The American Cinematheque is thrilled to present its third annual ‘Bleak Week: Cinema of Despair,’ a weeklong festival that spotlights some of the greatest films from around the world that explore the darkest sides of humanity, as well as some of the bleakest points in human history. Now for the first time, the festival will take place at three venues: Aero Theatre, Egyptian Theatre and Los Feliz 3. A harrowing, yet powerful lineup of films defined by stark imagery, unimaginable tragedies, existential fear, nihilism and shocking acts of brutality, this series features the world’s leading filmmakers who wholly embrace a cinema of despair in pursuit of unpleasant truths and raw empathy.