Supporter-curated Section: WHO NEED WORLDBUILDING?

The name of this collection is a bit misleading, because as genre films, each one needs to establish its individual world for the viewer. You can't have fantasy, sci-fi, or horror without determining the rules, physics, history, and overall vibes of the filmic world that's being presented.

Heavy-handed narrative exposition, constant gruff voiceovers, and endless scrolls of textual backstory* might be considered hallmarks of genre storytelling, but they're actually obstacles to connection with the medium. The most immersive stories feel like they're happening without you. Hundreds or even thousands of human beings put significant shares of their limited time, energy, resources, and creativity into crafting a little world that only exists for a few hours, but feels like it's been around for decades, or centuries, or even longer. Just for you!

*I can't guarantee that none of these elements will be present in this collection, but if they are, they won't be overwhelmingly significant.

These films tend to start in media res, with information fed to you throughout the runtime, not upfront. You might feel confused, lost, or frustrated from the lack of hand-holding. Remember: art isn't about how much lore you can pack into it. Films don't need to have explanations or even resolutions. Curiosity can foster a deeper engagement with what you're seeing.

Here, you can find some tried-and-true greats. And some beautiful, forgotten 90s and Y2K trash. Or dystopian anime features. Brilliance holding hands with deep silliness. There are some franchise-starters, true. But each one is uniquely powerful on its own, and remember that they emerged at a time when franchising came after the movie, not before.

By the way, any of these will pair well with a short film from the Quay Brothers (you could start with Street of Crocodiles). I hope you find something you love!

--Supporter/guest curator Auzin Ahmadi