World Cinema

jurying the final year of the 24fps international short film festival....

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what’s the ol’ sayin, “all good things come to an end”

looks about right…

though i’m stoked to be on the jury for the final year of 24FPS International Short Film Festivals. this is one of the first fests to showcase my work and one of the finest short film festivals in the world.

24fps final year Jury

young ali poetic musings over at "transactions with beauty"

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canadian author & photographer shawna lemay muses about “young ali” over at Transactions with Beauty

“Is the film trying to describe this singular time to others who had been lost in the fog or to those who were not lost in the fog? Both, I think. And isn’t that a feat? Young Ali is poetic and real, the eponymous character living and trembling as we all did, under that same old, silly old storybook moon. ”
— shawna lemay


Young Ali nominated for two awards at the Arthouse Film Festival...

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young ali: those were the days has been nominated for the Cassavetes award and the Godard award at the Arthouse Film Festival.

you can still watch the film virtually till Jan 20th.

tickets avail here: Arthouse Film Festival

Sales on Films on Vimeo on Demand until August 10th....

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in the spirit of THREE WORLDS theatrical LA run at Laemmle Friday, August 4th-10th, there is a heavy discount on Vimeo on Demand for some of my work that is available on that service for people that are distant & or curious, or just chill like that.

not only THREE WORLDS but the 2018 sister film MAN and others….

this link will take you to the page….

w/ love & presence

THREE WORLDS - Film Poster

MAN - Film Poster

A quick way to find some of my work on Tubi to stream for free

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For the time being, I have four features available on the free streaming platform Tubi.

Just click to find WHALE, THREE WORLDS, MAN, & RAINBOW SEASON on this consolidated page.

I’m only slightly annoyed that some of my title cover art has been altered, but we move on….

film cover art on Tubi with slight modifications, lol

Amir Motlagh films now available on the streaming platform Tubi

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Just a quick update I was alerted about a few days ago. Four of my feature works are now available on the US Streaming Platform Tubi, including THREE WORLDS (2018), MAN (2018), WHALE (2010) & RAINBOW SEASON (2019). Like most of these distro services, it is time-bound.

I believe Tubi is North America only, but, VPN, maybe….i dunno?

Cheers & enjoy the beautiful day my friend….

A spotlight on MAN - Kicking the Seat

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A funny thing happened a few nights ago that succinctly describes the plight of independent filmmaking and the practice of sending screeners. Let me preface that with this; one of the most rewarding aspects of filmmaking in the true independent sense is the process of self-actualization, a partially controllable condition. Now, the uncontrollable condition (everything after the creation) is that the farther a vision strews from established norms, the harder it becomes to attract a certain level of attention. This is woven into the classic gatekeeper paradigm.

Ok, back to the first sentence. Nearly two years ago, Chicago Film Critics Association member Ian Simmons was handed a screener to the film MAN (screening at Chicago at the time) by a colleague, he watched the first ten minutes of it and shut the screener off prematurely, writing it off as not his thing. Fast forward to a couple of nights ago, as he confessed this earlier sin on his “Kicking the Seat Podcast”, and now proclaimed that the film had, “blown his mind” while dedicating an entire episode talking about the film. A massive change of opinion nearly two years in the making, done in a transparent, respectable & honest way.

This is the reality of artmaking and it is unavoidable when the access & context is not in place. One cannot demand that people pay attention to your work. But it is always the artist's responsibility to tell what needs to be told, in the only way that one can.

Time takes care of the rest, not in the sense that people will come around, but in the sense that ultimately, it never really mattered in the first place.

Here is the link to the Kicking The Seat Podcast in which MAN is given a positive, newly minted spotlight in the eyes of one critic.

And below, a link to watch on our preferred platform.


Screening dates and events coming up for THREE WORLDS & MAN!

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Our producer Charles Borg hosts IFP CHICAGO’s “Filmmakers Friday” on Friday, November 9th at 4:30pm where we present both THREE WORLDS and MAN, followed by a Q/A and mixer.

On November 14th, at 5:15, MAN screens at Tribeca Flashpoint Chicago at the “Screening Room” followed by a discussion.

Both events are free to the public.

ANIMALS Do Work

THREE WORLDS is HERE!!

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You can finally watch THREE WORLDS on Vimeo On Demand starting now!  This is the soft launch, with many platforms coming soon including Amazon Prime. Though, being an amazing first adapter, you don't like waiting.

I don't want to say too much about the film, but it is a unique experience. Like my other film MAN, it benefits from putting the phone and distractions away for 90 minutes. Though, while part of the same series of works, THREE WORLDS is nothing like MAN on a structural/formalistic level. (if you haven't watched MAN, click here).

Additional info:

Three Worlds is a psychological science fiction drama that explores the three lives, or 'worlds,' of a man who undergoes an experiment that triggers haunting memories and alternate life memories.

Written & Directed by Amir Motlagh
Produced by ANIMALS, Amir Motlagh, Charles Borg
Director of Photography: Amir Motlagh

Starring:
Amir Motlagh
Samantha Robinson
Rey Deegan
Keaton Shyler
Gregory Linington

Editing: Bryan Tuck, Amir Motlagh
Original Score by Julian DW Brink

Sound Designer & Re-Recording Mixer: Stephen Holliger

1/3 of the THREE MARKS, TOO MANY SIGNALS trilogy.

Press Quotes:

"It's rare to mix rawness with beauty" - Marcus Pinn PINNLAND EMPIRE / ZEBRAS IN AMERICA

"It's always exciting whenever a distinct new voice makes itself heard on the indie landscape. Amir Motlagh is such a voice...."Honest and soulful" - Adam Schartoff FILMWAX RADIO

“There is without a doubt a definitive boldness to “Three Worlds”, both in its tone and aspirations, and it will certainly require viewers to lean in a little closer, which is never a bad thing…..a curious and
fascinating watch.” - David Fowlie KEEPING IT REEL

The experience of both films (MAN + Three Worlds) is one that any film connoisseur must have. To sit with an awareness of the film, and, an awareness of how you are watching it, is a surreal act that can only be described as “art.” Motlagh’s work is definitely a piece of art in the medium of film.” - Jonita Davis THE IRANIAN