TV Eye

Had your fill of frothy TV holiday fare? Weary of bowl games? Lost your buzz from all those holiday sweets? Well, then, The Territory comes just in time. The Austin Museum of Art partners with Houston's Southwest Alternate Media Project and KUHT-TV/Houston to bring the 29th season of provocative and experimental documentaries, narratives, and animated shorts from around the world. No longer than 30 minutes each (some much shorter), the selected films feature subjects and techniques that would be prohibitive in a longer format. This year's series includes films by Austinites Kat Candler, Rene Pinnell, and Bob Sabiston.

The Territory premieres on Friday, Jan. 7, at 10pm on PBS and continues on consecutive Fridays through Feb. 11. Unless otherwise noted, two programs air each Friday. Films are in English or subtitled in English. Check www.klru.org or local listings for up-to-date show dates and times.

Jan. 7

Program One: "Yo Lo Vi (I Saw It)," Germany – The works of Spanish artist Francisco Goya are animated, creating a fresh perspective and new poignancy; "Quienes Son? (Who Are They?)," New York – Extraterrestrials, fears of an American invasion, and the hollowness of Hollywood are revealed in this contemporary portrait of Cuba; "A Brief History of Voting," North Carolina – Animated, nonpartisan animal characters star in this topical film.

Program Two: "Nosferatu Tango," Switzerland – A lovelorn mosquito falls for the prince of vampires in this tragic tale of desire; "Compromis," France – A self-proclaimed French artist struggles to make a good film.

Jan. 14

Program Three: "Soar," Australia – Life is unfair yet humorous in this small film about destiny. "V Kocke (In the Box)," Slovak Republic – A wooden puppet, a box, and the quest for freedom.

Program Four: "Tram Stop," Australia – Role-playing in a virtual relationship with a stranger can't be all bad, can it?; "The Second Memory," Czechoslovakia/Germany – A former photographer's model ponders the past and the present through portraits of her youth.

Jan. 21

Program Five: "Archipelago," Spain – A bride's past catches up with her on her honeymoon; "The Pool," United Kingdom – A couple re-experiences the first stages of their love affair; "Nummer Twee (Number Two) (Just Because I'm Standing Here, Doesn't Mean I Want To)," The Netherlands – An ode to spring set in a desolate provincial suburb.

Program Six: "Neptune's Choice," Brazil – The filmmaker's impressions of Amsterdam poetically rendered in image, sound, and text; "Sentinelles," Canada – Two gargoyles come to life!; "Adopted," Texas – Filmmaker Linda Stogner shares her unexpected revelations regarding her adoption.

Jan. 28

Program Seven: "Grasshopper," Texas – The filmmaker's chance encounter with a philosopher in a New York City park; "Roberta Wells," Texas – A wry look at a dysfunctional family. "Love Ya Like," Texas – A trio of evil artists, an unavailable muse, and an obsessed lover create violence.

Program Eight: "Remembrance," Canada – Cursed and blessed with total recall, a man confronts espionage and romance in a 1942 Toronto train station; "The Heart of the World," Canada – A hilarious parody of silent Soviet propaganda films; "Next," Ukraine – The quirkiness of being human is examined in this animated satire.

Feb. 4

Program Nine: "Nada Que Perder (Nothing to Lose)," Spain – A cab driver and an actress cross paths; "Unravelling," Australia – A metaphoric journey through a woman's mental breakdown in a cardboard cutout world.

Program 10: "5 A.M.," The Netherlands – Photography and video are used with digital animation to show viewers the overlooked details of life; "Up," California – An isolated prisoner relies on his imagination to stay alive; "Nummer Drie (Number Three)," The Netherlands – A ballerina dances oblivious to the world around her in a dark, frozen park after a series of inexplicable events.

Feb. 11

Program 11: "Einstein's Playground," California – A playful look at one of the most brilliant minds of the 20th century; "Zinc Garden," The Netherlands – A celebration of nature in image and music.

Program 12: "The Most of My Worries," France – A family finds humor and relief as they endure the illness of a loved one; "The Shooting Gallery," Ukraine – A homeless boy, an unobtainable ballerina, and the game of life; "Mockingbird," California – Imagination becomes reality at the brink of madness in this animated work.

Program 13: "Gowanus, Brooklyn," New York – The life of a 12-year-old girl is revealed in life's little dramas; "A Woman Reported," California – A look inside a young woman's mind before her life irrevocably changes; "Roeien (Rowing)," the Netherlands – A river voyage is uniquely documented with a homemade pinhole camera.