August and September 2021

For a run of Saturdays, The Mercury Cinema, on North Terrace will present a range of feminist films handpicked by some of the state’s most exciting contemporary artists and musicians.

In partnership with the Samstag Museum of Art, and running parallel to a film exhibition currently on display called To Become Two by Alex Martinis Roe at the gallery, the afternoon flicks will be followed by a 30-minute Q&A with the individual who selected each film about why it resonates with them.

The film showing this Saturday, 21 August, is Queen of Katwe (2016), selected by Kenyan-born musician Elsy Wameyo.

The film follows 10-year-old Ugandan girl Phiona and how she masters the game of chess.

The session on the weekend following, Saturday, 28 August, will be two films selected by Samstag exhibiting artist Alex Martinis Roe.

This includes 26-minute experimental short Shadow Panic (1989), which explores themes of stereotypes; and 92-minute documentary Rocking The Foundations (1986), which explores the controversy surrounding New South Wales’ Builders Labourers Federation, and one of its first female members.

The final film, on Saturday, 4 September, is a 127-minute feature-length drama titled Les Rendez-Vous D’anna, selected by video, performance and textile artist Kate Power.

Kate says the film, “quietly explores yearning and isolation through mostly gesture and framing of architectural spaces”, with a plot following accomplished filmmaker, Anna, as she promotes her latest film.