oak cliff film festival '25

Why Does the Wilhelm Scream ? is excited to be covering the 14th installment of the Oak Cliff FIlm Festival. The festival will be held June 26-29 at the historic Texas Theatre and other venues located in the eclectic Oak Cliff neighborhood. We'll be bringing you reviews, interviews, and "Driving While Screaming" nightly recaps. We hop you'll go check out OCFF, and when you're there, comfe find us and say hello. Below, are just a few of the films we're looking forward to.

OBEX (United States, 91 mins), Dir. Albert Birney

Conor Marsh lives a secluded life with his dog, Sandy, until one day he begins playing OBEX, a new, state-of-the-art computer game. When Sandy goes missing, the line between reality and game blurs and Conor must venture into the strange world of OBEX to bring her home. June 26, 8:30PM Texas Theatre (Upstairs).

The Maya Deren Project curates a collage of Deren’s pioneering work. The films of Ukrainian-born Maya Deren have struck a chord in Minneapolis based lo-fi, instrumental duo Ten Thousand Lakes. Steven Larsen and Peter Bruhn gravitate towards atmospheric, emotional, ethereal, discordant and harmonious sounds—whatever it takes to touch something special. Thus it is no surprise to be drawn to Deren’s silent films…mystical, distorted, disturbing, atmospheric, mesmerizing. They touch something beyond the consciousness, something of which dreams are made. It is a labor of deep admiration and respect to create original music to these special visions.   This shorts program is a collection of innovative films that delve into dream imagery and non-linear narrative.  The program opens with a brief animation from German expressionist filmmaker Walter Ruttmann’s “Lichtspiel” Opus II and III (1921-23) provide a geometric feast for the eyes, as objects dance, pulse, and spin across the screen, changing shape and color.  Four Maya Deren experimental films - “At Land” (1944), “Ritual in Transfigured Time” (1946), "The Very Eye of Night" (1955) and "Meshes of the Afternoon" (1943) will be accompanied by a live score from Ten Thousand Lakes. June 27, 6:45PM Texas Theatre (Downstairs).

Messy (USA, 81 mins) Dir. Alexi Wasser

Messy follows the life of brutally self-aware, promiscuous, love addict Stella Fox, who moves to New York after a devastating breakup, and all her disappointing romantic dalliances over the course of a summer. June 29, 5:15PM Texas Theatre (Downstairs).

Peacock [PFAU - BIN ICH ECHT?] (Austria, Germany, 102 mins). Dir. Bernhard Wenger.

Matthias is the head of a successful Rent-A-Friend agency: If you need company, want to improve your public appearance, or even manipulate someone – just rent a friend. Matthias plays every role his clients desire – like an actor – but in real life. In English and German with English subtitles. June 29, 12:15PM Texas Theatre (Upstairs).

Gypsy 83: The Director's Cut (USA, 138 mins). Dir. Todd Stephens.

4K restoration and never-before-seen cut. Two goth misfits living in Sandusky, Ohio; musician Gypsy Vale (Sara Rue) and her younger queer protege Clive Webb (Kett Turton) decide to run away to New York City so Gypsy can participate in the ultimate Stevie Nicks cosplay event: Night of 1,000 Stevies. Along the way, they encounter other misfits that pave the way to their salvation including washed-up singer Bambi LeBleau (Karen Black) and a confused Amish runaway. June 29, 7:30PM Texas Theatre (Downstairs).

About OCFF:

The Oak Cliff Film Festival was established in 2012 as a regional film festival in the Oak Cliff area of Dallas, Texas. The festival has been received national acclaim from prominent sources including The New York Times, Filmmaker Magazine, and Moviemaker Magazine. The Oak Cliff Film Festival is the main program of the 501 3(c) Oak Cliff Film Society. The Oak Cliff Film Festival, headquartered at the legendary Texas Theatre, features the very best of Oak Cliff’s historic theater venues, highlights the popular restaurants and bars of the area, and seeks to showcase and cultivate the best of independent and brave filmmaking of all stripes from Texas and beyond.

Find out more at: www.filmoakcliff.com