This short film presents the significance of the extraordinary murals at San Bartolo, Guatemala, and summarizes discoveries of the current research. As the resident documentarian, Riley Mallory has spent three full field seasons at San Bartolo-Xultun, recording material that tells the story of the project. Created in collaboration with project directors Heather Hurst and Boris Beltrán, this film serves as the introduction to a series of documentaries that will address various aspects of their work in the Maya Biosphere Reserve, with the goal of creating media on topics from archaeological and conservation processes to interpretation of the painted masterpiece, in order to inspire curiosity and raise awareness for protecting the site of San Bartolo.
Screening: Saturday, May 16th, 1:00-1:13 PM, The Shedd Recital Hall
Length: 12 min
Country: Guatemala, USA
Language: English, Spanish
Director(s): Riley Mallory, Heather Hurst
Producer(s): Boris Beltrán, Heather Hurst, Riley Mallory
Distributor: San Bartolo-Xultun Regional Archaeological Project
The Rubicon is not just a river. It is a symbol: a mental and historical boundary that became myth when Julius Caesar crossed it, declaring, “alea iacta est,” meaning “the die is cast.” But today, what remains of that ancient frontier? Rubico Flumen: The Mystery of the Rubicon takes the viewer on a journey through the lands of the Rubicon, discussing archaeological clues, walking along lines of Roman centuriation, and listening to the voices of those who still keep the river’s memory alive. Although it is one of the most famous rivers in the world, it remains an enigma. Here, history, memory, and myth are woven through original footage and local testimony into a chronological investigation.
Screening: Saturday, May 16th, 4:15-4:49 PM, The Shedd Recital Hall
Length: 33 min
Country: Italy
Language: Italian
Director(s): Alessandro Bricchi
Producer(s): Alessandro Bricchi
Distributor: Alessandro Bricchi
In Rome, Italy, engineers are building Line C—a hyper-efficient, 25 km metro line that will connect the suburbs to the urban center. It's the most ambitious underground construction project ever seen in Rome. However, it cuts through the historic city center of ancient Rome, uncovering secrets buried for millennia. Building a new metro line in any urban center is always a challenge. But this is Rome—it requires digging into 3,000 years of extraordinary urban development, including layers of Medieval and ancient Roman history. It’s an underground dilemma like nowhere else on Earth, and has arguably become one of the most important archaeological adventures of the modern age.
Screening: Saturday, May 16th, 4:49-5:38 PM, The Shedd Recital Hall
Length: 48 min
Country: Canada, France, Italy
Language: English, French, Italian
Director(s): Laurent Portes
Producer(s): Olivier Mille, Victoire Buff, Massimo My, Josette D. Normandeau
Distributor: Cineflix International Media Limited
Replicating the Randomness takes us into the work sites of the Sacred Rock, introducing us to the world of traditional restoration techniques. Since the 1960s, marble sculptors have used the pontadoros as an invaluable pointing device to achieve accurate reproductions of ancient stone forms. Today, the new marble in-fills create a harmonious link between the past and the present. By highlighting the remarkable precision achieved through the pontadoros technique, the film explores the enduring values of traditional craftsmanship—a mind-and-hand practice passed down through generations. The pontadoros has upheld both the work and ethics of contemporary architectural restoration. In an era of digital scanning and reproduction, this simple tool has become a piece of intangible cultural heritage, worthy of preservation in its own right.
Screening: Saturday , May 16th, 9:36-9:50 AM, The Shedd Recital Hall
Length: 13 min
Country: Greece
Language: Greek
Director(s): Stelios Apostolopoulos
Producer(s): Stelios Apostolopoulos
Distributor: Stelios Apostolopoulos
This is the biographical portrait of Pandit Ram Sahay Pandey, the legendary torchbearer of Rai, a vibrant traditional dance form of Bundelkhand. Once dismissed as a folk entertainment with little artistic value, Rai found recognition through the lifelong dedication of Pandey Ji. With passion, perseverance and an unshakable belief in his art, he transformed Rai into a celebrated classical form—elevating it from village gatherings to national and international stages. Through rare archival footage, intimate interviews, and moving performances, the film traces his extraordinary journey—from humble beginnings to becoming the face of Rai dance. This is a tribute to an artist’s spirit and cultural legacy, and a testament to the power of devotion to art.
Screening: Sunday, May 17th, 4:00-4:12 PM, The Shedd Recital Hall
Length: 11 min
Country: India
Language: Hindi
Director(s): Rajendra Janglay
Producer(s): Madhya Pradesh Government
Distributor: n/a
Pony Express: Living the Ride chronicles the intrepid contemporary horseback riders re-enacting the legendary Pony Express, as they gallop night and day over Nevada's largely unchanged trail, moving the mail pouch between Sacramento, California and St. Joseph, Missouri. Shot on location in the outback of Nevada, commentary from a descendant of an early Paiute leader provides historical context, and local archaeologists share artifacts excavated from original Pony Express stations still dotting the landscape.
Screening: Sunday, May 17th, 3:18-3:37 PM, The Shedd Recital Hall
Length: 18 min
Country: USA
Language: English
Director(s): Gwendolyn B Clancy
Producer(s): Gwendolyn B Clancy
Distributor: Gwendolyn B Clancy
This a documentary explores the rich history and cultural significance of pateh, a type of traditional Iranian needlework done on wool fabric, often used as covers and tablecloths. The film takes us on a journey through the central and southeastern regions of Iran, where pateh is recognized as one of the country's subtle heritages. Through interviews with local artisans and experts, we learn about the intricate techniques used to create pateh and the role it plays in Iranian society. The film also sheds light on the challenges faced by those who work to preserve this tradition and the importance of passing down this valuable knowledge to future generations. Through stunning visuals and captivating storytelling, Pateh: An Intangible Heritage offers a window into a world rich in tradition and cultural significance.
Screening: Thursday, May 14th, 7:06-7:37 PM, The Shedd Recital Hall
Length: 30 min
Country: Iran
Language: Persian
Director(s): Azam Ramezanpour
Producer(s): Mohammad Mahdi Malekghasemi
Distributor: IRIB MEDIA TRADE
Oya, traditional Anatolian needle-lace art, is considered to be sculpture with needle and thread, instead of chisel and stone. In this film, an oya collector embarks on a journey to discover the story behind one of his favorite oya. He finds Gülbiye—the only woman in a village farming silkworms for the purpose of producing silk thread—who teaches her granddaughter Ada through tales about silkworm farming and the oya rituals. This story introduces the intricate art form, which was once the product of oppressed women, but later became a source of empowerment and economic independence.
Screening: Thursday, May 14th, 8:40-9:55 PM, The Shedd Recital Hall
Length: 75 min
Country: Turkey
Language: Turkish
Director(s): Sevinç Baloğlu
Producer(s): Adnan Memiş
Distributor: Adnan Memiş
Trailer Coming Soon!
Navis Romana tells the story of the discovery of an ancient Roman shipwreck from the 3rd century AD on one of Mallorca’s most popular beaches near the capital, Palma. The extraordinary condition of the ship and its cargo, with more than 300 ceramic artifacts and including Ses Fontanelles I, an entirely new type of amphora, makes this one of the most significant finds in Mediterranean archaeology. This film delves into the questions and possible answers about where the ship was going, what its purpose was on that failed expedition and how the ship sank.
Screening: Friday, May 15th, 7:30-8:23 PM, The Shedd Recital Hall
Length: 52 min
Country: Spain
Language: Spanish
Director(s): Pere Salom
Producer(s): Pere Salom
Distributor: Pere Salom
This time-lapse documentary uses stunning cinematography to demonstrate archaeo-astronomical phenomena in the Mayan areas. Condensing a year of astronomical alignments into just minutes, the film portrays a stunning view of Mayan temples “in action.” These places were built in significant locations with painstaking attention to detail, but they were built and existed in connection with significant astronomical alignments, such as the equinoxes and solstices. “Mayan Time” strives to capture the temporal nature of these sacred spaces and show the beauty and antiquity that make them truly irresistible.
Screening: Sunday, May 17th, 11:16-11:46 AM, The Shedd Recital Hall
Length: 29 min
Country: Mexico
Language: English, Spanish
Director(s): Alberto José Doctorovich
Producer(s): Alberto José Doctorovich
Distributor: Alberto José Doctorovich
Maracatu Liberta tells the story of black families who find identity, strength and culture in the rhythm and procession of Maracatu, a musical and cultural tradition from Pernambuco, Brazil, featuring powerful drumming, vibrant colorful dress and symbolic characters like kings, queens and a dressed-up donkey named Burrinha. Although performed in Recife, far from its roots in Pernambuco, Maracatu offers hope, belonging and a path out of racism for both children and adults.
Screening: Friday, May 15th, 8:48-9:05 PM, The Shedd Recital Hall
Length: 17 min
Country: Brazil
Language: Portuguese
Director(s): Rita de Cácia Oenning da Silva
Producer(s):Rita de Cácia Oenning da Silva, Kurt Shaw
Distributor: Usina da Imaginação