Street Of Crocodiles (1986)

Combine the magic of a child’s optical toy, the expressionist sets of German silent films, the nightmarish fantasy of a Victorian attic with possessed broken dolls and a surrealistic approach to the camera as a third character and you begin to approach the unusual and very personal world of the stop-motion and puppetry animation created by The Brothers Quay.

Identical twins born near Philadelphia, the brothers were heavily influenced by the Eastern European immigrant culture of their area and eventually moved to London where they have made most of their films. Using the funds collected from work on television commercials and music videos, they created their own personal projects over the past two decades, culminating in their first feature Institute Benjamenta in 1995. Known for their unique “two heads as one” working process whereby they alternate finishing each other’s sentences, their works are filled with images both bizarre and awe-inspiring, not only for their impressionistic effects, but for their precise, yet mystifying craftsmanship.

Nocturna Artificialia (1979)

Join the Quays for their first speaking engagement in the United States as they discuss the influences on their work and screen several of their acclaimed films. Prepare for a unique experience of handcrafted animation that manages to push the boundaries of the art form as it weaves its singular spell.