Welcome to the Nickelodeon

Investigating judge Iman grapples with paranoia amid political unrest in Tehran. When his gun vanishes, he suspects his wife and daughters, imposing draconian measures that strain family ties as societal rules crumble.

Cinema and music collide in an unforgettable way with Silents Synced, a bold reimagining of classic silent films set to the sounds of legendary rock albums. This screening features Buster Keaton’s Sherlock Jr. synced with R.E.M.’s Monster (1994) and New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996), creating a wholly unique cinematic experience where timeless visual storytelling meets the energy of groundbreaking music.

Step into the past through the visionary lens of Bill Morrison, Academy Award Nominee and one of cinema’s most innovative artists. This special program presents four of his mesmerizing short films—Release, Who By Water, Buried News, and Incident—each crafted from rare and sometimes deteriorating archival footage. Morrison masterfully recontextualizes historical events, uncovering hidden narratives while breathing new life into forgotten moments.

This film made by a Palestinian-Israeli collective shows the destruction of the occupied West Bank's Masafer Yatta by Israeli soldiers and the alliance which develops between the Palestinian activist Basel and Israeli journalist Yuval.

Winter. Somewhere between Tehran and Winnipeg. Negin and Nazgol find a sum of money frozen deep within the sidewalk ice and try to find a way to get it out. Massoud leads a group of befuddled tourists upon an increasingly-strange walking tour of Winnipeg historic sites. Matthew leaves his job at the Québec government and embarks upon a mysterious journey to visit his estranged mother.

In the early 1900s, Miranda attends a girls boarding school in Australia. One Valentine's Day, the school's typically strict headmistress treats the girls to a picnic field trip to an unusual but scenic volcanic formation called Hanging Rock. Despite rules against it, Miranda and several other girls venture off. It's not until the end of the day that the faculty realizes the girls and one of the teachers have disappeared mysteriously.

Hello Dankness is a political fable that bears witness to the psychotropic spectacle of American politics from 2016 to 2021, and the mythologies and lore that took root around it. Taking form as a suburban stoner musical, the film follows a neighborhood through these years as consensus reality disintegrates into conspiracy and other contagions.

This program is put on in conjunction with The University of South Carolina’s Moving Image and Research Collection (MIRC) and will highlight projects that have incorporated materials from their collection. During this program, Bill will speak to the Collaborative processes involved in creating these films, and representatives from MIRC will be on hand to share insights into that process.

This Seminar for Filmmakers is coordinated in conjunction with Univ of South Carolina's School of Visual Art and Design (SVAD). Open to the public. In this Seminar, independent American filmmaker Bill Morrison explores various approaches to working with found footage, categorizing his methods based on the scope of the source material used.

The Slave in Your Backyard: The Local Reality of Human Trafficking, reveals the dark reality of human trafficking as it typically exists in average communities across the US. The film features the story of Heather Pagan who was initially trafficked around the age of 14 by a boyfriend who convinced her that they were building something together that would take her away from the brokenness of her own home and family.

The NY Cat Film Festival is an exploration through film of the fascinating felines who share our lives, creating a shared audience experience that inspires, educates and entertains. 10% of ticket sales will be donated to Final Victory Animal Rescue.

The NY Dog Film Festival is an annual philanthropic celebration of the love between dogs and their people. The Festival is a two-hour medley of animated, documentary and narrative short films from around the world with a canine theme. The Festival premieres every year in New York City, then travels to theaters across the United States and Canada. 10% of ticket sales will be donated to Final Victory Animal Rescue.