Free NYC Screening: MY FIRST FILM by Zia Anger
passerby is partnering with MUBI on Zia Anger's intimate portrayal of a filmmaker's journey and rebirth, starring rising star Odessa Young in a groundbreaking autofictional film
On Saturday, August 31st at 7:45pm, in partnership with MUBI we're excited to invite you to a free screening of MY FIRST FILM by Zia Anger at 7:45pm at Roxy Cinema.
Nearly 15 years after her initial efforts, Vita (Odessa Young) recounts the tumultuous process of directing her semi-autobiographical first feature about a young woman who gets pregnant and decides to leave home. The production, featuring her friend Dina (Devon Ross), spirals into chaos due to Vita's enthusiastic but inexperienced approach, leading to significant disruptions and a near-fatal accident. As Vita’s project unravels, the film transitions into a reflective critique of artistic truth and the construction of narrative from personal experiences.
"A joyous reclamation of all the lost ‘firsts’: films; abortions; rejections."
– LITTLE WHITE LIES
Following the success of her 2019 multimedia performance of the same name, MY FIRST FILM serves as Zia Anger's return to her artistic roots, revisiting her never-released film, ALWAYS ALL WAYS, ANNE MARIE, from earlier in her career. Departing from the original performance’s interactive visuals and typed-out monologues, Anger's feature debut skillfully dramatizes this past chaotic shoot and its untold truths, positioning itself as an autofictional journey that challenges the traditional confines of memoir.
This event is exclusive to passerby club members (paid subscribers — (partner-level subscribers can also claim a free month of access to MUBI’s streaming platform).