wysiwyg x De Uitkijk: Glued & Screwed

Last moment film tip:

Short experiments on the screen at the Uitkijk Cinema, Amsterdam tomorrow, November 6th.

For the 20th edition of experimental art and short film program Glued & Screwed, wysiwyg has invited production house and art collective Touchy Studios to co-curate a program that explores masculinity from diverse and thoughtful perspectives. Aptly titled Touchy Men, the program features three short films by artists/filmmakers Verena Blok, Mateo Vega and Amanda van Hesteren. The screening will conclude with an excerpt from Boys Just Wanna Have Fun, a film by artist and member of Touchy Studios Jonathan Hielkema. Verena Blok and Mateo Vega will be present for a brief Q&A with Touchy Studios after the screening.

This edition will screen:

Robota — Verena Blok
12 min. | 2018 | PL | English subtitles

Robota features lens-based artist Verena Blok—who doesn’t appear on screen herself—interacting with young Polish men as they discuss topics like politics, immigration and religion or share personal anecdotes from their lives. Interspersed with corporeal close-ups of their bare torsos as they engage in physical labor or go through seemingly mundane moments of their daily life, the film offers brief yet very striking moments of clarity and thought-provoking insights into the precariousness of (male) stereotypes and masculine (beauty) standards.

Incendios – Mateo Vega
7 min. | 2021 | NL | English subtitles

We follow the fictional story of two close friends spending their summer together after finishing secondary school. What is meant to be a relaxed and carefree time where the two friends bond and imagine their shared future, the relationship turns tense when one of them reveals they are forced to move away. Mateo Vega’s beautifully shot short film is an honest and powerful portrayal of teenage friendship, and a poignantly visceral exploration of unspoken feelings and the challenge of coming to terms with difficult news.

I Want to go Higher — Amanda van Hesteren
23 min. | 2023 | BE | English subtitles

Successful model Arjan van Hesteren goes on a month-long retreat in Thailand to escape the boozing and partying lifestyle of his profession, hoping to focus on self-improvement, relaxation, and Thai boxing after a difficult breakup. However, when three of his close friends—Jamal, Nino, and David—join him, their plans gradually unravel into lounging in luxury villas, chasing girls, and boasting about their physical appearances. Filmmaker (and sister) Amanda van Hesteren offers an uncompromising view of their exhilarating, uninhibited adventures, while simultaneously unveiling the insecurities, sensitivities, and emptiness underlying their lives—just as it does for all of us.

Boys Just Wanna Have Fun (Excerpt) — Jonathan Hielkema
4 min. | 2022 | NL/IT | English subtitles

Jonathan Hielkema, artist and part of today’s co-curating collective Touchy Studio, will present an excerpt from his 2022 musical documentary Boys Just Wanna Have Fun. In his film, alter egos Jonny Toxic and Jacco Macho set out on a journey across Italy and The Netherlands to explore masculinity in contrasting cultural settings. Italy’s shameless machismo and the frugal Calvinist-influenced Netherlands serve as backdrops for their introspective exploration of masculinity. Rather than relying on academic theories, they focus on personal experiences and the evolving nature of their own masculinity in these distinct cultures.

Limited amount of free spots for Subbacultcha members.
Please make a reservation by sending an email to mailinglist@subbacultcha.nl with ‘Wysiwig Uitkijk” in the subject line and your name in the inline.