The aperture of Picks 2 shifts out and in, holding many Revolutions in its frame. With these 10 films we contemplate the revolution of the Earth itself and of our youth's unconditioned clarity of our one home. Revolutions that nudge our collective madness towards breaking into sanity, the courageous revolutions of resistance and love, and the revolutions of magnetic release all entice us into emergent relationships with our humanity. Each film brings a style unto its own as generations of storytellers converge and give context for each other. Picks 2 comes to us from Spain, USA, Iran, Germany, and Sweden and runs ~1 hr. 45min.

Earthly Beings (United States)

In this poetic cinematic world, we ask: how can our embodied presence as humans yield a gentle impact on the future? How do we collaborate with each other and the earth?

SPINNING HUG (Spain/Peru)

A dance film that has as its premise to explore the poetic and romantic union of two objects, such as the spinning top and the rope and how do they give each other heat, warmness and safety by intertwining themselves into a hug, which will help them to generate an endless spin similar to the one of the earth on its own axis.

Sameness: Magnificence (United States)

One woman: two worlds. How do they collide?

A woman is stuck in a claustrophobic sameness. She is magnificently present. She finds her strength in the softness of air and light. It is between the push and pull of the two worlds that she can become herself.

Table for one, please. (Germany & United Kingdom)

Table for One, Please is a short film that emerges from rehearsals for the dance theater piece Life in this House is Over by director Samantha Shay. Exploring the social awkwardness of grief, and inspired by the writing of Anton Chekhov, the project gathers current and former artists of Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch, as well as the Grotowski Institute-based physical theater company Teatr ZAR, as a reflection on the lineages of Polish Jerzy Grotowski and German Pina Bausch, their relationship and how their work resonates today.

تا روزی که  / Until (Iran)

“Until…” is a single-take video, captured using only the switch between the front and back cameras of an iPhone by the performers, and filmed during the 2022 “Woman Life Freedom” protests in Tehran, Iran. The video not only presents a highly intricate choreography for the camera, infused with the originality and urgency of what is deemed ‘possible’ in that specific situation, but also encapsulates the essence of unity, resilience, and purposefulness demonstrated by young artists responding creatively and courageously to an actual brutal situation in Iran.

“We walk. We run. We fall. We hug those who we love and then we run again. We walk together until the walls move.”

The Source (Sweden)

The Source is a story of youthful revolt, of battles inherited from one generation to another, of struggle for survival, of hope and rebirth.

Dead Flesh (United States)

Dead Flesh is an exploration of how dance and film can create visceral reactions within the viewer. The piece focuses on mental distress caused by trauma and how that trauma can impact the body.

At First Sight (United States)

In a poignant tale of serendipity and heartbreak, “At First Sight” follows the fateful encounter between a man and a woman whose lives intertwine in a single, life-altering moment. Drawn together by an inexplicable force, they experience love at first sight, only to have their bond tragically severed by a sudden accident moments later. Before being drawn apart, they are granted a brief glimpse into an alternate reality, where they explore the depths of their connection and envision the future they could have shared. In this ethereal and bittersweet journey, they grapple with the fleeting nature of destiny and the profound impact of love and loss.

in silence is the offering presented (United States)

This short screendance work borrows its title “in silence is the offering presented” from a quote attributed to Chinese philosopher Confucius, which is instructive of taking the path of peace over violence. Looking across the body of water, memories of homeland and feelings of displacement merge as the two main characters, mother and son, find themselves as refugees. Home, hope, dreams, safety, security, and love can be found in the silence.

Simulation (United States)

Simulation is about reclaiming the sacred love of dancing. Our body knows, if we listen, that there is a deeper call for community, ritual, and radical joy. The unfurling movement mirrors nature with its complex ecosystems and chaotic beauty. This also resembles the spirit of the project. No species can thrive alone. Nor can any creation. This was a celebration of collaboration and letting the process reveal itself as we built it. It’s a homage to music artist Róisín Murphy, nightlife, our love of fashion, the infinite wisdom of nature, and the symbiosis and power of coming together to dance.

If you are in need of financial support for tickets, please don't hesitate to reach out to portlanddancefilmfest@gmail.com.