Sapient_2.021 Film Premiere

Sapient 2.021 is an experimental short film by Amenda Tate exploring what it means to be human in a tech-saturated world. This work is part collaborative documentary and part screen dance. It draws inspiration from science fiction combining Tate’s motion-controlled painting robot with dance and visual art to examine ideas surrounding labor, control, empathy, and human rights in the wake of 2020. Much of the film was shot in the beautiful setting of the Des Moines Civic Center and Stoner Theater thanks to a partnership with Des Moines Performing Arts.

The work commemorates the 100th anniversary of the word “robot” introduced to the English language through the play R.U.R (Rossum’s Universal Robots) by Karel Capek. This project is supported by the Iowa Arts Council a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts.

This screening is made FREE to the public through a partnership with the City of West Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department. If you’d like to contribute to this project, tax-deductible donations can be made at: https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/manibus-project Funds will be used to off-set production costs and provide screening opportunities throughout Iowa. A limited number of VIP reserved seating spaces are available for donors of $100 or more.

Socially distanced outdoor pod seating for groups of 4-6 will be marked on the lawn with painted circles. Please bring blankets or chairs for seating. Masks are highly encouraged.