Web site address: http://www.minneapolisundergroundfilmfestival.com/

The new 2011 Minneapolis Underground Film Festival aims to satisfy audiences with its commitment to finding the freshest talent in independent film.

 

Now entering its 4th year, the Minneapolis Underground Film Festival has matured in programming and outreach. With fresh leadership in place actively seeking out the newest talent in underground cinema, the film festival curated showcase will feature the best in independent film. This year's festival contains underground cinemas most talked about new films, like "Profane" by Usama Alshaibi, about a young Muslim dominatrix is an exciting addition and deserves the buzz surrounding it. 

 

         In a time of people power, independent filmmakers from around the world have been taking control of the tools that were for so long beyond the financial means of lone filmmakers and are using the same technology as the big players in media. Their goal is to create original films that challenge the status quo and that are at the same time marketable. Nowadays filmmakers are supporting themselves and sustaining their careers by creating great stories and telling them to a worldwide audience. The Minneapolis Underground Film Festival is a showcase of the independent spirit and free thought. As the underdog, independent filmmakers labor against all odds to tell their stories and have their message heard.

 

         Now in its 4th year, The 2011 Minneapolis Underground Film Festival continues to showcase cinema's most provocative new work. This year's festival also promises to be a celebration of independent cinema awarding top filmmakers with free production accounts at Cinequipt for future film making as well as cash to kick-start their projects. Supporting the celebration will be Vision Model Management who will host a Friday and Saturday night gala parties with sponsored beer and wine provided by Schell's, Grain Belt and Northern Vineyards Winery.

 

         For three days and nights, two auditoriums at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design will continuously run innovative films yet to enter the mainstream. With world premieres and multiple Minnesota premieres, this year's festival promises to be the best festival yet. Starting on Friday 2nd of December "30 Films 30 Days" by Tyler Jensen is a series of 30 short films shot around Minneapolis that was collaborated on by 100's of local artists. Another film to look for is "I'm 14 and I Hate the World" A short film about a 14 year old girl who learns that how she sees the world is not the only option. One film to see is by local filmmaker Dan Schneidkraut who having won a McKnight Award went on to create "Invincible Force" A portrait of a man transforming his body over 90 days that was meticulously crafted on a micro-budget.

 

         These films and many others can be seen only at the 2011 Minneapolis Underground Film Festival. Founded in 2008 MUFF has continuously striven to give voice to filmmakers marginalized by the mainstream. In a recent interview festival founder, Greg Yolen, explained it this way "When an independent film gets picked up for distribution the filmmaker usually ends up with such a small percentage of what the film makes that it isn't worth it to them. These days there are so many new avenues for showing and monetizing your film, that filmmakers have wrestled back control from the big players and are learning more and more how to compete in a global market. Our goal with the festival is to provide a launch pad for these films and show them in front of an audience the way they are supposed to be seen."

 

         This year the Minneapolis Underground Film Festival also has a new Programming Director and Manager, Mark Hanson. By bringing in strong sponsors and actively seeking out the freshest independent films from around the globe, Hanson has elevated the quality and the thought behind the films shown at the event and taken the festival to a new level of programming. For a full schedule line-up go to minneapolisundergroundfilmfestival.com The Minneapolis Underground Film Festival takes place Dec 2-4 2011 at the Minneapolis College of Art and design, 2501 Stevens Ave S., Minneapolis, 55404.

 

 

                                                       OPENING NIGHT SCREENING

                                                        FRIDAY DECEMBER 2, 7PM
                                                                  THEATER ONE

 

30 FILMS 30 DAYS

FRIDAY DEC 2, 7:00 PM                 World Premiere

Director: Tyler Jensen

USA*2011*94 MIN              Director will be in attendance for Q&A, after screening.

A Collection of short works created from scratch utilizing a wealth of talent from various performers and musicians from the Minneapolis area. Working on a 24-hour timeline, Tyler Jensen collaborated with hundreds of artists to write, shoot, and edit an original film every day for one month.

 

                                                        FRIDAY DECEMBER 2, 8PM

                                                                    THEATER TWO

 

THE DISCO EXORCIST

FRIDAY DEC 2, 8:00 PM                  MN Premiere

Director: Richard Griffin
Producer: Ted Marr

USA*2010*80 MIN              Director & producer will be in attendance for Q&A, after screening.

Starring Michael Reed as Rex Romanski. The Disco Exorcist, a Blood-soaked tale of supernatural revenge, sex, black magic, disco dancing, and mountains of cocaine is being produced by Ted Marr, written by Tony Numes with Guy Benoit from a story by Richard Griffin and Directed by Richard Griffin.

 

OPENING NIGHT EVENT, HOSTED BY VISION MODELS

FRIDAY DEC 2, 2011

OPENING NIGHT RECEPTION 9:00-10:00PM, AFTER-PARTY 10:00-2:00 AM

WITH: BADnRAD, THE MOONGOONS & SO GOLD

 

 

                                                 SATURDAY DECEMBER 3, 10AM-10PM
                                                                     THEATER ONE

NUDE STUDY

SATURDAY DEC 3, 10:00 AM      MN Premiere

Director: Stefan Popescu

AUSTRALIA*2010*90 MIN

In the frozen north of Canada, a young Australian filmmaker meets an attractive local girl with whom she unexpectedly enters into an exploration of sensuality, both on and off the screen.

 

GENDERF*KATION: A GENDER

EMANCIPATION

SATURDAY DEC 3, 11:45 AM

Director: Chris Durant

USA*2011*52 MIN              Director will be in attendance for Q&A, after screening.

The moving film depicts the struggles and triumphs of individuals who fail to meet society's expectations of gender. It is worth seeing for everyone and instructive to anyone who wants to better understand the transgender experience. 

 

VIDEO NASTIES: MORAL PANIC,

CENSORSHIP & VIDEOTAPE

SATURDAY DEC 3, 1:00 PM       MN Premiere

Director: Jake West

UK*2010*73 MIN

Taking in the explosion of home video, the erosion of civil liberties, the introduction of draconian censorship measures, hysterical press campaigns and the birth of many careers born in blood and videotape, West's doc also reflects on the influence this peculiar era still exerts on us today.

 

NOISE & RESISTANCE

SATURDAY DEC 3, 2:15 PM        MN Premiere

Director: Julia Ostertag & Francesca Araiza Andrade

GERMAN*2011*89 MIN                Director will be in attendance for Q&A, after screening.
Two filmmakers set off on a journey to Document European DIY subculture. Whether they are squatters in Barcelona, antifascists in Moscow, queer inhabitants of Berlin, Dutch unionists, or ageing activists of England's CRASS collective, they have one thing in common: DIY.

 

BRONZE

SATURDAY DEC 3, 4:00 PM          MN Premiere

Director: Steven Strauss

USA*2011*54 MIN              Director will be in attendance for Q&A, after screening.

"Bronze" brings viewers through the course of a fateful 12 hours in the lives of three teenage girls after leaving their suburban NJ home for an illicit night out.

 

THEMES OF HORROR

SHORT FILM SELECTION

SATURDAY DEC 3, 5:15 PM         

Various Directors, see website.            MN Premiere

AUSTRALIA*CANADA*USA*90 MIN Various directors will be in attendance for Q&A, after screening.

A selection of short films featuring: ASSISTED MIGRATION by Matt Mullins, BEST MOVIE OF THE 90'S by Chris Weiderman, CANDYLAND by Whitney Mornson, DOPE SICK by Elijah Woodcock, FACING RUPERT by Gregory Erdstein, ETHEREAL CHRYSALIS by Syl Disjonk, REPETITION COMPULSION by Emma Varker, THEY KILL BE DONE by Gregory Hanson & VERITABLE RED by Jesse Esparza, Evan Curtis & Vivi Qin.

 

LAST CARESS

SATURDAY DEC 3, 7:00 PM              MN Premiere

Director: Francois Gaillard & Christophe Robin

FRANCE*2010*74 MIN

Five youngsters who just wanted to spend a nice weekend amongst friends in a manor will find a far less peaceful place than they expected when faced with a family curse and a sadistic ruthless killer.

 

MORKE SJELER AKA DARK SOULS

SATURDAY DEC 3, 8:30 PM                  MN Premiere

Director: Cesar Ducasse & Mathieu Peteul

NORWAY*2010*95 MIN

The ruthless greed and ecological devastation of the oil industry form the backdrop to DARK SOULS, a satirical and stylish horror which uses homage as a springboard for its original take on the genre.

 

MUFF LATE NIGHT HOSTED BY VISION MODELS

SATURDAY DEC 3, 10PM-10AM

WITH DJ ANTON & OTHERS

 

 

 

                                                SATURDAY DECEMBER 3, 10AM-10PM

                                                                   THEATER TWO

 

GLASS

SATURDAY DEC 3, 10:00 AM                     MN Premiere

Director: Daina Krumins

USA*2010*108 MIN

Glass is an experimental film about art and murder. An orphaned brother and sister take refuge from foster care with Aiva Zaglis, a glass artist, who through a series of unlikely events ends up having to dispose of a body with the kids, surreal suspense awaits you.

 

JOHNNY GHOST

SATURDAY DEC 3, 12:00 PM                    World Premiere

Director: Donna McRae

AUSTRALIA*2011*76 MIN

Millicent, a professional musician and recovering alcoholic who lectures in music at a university, and who also has a commemorative tattoo stretching across her shoulder. When she finally decides to remove it she encounters ghosts of her post-punk past who won't let her move on so easily.

 

THIS IS MY JOURNEY

SATURDAY DEC 3, 1:30 PM                       MN Premiere

Director: Kate Brickman

USA*2011*59 MIN              Director will be in attendance for Q&A, after screening.

"This is My Journey", is a Documentary exploring the emotional and psychological aspects of transitioning for three transgender people living in central Illinois.

 

NARRATIVE SHORT

FILM SELECTION

SATURDAY DEC 3, 2:45 PM

Director: Various directors, see website.

USA*2011*90 MIN              Various directors will be in attendance for Q&A, after screening.

A selection of short films featuring: THE CURSE OF YIG by Paul Von Stoetzel, DYING FOR FRANJIBELLE by Hong Zhou, FREAK by Eric Casaccio, & NIGHT TRAIN by Hong Zhou.

LOVE, LOSS & ANIMATION

SHORT FILM SELECTION

SATURDAY DEC 3, 4:30 PM

Various directors, see website.

USA*UK*2011*90 MIN      Various directors will be in attendance for Q&A, after screening.

A selection of short films featuring: ANOTHER DAY by Chiara Armentano, CHIEF SERENBE by Evan Curtis, CREATE by Dan MacKenzie, THE DANCE by Pardis Parker, THE END by Jens Josephs, I'M 14 & I HATE THE WORLD by Kenneth J. Harvey, THE INNOCENT by Jose' A. Rodriguez, PORTRAIT OF A FILMMAKER by Mark Mamalakis, REVISE/DISGUISE by Mark Minax, LINDEN & VINE by Eric Spivey, THE MOTHER'S DAY HARVEST by Nick McManus, SIMULACRA by Sumie Garcia, THE SUITCASE by Nick Collingwood, & 14.7P51 by Jeanette Bonds.

 

PROFANE

SATURDAY DEC 3, 6:15 PM                       MN Premiere

Director: Usama Alshaibi

USA*2011*78 MIN

"Profane" is a moody and darkly humorous feature length motion picture about a young Muslim Dominatrix in the midst of a spiritual crisis. It's also a horror film about possession by a jinn.  Jinn are the Islamic equivalent of demons, but are equally good & evil.

 

SNOW ON THA BLUFF

SATURDAY DEC 3, 7:45 PM                       MN Premiere
Director: Damon Russell

USA*2011*79 MIN

The story of Atlanta stick up kid & crack dealer, Curtis Snow, who stole a camera from some college kids in a dope deal and made a documentary about his life.

 

EL MONSTRO DEL MAR

SATURDAY DEC 3, 9:15 PM                       MN Premiere

Director: Stuart Simpson

AUSTRALIA*2010*75 MIN

Three beautiful but deadly vixens take over a small beachside community. But this town has a dark secret that not even the locals will acknowledge.  An ancient evil sleeps in the deep sea but now the girls have unwittingly pissed it off. The Kraken awakes! Let the blood bath ensue...

 

MUFF LATE NIGHT HOSTED BY VISION MODELS

SATURDAY DEC 3, 10PM-10AM

WITH DJ ANTON & OTHERS

 

 

                                                 SUNDAY DECEMBER 4, 10AM-10PM

                                                                   THEATER ONE

 

RED EYE SHORT FILM SELECTION
SUNDAY DEC 4, 10:00 AM

Various Directors

USA*2011*30 MIN              Various Directors will be in attendance for Q&A, after screening.
A selection of short films featuring: THE ASTRONAUT ON THE ROOF by Sergo Portabella, THE BLACK by James T. Warbington & RECREATION by James Vogel.

 

PAUL'S HOUSE
SUNDAY DEC 4, 10:45 AM                               MN Premiere

Director: Adam Mient

USA*2011*70 MIN              Director will be in attendance for Q&A, after screening.

Paul who is under a tremendous amount of stress due to the loss of his girlfriend, stresses at work and some other things that have Paul on edge. The story takes place mostly in Paul's house where he deals with his inner turmoil.

 

TOTAL BADASS

SUNDAY DEC 4, 12:00 PM                               MN Premiere

Director: Bob Ray

USA*2010*91 MIN

A outrageous and hilariously seedy adventure into the Austin underground scene via man-about-town, social deviant, musical/stunt performer, writer-publisher, notorious sex fiend, coke head, Guinea pig enthusiast, father, weed dealing felon & local maniac Chad Holt. 

 

THE LANGUAGE OF TIME AKA

EL LENGUAJE DEL TIEMPO

SUNDAY DEC 4, 1:45 PM                                World Premiere

Director: Sebastian Araya Serrano

CHILE*2011*86 MIN

After a tragic ending a man and a women get together after several months of absence, they share an immensely painful past, which we watch unfold three consecutive times, being told from different perspectives.

 

MARIANNE

SUNDAY DEC 4, 3:15 PM                                  MN Premiere

Director: Filip Tegstedt

SWEDEN*2011*100 MIN

"Marianne" focuses on the mental state of Krister, a man who is left to raise a newborn baby whilst coping with his guilt, a teenage daughter who blames him for the recent death of his wife & her boyfriend, who's convincted his terrible nightmares & vistations are the work of a Mare, Swedish forklore!

 

SOME GUY WHO KILLS PEOPLE

SUNDAY DEC 4, 5:15 PM                                MN Premiere

Director: Jack Perez Writer: Ryan Levin

USA*2011*97 MIN

Ken Boyd, a lonely man fresh out of the looney bin, who sets out to kill those he deems responsible for ruining his life.  However, all is threatened when his estranged daughter shows up and asks to spend the week with him.

 

MUFF AWARDS CEREMONY

SUNDAY DEC 4, 7:00 PM

HOSTED BY: MARIA JURANIC     VIDEO PRODUCED BY: CHANNEL Z

 

 

 

                                                 SUNDAY DECEMBER 4, 10AM-8PM

                                                                 THEATER TWO

 

 

 

ENTER THE HAMSTER

SUNDAY DEC 4, 10:00 AM             World Premiere

Director: Paul Vorrasi

Australia*2011*103 MIN                 Director will be in attendance for Q&A, after screening.

Nineties rockers Vivian's Hamster, realize it's time to reunite the band after a catastrophic split up, but as soon as they do a evil record company CEO seeks to destroy the band because he fears their success may spell the end to major labels.

 

MADE IN BERLIN

SUNDAY DEC 4, 11:45 AM

Director: John Ervin

USA*1998*60 MIN              Director will be in attendance for Q&A, after screening
A senator from Michigan, staying at a hotel in Minneapolis, is visited by a femme fatale he believes is Satan and hounded by a desk clerk he is convinced is a spy.

 

POTPOURRI

SUNDAY DEC 4, 1:00 PM

Director: Elliot Diviney

USA*2011*90 MIN              Director will be in attendance for Q&A, after screening.
A group of students are faced with expulsion if

their final Philosophy papers are not satisfactory. As a result, they decide to experiment with a series of illicit drugs in an effort to expand their cognitive

horizons but they've underestimated the effects of the drugs.

 

INVINCIBLE FORCE
SUNDAY DEC 4, 2:45 PM

Director: Dan Schneidkraut

USA*2011*131 MIN                        Director will be in attendance for Q&A, after screening.
A detailed chronicle of one man's battle against his own body, captured during 90 consecutive days with a budget of zero, meticulously documenting an incredible transformation.

 

ALL OVER THE WALLS

SUNDAY DEC 4, 5:00 PM

Director: Ryan Anderson, Greg Paape, Joe Galegher, Jake Johnson & Alex Grangaard

USA*2011*77 MIN              Director will be in attendance for Q&A, after screening.

Jacob Alexander, a charismatic mixed-media artist and body painter pursues his dream of building an art gallery in the heart of downtown Minneapolis.

THE MAN WHO SAW FRANKENSTEIN CRY
SUNDAY DEC 4, 6:30 PM                          MN Premiere

Director: Angel Agudo

SPAIN*2010*74 MIN

Paul Naschy, the Life & legend of a horror icon.

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 Minneapolis Underground Film Festival