TWELVE LIONS FILM FESTIVAL

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SEP 26 - SEP 29

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TWELVE LIONS FILM FESTIVAL | SEP 26 - SEP 29 |

Opening Night Feature & Q&A

THE FIRST OMEN + Director & Lexington Native Arkasha Stevenson

THU, SEP 26 @ 7:15PM | FREE

When a young American woman is sent to Rome to begin a life of service to the church, she encounters a darkness that causes her to question her own faith and uncovers a terrifying conspiracy that hopes to bring about the birth of evil incarnate. This Omen prequel is directed by Lexington native Arkasha Stevenson.

Block 1A

FRI, SEP 27 @ 12:00PM | FREE

Stories of betrayal, grief, and love from Iran, Poland, Italy, and the United Kingdom. In the short film In Too Deep, you may recognize Oscar-winner Rachel Shenton from the PBS series All Creatures Great and Small.

Block 1B

FRI, SEP 27 @ 12:00PM | FREE

Five short films from the United States, Ukraine, Iran, and South Africa. In the Ukranian submission, Teacher’s Day, two women seek revenge on an abusive former teacher.

Block 2A

FRI, SEP 27 @ 2:00PM | FREE

Four short documentaries, including two by Kentucky filmmakers. Window Treatment takes a personal look at the legacy of the American military presence in Okinawa. The Australian film Debut. tells the story of three apprentice jockeys. Racing the Empire follows the world’s best tower runner as he prepares to make history. Day Without Hate documents a student-led initiative promoting peace, nonviolence, and mental health care in our schools.

Block 2B

FRI, SEP 27 @ 2:00PM | FREE

Tales of witches, ghosts, monsters, mystery, and murder from France, Spain, and the United States. Super Deep Down was filmed right here in Kentucky!

Block 3A

FRI, SEP 27 @ 3:10PM | FREE

Seven short films from Sweden, Venezuela, Canada, India, Spain, and the United States. In Frozen Bliss, the Swedish submission, a man believes that true happiness lies among the stars. Fueled by his desire for a more beautiful world, he embarks on a daring space voyage.

Block 3B

FRI, SEP 27 @ 3:45PM | FREE

Five shorts from South Africa, Spain, and the United States. Filmed in Kentucky, Maison features the beloved Lexington actor, Patrick Mitchell.

Block 4A

FRI, SEP 27 @ 5:10PM | FREE

A red elephant, a seagull smitten with a drone, talking lightbulbs, and an octopus ninja are just some of the intriguing characters in these six animated shorts and two narrative shorts from around the world.

Block 4B

FRI, SEP 27 @ 5:20PM | FREE

Did you know that Robert Oppenheimer, the famed physicist and father of the atomic bomb, had a brother? Neither did we. Learn about Frank Oppenheimer in Another Oppenheimer, a boldly experimental animated short and one of seven films in this collection of films from around the world, including three shorts by Kentucky filmmakers.

Block 5A

FRI, SEP 27 @ 6:20PM | FREE

A short film from Argentina based on a Hemingway story, short documentaries from Italy, Spain, and the Philippines, and a film essay from Iran.

Block 5B Feature Film

DULCINEA

FRI, SEP 27 @ 7:10PM | FREE

FINALIST

After years of unruly life in Lisbon, Hugo, a jazz double bassist, returns to Porto, hoping to find balance with his family. When he attends a concert by a pianist recently made famous, the longed-for peace turns into the worst nightmare. The pianist plays a song that Hugo knows all too well because it's the one he's been writing in his head for years.

Block 6A Documentary

I HOPE THIS HELPS!

FRI, SEP 27 @ 7:45PM | FREE

FINALIST

From executive producer Matthew Modine, this is a humorous, genre-bending hybrid documentary that invites viewers to ponder the evolving relationship between humanity and technology. In the film, investigative journalist Daniel Freed enlists the help of Google's AI chatbot, Bard, to collaborate on a documentary...about AI. Don’t miss the Q&A with Kentucky filmmaker Daniel Freed immediately following the film.

Block 6B Documentary

0.5 METERS

FRI, SEP 27 @ 9:10PM | FREE

Gonzalo wants to be a film director; he dreams of directing comedies. In 2006, a traffic accident leaves him partially paralyzed. Only a few days after the accident, he borrows a video camera and, as self-therapy, begins to film everything that happens to him, beginning at 0.5 meters above ground.

Block 7A Feature Film

PREGNANT

FRI, SEP 27 @ 9:30PM | FREE

FINALIST

A group of men and women are gathered at the house of a smuggler who has promised to help them escape Iran. When a stranger arrives unexpectedly, all of their plans are threatened. In an impressive feat of cinematography, this film is shot in one continuous take.

Block 7B

SAT, SEP 28 @ 12:00PM | FREE

Did you know that Robert Oppenheimer, the famed physicist and father of the atomic bomb, had a brother? Neither did we. Learn about Frank Oppenheimer in Another Oppenheimer, a boldly experimental animated short and one of seven films in this collection of films from around the world, including three shorts by Kentucky filmmakers.

Block 8A

SAT, SEP 28 @ 12:00PM | FREE

Seven short films from Sweden, Venezuela, Canada, India, Spain, and the United States. In Frozen Bliss, the Swedish submission, a man believes that true happiness lies among the stars. Fueled by his desire for a more beautiful world, he embarks on a daring space voyage.

Block 8B

SAT, SEP 28 @ 1:45PM | FREE

Five shorts from South Africa, Spain, and the United States. Filmed in Kentucky, Maison features the beloved Lexington actor, Patrick Mitchell.

Block 9A

SAT, SEP 28 @ 2:00PM | FREE

A red elephant, a seagull smitten with a drone, talking lightbulbs, and an octopus ninja are just some of the intriguing characters in these six animated shorts and two narrative shorts from around the world.

Block 9B

SAT, SEP 28 @ 3:30PM | FREE

A short film from Argentina based on a Hemingway story, short documentaries from Italy, Spain, and the Philippines, and a film essay from Iran.

Block 10A Documentary

I HOPE THIS HELPS!

SAT, SEP 28 @ 3:15PM | FREE

FINALIST

From executive producer Matthew Modine, this is a humorous, genre-bending hybrid documentary that invites viewers to ponder the evolving relationship between humanity and technology. In the film, investigative journalist Daniel Freed enlists the help of Google's AI chatbot, Bard, to collaborate on a documentary...about AI. Don’t miss the Q&A with Kentucky filmmaker Daniel Freed immediately following the film.

Block 10B Documentary

RIDE BACK TO BEST AGE

SAT, SEP 28 @ 4:45PM | FREE

FINALIST

From the Tyrolean mountains to Lake Garda, director Hermann Weiskopf is back on the road on his beloved Vespa. At the crisp age of 60, he sets out on a journey to discover whether his age is all about high blood pressure and dieting or whether there is more to it - and how others approach the subject of aging.

Block 11A Documentary

0.5 METERS

SAT, SEP 28 @ 5:00PM | FREE

Gonzalo wants to be a film director; he dreams of directing comedies. In 2006, a traffic accident leaves him partially paralyzed. Only a few days after the accident, he borrows a video camera and, as self-therapy, begins to film everything that happens to him, beginning at 0.5 meters above ground.

Block 11B

SAT, SEP 28 @ 6:15PM | FREE

A Guerra Finita, a beautifully animated short, kicks off this block of films from Italy and the United States.

Block 12B Documentary

WORLD WITHOUT COWS

SAT, SEP 28 @ 7:30PM | FREE

Three years ago, two filmmakers began a journey that would take them from the heartland of the United States to Kenya, India, Brazil and beyond as they sought to answer a simple question, “Are we better off in a world without cows?” Their journey of discovery explores the complex and often surprising ways cattle shape our world — and the potential consequences of their absence. Be sure to stick around for a Q&A with the film’s two Kentucky directors following the screening.

Block 13A

SAT, SEP 28 @ 8:50PM | FREE

These four intense short films from Ukraine, Iran, South Africa, and the United States deal with abuse, mental illness, and revenge. In the Ukranian submission, Teacher’s Day, two women seek revenge on an abusive former teacher.

Block 14A

SUN, SEP 29 @ 12:00PM | FREE

Four short documentaries, including two by Kentucky filmmakers. Window Treatment takes a personal look at the legacy of the American military presence in Okinawa. The Australian film Debut. tells the story of three apprentice jockeys. Racing the Empire follows the world’s best tower runner as he prepares to make history. Day Without Hate documents a student-led initiative promoting peace, nonviolence, and mental health care in our schools.

Block 14B

SUN, SEP 29 @ 12:00PM | FREE

Stories of betrayal, grief, and love from Iran, Poland, Italy, and the United Kingdom. In the short film In Too Deep, you may recognize Oscar-winner Rachel Shenton from the PBS series All Creatures Great and Small.

Block 15A Feature Film

DULCINEA

SUN, SEP 29 @ 1:20PM | FREE

FINALIST

After years of unruly life in Lisbon, Hugo, a jazz double bassist, returns to Porto, hoping to find balance with his family. When he attends a concert by a pianist recently made famous, the longed-for peace turns into the worst nightmare. The pianist plays a song that Hugo knows all too well because it's the one he's been writing in his head for years.

Block 15B Feature Film

PREGNANT

SUN, SEP 29 @ 2:00PM | FREE

FINALIST

A group of men and women are gathered at the house of a smuggler who has promised to help them escape Iran. When a stranger arrives unexpectedly, all of their plans are threatened. In an impressive feat of cinematography, this film is shot in one continuous take.

Block 16A

SUN, SEP 29 @ 3:15PM | FREE

A Guerra Finita, a beautifully animated short, kicks off this block of films from Italy, Spain, and the United States.

Block 16B Documentary

RIDE BACK TO BEST AGE

SUN, SEP 29 @ 3:45PM | FREE

FINALIST

From the Tyrolean mountains to Lake Garda, director Hermann Weiskopf is back on the road on his beloved Vespa. At the crisp age of 60, he sets out on a journey to discover whether his age is all about high blood pressure and dieting or whether there is more to it - and how others approach the subject of aging.

Block 17A

SUN, SEP 29 @ 4:25PM | FREE

Tales of witches, ghosts, monsters, mystery, and murder from France, Spain, and the United States. Super Deep Down was filmed right here in Kentucky!

Block 17B Feature Film

M30 OXY

SUN, SEP 29 @ 5:45PM | FREE

Filmed in Kentucky, M30 OXY tells the harrowing story of Appalachians involved in the use and distribution of opioids during the first summer of Covid. Don’t miss a Q&A with the filmmaker immediately following the screening.

The Kentucky Theatre does not provide advisories about subject matter or potential triggering content, as sensitivities vary from person to person. Beyond the synopses, trailers and review links on our website, other sources of information about content and age-appropriateness for specific films can be found on Common Sense MediaIMDb and DoesTheDogDie.com as well as through general internet searches.