Appalachian Department of Theatre and Dance presents “Movies by Movers” film festival

View larger image — “Platform 13,” a film by Camiel Zwart, is part of the Professional Shorts from around the world component of the “Movies by Movers” film festival. Photo by Camiel Zwart

By Meghan McCandless

Posted Sep. 8, 2016 at 1:20 p.m.

BOONE—The “Movies by Movers” film festival kicks off the Appalachian State University Department of Theatre and Dance’s 2016-17 season Sept. 8 – 10.

“Movies by Movers” is an annual festival dedicated to the celebration of the conversation between the body and the camera. It showcases collaboration between the ephemeral art of live movement and the perpetual nature of film. Students, emerging artists, seasoned professionals, even those who would not consider themselves artists but have great ideas, find room on the festival’s screens to share their craft.

Founded seven years ago by Dr. Cara Hagan, assistant professor of dance studies, “Movies by Movers” recently merged with the American Dance Festival’s (ADF) International Screendance Festival. This free film showcase will be held at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, Varsity Gym Daniel and Daniel Boone Native Gardens. The screening schedule follows:

Thursday, Sept. 8, at 2 p.m.: Student Shorts, Varsity Gym, Room # 208
Thursday, Sept. 8, at 6 p.m.: Butoh Shorts screening with panel, Turchin Center
Friday, Sept. 9, at 7 p.m.: Professional Shorts 1, Turchin Center
Friday, Sept. 9, at 8:30 p.m.: “MA” feature presentation, Turchin Center
Saturday, Sept. 10, at 2 p.m.: “Black Ballerina,” a documentary, Turchin Center
Saturday, Sept. 10, at 4 p.m.: Professional Shorts 2, Turchin Center
Saturday, Sept. 10, at 8:30 p.m.: Professional Shorts 3 and closing celebration at the Daniel Boone Native Gardens (rain location: Varsity Gym, Room 208)

“Beginning with its first incarnation, ‘Movies by Movers’ has been such a gift to curate and produce,” said Hagan. “For me, the festival has been a way to support artists in their creative endeavors, bringing disparate works of art together to be in conversation with each other. It has been a vehicle to exercise my own creativity through curation, and it has been an incredible research platform through which to contribute to the theoretical and philosophical discourse around the art of screendance.

“The opportunity to merge with ADF means that I can continue to nurture aspects of the vision I began with seven years ago, with the support and visibility of a world-renowned arts organization and a broad community of artists and thinkers.”

The upcoming festival is a result of the largest submission pool ever, and Hagan is thrilled that Appalachian will present this collection of films created by nationally and internationally recognized artists from across the globe.

“Films range in style from fun and fancy to dark and broody, with tons in between,” said Hagan. “You’ll find amazing movers, animation, documentary and more.”

“My favorites include the feature film ‘MA’ by Celia Rowlson Hall,” said Hagan. “It’s a narrative film with no words, only body language and sound design to tell a reimagined version of the journey of Mother Mary.

“Shot in the desert of the American Southwest, the imagery is stunning. I also love the short film ‘Platform 13’ a ‘tragicomic tale of a Japanese train guard who controls large crowds with powerful, graceful gestures, who finds himself in his worst nightmare: a strange world that has no need for him or his signals.’”

In addition to Hagan, the festival also was curated by Senior Lecturer Regina Gulick, and Associate Professor Susan Lutz worked with Stephanie Allen, a Los-Angeles based film consultant. Appalachian’s Department of Theatre and Dance is hosting the festival for the second consecutive year.

For a complete description of each film and for more information about “Movies by Movers,” visit http://theatreanddance.appstate.edu and click on “Performances.”

About the Department of Theatre and Dance

The Department of Theatre and Dance is housed in Appalachian’s College of Fine and Applied Arts. Its mission is to facilitate transformative experiences for students and the public, which cultivate compassionate, creative and collaborative communities through theatre and dance. The department also values the opportunity to offer coursework for integrated learning through the arts to the general university student population. Vital to the support of this mission is a dynamic co-curricular production program that provides exemplary theatre and dance experiences to departmental students, the university community and the region. The departmental philosophy is to support the university’s liberal arts environment through a balanced and integrated emphasis on teaching, creative activity, scholarship and service.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.