Local Color: The Short Films of Dustin Guy Defa
With a body of work comprised mostly of intensely personal, category-defying short films, Dustin Guy Defa has rapidly established himself as one of the most unique and promising voices in American independent cinema today. This showcase, running for one week, evidences the satisfying je ne sais quoi of Defa’s artistry, ranging from visionary reconstructions of found footage to low-key dramas rich with atmosphere, sense of place, and unforgettable characters.
With a body of work comprised mostly of intensely personal, category-defying short films, Dustin Guy Defa has rapidly established himself as one of the most unique and promising voices in American independent cinema today. Defa’s short-form output ranges from visionary reconstructions of found footage and home movies that are as comical as they are mortifying, to low-key dramas rich with atmosphere, sense of place, and unforgettable characters. The works included in this showcase all evidence the satisfying and alluring je ne sais quoi of Defa’s artistry, a mysterious touch that translates the situations he depicts into an intoxicating swirl of sensuously composed images and clever writing. The Film Society is pleased to present this selection of Defa’s short films for a one-week run, with Defa in person to discuss his work.
Family Nightmare
Dustin Guy Defa, USA, 2011, HDCAM, 10m
Defa delves into his family’s home-movie archive for this by turns bleak and funny but always moving Bosch-esque group portrait, an act of personal exorcism on VHS.
Declaration of War
Dustin Guy Defa, USA, 2013, digital projection, 7m
Defa takes the piss out of Bush-era foreign policy as our then-President’s declaration of the War on Terror is met by an unrelenting standing ovation.
Lydia Hoffman Lydia Hoffman
Dustin Guy Defa, USA, 2013, HDCAM, 15m
After being dumped by her fed-up boyfriend (Josh Safdie), a young woman (Hannah Gross), allows an alluring stranger (Dakota Goldhor) to crash at her place, unwittingly opening a Pandora’s Box of insecurities and paranoia.
Person to Person
Dustin Guy Defa, USA, 2014, HDCAM, 18m
The morning after hosting a party, record-store clerk Benny (Bene Coopersmith) finds a stranger (Deragh Campbell) passed out on his floor; upon waking, she refuses to leave. A New Directors/New Films 2014 selection.
Review
Dustin Guy Defa, USA, 2015, digital projection, 4m
A young woman recounts a story to a group of friends who listen on with rapt attention, but the tale sounds very familiar…
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