/Film
Stepping Into the Unknown: Bob Dylan Center Films
Event WebsiteAbout
Screening and Conversation with Director Steven Jenkins.
Spanning decades and musical styles, this far-ranging one-hour program of short films and videos from the Bob Dylan Archive features rare and previously unreleased clips of Dylan on stage and in the studio—all different from the 2024 presentation. Selections include early acoustic versions of “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “Girl from the North Country;” an intense rendition of “Isis” from the Rolling Thunder Revue, with Dylan in face paint; a delicate performance of “Simple Twist of Fate” featuring Scarlet Rivera on violin; The Band backing a swaggering run-through of “Baby Let Me Follow You Down;” a cover of Woody Guthrie’s “Vigilante Man” with Ry Cooder and Van Dyke Parks; a glimpse into the Archive’s film restoration project with never-before-seen footage of “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” from 1966; and many more treasures.
SF/Arts Curator Insight
Last year’s “A Complete Unknown” reignited interest in Dylan and sparked heated debate among his aficionados. For those who couldn’t get enough or are simply curious about his legacy, this specially curated, traveling compilation of a dozen rare short films and videos, drawn from the Bob Dylan archive, spans musical eras, offering an inside perspective of Dylan on stage and off, charting his evolution from 1960s folk singer to rock icon. With restored footage, studio sessions, and live performances, from Joan Baez to Tom Petty.
Sura Wood
Contributing Writer, Film
Roxie Theater