Now screening in your living room: Virtual Cinema from MFAH Films. Curated by the film department, the lineup includes new features, #MFAHatHome documentaries, and repertory classics. Visit mfah.org/virtualcinema for tickets and help with Virtual Cinema the streaming process. Your ticket purchase supports the film department. November 2020 OPENS NOVEMBER 4 Repertory Documentary LA STRADA CITY HALL Directed by Federico Fellini Directed by Frederick Wiseman (Italy, 1954, 108 min., in Italian with English subtitles) (USA, 2020, 272 min.) In celebration of Federico Fellini’s The Museum continues a tradition of (1920–1993) centennial, the Italian auteur’s presenting the latest films by veteran fourth film is presented in a new 4K digital documentarian Frederick Wiseman. Over restoration. In Fellini’s haunting vision a career spanning more than 40 nonfiction of masculinity and femininity, childlike, films, Wiseman has become known for his carefree Gelsomina (Giulietta Masina) signature observational style and the films’ is sold to Zampanò (Anthony Quinn), a epic lengths (perfect for binge watching!). traveling circus strongman. An enormous City Hall is about Boston, but it holds appeal international success and personal triumph for residents of any modern city. The focus for Masina, La strada was awarded is on the hard-working mayor, Martin Walsh, the Academy Award for Best Foreign who emerges as the star. Walsh, who rose Language Film of its year. The Los Angeles from construction work to union leadership to politics, connects to Times exclaims, “Masina’s presence is constituents by invoking his own adversities, including childhood cancer one of the most magical in world cinema.” and addiction recovery. The film unfolds in a sequence of scenes Alessandro Carrera, professor and director showing Mayor Walsh, other elected officials, and everyday citizens of Italian studies at the University of intersecting around issues and services that are essential to quality of Houston and author of Fellini’s Eternal life. The mayor is shown championing environmentalism, immigrant Rome: Paganism and Christianity in the rights, and gender equality. Houstonians will appreciate an early scene Films of Federico Fellini, says, “it is one of when Mayor Walsh references conversations with Houston’s Mayor the most moving films that you will ever Sylvester Turner. As Wiseman explains: “I made City Hall to illustrate see. La strada is whatever you want it to why government is necessary for people to successfully live together. be, Neorealism, the end of Neorealism, a fairy tale, the Beauty and the City Hall shows a city government offering a wide variety of important Beast, a Christian film, a Buddhist film. In the end, it is a message to and necessary services to a major American city whose population the universe saying, against all odds, that life makes sense.” exemplifies the history of diversity of our country.” OPENS NOVEMBER 11 Short Films CINETRACTS ‘20 Various directors (Various countries, 2019–2020, 44 min.) Cinetracts ’20 is a compilation of new shorts by 20 filmmakers from around the world. Commissioned by the Wexner Center for the Arts, it takes inspiration from the 1968 cinematic response of French filmmakers to political and social upheaval in Paris. For the 2020 edition, filmmakers were invited to capture “the zeitgeist in your own backyard,” in the time span of two minutes! Highlights from this global portrait include Tony Buba’s record of a protest demanding a civilian review board for police in his native Pittsburgh, and Želimir Žilnik’s glimpse of Serbian life on the day of the country’s fraught 2020 parliamentary election. A number of the films reflect how the present is inextricably linked to the past, from Kelly Gallagher’s stop-motion consideration of the abolitionist history of her current hometown of Syracuse to a cinematic statement by Karrabing Film Collective on the ancestral resilience that informs current generations of Aboriginal resistance to the enduring effects of colonialism. The Museum joins institutions across the United States in offering a virtual engagement of Cinetracts ‘20, free of charge. #MFAHatHome Virtual Cinema (cont.) November 2020 OPENS NOVEMBER 12 OPENS NOVEMBER 18 Short Films Documentary KID FLICKS 1 CODED BIAS Various directors Directed by Shalini Kantayya (Various countries, 2020, 58 min.) (USA/China/UK, 2020, 90 min.) For ages 5+ When MIT Media Lab researcher Joy KID FLICKS 2 Buolamwini discovers that most facial- Various directors recognition software misidentifies (Various countries, 2020, 66 min., in original women and darker-skinned faces, she languages with English subtitles) is compelled to investigate further. For ages 8+ What she learns drives her to establish the Algorithmic Justice League, an ¡VIVA KID FLICKS! advocacy organization that combines Various directors art and research to illuminate the social (Various countries, 2020, 65 min., in Spanish implications and harms of artificial with English subtitles) intelligence. Centering on the voices of For ages 8+ women leading the charge to ensure our civil rights are protected, Coded New York International Children’s Bias asks two key questions: what is Film Festival: Kid Flicks features the impact of Artificial Intelligence’s amazing short films from around the increasing role in governing our world, sure to inspire delight, curiosity, liberties? And what are the consequences for people stuck in the and conversation for viewers big and crosshairs because of their race, color, and gender? Buolamwini small. Perennially popular with MFAH states, “Because of the power of these tools, left unregulated audiences, this year’s programs are there is no recourse for abuse . we need laws.” This timely perfect for home movie nights! With documentary premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival and animation, live action, and documentary has been shown at numerous human rights festivals prior to its films from 14 countries, Kid Flicks virtual theatrical release in the United States. spans a diversity of styles, cultures, and themes that will give your family plenty of inspiration and conversation, long after the programs are done. This year’s schedule includes a program of Spanish-language short films suitable for ages 8 and up. KOREAN FILM DAYS RETURNS! Our second annual Korean Film Days festival takes place online, December 4–13. Following the international success of Bong Joon-Ho’s Parasite, worldwide ABOUT VIRTUAL CINEMA awareness of Korea’s strong national cinema has expanded. This year’s lineup includes drama, While the Brown Auditorium Theater is currently closed for films comedy, action, and a foodie and lectures, the Museum is offering a virtual cinema series. documentary! All will be available Films are available online through ticketed streaming platforms. to stream during the festival. Visit Please visit mfah.org/virtualcinema and follow the instructions mfah.org/virtualcinema for details to find the page for the movie you’d like to watch. Ticket prices of how to enjoy this virtual film festival from your home. vary, and a portion of your ticket supports the film department. If you have any questions, please inquire at any of the Museum’s visitor desks. We look forward to watching films together in the Generous support has been provided by the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Houston. Brown Auditorium Theater soon! The MFAH film department is supported by Tenaris; the Vaughn Foundation; Nina and Michael Zilkha; Franci Neely; The Consulate General of the Republic of Korea; Carrin Patman and Jim Derrick; Lynn S. Wyatt; ILEX Foundation; L’Alliance Française de Houston; and The Foundation for Independent Media Arts. fb.com/mfahfilms twitter.com/mfahfilms Brown Auditorium Theater, The Caroline Wiess Law Building, 1001 Bissonnet Street 713-639-7515 mfah.org/film.