Cinema Dissection
Dig deeper into the films you love.
Inspired by Roger Ebert's annual Cinema Interruptus in Boulder, CO, attendees will participate in a scene-by-scene, and sometimes shot-by-shot, deconstruction of the featured film. While the facilitator will certainly share their thoughts, anyone in the audience may call out 'Stop' and either ask a question of the group or make an observation around a certain shot or moment in the film.
Each Cinema Dissection program is expected be six hours in length with two 15-minute intermissions. The film will not be screened in its entirety so participants are encouraged to view the featured film in advance of the program. Participants will be jumping straight in to the analysis from the beginning of the session. If you have additional questions about this program, please email us.
Cinema Dissection: American Graffiti
September 14, 2024
Produced by Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas’s nostalgic coming-of-age drama American Graffiti established him as a major filmmaker within the Hollywood system. Join facilitator and SIFF Programmer Dan Doody for a shot-by-shot examination of this blockbuster hit.
Cinema Dissection: The Blair Witch Project
October 19, 2024
Explore the impact of the 1999 cult classic, The Blair Witch Project, with local filmmaker Jeremy Cropf. Analyze its groundbreaking approach to found footage horror and its revolutionary role in film marketing.
Cinema Dissection: Halloween
October 26, 2024
Join facilitator and SIFF Programmer Dan Doody for a scene-by-scene—or should that be a slash-by-slash—breakdown of John Carpenter’s Halloween, which firmly established the slasher film as a popular and lucrative sub-genre of horror.
Cinema Dissection: Blood Simple
November 2, 2024
Join facilitator and SIFF Programmer Dan Doody on a scene-by-scene investigation of one of the most audacious indie film debuts of the ‘80s: Blood Simple, the hard-boiled, neon-lit, sleazy Texas neo-noir directed by Joel & Ethan Coen.
Cinema Dissection: Children of Men
November 23, 2024
Local filmmaker Jeremy Cropf guides students through an in-depth analysis of Alfonso Cuarón’s 2006 film Children of Men. Explore the film's innovative cinematography, its striking relevance to contemporary issues, and its significant impact on the film industry.
Cinema Dissection: Strange Days
December 7, 2024
Join local filmmaker Jeremy Cropf for an in-depth exploration of Kathryn Bigelow’s 1995 cult sci-fi action film, Strange Days. Delve into the film’s innovative filmmaking, prescient themes, initial box-office failure, and its recent reassessment as a significant work of ‘90s cinema.
Cinema Dissection: It’s a Wonderful Life
December 21, 2024
Join facilitator and SIFF Programmer Dan Doody for a scene-by-scene breakdown of George Bailey’s life in Bedford Falls as he searches for happiness, love, and, of course, Zuzu’s petals.