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FFG and S.M.A.K. present James Benning
James Benning at S.M.A.K.
Since the early 1970s, James Benning has been creating unique, independent, and minimalist films that have established him as one of the most influential experimental filmmakers of his time. Director Richard Linklater has described him as “one of the greatest visual artists of his generation.”
Benning’s films are often built around long takes, fixed camera positions, and meticulously composed sound scapes. Within the structure of his compositions, viewers become acutely aware of time, space, and the ways in which the political lives in and through the everyday. His work, situated at the intersection of film and visual art, has been presented in both cinemas and museums worldwide.
Film Fest Gent and S.M.A.K. have selected three films from Benning’s extensive body of work, each of which takes the American landscape as its starting point for visual experiences, temporalities, and political reflection. In American Dreams (Lost and Found) (1984, 55’), Benning juxtaposes memorabilia of baseball legend Hank Aaron and political assassin Arthur Bremer, weaving together the imagery of the American Dream with personal stories. The other two films, both titled The United States of America (1975, 27’ and 2022, 98’), each present characteristic American landscapes in their own way: the first filmed entirely through a car windshield, the second composed of more static observations from across the fifty states. Together, they offer a compelling impression of how the United States has become what it is today.
The three films will be screened free of charge at S.M.A.K. from 8 through 19 October:
American Dreams (Lost and Found) (1984, 55’): Wednesday 8 until Saturday 11 October 2025
The United States of America (1975, 27’): Sunday 12 until Thursday 16 October 2025
The United States of America (2022, 98’): Friday 17 until Sunday 19 October 2025
little boy in the Official Selection of Film Fest Gent
Even at the age of 80, James Benning continues to be remarkably productive. He describes his latest work as: “A film that looks back at the past to warn about the future, from the perspective of a little boy.”
little boy offers an intimate view of American politics and a personal cross-section of its history. That history unfolds in the fixed rhythm of the film: a meditative sequence of shots of hand-painted scale models, interwoven with recordings of historic political speeches and music from the era. It is up to the viewer to discover how everything molds together. Whether through the rousing words of Stokely Carmichael and César Chávez or the iconic songs of Sinéad O’Connor and Cat Power, Benning gives you the time to truly listen.
Thursday 9 October, 14:30 - KASKcinema
Friday 10 October, 20:00 - KASKcinema
Sunday 12 October, 22:00 - Studio Skoop 2
Monday 13 October, 14:30 - KASKcinema