In the Iranian ghost-town Bad City, a place that reeks of death and loneliness, the townspeople are unaware they are being stalked by a lonesome vampire.

In this locally-made 15 minute short film, wealthy Brooklynites come to the Catskills to build their dream retirement home. Despite warnings about a cantankerous and territorial neighbor, they insist on seeing their favorite parcel. Things take a dark and twisted turn when they encounter a disgruntled single dad with radical views. This shakes them to the core. However, an unexpected act of humanity changes their course. (Sharon Breslau, U.S., 2025, 15 min.)

Industrial animations, forgotten children’s TV shows, declassified military training films, weird science and more — these ephemeral fragments form an unintentional time capsule. Some hilarious, some disturbing, all unexpectedly beautiful and rescued from government archives, flea markets and basements. Join us for The Human Machine, the first installment of a new film series presented by Cinema Ephemera. Rich Remsberg and Shawn Rosenheim have curated an evening of ephemeral films. “These are films that were not necessarily meant to last beyond their original showings,” said Remsberg. “They weren’t even necessarily meant to be considered films.” “This is an accidental chronicle of 20th century America,” adds Rosenheim, speaking of their collection. “This is a world both very familiar and very strange.” Travel with us through the old, weird America. From 1920s personal hygiene guides to NASA’s zero-gravity experiments to amateur disco exhibitions, this is a celebration of the ordinary and the forgotten. Some of it is funny. Some is disturbing. Much of it is unbelievably beautiful – a revelation of our world in all its poverty and extravagance. “Breaking open the original context of these films allow us to see the gems among the pot shards,” said Remsberg. “You’ll never look at the 20th Century in the same way again.”

A group of Calcutta city slickers, including the well-off Asim (Soumitra Chatterjee), the meek Sanjoy (Subhendu Chatterjee) and the brutish Hari (Samit Bhanja), head out for a weekend in the wilderness. Before long, however, the friends find themselves neglecting nature in favor of hard drinking and hitting on the nearby tribeswomen. But as the men spend more time with the local people, they begin to realize that the social standings that mean so much to them hold no importance in the wild.

EPiC features long-lost footage from Presely's legendary Las Vegas residency in the 1970s, woven together with rare 16mm footage from Elvis on Tour, and precious 8mm from the Graceland archive, plus recordings of Elvis telling "his side of the story" rediscovered during Luhrmann's research for his Best Picture Oscar-nominated 2022 film Elvis.

The New Italian Cinema Showcase is underwritten by the Ulster County Italian American Foundation in collaboration with Bard College, Vassar and Marist.   A writer ends up for a crazy and unexpected act in prison, where she meets with some young inmates. Once out the writer and the other women maintain their friendship, an authentic bond that no one else will be able to understand.

Live From Upstate Discounted ticket for members + Saugerties (12477) residents (with ID) Join Upstate Films in welcoming Ian Flanigan home to Saugerties. A night of storytelling and unreleased songs on an intimate stage in his hometown, by the musician praised by Blake Shelton as a “once-in-a-lifetime vocalist.” Flanigan has since built a career rooted in authenticity, heart, and relentless touring. Originally from Saugerties, NY, Ian began touring independently at just 17 years old, carving his path across the country as a grassroots performer. He’s played renowned stages including Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, Kerrville Folk Festival,Dripping Springs Songwriters Festival, and Austin City Limits, steadily building a loyal fan base through raw talent and genuine connection. He has shared the stage with Blake Shelton, Parker McCollum, Trace Adkins, Larry Fleet, Bob Schneider, and many more—bringing his commanding presence and heartfelt storytelling to venues and festivals across the country. Whether solo or backed by a full band, Flanigan’s live show is both intimate and unforgettable. Ian Flanigan is a nationally touring singer-songwriter known for his soulful, gravel-toned baritone and standout performances on NBC’s The Voice, where he finished as a Top 3 finalist on Team Blake.  The Live From Upstate series is generously underwritten by the Ettinger Foundation. Upstate Films programs are made possible by Arts Mid Hudson.

Q&A w/ co-director Courtney Stephens. A visionary neuroscientist explores the limits of consciousness through isolation tanks, communication with dolphins, and psychedelic experiments, transforming himself from researcher to mystical explorer.

The New Italian Cinema Showcase oping film, underwritten by the Ulster County Italian American Foundation in collaboration with Bard College, Vassar and Marist.  For the band of tombaroli, thieves of ancient grave goods and archaeological wonders, the Chimera means redemption from work and the dream of easy wealth. For Arthur, the Chimera looks like the woman he lost, Beniamina. To find her, Arthur challenges the invisible, searches everywhere, goes inside the earth – in search of the door to the afterlife of which myths speak.

La Salsa Vive is a vibrant cinematic exploration of Afro-Antillean music’s history, tracing its roots from New York’s lively streets to Cali, Colombia, now the global salsa capital. (dir. Juan Carvajal, Colombia, 2025, 101 min.)

Live From Upstate The most lauded of Anger's Magick Lantern Cycle, Lucifer Rising is perhaps the most groundbreaking of his films, which go back to the late 1930’s and are cited as major influences for John Waters, David Lynch and others. This film, preceded by "Scorpio Rising," will be paired with a live soundtrack by Constant Smiles. (dir. Kenneth Anger, U.S./U.K./West Germany, 1972, 30 min.) Constant Smiles is a dynamic, ever-evolving musical collective led by songwriter Ben Jones, known for shifting sounds from ambient pop to indie folk, blending hazy textures with profound lyrics about humanity, intimacy, and growth, evolving from its 2009 Martha's Vineyard beginnings into a respected underground scene staple, especially after releasing acclaimed albums like Paragons and Moonflowers on Sacred Bones and Felte labels.

A portrayal of Ferdinand Magellan and Beatriz Barbosa's 1517 marriage in Seville, focusing on their brief time together before his departure on the Spanish crown's expedition.

An intimate, unconventional portrait of Marc Jacobs, crafted by Sofia Coppola to capture the genius and singular universe of the iconic American designer.

When their plan to book a show at the Rivoli goes horribly wrong, Matt and Jay accidentally travel back to the year 2008. Blah blah blah blah blah.

Science teacher Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) wakes up on a spaceship light years from home with no recollection of who he is or how he got there. As his memory returns, he begins to uncover his mission: solve the riddle of the mysterious substance causing the sun to die out. He must call on his scientific knowledge and unorthodox ideas to save everything on Earth from extinction… but an unexpected friendship means he may not have to do it alone.

United by a monk, a group of underdogs work together to become king fu soccer stars. Slapstick training, superhero-high flying, Bollywood-style dance scene and cartoon-level comedic violence, this absurdist sports movie is ridiculous fun. (dir. Stephen Chow, China, 2001, 99 min.) "The top-grossing action comedy in Hong Kong history." —Roger Ebert