Air, fire, gut. The accumulation of pressure will come out, yell out, call out, make itself known.
Impulses and hopes, the breath comes together with the life force pulsing all around us.
The leaves, the stems, the rhizomes continue to spread their sap throughout, no matter what.
Film: Bani Khoshnoudi
Music: Christine Abdelnour

Gustavo Nandayapa: devenir de un río explores Mexican percussionist Gustavo Nandayapa's movement from the traditional marimba music in his home town of Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas to the fertile avant-garde soils of Mexico City through the memories of his friends, colleagues and family.
Director: Rhizomes Films (Andrea Rodea, Erik Mares)

Originally shot over the course of 5 days during No Idea Festival 2016, The Finger’d Remove is a compilation of moments shared between musicians Jeph Jerman/Tim Barnes and filmmaker Patrick Danse—instances of improvisation where the musicians, absent of prescribed guidelines, embody a timeless succession of musical ideas forged with elements of realities gathered from their immediate surroundings.

Three Venezuelans—two abroad and one still at home—address the question of what remains of your country once you leave it, and what happens when it feels like it left you. Can one rebuild it from memory? Is there a need to do so while the place still stands where it always was? How do you confront a possible Venezuela against its current shape? Ernesto Montiel / Gil Sansón / Aquiles Hadjis

During 2020-2022, Iván Naranjo collected a large number of short videos, mainly from Mexico City—moving images of visually exceptional situations occurring in the ordinary. In Lugares Sutiles, this material appears juxtaposed and superimposed, creating an aggregate narrative. Naranjo’s electronic music provides an additional perceptual layer, reinforcing and/or complicating the visual.

Sydney improvisor Jim Denley has a longstanding practice trekking deep within Australia’s varied lands to play and record music over the course of several days or even weeks. Cicadas is an audio-visual documentation of Denley’s recent expedition within Dark Brothers Cave in the Hidden Valley, Budawang Mountains, YUIN NATION and an unexpected musical-perceptual collaboration with a brood of cicadas.

“Passing it on” presents myriad approaches, working methods, and viewpoints towards improvisation—all in service of the continuation of a music deeply held by each artist. Written & narrated by Derek Bailey. Produced & directed by Jeremy Marre. Spanish translation / subtitling program, No Idea 2022.

"Movements in Time" presents a spiraling journey of music, dance, and instrumental developments across India, the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, Puerto Rico, New York City. Written & narrated by Derek Bailey. Produced & directed by Jeremy Marre. Spanish translation / subtitling program, No Idea 2022.

“A Liberating Thing” examines the role of improvisation as a creative tool for the working musician—be it through the development of personal or collective systems of music making, a combination of experience and invention within a form, or the abandonment or antagonism of known forms in search of a liberating porosity. Written & narrated by Derek Bailey. Produced & directed by Jeremy Marre. Spanish translation / subtitling program, No Idea 2022.

“Nothin’ Premeditated” explores improvisation as a process employed to connect socially to an audience, to fellow music collaborators (be it human or technological), to our ancestors. Written & narrated by Derek Bailey. Produced & directed by Jeremy Marre. Spanish translation / subtitling program, No Idea 2022.

Shot and edited by Mexico City filmmaking duo Meteora during No Idea Festival 2016 in Austin, Texas between February 25-28, 2016. The video captures the gathering and movements of musicians as they reflect on the art of improvisation.

Filmado y editado por Meteora, dúo de cine de la Ciudad de México, durante el No Idea Festival 2016 en Austin, Texas (25 - 28 de febrero, 2016). Traducción de: Andrea Ancira, Danae Silva, Aimée Theriot, Jacob Wick, Chris Cogburn. Subtítulos por: Aimée Theriot

Filmed and edited by Mexico City filmmaker Patrick Danse during No Idea 2016 in Austin, Texas, The Finger'd Remove is a collection of visual soundscapes featuring experimentalists Jeph Jerman and Tim Barnes.

Filmado y editado por Patrick Danse (BE/MX), durante el No Idea Festival 2016 en Austin, Texas (febrero, 2016). Traducción de: Andrea Ancira, Danae Silva, Aimée Theriot, Jacob Wick, Chris Cogburn. Subtítulos por: Patrick Danse

No Idea Festival 2016 Teaser Video
Video and Sound Edited by Diego Westendarp
Director of Photography - Leah Michelle Ross
Additional Cameras - Karan Sethi and Secoya Rittenberry

No Idea Festival 2014
Bonnie Jones - electronics
Juan García - double bass

No Idea Festival 2013
Alvin Fielder - drumset
Ingebrigt Flaten - double bass
Milo Tamez - drumset, percussion
Misha Marks - guitar, baritone horn

No Idea Festival 2010
Remi Alvarez - saxophone
Ingebrigt Flaten - double bass
Stefan Gonzalez - drums

No Idea Festival 2008
Bhob Rainey - soprano saxophone
Greg Kelley - trumpet
Sean Meehan - snare drum, cymbals

No Idea Festival 2008
Tetuzi Akiyama - acoustic guitar
Juan Garcia - double bass

No Idea Festival 2008
Bonnie Jones - electronics
Liz Tonne - vocals
Chris Cogburn - percussion