ANN ARBOR – Devo, the iconic counter-culture band of the 1970s and ‘80s known for their experimental approach to rock, punk, and electronic music, will be highlighted in the upcoming 63rd Ann Arbor Film Festival (AAFF).
Set for March 25-30, 2025, the festival will screen over 150 short and feature-length films at the historic Michigan Theater in downtown Ann Arbor. Panel discussions, competition and special programs, juror presentations and after-parties are also part of the six-day event.
As part of the festival’s Special Program lineup, Devo will be featured in two different programs. On Wednesday, March 26, at 7:30 PM, AAFF will present 50 Years of De-Evolution: The Restored Films of Devo(1974–1984), showcasing the band’s restored video artworks, with Devo founders Gerald Casale and Mark Mothersbaugh joining restorationist Peter Conheim for a post-screening discussion with Q&A. Then, on Saturday, March 29, at 5:30 PM, the feature documentary Devo, directed by Chris Smith (2024), will be shown. Both events will take place in the Michigan Theater’s main auditorium.
“Devo is a perfect fit for the Ann Arbor Film Festival,” said Executive Director Leslie Raymond, “The festival offers artists from around the world an opportunity to express their view of the human condition. Devo has been doing the same thing for more than 50 years.” Devo’s success has been closely tied to their film In The Beginning Was The End being featured at the 15th AAFF in 1977. This pivotal moment, followed by their inclusion in the AAFF tour, ultimately led them to secure a record-label contract.
In the early 1980s, Devo had three songs in Billboard’s Top 100, including its most popular song, Whip It.
The 63rd Ann Arbor Film Festival opens Tuesday, March 25, 2025, with the Opening Night Party at 6:30 PM followed by Films in Competition 1 at 8:15 PM, the first of 14 shorts in competition programs, 8 feature films in competition, 3 juror presentations, and 9 special programs this year.
The festival closes on Sunday, March 30, with two different Awards Programs showing a selection of awarded films chosen by a panel of distinguished AAFF jurors.
Filmmakers from around the world (nearly 100 countries) submitted over 2,600 films for the festival competition. The selected films will be announced on March 1 when tickets go on sale on the AAFF website: aafilmfest.org.
The Ann Arbor Film Festival is the oldest avant-garde and experimental film festival in North America, founded by George Manupelli in 1963. It presents more than $25,000 in awards to filmmakers each year.
AAFF is internationally recognized as a premiere forum for independent filmmakers and artists. Thousands of influential filmmakers and artists have exhibited their early works at the AAFF, including Kenneth Anger, Brian De Palma, Agnes Varda, Andy Warhol, Gus Van Sant, Barbara Hammer, George Lucas, Les Blank, Matthew Buckingham, and James Benning.
Festival passes are now on sale and can be purchased here.
