to a donkey cart, he sets out. Quickly joined by Obama, the Nubian orphan he has taken under his wing, Beshay will cross Egypt and confront the world with all its sorrows, its hardships and moments of grace, in his quest for a family, a place to belong, a little humanity… Sat, May 11 3:45 p.m.; Sat, May 18 5:30 p.m.
Our Time Machine 43-year-old Maleonn is one of China’s most influential conceptual artists today. His father, Ma Ke, was the artistic director of the Shanghai Chinese Opera Theater. After being humiliated and forbidden from working for a decade during the Cultural Revolution, Ma Ke immersed himself in theater. The mysterious excitement of Ma Ke’s creative world inspired the young Maleonn, but his father’s absences stoked early feelings of resentment. When Ma Ke is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, Maleonn pours everything into an ambitious new theater project: “Papa’s Time Machine,” a visually stunning time-travel adventure told with human-sized puppets. With special guest appearance by director S. Leo Chiang on Friday May 17th at Angell Hall. Fri, May 17 3:00 p.m.; Sun, May 19 11:00 a.m.
Man Made MAN MADE takes us into the heart of transgender male (FTM) culture, revealing unexpected truths about gender, masculinity, humanity and love. Four trans men (who, like the film’s director, were born and raised female), take a variety of life paths toward stepping on stage at Trans FitCon, the only all-transgender bodybuilding competition in the world (held in Atlanta, GA). MAN MADE is a character-driven, intimate, and riveting verité-style competition film, but also a unique social justice narrative. It speaks to the ways in which we all choose to define and reshape ourselves, both figuratively and literally. With special guest appearances by onscreen subjects Mason Caminiti on Saturday May 11th at the State Theatre and Dominic Giovon Chilko on Thursday May 16th at Emagine Royal Oak. Sat, May 11 1:15 p.m.; Thu, May 16 7:00 p.m.; Fri, May 17 4:15 p.m.; Sat, May 18 5:00 p.m.
Jewish Shorts Program Part of the Jewish Film Festival!A festival favorite returns. A variety of short films will be shown on a variety of subjects, back-to-back for the duration. Thu, May 16 5:00 p.m.
The Final Adventure of Kaktus Kid (Poslednja Avantura Kaktus Bate) Aleksandar Zograf, a renowned cartoonist discovers an unusual comic book from World War II. The comic’s hero is Kaktus Kid – a small cactus trapped in his pot. Intrigued, Zograf investigates into the life of Kaktus Kid’s creator – little known artist Veljko Kockar. He soon discovers that Kockar was arrested just after the liberation of Belgrade in 1944. He was charged for being a Gestapo agent and executed. Zograf’s investigation reveals a far more complex story: Kockar’s identity and artistic works were stolen, he possibly has an affair with the girlfriend of a guerilla soldier and he drew anti-communist propaganda for the Nazis. As he explores the story and pieces together the scraps of evidence 70 years after it happened Zograf is faced with his own personal and artistic dilemmas: why do these little drawings have such power to give consolation but also lead to violence? With special guest appearance by director Djordje Markovic on Fri. May 17 and Sat. May 18; Fri, May 17 5:45 p.m.; Sat, May 18 5:45 p.m.
Remember Baghdad This is the untold story of Iraq, an unmissable insight into how the country developed through the eyes of the Jews, Iraq’s first wave of refugees. From picnics on the Tigris and royal balls, to hangings and imprisonment, moving individual stories testify to the consequences of the monarchy imposed by the British, Nazi influence, and the creation of Israel. After 2,600 years living peacefully in the area, in one generation, the community vanishes. Using vivid testimony, home movies and news archive, we follow the lives of four families trying to make sense of turbulent times. Wed, May 15 5:00 p.m.
Before You Know It Opening Night Film! Stage manager Rachel Gurner still lives in her childhood apartment — along with her off-kilter actress sister, Jackie; eccentric playwright father Mel; and deadpan preteen niece Dodge — above the tiny theatre they own and operate. Level-headed and turtleneck-wearing Rachel is the only thing standing between her family and utter chaos. Then, in the wake of a sudden family tragedy, Rachel and Jackie learn their presumed-deceased mother is actually alive and thriving as a soap-opera star. Now the sisters’ already-precarious balance turns upside down, and Rachel must figure out how to liberate herself from this surreal imbroglio. Followed by a Q&A with director/star/writer Hannah Pearl Utt and co-writer/co-star Jen Tullock. Fri, May 10 8:00 p.m.
Time Trial TIME TRIAL gives us an exhilarating and terrifying place in the race, providing an immersive experience as close to actually competing as you will ever see on film. David Millar, shrouded in darkness, declares an intention to rise again. A sensory ride through the thrill and hardship of professional cycling. We are hurtled off a hillside, details blurring like watercolours. The euphoria and the fatigue, the highs and the lows. It’s as if it were ourselves struggling through the bumpy roads of France. David bluntly and fearlessly narrates his last season in the saddle, intimate and immediate, along with the intricate relationships of cyclist, road crew, fellow competitors, manic fans, and the media circus surrounding it all. Sun, May 12 3:15 p.m.; Sun, May 19 11:15 a.m.

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