I was talking to someone last night about how hard it is to answer the most oft asked question of me as a programmer: “What’s your favorite film in the festival?”

I have stolen Lane’s line, saying, “The one playing right now! Go see that one.”

But then we started talking about films, favorite films in general and about how sometimes, when a film affects you at a certain time, it can become a favorite because it immediately takes you back to a time in your life.

IDIOTS AND ANGELS
9:40 p.m. Wednesday, November 5 , Arclight 9
1:00 p.m. Thursday, November 6, Arclight 10

That’s how I feel about Bill Plympton’s animation.

There was one art house in the Salt Lake City. It was in the basement of head shop, and I used to go there to see Spike and Mike’s animated shows. Plympton’s stuff was so amazing and weird and cool. It immediately takes me back to that time in my life, and I love it.

So, the dazzling and twisted Bill Plympton’s new film, IDIOTS AND ANGELS, is screening at AFI FEST—you gotta see it. It’s a dark comedy without words and made in his signature style; this film follows a vicious fellow who begins to develop wings that seem to have altogether different plans for him than he anticipated. Things become more complex as those around him become jealous and begin scheming. Plympton creates a well-imagined universe and then slowly unravels it in front of you.

And then at 3:30 p.m.on Saturday November 8, in the Cinema Lounge, Mr. Plympton is speaking at one of our TALK/SHOWS. He’ll be showing his work and giving a short instruction on animation. TALK/SHOWS are free and open to the public and, as a bonus, everyone who comes will get a signed drawing. I’ll be first in line.

Shaz Bennet,
AFI FEST Associate Director of Programming