Pushing the boundaries: Experiments in Cinema spotlights innovative from films around the world

For nearly two decades, Bryan Konefsky has brought experimental film to New Mexico.

The Albuquerque resident is back with Experiments in Cinema, which runs from Tuesday, April 23, through Saturday, April 27, at Guild Cinema in Nob Hill.

“People ask me if I’ve seen movies,” he says. “I’ll tell them I’ve watched well over 1,000 per year. Yes, many are short experimental films, but I’m able to see some of the most unique films around.”

Pushing the boundaries: Experiments in Cinema spotlights innovative from films around the world

Konefsky is the founder of the festival and runs Basement Films, which puts on the festival. After the in-person festival takes place, there will be programming from May 4-18, at experimentsincinema.org.

“The one thing the pandemic taught us of the festival is that there’s an audience for both types of programming,” he says. “The in-person festival is great because we get to see the camaraderie of film lovers. The online programming is wonderful as well, as it expands our reach beyond the New Mexico border.”

This year’s festival will screen 100 films — both feature and short — from 25 countries.

Konefsky says the Instituto Cervantes is bringing the director of an experimental film festival in Spain to the festival.

“The director will present work made by filmmakers on Super 8 film,” he says. “It’s going to be a great addition to the festival.”

Konefsky says Experiments in Cinema celebrates the current trends and history of international cinematic experimentation.

He notes that the festival is noncompetitive and is celebrating its 19th anniversary

“In past years, our Youth Lens program featured student films from around the state,” he says. “This year we are welcoming our new Youth Lens curator, Nina Shoenfeld, who has included both New Mexican student films and student films from around the world representing countries such as Portugal, Croatia and Ukraine.”

Konefsky says the goal of Experiments in Cinema is to bring the international community of moving image artists to New Mexico to then inspire a new generation of moviemakers to recognize the value of their media-voices and create films in ways we never imagined possible.

“This year, in addition to screening films from our general call for submissions, we will also be hosting special performances and presentations,” he says. “In past years we have hosted a women’s focus, a Cuban focus, an Indigenous focus and an African American focus. For our 19th edition, we have invited several folks to curate unique programs. Greg De Cuir and Milan Milosavljevic have curated a program of both contemporary and historic films from Serbia. Scott Miller Berry will be presenting a program of films from his Rendezvous With Madness festival. Kornelia Boczkowska will curate a memorial program of Jon Behrens films, supported in part by the Interbay Cinema Society. Lisa Barcy was invited to curate a program of contemporary experimental animation, and Ángel Rueda from the S8 festival in La Corona, Spain, has assembled a program of films by younger artists from that country.”