Films
The Glassworker
Sunday, September 28 at 5:30 p.m.
Doors open at 5:00 p.m.
Planet Ant, 2320 Caniff, Hamtramck 48212
In a town divided by duty and class, Vincent, a glassmaker’s son, and Alliz, a violinist who is the colonel’s daughter, fall in love. As their bond grows, rising tensions between their families threaten to pull them apart. Brought to life through stunning hand-drawn animation, THE GLASSWORKER Is a poetic tale of first love, family, and the price of staying true to your art.
“A humanist tale…showcasing how art and creativity can provide solace and strength, even in the darkest time”
— Screen Anarchy
Distributed by Watermelon Pictures.
Pakistan, United States. 2024.
Directed by Usman Riaz.
In English.
Running time 98 min.
At The Edge of Hope Series
FILMMAKER IN ATTENDANCE
Tuesday, September 30 at 7:00 p.m.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Phoenix Theatres State Wayne
35310 W Michigan Ave, Wayne, MI 48184
Filmmaker Ibtisam Mara’ana leaves her childhood home in Fureidis, an Arab village near Haifa, to build a life in Tel Aviv. Early on she meets Jonathan, a Jewish immigrant from Montreal, and their romance becomes the heart of the story. What begins as a tender cross-cultural love affair quickly collides with larger realities, unfolding against the backdrop of the 2009 Gaza war. Quiet dinners at home shift into anti-war activism, tense family encounters, and a fraught visit to Jonathan’s grandfather’s kibbutz, where personal memory sparks political confrontation.
More than a decade later, 77 Steps resonates with striking immediacy. As the current crisis in Gaza once again underscores the deep fractures of Israeli and Palestinian life, Mara’ana’s intimate journey becomes a powerful reminder of the fragile, complicated spaces where love, identity, and politics converge. What begins as a nostalgic pilgrimage unfolds into a profound journey—one that pulls each of them into the tangled legacies of memory and identity, of dreams and disillusionment.
Israel, 2010.
Directed by Ibtisam Mara’ana.
In Hebrew, Arabic, and English with English subtitles.
Running time 56 min.
Presented with
Sunday, October 19
Silent Horror with LIVE MUSIC by The Invincible Czars
Both shows at Planet Ant (Ant Hall), 2320 Caniff, Hamtramck 48212
The iconic moment when Mary Philbin removed Lon Chaney’s mask in The Phantom of the Opera is one of cinema’s most enduring images. Now, The Invincible Czars will bring their signature blend of eclectic instrumentation, adventurous arrangements and sense of emotional depth to this 100-year-old classic with their new, tastefully modern soundtrack, performing it live with the film in art house cinemas across the US and Canada in 2025.
The Czars’ Phantom of the Opera soundtrack is the culmination of nearly a year of meticulous composition, recording, and collaboration. The group drew inspiration from the film’s gothic visuals and haunting narrative to craft a score using their primary instruments: piano, violin, electric guitar/bass, organ, flute, drums and bass clarinet. They create a live experience so immersive that it’s easy to forget the music is being played live.
The tour will celebrate the 100th anniversary of this early American horror film. The band has been captivating both music and film enthusiasts across North America since 2015 when their soundtrack for Nosferatu earned them accolades in the art house community and made them staple of the silent film circuit.
United States. 1925.
Directed by Rupert Julian, Lon Chaney, and Ernst Laemmle.
In English.
Running time 93 min.
Nosferatu: A Symphomy of Horror is arguably the most important horror film of the silent era and one of the first vampire movies. It’s an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker’s novel “Dracula.” The film follows Thomas Hutter as he journeys to Transylvania to sell property to the eerie Count Orlok (Max Schreck). Orlok’s obsession with Thomas’ wife, young Ellen Hutter, leads to a climactic showdown as she attempts to thwart his evil plans.
The film is celebrated for its atmospheric cinematography, haunting performances, and enduring influence on the horror genre, including remakes by Werner Herzog and Robert Eggers.
Violin, glockenspiel, organ, flute, bass clarinet, voices and vocals, music box, loops, electric guitar, bass, piano and percussion all play prominent roles in the Invincible Czars’ score. It’s a sight to behold when performed live by only four or five players. Don’t miss your chance to experience it LIVE on Sunday, October 19.
Germany. 1922.
Directed by F.W. Murnau.
In English.
Running time 94 min.
At The Edge of Hope Series
FILMMAKER IN ATTENDANCE
Tuesday, October 28 at 7:00 p.m.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Phoenix Theatres State Wayne
35310 W Michigan Ave, Wayne, MI 48184
On October 7, 2023, Liat was abducted from her kibbutz by Hamas. In the days that followed, filmmaker Brandon Kramer began filming with her family, documenting their raw and unfiltered struggle as they searched for answers. What begins as a portrait of grief quickly becomes something more: a window into the deep fractures within Israeli society, the reach of global diplomacy, and the human cost of a war that continues to devastate Gaza and Israel alike.
At the center is Liat’s father, Yehuda, a US citizen, a pacifist, and a man unwilling to remain silent. Traveling to Washington with his family, he pleads for his daughter’s life while fiercely challenging both Israeli and American policies. Within the family itself, emotions and politics collide, exposing the tensions that mirror an entire society: fear and defiance, longing and rage, despair and fragile hope.
Winner of the Berlinale Documentary Film Award, Holding Liat is more than a chronicle of one family’s ordeal. It is an urgent, unflinching reminder of how personal trauma and political violence are inseparably bound, and how even in the darkest of moments, the possibility of reconciliation depends on recognizing the humanity of those on the other side.
2025
Directed by Brandon Kramer.
In Hebrew with English subtitles.
Running time 98 min.
Presented with