Starting Monday, The Athena Cinema will screen 235 films from 41 countries in its three theaters.
The Athena Cinema, 20 S. Court St., will host the 45th Athens International Film and Video Festival beginning Monday through April 15.
For one week every year, Athens becomes the place for screening international films in short and feature formats. The AIFVF is an Oscar-qualifying film festival for some of the short film categories.
Here are some must-see films to see during the week:
Farmsteaders — 7 p.m., Monday and 1:30 p.m., April 15
This documentary follows a family who tries to resurrect their grandfather’s family farm in a time of corporate-driven food industries. The feature-length film shows the hardships of life, especially in rural America.
The Mothman of Point Pleasant — 5 p.m., Tuesday and 3:15 p.m., April 14
About 40 miles south of Athens is Point Pleasant, West Virginia, which is said to be home of the Mothman. The Mothman is part of the state’s folklore when people saw a moth-like person in the area. The Mothman of Point Pleasant is a documentary about the lore and the people who have witnessed it. The film will be accompanied by two short films of similar nature.
Binary Breakers — 5:15 p.m., Tuesday
Binary Breakers features six short-film narratives that tell stories of people from all walks of life. One child named Tom feels like she was born in the wrong body in Mrs. McCutcheon, while Jace has to choose between standing with his cousin or his transphobic friends in Dakota.
Beautiful Beasts — 3 p.m., Wednesday
This compilation of short films is all centered around animals in some way. Animal Cinema is a 13-minute film composed of animals operating cameras, so people will get to see every aspect of animals.
The Turn Out — 5 p.m., Wednesday
The Turn Out brings light to sex trafficking through a local lens. The film was directed by former Ohio University film professor Pearl Gluck in Southeast Ohio and West Virginia. The film takes on a narrative documentary approach.
The Cinema Travellers — 7 p.m., Wednesday and 3:30 p.m., April 15
This documentary filmed over the course of five years follows traveling movie theaters in India. The theaters bring the joy and entertainment of the moviegoing experience to faraway villages.
It’s Not You, It’s Me — 5 p.m., Thursday
A lot of people are familiar with that cliche relationship line, and this series of short films will highlight relationships. The film that sticks out in this lineup is “I know Jake Gyllenhaal is going to fuck my girlfriend.”
Animation Night — 9:30 p.m., April 13
Animation Night is an annual affair at the AIFVF. The short-format animations are geared toward adults. This year the lineup includes films from the U.K., Hungary, Taiwan, Croatia, Switzerland, Chile and the U.S.
Saturday Morning Cartoons — 11 a.m., April 14
The follow up to Animation Night is Saturday Morning Cartoons. The lineup features 15 short films, including the viral film In a Heartbeat.
