SHORTS

THE ARTIST IS ABSENT, 2015
USA | HDD, Color, 12’| English, French
Director: Alison Chernick
A short documentary about the Belgian fashion designer Martin Margiela, who has worked with household names such as Jean Paul Gaultier and Raf Simons among others throughout his fashion design career, in addition to establishing his own fashion house. Margiela has always been a mysterious figure who has rarely shown his face during his shows or in the media. Margiela maintains his mysteriousness in this documentary as well, and yields the floor to others who know him.

THE DANCING FLEECE, 1951
United Kingdom |DCP, Color, 19’| No dialogue
Director: Frederick Wilson
Cast: June Brae, Joan Harris
In his dream, a wool producer sees himself as part of a puppet show where he is surrounded by attractive women from different countries around the world. He flirts with the women, but fails to get any response. Using a magic spell he turns the women into sheep and takes them to his factory with the intent of showing them how important he is for them. At the factory, the women see how wool is produced, and beg him for the new and beautiful clothes that will be made using these wool fabrics. The wool producer grants their wishes and his dream ends.

THE SILK INDUSTRY IN JAPAN (INDUSTRIE DE LA SOIE AU JAPON), 1914
France | DCP, Black & White, 10’ | No dialogue
Director: Unknown
A short but detailed documentary about the production of silk fabrics in Japan in 1914.

FEMININE BEAUTY (BELLEZZA FEMMINILE), 1952
The Netherlands| DCP, Color, 2’| Italian
Director: Unknown
When none of the men ask her to dance, the woman goes to Dr. Faust and asks for the help of “The Devil”. Contrary to the ordinary, this devil can also contribute to wellness with its special powers. And, the solution is for the woman to wear more vibrant colors!

MADE IN KOTA, 1945-55 (?)
Indonesia | DCP, Black & White, 11’ | Indonesian
Director: Unknown
Made in Kota is a propaganda film that calls masses of people to cooperate in uniting as one nation. The short film includes footage taken at different textile workshops, people who have come to donate textile products for recycling and numerous women working on different stages of fabric production. Various textile machines, women washing fabrics, children playing games, doing gymnastics or farming as well as people eating are amongst the scenes depicted throughout the film.

JOBARD AND HER MOTHER IN LAW (JOBARD ET SA BELLE-MERE), 1911
France| DCP, Black & White, 6’| No dialogue
Director: Emile Cohl
Cast: Lucien Cazalls
Child at heart Jobard plays games with his mother-in-law, whom he is not on good terms with.