The Academy and Alamo Drafthouse Cinema present PHASE IV (new print!) feat. long-lost ending!

Ants. Harmless creatures, right? If you said or thought “yes” in response, then you obviously haven’t seen Saul Bass’ sole feature directorial effort, the haunting and delirious PHASE IV. When desert ants spontaneously form a collective “hive mind” intelligence and begin to terrorize their fellow desert inhabitants, what does it mean for society as we know it? In short: a new future for life on earth, a new phase of evolution altogether... one without human beings.

A box office disappointment in its initial release, PHASE IV is one of those underappreciated sci-fi gems that is only now being reappraised by modern audiences. In partnership with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Academy Film Archive, we at the Drafthouse are proud to present a brand-new 35mm print of PHASE IV created specifically for this event!

This once-in-a-lifetime presentation will also include a rare screening of a new high-definition digital transfer of film's original psychedelic end sequence, long rumored not to exist at all! This sequence was recently unearthed by an Academy archivist and may well be considered the cinematic discovery of the decade! It is with great pleasure that we partner with the Academy to showcase this incredible film, complete with its original ending! Ellen Harrington, Director of Exhibitions and Special Events for the Academy, will appear in person to introduce and share with you the unbelievable story behind this archival find! (Sam Prime)