Achilles and the Tortoise / Akiresu to Kame

Country of Origin: Japan
Release Date: 2008
Length: 119 minutes
Director: Takeshi Kitano

Achilles and the Tortoise is the last installment in a loose trilogy actor/director Takeshi Kitano has made about the figure of the artist. Whereas the first two entries, Takeshi's and Glory to the Filmmaker, could basically be described as one big self-referential absurdist joke, Achilles is a more controlled film, with a proper story and a precise set of themes, albeit decorated with cheerfully absurd humor Kitano’s basic argument is that art is elusive, no one knows exactly what it is or how to appreciate, but it’s run by a bunch of crooks, inventing rules and regulations at will and exploiting the ignorance of the others. Detached from reality, the true artist is possibly a social parasite, possibly too naïve to realise his own talent, easily taken advantage of and cares for nothing but his calling. Ultimately, the process of creating is more important for him than the creation itself and recognition and commercial success are meaningless.[Dan Fainaru] Language.: Japanese with English Subtitles

Short Movie
“Invisibilities”

Directed by Jennifer Proctor

A portrait of Ava Su Ganwei, a Chinese-American artist with invisible disabilities and conspicuous gifts. Created on 16mm, Super 8, and digital video, the film is a kind of duet, a “contact improvisation” between subject and maker. Jennifer Proctor is a film/videomaker and videoblogger whose interests include experimental documentary, handmade film, home movies, interactive online video, community-building, and the environment.  Her work has screened around the world, including festivals such as Full Frame, Madcat, Dallas Video Festival, Portland Documentary and Experimental, EXP 24, and the Flicker circuit.