Stone

Strawman

December 2023 •English

After being exiled from his home by his mother, 11-year old Angel discovers a dilapidated scarecrow, and the pair develop an unusual relationship.

The Russia House

December 1990 •English

Barley Scott Blair, a Lisbon-based editor of Russian literature who unexpectedly begins working for British intelligence, is commissioned to investigate the purposes of Dante, a dissident scientist trapped in the decaying Soviet Union that is crumbling under the new open-minded policies.

The Ascent of Fujiyama

January 1989 •Kyrgyz

A few former pupils of primary school teacher Aishi-Aly meet again for a party on the top of the sacred mountain that dominates their village. But what was supposed to be a joyful party turns into a nightmare...

Hostile Waters

October 1997 •English

Based on true events, an American submarine collides into a Soviet sub of the coast of America and an ensuing standoff occurs that could lead to total annihilation.

Schizzopatia

May 1995 •Italian

A spiritual operator, don Tek, gives out advice and judgments to his followers, who dream of a dark, cruel man who attacks them with the socio-moral meanings of life. The dream interpreter materializes and is killed by don Tek who, after the murder, falls asleep to forget. But the victim appears in his dreams, leaping from the sky only to die instantly: don Tek has killed dreams.

Margaridas

March 2023 •Portuguese

Videoart inspired by Daisies (1966) by Věra Chytilová. This short film explores teenagehood feelings as a woman by mixing psychedelic elements and instrumental music.

Rocky IV

November 1985 •English

Rocky Balboa holds the world heavyweight championship, but a new challenger has stepped forward: Drago, a six-foot-four, 261-pound fighter who has the backing of the Soviet Union. This time, Rocky's training regimen takes him to Siberia, where he prepares for a globally televised match in the heart of Moscow. But nothing can truly prepare him for what he's about to face – a fight to the finish, in which he must defend not only himself, but also the honor of his country!

The Unbearable Lightness of Being

February 1988 •English

Successful surgeon Tomas leaves Prague for an operation, meets a young photographer named Tereza, and brings her back with him. Tereza is surprised to learn that Tomas is already having an affair with the bohemian Sabina, but when the Soviet invasion occurs, all three flee to Switzerland. Sabina begins an affair, Tom continues womanizing, and Tereza, disgusted, returns to Czechoslovakia. Realizing his mistake, Tomas decides to chase after her.

154

April 2024 •Italian

The prototype [TEST TYPE • 154] is a highly sophisticated artificial intelligence, which is capable of autonomously acquiring notions from its surroundings and - eventually - developing autonomy of thought. Given the nearly human nature of its learning capabilities, the laboratory that programmed it hires a kindergarten teacher, asking him to instruct the machine as if it were a newborn child. The learning process - which spans 7 days - becomes increasingly insidious in the long run, posing a peculiar yet crucial problem: can there be a form of autonomous thinking that excludes emotions?

FLES

May 2023 •English

A young man sits at a local restaurant with his friend: but he isn't paying attention to her as she speaks. This film visualizes his chaotic state of mind and how he uses mindfulness practice to tune back into the conversation. Mindfulness is being able to sit with and observe your thoughts. Being mindful improves focus and mental health. FLES is SELF spelt backwards.

Green Lights

April 1956 •Russian

Bagage

January 2016 •German

The young Russian Leonid Zaharov tries to flee to the West via the GDR at the end of the 1980s. When he is bounced and there is no way forward, he looks back. Does he give up everything for freedom or does his happiness lie at his back?

The Wild Swans

December 1987 •Estonian

Once upon a time, a King had eleven sons and one daughter. When his wife, the Queen, died, the King remarried. The new wife and the children's stepmother looks beautiful on the outside, but actually she's an evil witch. She sends the young princess Eliise to live in the village as an ordinary peasant girl and turns all the princes into wild swans. The princes are stuck being swans all day long and only at night can they regain their true form. When Eliise is 15 years old, she learns about the fate of her brothers and now she must overcome the obstacles put in her way by her stepmother in order to release her brothers from the spell.

The Snow Queen

November 1967 •Russian

The film tells a story about the extraordinary journey of the modest little girl Gerda. She is looking for her friend Kai, who was kidnapped and taken to her kingdom by the powerful evil Snow Queen. In search of her beloved friend, Gerda ends up in the castle to the cunning, insidious and at the same time funny king, meets forest robbers. On the way, the girl will have many obstacles before the decisive battle with the Snow Queen. But Gerda’s faithful heart will overcome all adversity...

A Fairy Tale Told at Night

August 1981 •Russian

A story based on the tales "The Marble Heart" and "The Spessart Inn" by Wilhelm Hauff.

Self Portraits or: How to talk endearingly to possible victims

June 2023 •English

Quinn is a grade school teacher who is exploited by a group of memoryless individuals who reeducate his long-term partner Amy.

The Noise of Time

June 2024 •Spanish

In the town of Xoco, the spirit of an old villager awakens in search of its lost home. Along its journey, the ghost discovers that the town still celebrates its most important festivities, but also learns that the construction of a new commercial complex called Mítikah will threaten the existence of both the traditions and the town itself.

Smash

August 2014 •English

The model’s feet are uncomfortably squeezed into the heels, and her movements are slippery on slick silver liquid, before she slowly and ominously destroys the glass pane separating the subject from the viewer.

Citizen X

February 1995 •English

Based on the true story of a Russian serial killer who, over many years, claimed victim to over 50 people. His victims were mostly under the age of 17. In what was then a communists state, the police investigations were hampered by bureaucracy, incompetence and those in power. The story is told from the viewpoint of the detective in charge of the case.

Deserted by the Masses

February 2023 •English

Social media corrupts the mind of a young University student--but can he escape the psychological torment of alienation?