If Any
A one-minute poem film that offers a meditation on time, memory, the spectral, the animistic, and the presence and absence of faith. Directed, written, filmed, read, edited, and produced by Adam E. Stone. Filmed in Carbondale, Illinois, August and September, 2020. Painting by Saribenne Evesong (1931-2009). Text of poem:
Only spirits, if any, stay forever,
the corporeal always pivot away.
A raucous goodbye, or a misunderstanding,
"Good luck, old friend!" or "Good riddance, old fool!"
I pedal faster, to a hum on a breeze,
a flutter along a long-darkened hallway.
I name the ghosts, as if I can still see them,
a crush ... a friend ... an inspiration.
You called me silly, poked at my gloom,
said "There's no such thing as being alone!"
And even today, I want to believe you,
but I fail every test, again and again.
Use "CC" button on Vimeo to enable closed captions in English. Download web vtt file from Vimeo when downloading film.
HD Apple pro res 422 version available for download upon request.
Copyright 2021 by Adam E. Stone. All rights reserved.
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Adam E. StoneDirector
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Adam E. StoneWriter
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Adam E. StoneProducer
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Adam E. StoneKey Cast"Poem reader"
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Joti LockerProduction Assistance
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Adam E. StoneCinematographer
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Adam E. StoneEditor
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Saribenne EvesongOriginal Artwork
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Project Type:Experimental, Short, Other
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Genres:Poem film, Film poem, Video poem, Videopoetry, Poetry film, Experimental film, Microshort, Short film, One-minute film
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Runtime:1 minute
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Completion Date:January 2, 2021
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Country of Origin:United States
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Country of Filming:United States
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
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MicroMania Film Festival 2021 Winter SeriesBuffalo, New York (online, limited access)
United States
February 28, 2021
Official Selection and Award Finalist -
Life Screenings International One Minute Film FestivalClermont, Florida (online, limited access)
United States
April 10, 2021
Florida online premiere
Official Selection -
Logcinema Art Films FestivalPomona, California
United States
April 20, 2021
California Premiere
Official Selection -
Mister VorkyRuma, Serbia
Serbia
June 11, 2021
European Premiere
Official Selection -
MalatestaShort Film FestivalCesena, Italy
Italy
November 12, 2021
Italian Premiere
Official Selection -
KinoDrome: International Motion Picture & Screenplay FestivalCleveland, Ohio
United States
September 26, 2021
Ohio Premiere
Official Selection and “Poetry Driven Experimental Film” category Honorable Mention -
Minute Madness TorontoToronto, Ontario (online, limited access)
Canada
December 28, 2021
Canada Premiere
Official Selection -
Festival AngaelicaPasadena, California (online, limited access)
United States
December 21, 2021
Official Selection -
Simply Indie Film FestEdmond, Oklahoma
United States
February 25, 2022
Oklahoma Premiere
Official Selection -
Shiver International Film FestivalSmiths Falls, Ontario
Canada
February 25, 2022
Finalist -
REELpoetry 2022Houston, Texas
United States
February 26, 2022
Texas Premiere
Official Selection -
27th Annual Twin Rivers Media FestivalAsheville, North Carolina
United States
April 9, 2022
North Carolina Premiere
Official Selection -
DELETE TVVienna, Austria
Austria
December 7, 2022
Austrian Premiere
Official Selection -
Walthamstow International Film FestivalLondon, England
United Kingdom
June 12, 2022
United Kingdom Premiere
Official Selection -
Wales International Film FestivalSwansea, Wales (online, limited access)
United Kingdom
September 15, 2022
Wales Premiere
Official Selection -
Shawna Shea Film FestivalWorcester, Massachusetts
United States
September 22, 2022
Massachusetts Premiere
Official Selection and "Best Mobile Device Short" Award Winner -
Brainwash Drive-In/Bike-In/Walk-In Movie FestivalDoyle, California
United States
August 26, 2022
Official Selection
Adam E. Stone's latest film is the feature-length poetic essay film "Atmospheric Marginalia" (2022). His films have been featured at over 140 festivals worldwide, and have won numerous awards. Previous short poem and essay films include "If Any" (2021), "Awake" (2021), "Specks and Flashes" (2020), "Elegy for Unfinished Lives" (2020), "an entombing(dis)entombing" (2020), "Declarations" (2019), and "Gods Die Too" (2018). Previous short dance films include "Do Not Forget the Lost" (2019), "Summer Friend: A Ballet Film" (2016), "Resting Places: A Ballet Film" (2015), and "Janet: A Silent Ballet Film" (2014). He also is the writer, producer, and co-director of the feature-length fictional essay film "Abstractly You Loved Me" (2013), and is one of the co-producers of, and conducted many of the interviews for, the feature-length documentary "Black Hawk Down: The Untold Story" (DVD 2019). In 2012, Stone wrote and produced the spoken-word ballet "A Life Unhappening," which is about the impact of one woman's Alzheimer's disease on three generations of her family. In 2010, he wrote, directed, and produced the DVD novel "Cache Girl Saves the World: A Novel in Visions." He is also the author of three conventional print novels: "Xamon Song" (2006), "Kingston Fugue" (2007), and "The New Harmonies" (2009). He currently lives and works in Carbondale, Illinois.