Light House Cinema in Dublin, Ireland announces a special five-hour masterclass and screening event with experimental filmmaker Rouzbeh Rashidi on Saturday, 27 September 2025, from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Titled "Poetic and Pictorial Essay Filmmaking," the program is divided into two parts: a two-hour intensive masterclass followed by a double-bill screening of Rashidi's latest essay films, Elpis (2023) and Dreaming Is Not Sleeping (2025), with a moderated Q&A and open discussion concluding the event. This in-depth session offers a rare opportunity for film students, scholars, practitioners, and cinephiles to engage with Rashidi's intellectually rich approach to cinema in an academic setting.
Rouzbeh Rashidi is an Iranian-Irish filmmaker and educator recognised as a leading voice in avant-garde and essay film. Since founding the Experimental Film Society (EFS) in 2000, Rashidi has created an extensive body of work entirely outside mainstream channels, with his films screening at festivals and museums worldwide (from the Berlin International Film Festival to the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art). His practice exemplifies a "poetry of Cinema as a way of life," blending personal experience with philosophical inquiry. Colleagues have hailed his recent work as "an important new direction in the context of contemporary Irish experimental film", underscoring the significance of this masterclass for those seeking insight into innovative film art.
Programme & Schedule
- Masterclass (2 hours): Poetic and Pictorial Essay Filmmaking. In the first half, Rashidi will deliver an intensive masterclass analysing two of his essay films, Elpis and Dreaming Is Not Sleeping. This session examines the creative, aesthetic, and philosophical processes that underlie these works, illuminating Rashidi's approach to poetic and pictorial cinema. As an educator who has long shared his experimental methodologies within EFS Film School, Rashidi will guide participants through the conceptual development of these films, discussing how image, sound, and narrative form intertwine to produce meaning. Expect a rigorous examination of how visual poetry, philosophical narration, and unconventional storytelling converge in his practice, with insights into the trilogy of which these films form a part (a third film, Apophatic Light, is currently in development).
- Intermission: A short break will allow attendees to recharge and discuss the masterclass content informally.
- Screenings (Double Bill, ~2 hours): Elpis (2023) and Dreaming Is Not Sleeping (2025) will be screened back-to-back. Experiencing the films in succession provides context for their interrelated themes and styles. Together, these two works constitute the first and second parts of an ongoing trilogy, offering a continuum of Rashidi's exploration into memory, history, and existence.
- Q&A and Discussion: The event concludes with a moderated Q&A session. Rashidi will participate in an open discussion, providing commentary on the films and addressing questions from the audience. This dialogue is intended to deepen the intellectual engagement, allowing attendees to clarify concepts and delve further into the ideas raised by the films and masterclass.
Book your tickets here: https://www.lighthousecinema.ie/film/masterclass-screening-with-rouzbeh-...
