Atomino 2010

Julian Semilian teaches film editing at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, after a twenty-four year career in Hollywood where he has edited 16 feature films and movies-of-the-week.

Also a poet, novelist and translator, Semilian has published such books as Transgender Organ Grinder, A Spy in Amnesia, The Romanian Poems of Paul Celan, The Inventor of Love and Other Works by Gherasim Luca, Nostalgia and Osiris with a Trombone Across the Seam of Insubstance. His poems, translations and essays and writings on cinema appeared in such literary journals as Arshile, Exquisite Corpse, Suitcase, Word Letter, Callaloo, Syllogism, Talisman and Cinema Editor. His avantgarde film TEAR VOID INSOMNIA MIST, was featured at the International Xperimental Film & Animation Festival in Nicosia, Cyprus.

His new film, DEVOTEES OF THE PRECIPITATE was selected and will be featured at Abstracta Film Festival in Rome in 2010. It also played at Anthology Film Archives in May 2010 and was featured at the University of Haifa in conjunction with the symposium Relation du poème à son temps.

As a recipient of the Kenan Institute for the Arts “Breathe” grant, Semilian met during the summer of 2008 with three filmmaker-artists who have provided him with continuing inspiration: Brothers Quay and Jan Svankmajer.

Concerning selected ephemera of one Emuel Dnitsk, an aspirant to Man Ray’s circle, also formerly known as EMmanUEL raDNITSKy. Foretelling Ray’s derision, Dnitsk restricted the creation of his “moving paintings” (peintures fluides) to furtive yet copious notes.  Devotees endeavors to resurrect Dnisk’s vision from the precipice of reticence. (Cameo apparition by Bruno Schultz). 36 min.