An autobiographical short film about a mastectomy journey. And the questions that follow about how to define beauty, femininity, and strength.ext goes here

Directed by Seth Thompson and Hannah Sullivan

Hannah & Seth have collaborated as an artistic team with ArtPeers and Dance In The Annex on many art, screendance and experimental films. The collaborative nature of their process, alongside the support of both production companies, gives them the freedom to move between the roles of Director, Editor and Producer without strict delineation. And it's this very nature of collaboration that creates human stories with raw content, big emotions, and an edgy push. Their films have been experienced by audiences on 4 continents and in dozens of festivals. Some films have even been awarded (which tickles our fancies).

Chasing (Me)mory is an exploration through movement of the different ways a person and their care givers might experience memory loss or Alzheimer's disease.

Directed and Produced by Kara Madden Brems

Step into the vibrant world of "Gloria", a dance/performance film by the director Nikos Mpouyioukas. Starring the captivating Fenia Apostolou, "Gloria" invites you to experience life through the eyes of its titular character, a trans woman and sex worker navigating the streets of contemporary Athens. Through a series of vignettes, we unravel the layers of Gloria's multifaceted persona, delving deep into her daily struggles, triumphs, and moments of raw vulnerability. Expressing her feelings through the power of performance and dance, Gloria's story is a not only heartfelt exploration of identity, resilience, and the universal quest for acceptance, but also a statement of personal truth as Fenia brings her experiences as a trans woman on the film.

Directed and Produced by Nikos Mpouyioukas

Nikos Mpouyioukas, Born in Athens, Greece, he enrolled in Hellenic Cinema & Television School Stavrakos in parallel with his studies in business administration. In 2021, Nikos moved to Berlin in order to attend the postgraduate programme of MetFilm School. His short film "City of Lost Souls" has been screened worlwide and won awards in USA, UK and Greece. Apart from narrative films, Nikos has directed dance films, music videos and video art. He is now an independent filmmaker, based in Athens

What grows in the dug up, broken parts of our post-industrial cities and ourselves?

Heartlands: Earth & Bones explores the excavation of the land beneath our feet, how this relates to our bodies, and whether we can feel the weight of industry in our bones.

Inspired by the post-industrial landscapes of l'Estrie/the Eastern Townships in south-eastern Québec and her hometown of Stoke-on-Trent, Clare Reynolds (Restoke) created this solo in collaboration with dancer Patsy Browne-Hope.

Committed to film by filmmakers Suzanne and Darren James-Teale (Junction15) the solo is staged within the overgrown remains of Chatterley Whitfield Colliery, Stoke-on-Trent, it features original composition and sound design by Paul Rogerson (Restoke) and a poem ‘Wrinkled Skin’ by Ceri Morgan (Keele University).

The film, solo, poem, and music are contributions to the research project, ‘Heartlands/Pays du cœur: Geohumanities and Québec’s “regional” fiction' led by Ceri Morgan (Keele University). The project was supported by an Arts and Humanities Research Council Leadership Fellowship, grant number [AH/T006250/1].

Directed and produced by Restoke and Junction 15 Productions

Instead of a directors statement we prefer to speak as the creative team behind Heartlands: Earth and Bones who are Restoke and Junction 15 Productions and we have been working together since 2011.

Restoke: Clare Reynolds and Paul Rogerson, create performances that respond to issues and themes relevant to Stoke-on-Trent communities. These performances centre diverse stories and speak from lived-experienced not opinions, affirming differences and using singing and dancing to celebrate our shared humanity.

Capturing these performances on film are Stoke based award winning filmmakers Darren and Suzanne James-Teale, better known as Junction 15 Productions.

They make films that inspire action towards the betterment of people’s lives, working across South East Asia and the UK to use their filmmaking practice to give under represented communities a voice in a truly collaborative process, empowering them to tell their own stories.

Directed and produced by Thayer Jonutz

Thayer performed with Repertory Dance Theatre before moving to Michigan, immersing himself in both historical and contemporary works. He earned his MFA dance degree from the University of Michigan before beginning his professorship position at Oakland University in 2009 where he has taught Modern dance technique, improvisation, composition, dance pedagogy, partnering and the student Repertory Dance Company.

Thayer has guest performed with Patterson Rhythm Pace Dance Company, Rustic Groove, Agua Dulce Dance Theater, Eisenhower Dance Detroit and Rebudal Dance. Thayer has also co-founded Mise en Place Dance, soduo, and Take Root,

which have served as artistic building blocks.

As a seasoned educator and artist Thayer strives to continually challenge his comfort zone. His current multiyear creative process on the solo concert Hammer and Nail has pushed Thayer outside the typical modern dance aesthetic and has merged acting, vocalization, sound engineering and integrative props to tell his Pandemic survival narrative.

"Mysterious in its many forms, our approach to communicating with others fluctuates from how we approach ourselves. Repeating, reflecting - like a loop we can't forget."

Inter|Intra is a study of the ways we communicate, examining the relationship between interpersonal and intrapersonal communication and how these two modes both inform and contradict one another. Created as a screendance during the Covid-19 pandemic, the piece is deeply shaped by my evolving emotions around connection, and the absence of it, during this turbulent and isolating time. The work is a reflective and abstract exploration of our relationships with others and ourselves.

Directed and produced by Sophia Vangelatos

A short homage to Maya Deren's unfinished Witches Cradle.

Directed and produced by Nejla Yatkin

Described by The New York Times as "a magician, telling tales and creating worlds," and "a fierce and supple performer," choreographer Nejla Yatkin travels around the globe inspiring empathic connection between people and their environments. She creates solos, choreographs ensemble dances for stages and sites, collaborates on plays and film/video projects, and mentors young artists.

She is a globally acclaimed choreographer and dancer, celebrated for her transformative impact on the dance world. With a 2023 Guggenheim Fellowship in Choreography and a National Dance Project Award under her belt, her career is marked by exceptional achievements. Nejla's diverse expertise encompasses a range of dance forms, including Japanese Butoh and Middle Eastern dance, while her artistic vision explores themes of memory, migration, and identity.

Beginning her journey with intensive dance training in Germany, Nejla's talent quickly garnered recognition, leading to collaborations with renowned artists and institutions worldwide. From her tenure as a Professor of Dance at the University of Maryland to her innovative projects like "Dancing Around The World," she continually pushes boundaries and fosters community engagement through movement.

Nejla's solo creations, hailed by critics as deeply emotive and captivating, have graced stages across the globe. Recent commissions, including works for Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Mandala Arts and the Ruth Page Civic Ballet and the University of North Carolina, showcase her ongoing commitment to innovation and excellence.

A pioneer in environmental-themed choreography, Nejla's recent works for Chicago parks highlight her dedication to sustainability and connection with nature. Through her performances, she aims to inspire and engage audiences, fostering meaningful connections and dialogue.

As she continues to push artistic boundaries and garner accolades, including recognition as a 2022 Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events Esteemed Artist, Nejla Yatkin reaffirms her status as a visionary force in contemporary dance.

She is the recipient of multiple grants and awards, most recent she was awarded the 2023 Guggenheim Fellowship Award for Choreography, the 2023 National Dance Project Award and a 2022 Esteemed Artists Award from the Chicago Department for Special Events and Cultural Affairs (DCASE). Past awards include the Princess Grace Foundation Award, the Jay Pritzker Foundation and the National Performance Network among many others. Nejla resides in Chicago since 2010 and has gained recognition and support from 3Arts, the Chicago Dancemakers Forum and the Illinois Arts Council.

For more please visit www.ny2dance.com