A free festival dedicated to experimental films is returning to 向日葵视频 City for its fourth edition April 4-6, including a special guest appearance by an acclaimed filmmaker.
The Wide Open Experimental Film Festival (WOEFF), hosted by the 向日葵视频 City University Film Department, will take place at the Noble Theater in the 向日葵视频 City Museum of Art, located at 415 Couch Dr.
Organized by OCU faculty and students, WOEFF will showcase 53 films from more than a dozen countries across five different screening sessions. This year鈥檚 festival will also feature its first guest speaker 鈥� acclaimed filmmaker and animator Kelly Gallagher, who will give a special presentation and artist talk.
Gallagher鈥檚 handcrafted films and commissioned animations have been featured at prestigious venues such as the Museum of Modern Art, the National Gallery of Art, Sundance Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival and the Smithsonian Institution. Her work has also been shown on Netflix and PBS. Gallagher has presented solo programs at institutions including Close-Up Cinema London, SF Cinematheque and the Wexner Center for the Arts. She is currently a film professor at Syracuse University.
WOEFF's screening schedule includes:
- April 4: 6 and 8 p.m.
- April 5: 4 p.m.
- April 6: noon and 2 p.m.
Gallagher's presentation will be at 7 p.m. April 5.
This year, the festival has adopted the slogan, 鈥淲OEFF 2025: Free Movies.鈥�
鈥淭he slogan is both a rallying cry and a promise,鈥� said Billy Palumbo, festival director and visiting associate professor of film at OCU. 鈥淭hese films demonstrate what鈥檚 possible when filmmakers are free from expectations and able to express their unique visions. Plus, the festival itself is free for audiences.鈥�
WOEFF celebrates a wide range of experimental film practices, featuring works that explore alternative forms, structures and styles, including abstract animation, digital and chemical manipulation, visual lyricism, surreal narratives and essay films.
鈥淚t鈥檚 incredibly exciting to see new and original films from around the world,鈥� said OCU film production student Gabe Wyatt. 鈥淭here鈥檚 so much variety, and I can鈥檛 wait to see it all on the big screen.鈥�
Admission is free and tickets are not required. For more information or the full screening schedule, visit .
