Silents on 16mm: Camera Magic

One of the very first filmmakers, Georges Méliès, started out as a stage magician. His hugely influential style, filled with special effects and fantastical narratives, has a clear magic show sensibility. From Méliès on, much of early cinema was pure showmanship. Audiences were drawn in by anything flashy, shocking, and unfamiliar. This program celebrates that spirit of breathless innovation with a selection of films selected from the Nyback Archive, including voyages to other worlds, surrealist visions, and stop-motion taxidermy, all on 16mm with accompanying musical curation by Ross Tidwell. This is a companion piece to The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari on Friday, Nov. 6—enjoy both nights for only $15!