Equal parts love story, road movie, and Americana, DREAMSTATES tells the haunting tale of two wayward souls (Saul Williams and Anisia Uzeyman) discovering their love for one another in their dreams and reality while touring the United States with some of the most pivotal figures of the Afro-Punk movement – Sultry, sensual, and quixotic, an underground portrait of America: haunted and hollow.
A visual poem that stands to the historically recurring theme of resourceful black genius in music and filmmaking, and the powerful black feminine artistic gaze.
In her debut feature film, made in collaboration with Saul Williams (SLAM), Anisia Uzeyman’s hypnotic, non-linear storytelling spurs a dreamlike, recursive experience as audiences are taken on an underground journey where myths and reality blur. Experimental visions are built by steadily layering enigmatic black spaces onto hyper saturated colors, a bold approach with an iPhone as the film’s camera.
–Roya Rastegar & Stephanie Owens, L.A Film Festival
To Anisia Uzeyman, the United States are a dream. Complete with surreal landscapes and too real terrors, her portrait of the country is both a panegyric and a cautionary tale. Shot in 2012 on an iPhone 4 and 4S, Dreamstates finds success in moments of sincerity allowed by an inconspicuous, always-ready camera. With a more traditional approach and an earlier release date, Uzeyman could have made the same splash that Sean Baker did at Sundance 2015 with iPhone-shot Tangerine. But rather than emulate a big-budget aesthetic, Uzeyman makes poetry of love, pain and music within the black American experience.
-T. Anthony Schear, REELYDOPE
Starring acclaimed poet/actor Saul Williams, Anisia Uzeyman, CX KIDTRONIK, Pegasus Warning, Beau Sia, William Nadylam, Julien Chirol & Zach Prewitt
Written & Directed by
Anisia Uzeyman
Edited by
Jean Marie Lengellé (Blue is the Warmest Color, Timbuktu)
Sound Designer
Blake Leyh (The Wire, Tremé, Into the Woods)
Original Music
Saul Williams (Niggy Tardust, Marty Loser King)
Associate Producer
Emilie Saada / Triune Productions Ltd
Produced by
Maripol For Special Effects, Punk Rock of Gibraltar
Co-Produced by
Maria Judice
MATATU
Executive Producers
Maripol, Annie Maurette, Dave Guenette, Saul Williams, Anisia Uzeyman, Maï Lucas, Neptune Frost
DREAMSTATES USA LIMITED RELEASE TOUR 2017
9.21.17 Dreamstates Tour > NOLA <> INFO & TIX
10.6.17 Dreamstates Tour > N.Y.C. <> INFO & TIX
10.12.17 Dreamstates Tour > GARY, IN <> INFO & TIX
10.13.17 Dreamstates Tour > CHI <> INFO & TIX
10.26.17 Dreamstates Tour > S.F. <> INFO & TIX
11.1.17 Dreamstates Tour > S.A. <> INFO & TIX
11.5.17 Dreamstates Tour > L.A. <> INFO & TIX
Updates, added performances & up-to-date listings
World Premiere
June 3 – Los Angeles Film Festival
Philadelphia Premiere
August 6 – Black Star Film Festival
European Premiere
October 31 – Film Africa
South American Premiere
April 20, 22, 27 – BAFICI
April 29 – Langston Hughes African American Film Festival
US Inquiries: Dreamstates Productions
International Sales Agent: Efuru Flowers Flourishing Films
Press: Kathryn Frazier / BIZ3
Rwandan Director Anisia Uzeyman Asks: “Can Black Love Survive the American Dream?”
REELYDOPE.COM
Movies That Changed Anisia Uzeyman
REELYDOPE.COM VIDEO
Saul Williams and Anisia Uzeyman discuss their new film "Dreamstates"
RADIO VOLCALO CHICAGO
Rwandan playwright and actress Anisia Uzeyman discuss her film Dreamstates entirely shot on iPhones
BBC: THE ARTS HOUR
‘Dreamstates’ Explores Love By Indie Means At BlackStar Film Festival
OKAYPLAYER.COM
LA Film Fest 2016 Women Directors: Meet Anisia Uzeyman — “Dreamstates”
WOMEN AND HOLLYWOOD
DREAMSTATES: Anisia Uzeyman & Saul Williams
DIRECTED BY WOMEN
LAFF 2016: Anisia Uzeyman’s ‘Dreamstates’ to Debut at LA Film Festival
HOLLYWOOD BLACK RENAISSANCE
Dreamstates: soñar despiertos en un roadtrip musical
WIRIKO