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Stump the Guesser

Berlinale Shorts 2020
© Julijette Inc.
He works at the fairground as “Stump the Guesser”, who can guess anything for a fee. But suddenly his tricks stop working. And then he unwittingly falls in love with his sister whom he believed to be lost. He sets out to scientifically disprove the theory of heredity and marry his beloved as soon as possible. An absurdist firework of a silent film in black and white.
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by Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson, Galen Johnson
with Adam Brooks, Stephanie Berrington, Brent Neale Canada 2020 English 19’ Colour & Black/White World premiere

With

  • Adam Brooks (X)
  • Stephanie Berrington (Y)
  • Brent Neale (Trofim)

Crew

Written and Directed by Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson, Galen Johnson
Cinematography Ryan Simmons
Editing Galen Johnson, Evan Johnson
Sound Design Galen Johnson
Producer Juliette Hagopian

Produced by

Juliette Inc.

Photos

Guy Maddin

© Philippe Migeat

The Canadian director, installation artist, screenwriter and cinematographer was born in 1956 in Winnipeg. He has directed 12 feature films, including The Forbidden Room. He has presented numerous performances of his films around the world with live elements such as an orchestra, sound effects, singing and narration. Since 2011, he has been collaborating with Galen Johnson and Evan Johnson in the filmmaking collective, Development Ltd.

Filmography (selection)

1988 Tales from the Gimli Hospital; 72 min. · Tales from the Gimli Hospital 1990 Archangel; 90 min. · Archangel 1997 Twilight of the Ice Nymphs; 91 min. · Twilight of the Ice Nymphs 2002 Dracula – Pages from a Virgin’s Diary; 73 min. · Dracula – Pages from a Virgin’s Diary 2003 The Saddest Music in the World; 100 min. · The Saddest Music in the World 2006 Brand Upon the Brain!; Forum · Brand Upon the Brain!; 95 Min., Forum 2007 2007 My Winnipeg; 80 min., Forum 2008 · My Winnipeg; Forum 2015 The Forbidden Room; 130 min., Forum 2015, co-directed by Evan Johnson · The Forbidden Room; Forum, co-directed by Evan Johnson 2020 Stump the Guesser; co-directed by Evan Johnson and Galen Johnson

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2020

Evan Johnson

© Bronwyn Murray

The Canadian writer and filmmaker was born in 1983 in Winnipeg where he now lives with his family. He studied film and philosophy at the University of Manitoba and was discovered by the director Guy Maddin with whom he co-directed his first feature film, The Forbidden Room.

Filmography

2015 Bring Me the Head of Tim Horton; 30 min., Forum Expanded 2016, co-directed by Guy Maddin and Galen Johnson · Bring Me the Head of Tim Horton; Forum Expanded, co-directed by Guy Maddin and Galen Johnson 2016 Seances; co-directed by Guy Maddin and Galen Johnson 2018 Accidence; co-directed by Guy Maddin and Galen Johnson · Accidence; Forum, co-directed by Guy Maddin and Galen Johnson 2020 Stump the Guesser; co-directed by Guy Maddin and Galen Johnson

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2020

Galen Johnson

© Galen Johnson

Born in Winnipeg, Canada in 1981. After studying architecture, he spent several years in the industry before working as a production designer and composer on The Forbidden Room, for which he received a nomination for a Canadian Screen Award. Since then, he has been co-director with Guy Maddin and Evan Johnson on feature films including The Green Fog as well as on experimental film projects.

Filmography

2015 Bring Me the Head of Tim Horton; 30 min., Forum Expanded 2016, co-directed by Guy Maddin and Evan Johnson · Bring Me the Head of Tim Horton; Forum Expanded, co-directed by Guy Maddin and Evan Johnson 2017 The Green Fog; co-directed by Guy Maddin and Evan Johnson 2020 Stump the Guesser; co-directed by Guy Maddin and Evan Johnson

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2020