La vache qui rumine, dir. George Rey, France 1969, 3 min.
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Listen with your eyes is an ongoing series of screenings for children of all ages and their grown-up companions. It’s a space where curious minds and open hearts can come together to drift through the worlds of experimental cinema.
Shown on 16mm and 35mm, the films in this programme span a period of 70 years, from the hand-painted and stencilled imagery of Len Lye (Colour Flight, 1938), to the stroboscopic study on the history of weaving patterns of Jodie Mack (Persian Pickles, 2012). Showcasing a large variety of techniques (painting, animation, flicker, etc.), the programme is also a journey through vastly different worlds, ranging from the magical realm invented by Anita Thacher (Loose Corner, 1986) to the cosmogonic trip created by J.A. Sistiaga (Impressions en haute atmosphère, 1989), and taking in uncanny observations of the animal world (R. Breer, G. Rey, and J. Smith) along the way. All the films are selected from the collection of Light Cone, a non-profit distributor of experimental films based in Paris, among the 7,500 films of their catalogue.
Ticket holders are welcome to join us early for a free 16mm direct animation activity between 10am and 11am.
Please note that this is a relaxed screening, open to children of all ages.
Programme:
Abstronic
Mary Ellen Bute & Ted Nemeth I 1952 I Digital I colour I sound I 6 min
"Beautiful Lissajous, curves can be put through a choreography that inspires – and startles – the imagination." – Mary Ellen Bute
Bread
Deborah Phillips I 1994 I 16mm I colour I sound I 3 min
Loosely based on Lewis Caroll's Through the Looking Glass, Bread is a series of metamorphoses.
Colour Flight
Len Lye I 1938 I 16mm I colour I sound I 4 min
This film is a riot of colour and a showcase for Lye’s hand-painted and stencilled imagery.
Gargantuan
John Smith I 1992 I 16mm I colour I sound I 1 min
"A wonderful and witty example of what it can be to have a pillowtalk with a small amphibian." – Elaine Paterson
Impressions en haute atmosphère
José Antonio Sistiaga I 1989 I 35mm I colour I sound I 7 min
"The colours don't appear randomly but elaborate a logic of dynamics, continual movement of energy-matter." – Claira Janes
Loose Corner
Anitha Thacher I 1986 I 16mm I colour I sound I 10 min
In the film we accompany a man and a woman, a child and a dog, as well as objects, to an impossible place: a corner (...) The surprises in the corner... surprise and satisfy us too.
A Man and His Dog Out For Air
Robert Breer I 1957 I 16mm I b&w I sound I 3 min
"I can describe [the film] as a stew: something recognisable comes to the surface and disappears immediately." – Robert Breer
Persian Pickles
Jodie Mack I 2012 I 16mm I colour I sound I 2 min
A swimming study of paisley patterns traces this decorative motif from its origins in Persian weavings to appearances in Irish quilting and American Counterculture.
La vache qui rumine
George Rey I 1969 / 16mm I b&w I silent I 3 min
First she cows, then she cows. Standing shot of a cowing cow which plays with the filmmaker and so with the audience.
Shown on 16mm and 35mm, the films in this programme span a period of 70 years, from the hand-painted and stencilled imagery of Len Lye (Colour Flight, 1938), to the stroboscopic study on the history of weaving patterns of Jodie Mack (Persian Pickles, 2012). Showcasing a large variety of techniques (painting, animation, flicker, etc.), the programme is also a journey through vastly different worlds, ranging from the magical realm invented by Anita Thacher (Loose Corner, 1986) to the cosmogonic trip created by J.A. Sistiaga (Impressions en haute atmosphère, 1989), and taking in uncanny observations of the animal world (R. Breer, G. Rey, and J. Smith) along the way. All the films are selected from the collection of Light Cone, a non-profit distributor of experimental films based in Paris, among the 7,500 films of their catalogue.
Ticket holders are welcome to join us early for a free 16mm direct animation activity between 10am and 11am.
Please note that this is a relaxed screening, open to children of all ages.
Programme:
Abstronic
Mary Ellen Bute & Ted Nemeth I 1952 I Digital I colour I sound I 6 min
"Beautiful Lissajous, curves can be put through a choreography that inspires – and startles – the imagination." – Mary Ellen Bute
Bread
Deborah Phillips I 1994 I 16mm I colour I sound I 3 min
Loosely based on Lewis Caroll's Through the Looking Glass, Bread is a series of metamorphoses.
Colour Flight
Len Lye I 1938 I 16mm I colour I sound I 4 min
This film is a riot of colour and a showcase for Lye’s hand-painted and stencilled imagery.
Gargantuan
John Smith I 1992 I 16mm I colour I sound I 1 min
"A wonderful and witty example of what it can be to have a pillowtalk with a small amphibian." – Elaine Paterson
Impressions en haute atmosphère
José Antonio Sistiaga I 1989 I 35mm I colour I sound I 7 min
"The colours don't appear randomly but elaborate a logic of dynamics, continual movement of energy-matter." – Claira Janes
Loose Corner
Anitha Thacher I 1986 I 16mm I colour I sound I 10 min
In the film we accompany a man and a woman, a child and a dog, as well as objects, to an impossible place: a corner (...) The surprises in the corner... surprise and satisfy us too.
A Man and His Dog Out For Air
Robert Breer I 1957 I 16mm I b&w I sound I 3 min
"I can describe [the film] as a stew: something recognisable comes to the surface and disappears immediately." – Robert Breer
Persian Pickles
Jodie Mack I 2012 I 16mm I colour I sound I 2 min
A swimming study of paisley patterns traces this decorative motif from its origins in Persian weavings to appearances in Irish quilting and American Counterculture.
La vache qui rumine
George Rey I 1969 / 16mm I b&w I silent I 3 min
First she cows, then she cows. Standing shot of a cowing cow which plays with the filmmaker and so with the audience.
Listen with your eyes is organised by Open City Documentary Festival and co-programmed by Hyun Jin Cho and Oliver Wright.
Book tickets
Sun, 04 Oct 2026
Cinema 1
11:00 am
Ticket information
- All tickets that do not require ID (full price, disabled, income support) can be printed at home or stored in email
- For aged-based concession tickets (under 25, student) please bring relevant ID to collect at the front desk before the event.
Access information
Cinema 1
- Both our Cinemas have step free access from The Mall and are accessible by ramp
- We have 1 wheelchair allocated space with a seat for a companion
- All seats are hard back, have a crushed velvet feel and they do not recline
- These are our seat size dimensions: W 42 x D 45 x H 52
- Arm rest either side of the seat dimensions: L 27 x W 7 x H 20
for the following requirements:
- We have unassigned seating. If you require a specific seat, please reserve this in advance
- Free for visitors where ticket prices are a barrier, please email
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