Screening with Delight

The ongoing Free Form Film Festival pulls from a diverse pool of work from a wide array of filmmakers. In past years the FFFF has twisted the cinematic tradition by doing such things as projecting films onto a bubble rather than a screen, recutting found films and adding a soundtrack, and showing experimental pieces you wouldn't find at Plaza Frontenac Cinema. When the fest comes to the Mad Art Gallery (2727 South 12th Street; 314-771-8230), it's featuring a 61-minute documentary on transient workers (Lay Down Tracks) and a bunch of found holiday-themed films. The former follows five unusual workers, including a nun riverboat pilot and a chimney-sweep surfer, as they make a living in the United States. The vintage holiday flicks range from the bizarre to the sublime and are co-curated by Ryan Wylie. All this, plus a cash bar and live music, for a suggested donation of $5? This doesn't even compare to the megaplex; this is real film, and it's fun. Visit www.madart.com and www.freeformfilm.org for details; the doors open at 6 p.m.
Fri., Dec. 28, 2007