The 2019 DSFF Program

JUNE 1-5, 2016 MAY 29 – JUNE 2

10 years. Still free VISIT DS-FF.COM

This activity is made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, thanks to appropriations from the Minnesota State Legislature’s general and arts and cultural heritage funds.

94.1 104.3FM

$5 Movies & 1/2 Price Taps every Wednesday!

www.zeitgeistarts.com

LOCAL NEWS, LOCAL PEOPLE.

K R I S T E N VA K E WATCH WEEKNIGHTS AT 6 AND 10 • CHISHOLM, MN NATIVE

AT A GLANCE SCHEDULE

AICHO

Pa He rk re Pa He rk re

SMALL CAMPUS!

Pa He rk re

EASY TO PARK! EASY TO WALK! DRIVE WALK

All films at The 2019 Duluth Superior Film Festival are

FREE of Charge If you would like to obtain priority seating, we recommend purchasing an

ALL-ACCESS BADGE. $30.00 - Festival All-Access Badge

entitles its holder to be seated prior to the general public.

(Please note that each film or event has a limited capacity)

FESTIVAL HQ AND HOSPITALITY CENTER: Festival information and general lounging can be found here, in The Zeitgeist Arts Atrium. You may also pick up All-Access Badges and mingle.

Zeitgeist Arts Atrium 222 E. Superior St. Duluth, MN 55802 PARKING INFO: For maps and detailed parking information, we encourage you to visit Greater Downtown Duluth’s website at www.downtownduluth.com/maps.

Hospitality Center is generously sponsored by:

OPENING NIGHT

RIPLIST

Director: Mike Scholtz (in attendance!)

Riplist Group Members: Matt Olien, Kriste Ross, Bruce Asbury, Travis Jensen, John Peterson, Skip Wood, Jason Branby USA/67 min/2019/Northland Premiere Wednesday, May 29th The Historic NorShor Theatre Doors: 6:30 PM / Film: 7:00 PM

A celebrity death pool is an unusual game in which players pick famous people they think will die in the next year. It’s like a fantasy football draft, but with elderly presidents and ailing musicians. Riplist follows seven friends from Fargo over the course of a year as they make their selections and live with the consequences. Society often frowns on any unusual or excessive attention to death. Some people have called this hobby “morbid” and “weird” and “just plain wrong.” But for these seven competitors, this game of death has taught them the value of life. As five-time Riplist champion Matt Olien says in the film, “Who wakes up every day and thinks ‘I wonder how Olivia de Havilland is doing today?’ We do.” In Riplist, you’ll learn what kind of a person it takes to compete in this contest. You’ll also get tips on drafting your own celebrities, in case you ever want to play along at home. And you’ll get a definitive answer to the most important question of all: “What happens to us when we die?” (The answer: Somebody gets a point for that.)

Special thanks to our Opening Night Sponsors!

Join us after the Opening Night Film at Zeitgeist Arts for complimentary drinks courtesy of Bent Paddle Brewing Company!

CLOSING NIGHT

INTERNATIONAL FALLS

Director: Amber McGinnis (in attendance!)

Writer: Thomas Ward Cast: Rachael Harris, Rob Huebel, Mindy Sterling, Kevin Nealon USA/96 min/2019/MN Premiere Sunday, June 2nd 5:30 PM at Zinema

Dee is stuck in a boring job and a broken marriage in International Falls, a snowbound border town at the end of the road. Harboring a secret dream of a stand-up career, Dee encounters Tim: a burned out touring comedian who feels trapped by the very life Dee desires. As these two lost souls form an unlikely friendship, they'll be forced to face the harsh but funny truths of their lives.

This screening is generously sponsored by Fitger's!

Operating support is made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

HIGHLIGHTED EVENTS

TATER TOT & PATTON

Director: Andrew Kightlinger (in attendance!)

Cast: Jessica Rothe, Bates Wilder USA/91 min/2017/Northland Premiere Friday, May 31st 7:00 PM at Zinema

A wayward millennial escapes to a South Dakota ranch, unhinging her Uncle's placid alcoholic life.

Congratulations to The Duluth Superior Film Festival!

We celebrate 10 years of partnership...

...together from the start!

HIGHLIGHTED EVENTS

DROP DEAD GORGEOUS SPECIAL 20TH ANNIVERSARY SCREENING!

Director: Michael Patrick Jann

Writer: Lona Williams Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Kirstie Alley, Allison Janney, Mindy Sterling USA/97 min/1999 Saturday, June 1st 9:00 PM at Zinema

Join us in celebrating a very important milestone of arguably the best film ever set in the Land of 10,000 Lakes! FARGO’s ok, but this savage, pitchblack mockumentary about a small-town Minnesota beauty pageant (penned by a former beauty queen from Rosemount) is cult comedy gold.

From the excellent Northern accents (except for Richards who mysteriously doesn’t even try), to lampooning Lutherans and lutefisk, to boasting a seriously stacked cast (hi, baby Amy Adams!), this unapolagetic, politically incorrect satire has clawed its way into the hearts of movie lovers everywhere, and there’s no better place for an anniversary celebration than the Northland. GO MUSKIES!

HIGHLIGHTED EVENTS ELLIPSIS PRESENTS: DSFF AT BLACKLIST 120 E. Superior St. Duluth, MN Thursday, May 30th 8:30 PM-Midnight

Launched in 2014, ELLIPSIS has become the go-to online gude to what is happening in Duluth. DSFF is pleased to partner with ELLIPSIS for this very special night of live music performances.

Free with DSFF identifier!

Midnight Movies at 7 Presents: CROCODILE FURY Saturday June 1st 4:00 PM at Teatro Zuccone

Midnight Movies at 7 returns this year with Crocodile Fury!

Programmer Matt Dressel refuses to disclose too much about the film, but says "When my friend Forrest told me he saw a movie about vampire magicians that turn into crocodiles that hunt zombies, I knew I had to find it and play it for an audience." Don't miss out on this rare, hard to find gem.

Special thanks to Midnight Movies at 7 Sponsor Blacklist Brewing Co! First 25 legal drinkers in the door get a free can of Blacklist beer! Courtesy of Blacklist Brewing Co!

HIGHLIGHTED EVENTS

CATALYST Creator Presentation Potluck Off-Site Event!

2219 E. Superior St Duluth MN Saturday June 1st 1:00-3:00 PM

With all the excitement surrounding Catalyst Content, many industry professionals are asking 'What's it all about, anyway?'

Director of Catalyst Content Festival Philip Gilpin Jr. will talk with local creators about the upcoming festival and how we can best present ourselves and our content to the opportunities coming to Duluth.

The event will be an intimate informal potluck.

FOR LEGAL REASONS WE CAN'T CALL THIS A TED TALK Saturday June 1st 5:30 PM at Teatro Zuccone

Introducing a brand spankin' new DSFF event for 2019! *Hosted by Luke Sharman, "For Legal Reasons We Can't Call This a TED Talk" will feature three guest speakers covering a variety of movie-related topics: *Screenwriter Matt Dressel will explore the moral dilemmas of watching bad films with the talk "Am I a bad person for liking bad movies?". *Kelly Florence and Meg Hafdahl, the co-hosts of the horror podcast Horror Rewind will discuss "The Science of Horror Movie Monsters". *And filmmaker Andrew Kightlinger (director of Tater Tot & Patton) will dazzle the crowd with a presentation titled “"Cage of Emotion: The Subtle Art of Mega-Acting"

HIGHLIGHTED EVENTS

IPR RECEPTION AND AWARD CEREMONY

Saturday June 1st 8:00 PM Zeitgeist Atrium DSFF is going to invite every organization, production company, filmmaker, producer, actor, film exhibitor, institute of higher education, politician, lobbyist, or interested party who cares about the current climate of film production in MN to come to the lobby of Zeitgeist and talk about it. It is the goal of DSFF to have all of these interested parties come together and discuss what must be done to continue to advance the art of filmmaking in MN and The Arrowhead Region.

And then we will give away some awards.

With drinks. And food provided by Whole Foods COOP. Like everything else at DSFF…It is FREE

PANEL DISCUSSION THE IMPORTANCE OF DIVERSITY IN FILM Saturday June 1st 3:00 PM at Teatro Zuccone

With the current and long standing diversity disparity in positions of power in the film industry, this year's DSFF Panel discussion will focus on directors and producers overcoming those barriers. Each of these panelists gives a unique perspective on their own personal approach to succeeding in their chosen profession.

Attendees learn how each panelist came to be involved in their current roles in the film industry, what resources they’ve used to develop their careers, and what they would encourage others to use today.

INDIGENOUS SIDEBAR The Duluth Superior Film Festival has made a strong push in concert with AICHO to bring underappreciated festival films with strong Indigenous themes for presentation in Duluth. This effort is designed to shine a light on the injustices, marginalization, and revitalization of Native culture around the world.

BLOOD MEMORY

Director: Drew Nicholas USA / 108 min / 2018 Saturday, June 1st 5:00 PM at Dr. Robert Powless Cultural Center at AICHO Battles over blood quantum and ‘best interests’ resurface the untold history of America’s Indian Adoption Era - a time when nearly onethird of children were removed from tribal communities nationwide.

As political scrutiny over Indian child welfare intensifies, an adoption survivor helps others find their way home through song and ceremony.

FALLS AROUND HER Director: Darlene Naponse Canada / 95 min / 2018 MN Premiere Saturday, June 1st 7:30 PM at Dr. Robert Powless Cultural Center at AICHO

Legendary singer Mary Birchbark abandons a life of fame and fortune to follow the instinctual pull that calls her home. Desiring to reconnect with land and her community, she returns to the beautiful woods of her territory to seek solitude in an isolated cabin. But as the slow change of seasons marks her thirst for transformation, she begins to have the unsettling feeling that she is being watched, and quickly she finds that doors to the past are not so easily shut.

DSFF STAFF FESTIVAL FOUNDER Richard Hansen

VOLUTEER COORDINATOR Marin Molander

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jordan Brown

FESTIVAL POSTER Josiah Van De Steeg

FESTIVAL PRODUCER Matthew Dressel

FESTIVAL TRAILER Matthew Dressel

FILMMAKER LIAISON Riki McManus

FESTIVAL PROGRAM CONSULTANT Joellyn Gum

EVENTS COORDINATOR Brittany Lind

FISCAL AGENT Zeitgeist Arts

VENUE MANAGER Mark Lundgren

INSPIRATION Oliver Hansen Gum

MN MADE BLACK

Director: David J. Buchanan (in attendance) Cast: Toussaint Morrison, Geoff Briley USA/ 80 min / 2018 Thursday May 30th 9:00 PM at Zinema BLACK is a modern-day Malcolm X story, told through the eyes of a black man who witnesses his brother’s murder by police during a routine traffic stop. He responds to the murder by generating a movement of black people to fight against systemic oppression and police violence through community organizing, political policy, and force. The film will also include real-life interviews from individuals who’ve been victims of police brutality.

“I would have never written this film, had I not seen Philando Castile take his last breaths right there on camera,” said David Buchanan, the writer and director of BLACK.

SINGIN' IN THE GRAIN

Directors: Al Milgrom, Dan Geiger (in attendance) USA/ 109 min / 2019 Northland Premiere Sunday, June 2 1:00 PM at Zinema

All-singing, all-dancing, this is the lively story of a village polka band and its city cousins, shot in the bread-basket of southern Minnesota.

SINGIN’ IN THE GRAIN captures what it means to be a Czech-American today and, by extension, one’s own identity as an American. In folk song and dance, the Eddie Shimota polka band is followed for more than 40 years and three generations by documentarist Al Milgrom.

After the post-communist 1989 Velvet Revolution, a new generation of immigrants arrives with their own folk-Slavic beat and different vibes, a far cry from Eddie’s world.

MN MADE HYPER DARK

Director: Lance Karasti (in attendance) Cast: Henriette Soderlind, Ian Vincent, Lance T. Karasti, Tyler Chadney USA/ 57 min / 2019 World Premiere Thursday, May 30th 7:00 PM at Zinema

Clark spirals into paranoia after an inexplicable paranormal encounter.

HYPER DARK is an improvisational character study shot and exhibited in 60FPS. This film was made possible by a career grant from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council.

FIRST PERSON PLURAL Director: Eric Tretbar (in attendance) Cast: Faysal Ahmed, Amanda Day, Barkhad Abdirahman USA/ 92 min / 2019 MN Premiere Saturday, June 1st 3:00 PM at Zinema How can two people save the world? Love each other. On Thanksgiving Day, two Minneapolis filmmakers--the son of a Somali imam and daughter of a white Baptist preacher--fall in love through their lenses and discover that their lives and families are mirror images. With empathy and humor, FIRST PERSON PLURAL shows two families-one Muslim, one Christian--grappling with doubt and imperfection to discover their common conflicts of love and faith.

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS LAKE OVER FIRE Director: Joern Utkilen Norway/ 90 min / 2018 MN Premiere

Thursday May 30th 7:30 PM at Zinema 2 In a remote desert town, everyone suddenly turns rich from a nearby mine. This newly gained wealth has pushed the town into a standstill, as nobody cares to work anymore. When a man rides into town, he decides to play the citizens against each other. This is the beginning of the city’s absurd and tragic downfall, and in the end there will only be one winner. LAKE OVER FIRE is a fairytale western where people rides mopeds instead of horses. And it’s a quirky vision of the time we live in.

FIRECRAKERS

Director: Jasmin Mozaffari Cananda/ 93 min / 2018 MN Premiere Friday, May 31st 7:30 PM at Teatro Zuccone FIRECRACKERS tells the story of Lou and her best friend Chantal as they plan to get out of their isolated, run-down town and move to a city far, far away. When Chantal’s unstable and possessive ex violates her during a night of partying, the girls decide to exact their revenge on him through a night of vandalism and debauchery. The consequences of their actions are devastating, threatening the girls’ chances of ever leaving.

A partnership of film festivals in the northern region of the United States.

NFA:s mission is to support the goats of its member festivals while serving as a conduit for film exhibition, education, and production.

northernfilmalliance.org

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS RIGHT TO HARM

Directors: Matt Wechsler & Annie Speicher USA/ 88 min / 2019 MN Premiere Sunday, June 2nd 3:30 PM at Zinema

An exposé on the public health impact of factory farming across the United States, told through the eyes of residents in five rural communities. When pushed to their limit, these disenfranchised citizens band together to demand justice from their legislators.

Filmmakers Matt Wechsler and Annie Speicher, the creators of 2016 DSFF title SUSTAINABLE, bring us their latest, powerful exploration into the Big Ag. This screening is generously sponsored by Whole Foods CO-OP!

SHORT FILM PROGRAMS REGIONAL SHORTS

Friday, June 1st 7:00 PM Zinema Filmmakers IN ATTENDANCE THE REPLACEMENT (DIR. Sean Miller)-On election night, a janitor feels cheated out of a life he might have lived when his own clone becomes the President.

BLACK DOG (DIR. Josh Tuthill)-A dark family drama set during the space race of the 1960's, utilizing stop-motion animation and archival footage to elucidate a time of heated social and political tension.

FAIRY TAIL-(DIR. Justin & Kristin Schaack)-A hopeless romantic discovers an unlikely intruder and finds love at first fight.

STABCAB (DIR. Eric J. Nelson)-A creepy, crawly experimental stop motion animated film featuring heaping helpings of innards, brains, fur and plenty of eyeballs, inspired by the ViBRATiONLAND song, " Stabacab " from the album Private Bits .

SONG WITHOUT WORDS (DIR. Andy Froemke)-A teenage musician broken apart by his girlfriend's suicide uses music to transform his grief into inspiration and begin the healing process.

KNEE HIGH (DIR. Marissa Vonn)-Set against the Iowa farmlands, Knee High follows Calvin Melbourne as he struggles to keep hold of the reins to the family farm while learning to parent his young son.

REGINALD (DIR. Graham Hartlaub)-A typical daydream of the modern-day zoo penguin!

SHA TIN (Alexander Kang)-Through music, a woman encounters her past self.

THE BLACK BASILISK (DIR. Edward Loupe)-A woman, trying to get away with murder, receives help from the creature who lives in the drain under her bathroom sink. A short horror story in the vein of 'The Twilight Zone'.

TO ANA (DIR. Simone LeClaire)-Ana learns to witness her own value when she ingeniously discovers a do-it-yourself cure for her ghosted heart.

TREE OF LIFE (DIR. Aaron Dunbar)-An animated short about the virtues of simplicity, and the double-edged sword of greed.

GRAVEDIGGER DAVE PRESENTS: GHOSTS OF DULUTH (DIR. Keith Hopkins)-In this prelude to his 2020 feature film, Gravedigger Dave presents a story about a strange haunting at the Norshore Theater.

SHORT FILM PROGRAMS Experimental Short Film Collection: Saltless Sea Cinema presents:

Something Other

Saturday, June 1st 7:00 PM Teatro Zuccone Filmmakers IN ATTENDANCE Saltless Sea Cinema is Duluth’s roaming micro-cinema series, screening avant-garde, underground, experimental or just plain rad films and videos. The lights go down while images illuminate and cinema gets real.

SSC Presents: Something Other features avant-garde work by artists creating moving image art outside the boundaries of conventional cinema. The program includes work shot on both video and film, projected on both analog film projectors and digital beamers. This is work made by individual artists or small groups, always with a commitment to the creative act itself. "For avant-garde filmmakers, this work is more important than money, and money has no intrinsic value. What makes life worth living is an engagement with yourself or with what the culture is." -M.M. wawa Sky Hopinka

The Last Drive In, MN Tyler Lauer

Untitled Number 1 Billy T

Light Factory 1 Justin R.M. Anderson & Blake Romenesko

Truthful Innards Maret Polzine

Miaoye Critiquing Photography Peixuan Ouyang

14 Bales Nik Nerburn

3/31 6:57 Laska Jimsen/Jason Coyle

Double Dutchess Allen Killian-Moore

Fremont Winds Alan Gerlach

SHORT FILM PROGRAMS IPR Showcase

Friday, May 31st 9:15 PM Zinema Filmmakers IN ATTENDANCE IPR College of Creative Arts is the Presenting Sponsor of The Duluth Superior Film Festival. Without the support of IPR, the festival would not be possible.

Frozen zombies, vampire puppets, buried prisoners, and me-too moments are just a few of the topics in this short film screening.

Launched in 2014, IPR College of Creative Arts Digital Video and Media Production programs have quickly become one of the state's strongest producers of quality film and video professionals. This collection of short films, curated by IPR faculty, features work by students, graduates, instructors, and professional program collaborators. The common thread is creative leadership or crew that features IPR students. The screening features work by directors Joe Hegle, Penny Pauletich, Andrew Hunt, Ryan Grams, Nick Hansen, George Widseth, Michael Heagle, Troy LaFaye, and Eric Chan.

EDU Showcase Friday, May 31st 5:30 PM Teatro Zuccone

By putting students together with filmmakers, industry professionals, and post high school educational institutions, the EDU Film Festival introduces the variety of film industry options available in Minnesota.

The festival provides a time and place for emerging filmmakers to interact with each other, form friendships and partnerships, and to create a professional network of peers. EDU aims to provide young filmmakers with an authentic film festival experience, a valuable understanding of the film industry, and an opportunity to see their movies play on the big screen.

SHORT FILM PROGRAMS CATALYST SNEAK PEEK Saturday, June 1st 5:00 PM Zinema Filmmakers IN ATTENDANCE

Since the announcement of Catalyst's relocation to Duluth, there has been much discussion and mystery about what the event is going to be all about. Festival Director Philip Gilpin will present a small sample of content and to discuss more about the burgeoning industry. The Duluth Superior Film Festival is very proud to partner with Catalyst to present a sneak peak of what kind of content this industry changing event will be bringing to the Northland. Come to the Catalyst Sneak Peek as we allow some mystery to be revealed.

'HOW IS THE FESTIVAL ABLE TO BE FREE OF CHARGE?' We get asked this question a lot.

In 2014 The Duluth Superior Film Festival made a rather bold and somewhat scary decision to not charge any admission to our festival film presentations. We had numerous reasons for why we thought this was the correct choice. Much of it was about expanding our audience and providing access to anyone who wanted to engage with the festival. We felt it took away the risk of attending something new and was a reward to those who supported us when we charged admission.

How can we survive doing this? Donations. Donations from people who come and enjoy the festival events. Donations from local business who offer goods, services, and sometimes money. Donations of people's time and energy from our volunteers, donations of engagement and donations of word of mouth. Doantions are how we are able to provide a high quality film festival that does not charge admission.

PLEASE, IF YOU ENJOY THE FESTIVAL AND YOU WANT TO SEE IT CONTINUE...DONATE.

Operating support is made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.