Press
Press Releases and Materials:
March 5, 2024
The 51st Athens International Film + Video Festival takes place April 8-14, 2024.
From April 8-14, 2024, The Athens International Film + Video Festival (AIFVF) presents its 51st edition featuring over 215 films representing more than 50 countries in competition at the historic Athena Cinema in uptown Athens, OH. 14 feature length films and a variety of short films from across the globe will screen and compete in the annual festival with winners chosen by the independent jury, garnishing cash prizes and awards including Academy Qualifying status in select categories. This year’s festival features a world-class array of special events, film screenings, and after-parties.
AIFVF’s visiting artist lineup includes the opening night film Dandelion by Jackson, Ohio born and raised director, Nicole Riegel. Festival alumni and jury member Jodi Wille returns with her feature documentary Welcome Space Brothers about the 1970s-era UFO religious movement and public television pioneers, The Unarius Academy of Science. Also serving on the jury is New York City based filmmaker Dylan Mars Greenberg, who will present her genre-bending fantasy feature Spirit Riser. Paper Magazine refers to Greenberg as “Somewhere between the faded pastels and grainy VHS footage of the ’80s and the Neo-Dada internet iconoclasm.” Whose Streets? director Sabaah Folayan joins us again to present a new program of her work painting an optimistic yet unflinching gaze on the urgent questions of our time. Internationally recognized experimental filmmaker Michael Robinson will round out the 51st AIFVF jury. Robinson will present a program of his work exploring the emotional mechanics of popular media, the transcendent potential of heartache, and the instability of the collective realities we inhabit.
As in past years, all screenings and events are free for students due to the generosity of Arts for Ohio. Students can pick up tickets on the day of each screening at the Athena Cinema box office. Professors are also encouraged to bring their classes to the festival because of the wide range of topics presented.
Founded in 1973, the Athens International Film + Video Festival has been presenting the best in international film for 51 years. Known globally as a festival that supports cinema from independent, underground, and marginalized populations, the AIFVF represents the values that we share as a community. For over five decades, the festival has embraced experimental, narrative, animation, and documentary, short-form, and feature length films from every corner of the globe. The Athens International Film + Video Festival is administered by The Athens Center for Film and Video, a project of the College of Fine Arts at Ohio University. Full schedule and ticket information will be available at www.athensfest.org soon.
Requests for ASL interpreters and other accessibility requests can be sent to athensohiofilmfest@gmail.com.
Link to images: http://athensfilmfest.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/AIFVF_2024_images.zip
CORRESPONDING PHOTO; AIFVF_2024.jpg [AIFVF 2024 Graphics designed by Mohammad Younus Nomani]
CORRESPONDING PHOTO; Dylan Mars Greenberg_spirit riser .JPG [Spirit Riser by Dylan Mars Greenberg]
CORRESPONDING PHOTO; Jodi_Wille_Welcome_space_brothers.jpg [Welcome Space Brothers by Jodi Wille, video still courtesy of the artist.]
CORRESPONDING PHOTO; Nicole Riegel Dandelion.jpeg [Dandelion by Nicole Riegel, video still courtesy of the artist.]
CORRESPONDING PHOTO; POLYCEPHALY_in_D_Robinson_Michael.jpg [Polycephaly in D by Michael Robinson, video still courtesy of the artist.]
CORRESPONDING PHOTO; Sabaah_Folayan_Whose-Streets.jpg [Whose-Streets by Sabaah Folayan, video still courtesy of the artist.]
March 3, 2023: The Athens International Film + Video Festival returns April 10-16, 2023.
From April 10-16, 2023, The Athens International Film + Video Festival (AIFVF) will celebrate its’ 50th Anniversary. As part of the festivities the festival will present over 260 films representing over 60 countries in competition at the historic Athena Cinema in uptown Athens, OH. This year’s festival features an incredible array of special events, screenings, and after-parties.
AIFVF’s visiting artist lineup includes Cecelia Condit who is returning to the festival to present a retrospective of her works 40 years after presenting her seminal film Possibly in Michigan at AIFVF’s 1984 festival. Australian mash-up masters Soda Jerk present their political satire, zombie stoner film Hello Dankness fresh off five sold out screenings at this year’s Berlin Film Festival. Named by IndieWire as one of the 6 pre-eminent “Avant-Garde Female Filmmakers Who Redefined Cinema,” Ghanaian American filmmaker Akosua Adoma Owusu returns with a program of her experimental and narrative works that explore how feminism and African identities interact in African, white American and black American cultural spaces. Leilah Weinraub will present the cult documentary Shakedown about a black lesbian strip club in Los Angeles from 2002 – 2004. The film premiered in the 2017 Whitney Biennial before becoming the first ever film to stream on Pornhub. Internationally celebrated duo Lizzie Fitch and Ryan Trecartin will return to AIFVF with work created here in Athens, OH after their move from Los Angeles in 2016 to create a work with the support of the Fondazione Prada.
On Saturday, April 15 at 9:00 PM, AIFVF will hold a free outdoor screening on Court Street in front of the Athena Cinema celebrating its’ 50-year legacy. Presented that night will be the wildly popular Animation Night program featuring adult themed short animations in competition at the festival. The city will close the street and AIFVF will set up a 30 ft screen and seating for up to 300 people. No tickets will be needed for this event.
Over seven days, 23 feature length films and more than 250 short films from across the globe will screen and compete in the annual festival with winners chosen by an independent jury, garnishing cash prizes and awards including Academy Qualifying status in select categories.
Founded in 1973, the Athens International Film + Video Festival has been presenting the best in international film for 50 years. Known globally as a festival that supports cinema from independent, underground, and marginalized populations, the AIFVF represents the values that we share as a community. For five decades, the festival has embraced experimental, narrative, animation, and documentary, short-form, and feature length films from every corner of the globe. The Athens International Film + Video Festival is administered by The Athens Center for Film and Video, a project of the College of Fine Arts at Ohio University. Full schedule and ticket information will be available at www.athensfest.org soon.
Requests for ASL interpreters and other accessibility requests can be sent to athensohiofilmfest@gmail.com.
Link to images: http://athensfilmfest.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AIFVF_50th_2023_images.zip
CORRESPONDING PHOTO; 01_Cecelia Conduit – Possibly in Michigan.jpg [Cecelia Conduit – Possibly in Michigan, video still courtesy of the artist.]
CORRESPONDING PHOTO; 02_Akosua Adoma Owusu – Split Ends.jpg [Akosua Adoma Owusu – Split Ends [Akosua Adoma Owusu – Split Ends, video still courtesy of the artist.]
CORRESPONDING PHOTO; 03_Soda Jerk – Hello Dankness [Soda Jerk – Hello Dankness, video still courtesy of the artist.]
CORRESPONDING PHOTO; 04_Leilah Weinraub – Shakedown.jpg [Leilah Weinraub – Shakedown, video still courtesy of the artist.]
CORRESPONDING PHOTO; 05_Fitch Treacartin – Whether Line.jpg [Lizzie Fitch and Ryan Treacartin – Whether Line, video still courtesy of the artist.]
March 15, 2022: The Athens International Film + Video Festival returns April 1-7, 2022
From April 1-7, 2022, The Athens International Film and Video Festival (AIFVF) will present over 260 films representing over 60 countries in competition at the historic Athena Cinema in uptown Athens, OH. This year’s festival features an incredible array of special events and screenings.
AIFVF’s visiting artist lineup includes Ohio University Film alumnus Danilo Šerbedžija serving as the head of the feature film jury and presenting his film, Tereza 37 on Tuesday, April 5, at 7:30 PM. On Friday, April 1 at 7:15 PM for opening night, the festival presents the experimental and genre permeable work of Baltimore based filmmaker Meredith Moore. On Monday, April 4 at 7:15 PM current Studio Museum of Harlem Artist in Residence Cameron Granger joins us for a night of his community-engaged video art and on Wednesday, April 6 at 5:15 PM, festival alumnus J. Makary presents their dance-based and choreographic works of feral editing.
Over seven days, more than 20 feature length films and around 250 short films from across the globe will screen and compete in the annual festival with winners chosen by the independent jury, garnishing cash prizes and awards including Academy Qualifying status in select categories.
Founded in 1973, the Athens International Film + Video Festival has been presenting the best in international film for 49 years. Known globally as a festival that supports cinema from independent, underground, and marginalized populations, the AIFVF represents the values that we share as a community. It is a champion of justice and provides a voice for underrepresented artists and viewpoints on a global level. For over four decades, the AIFVF has embraced experimental, narrative, animation, short-form, feature length and documentary films from every corner of the globe. The Athens International Film + Video Festival is administered by The Athens Center for Film and Video, a project of the College of Fine Arts at Ohio University. This year’s festival takes place April 1-7, 2022, at the historic Athena Cinema in downtown Athens. The full schedule and ticket information is available at www.athensfest.org.
Please send requests for ASL interpreters and other accessibility requests to athensohiofilmfest@gmail.com by March 21, 2022 if possible. ASL interpreters will be provided for the two screenings of Sign the Show: Deaf Culture, Access & Entertainment on Friday, April 1 at 5:00 PM and Tuesday, April 5 at 7:15 PM.
Link to images: http://athensfilmfest.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/AIFVF_2022_press_release-1.zip
CORRESPONDING PHOTO; read_all_about_it.jpg [festival graphic by Alexander Graham.]
CORRESPONDING PHOTO; AIFVF_dates_logo.jpg [festival graphic by Alexander Graham.]
CORRESPONDING PHOTO; fortress_by_meredith_moore.jpg [Fortress, video still courtesy of Meredith Moore]
CORRESPONDING PHOTO; video_still_cameron_grainger.jpg [Video Still Courtesy of Cameron Grainger]
CORRESPONDING PHOTO; tereza_37.jpeg [Video still from Tereza 37, courtesy of Danilo Šerbedžija]
CORRESPONDING PHOTO; j_makary_doosan_sea-doo.jpg [Video still from Doosan Sea Doo, courtesy of J. Makery]
Download this Press Release as a PDF
September 24, 2021: The Athens International Film + Video Festival returns October 15-24, 2021
Back by popular demand, AIFVF returns this October with two years of incredible films. From October 15th – 24th, 2021 The Athens International Film and Video Festival (AIFVF) will present over 500 films in competition at the historic Athena Cinema in uptown Athens, OH. This year’s festival combines both the (originally postponed due to covid) AIFVF 2020 and AIFVF 2021 festivals and features an incredible array of special events and screenings.
AIFVF’s visiting artist lineup includes OU Film alumni and festival darling Tony Buba serving as the head of the documentary jury and presenting a selection of his works on Monday, October 18 at 7:00 PM. On Tuesday, October 19 at 7:15 PM, Amber Bemak and Nadia Granados, winners of AIFVF’s 2019 experimental top prize will present a solo program of their work revolving around queer love and loss, and the political ramifications of patriarchal, imperialist power. On Friday, October 22 at 7:30 PM, Sabine Gruffat will present her material driven works that cross analog and digital signals, as well as a live expanded cinema performance in collaboration with Bill Brown. Bill Brown will present a program of appropriated and reconfigured landscapes on Thursday, October 21, at 7:30 PM, with topics ranging from haunted houses and memorial architecture to outsider archaeology.
During the 10 days, over 40 feature length films and plethora of short films from across the globe will screen and compete in the annual festival with winners chosen by the independent jury, garnishing cash prizes and awards including Academy Qualifying status in select categories.
Founded in 1973, the Athens International Film + Video Festival has been presenting the best in
international film for 48 years. Known globally as a festival that supports cinema from independent, underground, and marginalized populations, the AIFVF represents the values that we share as a community. It is a champion of justice and provides a voice for underrepresented artists and viewpoints on a global level. For over four decades, the AIFVF has embraced experimental, narrative, animation, short-form, feature length and documentary films from every corner of the globe. The Athens International Film + Video Festival is administered by The Athens Center for Film and Video, a project of the College of Fine Arts at Ohio University. This year’s festival takes place October 15-24, 2021, at the historic Athena Cinema in downtown Athens. The full schedule and ticket information is available at www.athensfest.org.
Link to images: http://athensfilmfest.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/aifvf_2020_2021_press_images.zip
CORRESPONDING PHOTO; bring_back_aifvf.jpg [festival graphic by Alexander Graham.]
CORRESPONDING PHOTO; Tony_Buba.jpg [Photo of Tony Buba, courtesy of the artist]
CORRESPONDING PHOTO; goodbye_fantasy.jpg [Goodbye Fantasy, video still courtesy of Amber Bemak and Nadia Granados]
CORRESPONDING PHOTO; Bill_Brown.jpg [Photo of Bill Brown by Donn Young]
CORRESPONDING PHOTO; Sabine_Gruffat.jpg [Photo of Sabine Gruffat, courtesy of the artist]