Art History

A documentary immersion into all things Umberto Eco, Davide Ferrario’s film takes us on a tour of Eco’s private library, guided by the author himself. Combining new footage with material he shot with Eco in 2015

The community of Provincetown, which has been clinging to a distinctly American - and yet increasingly rare - way of life. In his immersive documentary debut, Mischa Richter, whose artist family has been living there for nearly a century, explores his home through shared moments and conversations with locals, pilgrims, outcasts, fishermen, drag queens and spirit guides in an exploration of what freedom and community mean in America today.

This film explores Gillian Jagger's work, the relationship of that work to her life, and the role of art in society.

Penny Slinger: Out of the Shadows is the untold story of the British artist Penny Slinger and the events that led to the creation of her masterpiece, the 1977 photo-romance, An Exorcism. 

From acclaimed director Wang Xiaoshuai (Beijing Bicycle; So Long, My Son) comes a personal snapshot of contemporary China in all its diversity. Shot over the course of ten years on both film and video, the film consists of a series of carefully composed tableaus of people and environments, each one more extraordinary than the last. 

I’ve Got a Little Problem chronicles internationally renowned photographer and poet Ren Hang’s struggle with Chinese censorship, painful public scrutiny, and manic depression, that eventually sent his life spiraling out of control.

From the Sensory Ethnography Lab at Harvard University comes a postindustrial fable told in iron, rocks, and wood.  A unique look at Detroit artist Olayami Dabls’ installation “Iron Teaching Rocks How to Rust”

Brillo Box (3˘ off) follows a beloved Andy Warhol Brillo Box sculpture as it makes its way from a family's living room to a record-breaking Christie's auction, blending a humourous family narrative with Pop Art history, and exploring how we navigate the ephemeral nature of art and value.

Humorous and candid, Kartemquin Films' documentary Almost There is a fascinating portrait of eccentric "outsider" artist Peter Anton. Living in a home that has been consumed by mold and filth, the octogenarian has produced a startling collection of unseen paintings, drawings, and notebooks. The film’s remarkable journey follows this witty and gifted artist through startling twists and turns.

An elegantly crafted peek into the secret world of the master craftsmen behind the dazzling designs of Dior, Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent. A touching reflection on the disappearance of crafts, Handmade with Love in France examines the challenges these ateliers face as couture and luxury evolves, the pace of fashion and its impact on handcraft, and the continuing rise of technology and succession.

A captivating documentary that depicts the history of New York’s garment center, Dressing America explores how this business grew from humble beginnings into an industry that’s dressed America.