The Boston Underground Film Festival completed the 2017 lineup with the the final wave of more intriguing films from around the world, including over 80 short films and music videos.
BUFF will host the East Coast Premiere of the documentary A Life in Waves, an intimate portrait of one of the most influential electronic composers of the last 40 years, Suzanne Ciani. Documentarian duo (and BUFF alum) Brett Whitcomb and Bradford Thomason will be in attendance, along with the diva of the diode herself for a post-screening Q&A at the Harvard Film Archive. On the other end of the documentary spectrum is the New England Premiere of Dean Fleischer-Camp’s Fraud, an impossible to categorize hybrid-doc and bold experiment in filmmaking that explores the essence of “truth” in a post-truth era.
Lovers of all things dark and disturbing are advised to pencil in this quadruplet of narrative nightmares: A grieving mother and a bullying occultist (Steve Oram) face their demons in black magic thriller A Dark Song, from Irish, first-time director Liam Gavin. First time director, writer and star, Ana Asensio examines an undocumented immigrant’s day from hell in her gripping Most Beautiful Island, fresh from its World Premiere at SXSW. Valentin Hitz’s gorgeous and unnerving Hidden Reserves gives us a peek at the future-that-could-be (ponder this: death insurance) with his Austrian dystopian sci-fi masterpiece. And speaking of hidden, BUFF presents for the first time ever a Secret Screening.
Lightening things up substantially is a triple threat of comedic treats: A group of awful idiots fail at throwing a party over and over in Slamdance smash Neighborhood Food Drive, with BUFF alum & director Jerzy Rose and writer Halle Butler in the house. Emerson College alum Michael Reich brings his surreal and sensational She’s Allergic to Cats to the Brattle; you’ll laugh, cry, and ponder duck boobs. Rounding things out is the anniversary screening of oft underappreciated Southland Tales, Richard Kelly’s gonzo anarchic vision of the near future (which may be closer to the near present), which we lift up and celebrate ten years later.
2017 BOSTON UNDERGROUND FILM FESTIVAL FINAL WAVE
A DARK SONG – East Coast Premiere
Liam Gavin | Ireland | 2016
A determined young woman and a damaged occultist risk their lives and souls to perform a dangerous ritual that will grant them what they want.
A LIFE IN WAVES – East Coast Premiere
Brett Whitcomb | USA | 2017
his incredible documentary explores the even more incredible life and innovations of composer and electronic music pioneer, Suzanne Ciani. Join us for a Q&A with Suzanne & the filmmakers following the screening!
FRAUD – New England Premiere
Dean Fleischer-Camp | USA | 2016
A struggling family commits fraud in this contentious docu-ficto hybrid.
HIDDEN RESERVES – East Coast Premiere
Valentin Hitz | Austria/Germany/Switzerland | 2016
Where death with dignity comes at a premium, an insurance salesman turned narc must reevaluate his ideology when he falls for the rebel he’s assigned to entrap.
MOST BEAUTIFUL ISLAND – East Coast Premiere
Ana Asensio | USA | 2017
A chilling portrait of an undocumented young woman’s struggle for survival as she finds redemption from a tortured past in a dangerous game.
NEIGHBORHOOD FOOD DRIVE – East Coast Premiere
Jerzy Rose | USA | 2017
A group of awful idiots fail at throwing a party over and over.
SECRET SCREENING – Secret Premiere
Secret Director | Secret Country | Secret Year
One of the best genre films coming out this year.
SHE’S ALLERGIC TO CATS – New England Premiere
Michael Reich | USA | 2016
A dog groomer in Hollywood aspires to be more than a dog groomer in Hollywood.
SOUTHLAND TALES – Anniversary Screening
Richard Kelly | USA | 2006
During a three day heat wave just before a huge 4th of July celebration, an action star stricken with amnesia meets up with a porn star who is developing her own reality TV project, and a policeman who holds the key to a vast conspiracy.