Upstairs, Downstairs

The Mysterious Stranger(en)

Raoul Lesage suspects his wife, April, of infidelity with Herman Bennett, an artist, and forsakes her, living for the next 20 years in a hermitage surrounded by high walls. He is accompanied in this solitary life only by his young son, Paul, who, at the age of 21, has not seen anything of women or the world. One night, Paul walks in his sleep and wanders from his home. He falls into the company of his mother (whom he does not recognize), Bennett, and Bennett's beautiful ward, Helen, with whom Paul soon falls in love. After a series of thrilling adventures, Paul foils Bennett and reunites his parents; he and Helen hear wedding bells.

Artist Unknown(en)

A short documentary on how people view art and its value in today's society.

Artistes en zones troublés(fr)

Daily spleen, drunkenness among friends, conversations and the passage of time: the video diaries composed by Lionel Soukaz chronicle the early 1990s, the comet tail of those never-ending winter years and the nightmare of the AIDS years. But edited thirty years later with Stéphane Gérard, they are also a tribute to Hervé Couergou, the beloved partner at the center of all the filmed scenes. Slowly, in conversations between couples and friends, the dandy spirit and intimate confession overlap. What emerges is a portrait of a way of dealing with the times and their pain, which, beneath the act of commemoration, seeks to inscribe a living presence.

Carlos Almaraz: Playing with Fire(en)

Mixing archival footage with interviews, this film celebrates one of Los Angeles's most influential painters and Chicano art activists from the 1970s.

A Song for Quebec(fr)

Produced in 1988, this feature documentary presents a living history of Quebec's last 40 years as seen through the eyes of one couple. Pauline Julien and Gérald Godin, two Quebec artists, share their perspectives on the events that have marked Quebec's evolution. Julien, a singer, and Godin, a poet, express their love and passion for the province (and each other) while providing a unique take on the Quebec nationalist movement.

Sickert vs Sargent(en)

Sickert vs. Sargent brings to life two of the biggest characters in modern British art; Walter Sickert - the gruff, aggressive man-of-the-people; and John Singer Sargent - the urbane and charming dandy. The film focuses on some of the most beautiful and alarming paintings ever made in this country; pictures of aristocrats and prostitutes, coronations and killings, opera houses and music halls, and will evoke the long-lost atmosphere of Edwardian London. But above all it will show that from their two outposts in Chelsea and Camden, Sickert and Sargent were waging a war whose legacy still haunts us today.

Bill Reid Remembers(en)

Renowned Haida artist Bill Reid shares his thoughts on artistry, activism and his deep affection for his homeland in this heartwarming tribute from Alanis Obomsawin to her friend's life, legacy and roots.

Love in the Time of Corona(en)

A video essay by Mark Rappaport, which spans René Magritte and Michelangelo to Bonnie & Clyde. Let’s mask up to rob a bank! But make sure that you are home before the curfew.

L'Histoire secrète des Inconnus, le doc événement(fr)

An Experiment in Leisure(nl)

An Experiment in Leisure explores the link between free time and creativity, between leisure and the kind of imaginative contemplation it facilitates.

Caravagyo(pt)

Caravagyo is a duo of Portuguese-Brazilian DJs, Beatriz Valleriani and Kamila Ferreira. By creating an alternative and safe space with a strong feminist and queer message, they combine global and local sounds to connect a community who identifies and expresses itself through this music genre.

Artists in NYC(en)

ARTISTS IN NYC is a documentary film about visual artists living and working in New York City. The artists are in museum collections, have been in prestigious art fairs and biennials, and have exhibited in at least 30 countries.

Another World(en)

St. Ives and the painters based in the town, and the surrounding areas, are showcased in this fascinating documentary.

Patrícia Secco Mostra Suas Caras(pt)

Picasso and Sima, Antibes 1946(fr)

In June 1946, the sculptor and photographer Michel Sima met with Pablo Picasso in Antibes. At Picasso's request, day after day Sima photographed Picasso's works-in-progress in the workshop he found for him at Grimaldi Palace.

Cornerstone of Melbourne(en)

A child discovers a timeless building while searching for her father, meeting vibrant creatives protecting their studios from an impending threat.

Art in Action(fr)

Art in Action is a portrait of two provocative Montreal artists, Annie Roy and Pierre Allard whose urban installations sound the alarm concerning important social issues.

Puguntha Veedu(ta)

A rich brother and sister's relationship grows dangerously strained as they marry into a poor family

The Amulet Game(th)

Jin, a young man, is unexpectedly drawn into the world of sacred amulets. He soon learns that this trade is fast-paced, deals strictly in cash, and, most notably, has no fixed pricing. Under the guidance of a legendary amulet master named Moo, Jin begins to understand the business. But he sees an opportunity beyond the usual buying and selling — he discovers that by creating his own amulets and manipulating their perceived value, he can make much more profit. By using just the words “merit” and “faith,” things start to unfold rapidly. Greed eventually drives Jin to a point where there may be no turning back.

Something Casual(en)

Alex, a first-generation latino artist, and Frankie, a professional dancer, navigate the soulless casual hookup culture of Los Angeles. Dating apps and casual sex reign, as they both deny their feelings and continue seeing other people while they fall in love. A series of misunderstandings leaves these two star-crossed lovers oscillating between confusion (ghosting and ignoring) and obsession (sex and pasta). But what happens when they finally meet someone different? Do they even know how to love anymore?

Babylon(en)

Drama telling the story of Blue, a young man of Jamaican descent living in Brixton in 1980, as he hangs out with his friends, fronts a dub sound system, loses his job, struggles with family problems and has his friendships tested by racism.

The Young One(en)

A jazz musician seeks refuge from a lynch mob on a remote island, where he meets a hostile game warden and the young object of his attentions.

Electricity(en)

A woman leaves her seaside hometown to search for her long-lost brother, experiencing hallucinations brought on by her epilepsy during her trip.

The Visit(en)

Carla Zachanassian had a child by Serge Miller as a teenager. When Serge refused to marry her, she was driven out of town. By her own wit and cunning, she has returned as a multi-millionaire for a visit. The town lays out the red carpet expecting big things from Carla, only to learn that her sole purpose is to see Serge Miller killed...

Almost Friends(en)

A man in his mid-20s, still living at home with his mother and stepfather, puts all his eggs in one basket: the girl who works at his local coffee shop. The problem is, she has a serious boyfriend. As they become closer, the line between friendship and intimacy is blurred, and the situation forces both to examine where they are in their lives.

On the Edge(en)

A suicidal young man is committed to a Dublin psychiatric hospital where he meets new friends who greatly influence his life.

Ashes in the Snow(en)

The coming-of-age tale of 16-year-old Lina Vilkas who is deported to Siberia amid Stalin's reign of terror in the Baltic region during WWII. An aspiring artist, she secretly documents her harrowing journey with her drawings.

The Girl in the Book(en)

The story of a young writer's transformation when her past invades her present.

Charm City Kings(en)

Mouse desperately wants to join The Midnight Clique, the infamous Baltimore dirt bike riders who rule the summertime streets. When Midnight’s leader, Blax, takes 14-year-old Mouse under his wing, Mouse soon finds himself torn between the straight-and-narrow and a road filled with fast money and violence.

Gigi & Nate(en)

A young man with a bright future suffers a near-fatal accident and recreates his new life with the help of an unlikely animal friend.

Imperial Dreams(en)

A 21-year-old reformed gangster's devotion to his family and his future is put to the test when he is released from prison and returns to his old stomping grounds in Watts, Los Angeles.

Never Gonna Snow Again(pl)

Zenia is an industrious Ukrainian migrant worker in Poland who makes house calls as a masseur to the needy and aspirational residents of a middle-class gated community near Warsaw. He is privy to all of their problems, anxieties and secrets – and something of an unwitting guru figure. Zenia’s grounded spirituality, apparent healing powers and broad shoulders make him an object of lust for many of the lost souls in the community.

All Together Now(en)

An optimistic, talented teen clings to a huge secret: she's homeless and living on a school bus. When tragedy strikes, can she learn to accept a helping hand?

Cardboard Boxer(en)

Gentle and broken, a homeless man fights others on video for money but soon finds comfort in an unlikely friend and the lost diary of a young girl.

All Day and a Night(en)

While serving life in prison, a young man looks back at the people, the circumstances and the system that set him on the path toward his crime.

Come Sunday(en)

Evangelist Carlton Pearson is ostracized by his church for preaching that there is no Hell.

Skin(en)

Based on the true story of a black girl who was born to two white Afrikaner parents in South Africa during the apartheid era.

CQ(en)

A young filmmaker in 1960s Paris juggles directing a cheesy sci-fi debacle, directing his own personal art film, coping with his crumbling relationship with his girlfriend, and a new-found infatuation with the sci-fi film's starlet.

Mindwalk(en)

On the French island of Mont Saint-Michel, Jack, a failed presidential candidate, Tom, his ex-speechwriter and Sonia, a physicist, engage in an intellectual conversation about politics, philosophy and life over the course of a single day.

Òlòtūré(en)

In Lagos, Nigeria, young, naive Nigerian journalist Òlòtūré goes undercover to expose the shady underworld of human trafficking. Unused to this brutal environment, crawling with ruthless traders and pimps, Òlòtūré finds warmth and friendship with Blessing, Linda and Beauty, the prostitutes she lives with. However, she gets drawn into their lifestyle and finds it difficult to cope. In her quest to uncover the truth, she pays the ultimate price - one that takes her to the verge of no return.