SOUND UNSEEN

Alex Winters’ ZAPPA at Sound Unseen 2020: first wave of titles for virtual fest in Minnesota AND Texas

By John Wildman 5 years ago

Gill said, “This year has brought seemingly countless challenges for everyone in every walk of life, and certainly for film festivals and the film and music industry. However, we have looked at the opportunities that being in the virtual space present to us and one of those is making these great films, the work of the fantastic filmmakers and music artists available not just to our Minneapolis fans, but also to the entire state of Minnesota. In addition, we have long wanted to offer the Sound Unseen experience in Austin, Texas, due to that city’s legendary music scene, and the fact that our festival director Jim Brunzell, lives there, so the ability to open ourselves up to the state of Texas is another great silver lining.”

Jim Brunzell and Rich Gill lead 2019 Sound Unseen Film + Music Festival adds a Filmmaker Photo Call for the first time in the fest’s 20 years

By John Wildman 6 years ago

The Sound Unseen Film + Music Festival is a rarity in that its scope should far exceed the reach of its quartet of volunteer staff that manages to produce the film festival year-after-year. Of course, every single film festival self romanticizes the idea that they are a band of misfits and scrappy champions of film that are battling against all of the odds and the big boys each year to somehow manage to put on their event that is unlike any other around. I always love it when a film festival head earnestly tells me that they are unique in the film festival world because they “care about the filmmakers.” I mean, thank goodness there is that one film festival that does, right?!

Danny Clinch, Taryn Gould, Coleen Hennessy, and Shannon Hoon’s ALL I CAN SAY: Sound Unseen wraps up 20th Anniversary edition with Grand Jury Prize Winner

By John Wildman 6 years ago

The Sound Unseen Film + Music Festival concluded its 20th Anniversary edition of the film festival by giving its Grand Jury Prize for Best Film to Danny Clinch, Taryn Gould, Coleen Hennessy, and Shannon Hoon’s ALL I CAN SAY, and giving a Special Jury Prize for Cultural Significance to Puloma Basu and Rob Hatch-Miller’s OTHER MUSIC.

Scott Crawford’s BOY HOWDY, John Doe, Ondi Timoner: Sound Unseen Announces Film Lineup for 20th Anniversary Edition

By John Wildman 6 years ago

Sound Unseen Festival Director Jim Brunzell and Producer/Co-Programmer Rich Gill, said, “Our lineup this year is a wonderful mix of films hot on the film festival circuit, classics, and screenings that include appearances by wonderful filmmakers and musicians. We are really excited about this group of films and events built around them that should make our 20th Anniversary edition truly memorable.”

Seamus Murphy’s A DOG CALLED MONEY Opens Sound Unseen Film + Music Festival; Gala selections and key titles for 20th Anniversary edition

By John Wildman 6 years ago

The Sound Unseen Film/Music Festival (November 12-17) previewed the film festival’s 20th Anniversary edition of the festival, revealing the titles of five initial selections. Recently announced as one of MovieMaker Magazine’s “25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World,” Sound Unseen has chosen Seamus Murphy’s A DOG CALLED MONEY for its Opening Night Gala co-presented with the Walker Art Center. Brandon Vedder’s STRANGE NEGOTIATIONS is the Centerpiece Selection.

FILMS GONE WILD: 10 Film Festival Programmers to Watch

By John Wildman 7 years ago

In the meantime, now that I have probably exhausted everyone’s patience by blathering on and ranting like an old man carrying a crumpled paper bag and out of date newspaper outside a deli, here is a quick list of ten people that I work with and for that I would suggest filmmakers, film industry types, and people reading the movie industry tea leaves SHOULD be paying attention to:

Greg Carey and Wade Jackson’s WAITING: THE VAN DUREN STORY Opens Sound Unseen previews 19th edition of Minneapolis-based music doc fest with some of this year’s film fest faves

By John Wildman 7 years ago

The Sound Unseen Film/Music/Art Festival (November 14-18) previewed this year’s 19th edition of the film festival today with an announcement of 7 initial selections. Led by the Midwest premiere of Greg Carey and Wade Jackson’s WAITING: THE VAN DUREN STORY, the list includes the return of a Sound Unseen favorite and a handful of films that will be screening for Minneapolis audiences for the first time after seeing much success on the film festival circuit.