Starring: Essie Davis, Noah Wiseman, Hayley McElhinney, Daniel Henshall, Barbara West, Ben Winspear

While technically not based on a book, the horror of The Babadook emerges from the pages of a children’s book. One of the best horror films in recent years and now a symbol of the LGBTQ community, this film will have you chanting “Baba-dook-dook-DOOK!”

Six years after the violent death of her husband, Amelia is at a loss. Her son’s dreams are plagued by a monster he believes is coming to kill them both and when a disturbing storybook called ‘The Babadook’ turns up at their house, Samuel is convinced that the Babadook is the creature he’s been dreaming about. His hallucinations spiral out of control, he becomes more unpredictable and violent. Amelia, genuinely frightened by her son’s behavior, is forced to medicate him. But when Amelia begins to see glimpses of a sinister presence all around her, it slowly dawns on her that the thing Samuel has been warning her about may be real.

Northside Film screens the New York premiere of THE PAST IS A GROTESQUE ANIMAL, presented by Oscilloscope.

Introduction by Oscilloscope

THE PAST IS A GROTESQUE ANIMAL is a personal, accessible look at an artist ­Kevin Barnes, frontman of the endlessly versatile indie pop band of Montreal – whose pursuit to make transcendent music at all costs drives him to value art over human relationships. As he struggles with all of those around him, family and bandmates alike, he’s forced to reconsider the future of the band, begging the question – is this really worth it?

Northside Film screens DAISIES, presented by Reverse Shot and Janus Films.

Introduction by Reverse Shot.

One of the most anarchic films of all time, Vera Chytilová’s absurdist farce follows the misadventures of two brash young women. Believing the world to be “spoiled,” they embark on a series of pranks in which nothing—food, clothes, men, war—is taken seriously. An aesthetically and politically adventurous film that’s widely considered one of the great works of feminist cinema, Janus Films is proud to present Daisies in a new 35mm print.

Introduction by Factory 25 and Q&A with director Onur Tukel

Graying, paunchy, cynical, underemployed—the aging Brooklyn hipster Eric Sparrow (Onur Tukel) is lucky in love with Jodi (Anna Margaret Hollyman), a sensible and sensitive young lawyer. But after rejecting her marriage proposal, Eric is out on his ear; in his downward spiral of sexual frustration and bewildered vanity, he meets a vampire—an encounter that changes everything. ­ – Richard Brody, The New Yorker

Northside Film screens the New York premiere of IF YOU TAKE THIS, presented by BAMcinemaFest.

Introduction by by BAM and Q&A with director, Craig Butta

A psychedelic, hybrid ethnography that takes us into Morocco to discover its music and culture. An American film crew is hired by a Moroccan­born Wall Street financier to document his family, but they soon go off on their own path, chasing the legendary Joujouka musicians. Recalling the myths and legends about the place that first excited them, the crew soon finds history repeating itself in bizarre ways. Part road movie, part head trip, IF YOU TAKE THIS is about sound, image and the distortions within the idea of “authenticity.” It might also be about the end of the world.

Northside Film screens the New York premieres of the feature film HOMEMAKERS and the short AWESOME ASIAN BAD GUYS. (Presented by IFP Film)

HOMEMAKERS
Q&A with Colin Healey, director of Homemakers
A rootless young singer with a knack for destruction attempts to restore her late grandfather’s abandoned Pittsburgh home.

AWESOME ASIAN BAD GUYS
Intro by IFP’s Dan Schoenbrun for Awesome Asian Bad Guys (8:30)
Directed by Stephen Dypiangco and Patrick Epino
Starring: Dante Basco, George Cheung, Jasmin Currey, Stephen Dypiangco, Patrick Epino, Al Leong, Yuji Okumoto, Randall Park, Aaron Takahashi, Tamlyn Tomita

A motley crew of washed up 80s and 90s Asian bad guy actors joins forces to take down Los Angeles’ most nefarious mob boss.