UGA Presents, the University of Georgia’s performing arts series, invites the community to a special film screening of Naqoyqatsi Monday, January 26, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. at Ciné (234 W. Hancock Avenue, Athens).
Naqoyqatsi (2002), with an evocative score by Philip Glass featuring cello soloist Yo-Yo Ma, is the powerful third and final installment in the acclaimed Qatsi trilogy directed by Godfrey Reggio. This screening is part of the UGA Presents season, a curated program bringing exceptional international touring artists to the Athens community. UGA Presents celebrates its 30th anniversary Feb. 1 with the return of Yo-Yo Ma to Hodgson Concert Hall for a gala recital.
The title Naqoyqatsi is derived from the Hopi language and is often translated to mean “life of war” or “civilized violence,” reflecting the film’s exploration of competition, conflict, and the accelerated tempo of modern life.
A non-narrative cinematic journey, Naqoyqatsi chronicles one of the most profound transformations in human history: the shift from a world organized by nature to one dominated by technology, the synthetic, and the virtual. Through a stunning visual montage of archival and digitally manipulated footage, the film confronts viewers with contemporary reality and invites reflection on the consequences of a technologically immersive society.
Following the film, a panel discussion will feature UGA Assistant Professor of Cello James Kim, Cristina “Trinity” Vélez-Justo, assistant professor of music and film scoring certificate director at UGA, and Mark Mobley, director of marketing and communications for the UGA Performing Arts Center.
Tickets for this event — $11, students $9, Ciné members $8 — are available exclusively through Ciné (athenscine.com). Further information about UGA Presents events is available at pac.uge.edu.
