Andrea Sisson

~Starting this week~ Documenting the Disappeared. A 3-week workshop based on my documentation practice; My recording of the disappeared, of those that have been made invisible by systems, by power- carceral, psychiatric, or immigration detention spaces, and others rendered invisible by public policy, social stigma, or discriminatory law. A practice of paying attention. See you there x @schoolofattention

🎥✨ What do we document when we can’t document? When cameras fail—or are forbidden—how do we record what’s hidden, censored, or made invisible? What does it mean to give attention to those we’re told not to see? In DOCUMENTING THE DISAPPEARED, explore tools like sound, memory, drawing, and storytelling to make the invisible felt—through film, discussion, and hands-on experimentation. No filmmaking experience required. Led by filmmaker and Fulbright Fellow @andreasisson 🔗 Enroll via the link in bio. #Documentary #MediaStudies #AttentionActivism #Storytelling #FilmSeminar

Excited to be a *performing documentarian* (a performer-tarian if you may), in Camilla’s project “As Possible.” April 4, 2pm Frshkills Park Staten Island, New York Semi-living with Camilla for much of last year, I’ve watched this project unfold. I’ve watched the layers accumulate of both ruching and dirt from skin and wear; I’ve peeped nipple hair; watched in awe as buns of folds appear on this pole frame. And during rehearsal, I’ve become teary-eyed watching a ruched bull promenade a strip tease. How will it feel to once again see clothing of variety on this now creature; I can’t imagine. Come celebrate with us, ritualize the culmination. There will be special bus transportation - info on the ticket page. https://acompi.itm.studio/m/as-possible ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<<<<<<~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Choreography by Laurel Atwell, music by YATTA, and a cast from Carper’s milieu: Zachary Delamater, Cherry Jaymes, Diva Jones, Ruby Justice Thelot, Maya Kotomori, Francis Louvis, Branden Mayeri, Tura Olivera, Phoebus Osborne, Reed Rushes, Sophie Schwartz, Andrea Sisson, Anne Symons, Ray Tsou, Kate Williams. The performance is presented by ACOMPI. Image Design: Julio Correa. Photo: Logan White

Now up on my Substack (along with the photo shoot with my article conversationalist). andrealarry.substack.com @kgmt @bugjack @filmmakermag

New York is very goofy, a clown town in the snow.

Reading a bit of something at Frisson Gallery next Tuesday the 10th (7p). Performances and readings featuring @tessdworman @eris_trivisa_itihasa #davemckenzie, and myself. Hosted by @allietaylorg @maaaaarmz and @bodyconfidence at @frisson_gallery .

Teaching a 3-week course this Spring. Sign up for 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 April 1-15 - to collectivity work through the *experiences of systematic disappearances currently happening around us* We begin with the documentary-its forms, limits, and histories - and move toward the problem of 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 “𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱” 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀: 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝘂𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹, 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀, 𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝘀𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰 and others rendered invisible by public policy, social stigma, or discriminatory law. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗯𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻? How and what can we record when our subject is absent, inaccessible, or censored? 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗹𝘆: 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗲? Through group discussions, film viewings, short readings, and hands-on exploration, students will explore techniques and materials such as negative space, sound, drawing, spatial observation, memory, and storytelling to expose the invisible subject. No prior filmmaking experience is required. Led by filmmaker and Fulbright Fellow Andrea Sisson. Wednesdays, 6:45 - 9:15pm EST April 1st-15th @schoolofattention /enroll/p/documenting-the-disappeared

𝗧𝗛𝗨𝗥𝗦, 𝗙𝗘𝗕 𝟱 — 𝟳:𝟯𝟬𝗽𝗺 We’re delighted to welcome filmmaker 𝗜𝘃𝗮 𝗥𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗼𝗷𝗲𝘃𝗶ć [ @ivarad ] for a special screening of her luminous, genre-defying feature 𝘈𝘓𝘌𝘗𝘏! Premiering at New Directors | New Films in 2021 and hailed as “a work of philosophy applied to the world of cinema” (@cineuropa.official ), 𝘈𝘓𝘌𝘗𝘏 drifts across ten countries and five continents, gathering the dreams of its protagonists into a constellation of stories that gesture toward what Borges called “the unimaginable universe.” What emerges is not a single narrative but a vivid mosaic: a meditation on presence, distance, and the shared rhythms of human experience. Iva’s films have screened at New York Film Festival, Rotterdam, New Directors/New Films, MoMA and more, and her practice has been supported by both the Guggenheim Foundation and the Sundance Institute. Following the screening, Iva joins 𝗔𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮 𝗦𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻 [ @andreasisson ] — Fulbright Fellow, award-winning filmmaker, and scholar whose work bridges experimental documentary, social practice, and psychoanalytic inquiry. Come through as they guide us through a wide-ranging conversation on rhythm, language, and form. Sisson’s work has screened internationally from the São Paulo Museum of Image and Sound to the Palais de Tokyo, and has been recognized by The New York Times and Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces. Together, they’ll approach 𝘈𝘓𝘌𝘗𝘏 through a psychoanalytic lens and cinema as a way of listening to the unconscious. This evening will kick off our upcoming sold out workshop 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘙𝘩𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘮: 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘰𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘥𝘪𝘵 and will offer a bridge into the questions at the heart of the three day intensive. Don’t miss it! 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗕 𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗧𝗦 🔗 𝗜𝗡 𝗕𝗜𝗢

FASHION. We’re nearly sold out! A Sunday 02/01 Matinee has been added! Waitlist for the rest of shows- just show up. Amanda Horowitz’s [ @lazy_ladyhood ] FASHION at The Exponential Festival [ @exponentialfestival ] Jan 29-Feb 2 at Life World. Written and Directed by Amanda Horowitz Producing and Dramaturgy by Andrea Sisson Performed by Jess Barbagallo, Lorenzo Bueno, Annie Fang, Sterling Gates, Carolyn Kettig, Linda Mancini, Anne O’Sullivan, Pete Simpson, Ned Riseley, Arun Welandawe-Prematilleke, and Jehan O. Young Set Design by Andreea Mincic Lighting by Shana Crawford Sound Design by Mitchell Polonsky Stage Managed by Olive Schettino Asst. Directed by Maya Shore [ @come.to.life.world ].

Parallels

So proud to share this piece in Filmmaker Magazine [ @filmmakermag ], in Scott Macaulay’s final issue as Editor-in-Chief, out now online and in print. Scott curated a beautiful Reflections section and invited me to write this essay. For this piece, I enlisted Kendra Terry, PhD [ @kgmt ] in conversation to take a first stab at exploring the parallels between my dual practice of filmmaking and psychoanalysis. Thank you to Scott [ @bugjack ], Kendra, and also Lily Meyersohn’s [ @lily.hart__ ] additional editing eyes. /132755-film-and-psychoanalysis/

𝗧𝗛𝗨𝗥𝗦, 𝗙𝗘𝗕 𝟱 — 𝟳:𝟯𝟬𝗽𝗺 We’re delighted to welcome filmmaker 𝗜𝘃𝗮 𝗥𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗼𝗷𝗲𝘃𝗶ć [ @ivarad ] for a special screening of her luminous, genre-defying feature 𝘈𝘓𝘌𝘗𝘏! Premiering at New Directors | New Films in 2021 and hailed as “a work of philosophy applied to the world of cinema” (@cineuropa.official ), 𝘈𝘓𝘌𝘗𝘏 drifts across ten countries and five continents, gathering the dreams of its protagonists into a constellation of stories that gesture toward what Borges called “the unimaginable universe.” What emerges is not a single narrative but a vivid mosaic: a meditation on presence, distance, and the shared rhythms of human experience. Iva’s films have screened at New York Film Festival, Rotterdam, New Directors/New Films, MoMA and more, and her practice has been supported by both the Guggenheim Foundation and the Sundance Institute. Following the screening, Iva joins 𝗔𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮 𝗦𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻 [ @andreasisson ] — Fulbright Fellow, award-winning filmmaker, and scholar whose work bridges experimental documentary, social practice, and psychoanalytic inquiry. Come through as they guide us through a wide-ranging conversation on rhythm, language, and form. Sisson’s work has screened internationally from the São Paulo Museum of Image and Sound to the Palais de Tokyo, and has been recognized by The New York Times and Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces. Together, they’ll approach 𝘈𝘓𝘌𝘗𝘏 through a psychoanalytic lens and cinema as a way of listening to the unconscious. This evening will kick off our upcoming workshop 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘙𝘩𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘮: 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘰𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘥𝘪𝘵 and will offer a bridge into the questions at the heart of the three day intensive. Don’t miss it! 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗕 𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗧𝗦 🔗 𝗜𝗡 𝗕𝗜𝗢