Above, Marc Steiner led the Q and A after the film.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone
Friday, May 7, 2010
Standing room only for Night Catches Us
Above, Marc Steiner led the Q and A after the film.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone
Film for Everyone
That's the slogan for this year's festival, which I'm happy to have introduced to George Scott, the Ehrlich technician who just left my house after a scheduled check-and-treat. Upon seeing my husband's rather extensive collection of CDs and LPs, Scottie mentioned that he was that way about movies.
"Well, then," I said.... and told him about the festival and gave him my extra program. He's a John Waters fan, so the showing tonight of United 93 is one he's considering so that he can hear Waters' insight on this unique film.
"Well, then," I said.... and told him about the festival and gave him my extra program. He's a John Waters fan, so the showing tonight of United 93 is one he's considering so that he can hear Waters' insight on this unique film.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Another thing -- chocolate
I would look so jaded not to mention that the food this year was also great -- marinated cold shrimp, veggies and dip and wonderful rosemary bread.
Best of all -- Albert Kirchmyr himself was giving out his hand-crafted and otherwise very expensive chocolate truffles and infused chocolate candies. I had two on my plate when filmmaker Lawrence Michael Levine (Gabi on the Roof in July) saw them and asked where to get them. No sooner had I pointed him in the direction of the great chocolatier when Matt Porterfield (Putty Hill) asked me the same question.
Also serving food was Sofi's crepes, which is next door to the Charles Theater, where most of the films in the festival will be shown.
Best of all -- Albert Kirchmyr himself was giving out his hand-crafted and otherwise very expensive chocolate truffles and infused chocolate candies. I had two on my plate when filmmaker Lawrence Michael Levine (Gabi on the Roof in July) saw them and asked where to get them. No sooner had I pointed him in the direction of the great chocolatier when Matt Porterfield (Putty Hill) asked me the same question.
Also serving food was Sofi's crepes, which is next door to the Charles Theater, where most of the films in the festival will be shown.
Opening Night Short Films and Party
Md Film Fest programmers Eric Allen Hatch and J. Scott Braid put together a selection of seven short films that were so good that I regret to tell you that you won't get a chance to see most of them. One that you can see is Junko's Shamisen, which will be part of the "Animated Shorts" program that looks like it has at least one more winner, Pigeon: Impossible.
Junko's Shamisen is an artful and modern combination of live action and animation. Director Sol Friedman puts the translation of what the Japanese narrator is saying in comic-book style white boxes with text, avoiding the more pedestrian subtitles and adding to, rather than distracting from, the beauty and mystery of the images.
And I absolutely loved The Late Mr. Mokun Williams, which has a keen sense of balance and humor. It will resonate with anyone who has gotten one of those e-mails from the orphan/widow of someone who has thousands of dollars in an offshore bank that must be transferred to your savings account so please give the account number.
This film was so popular with the crowd that one man hated to see it end so much that he asked director Kenneth Price if he was planning a sequel and my husband said he thought the concept could even hold up for a feature-length film.
Also loved the collage-1050s look of Voice on the Line by Kelly Sears, the only woman among the filmmakers of the opening night programs. I'm wondering why I don't see more women directors.
To choose short films for the festival from among the submissions, Hatch said he and Braid will typically spend 9 hours a day watching 50 to 60 short films to select the ones to show. I didn't get the sense he was complaining, though.
Junko's Shamisen is an artful and modern combination of live action and animation. Director Sol Friedman puts the translation of what the Japanese narrator is saying in comic-book style white boxes with text, avoiding the more pedestrian subtitles and adding to, rather than distracting from, the beauty and mystery of the images.
And I absolutely loved The Late Mr. Mokun Williams, which has a keen sense of balance and humor. It will resonate with anyone who has gotten one of those e-mails from the orphan/widow of someone who has thousands of dollars in an offshore bank that must be transferred to your savings account so please give the account number.
This film was so popular with the crowd that one man hated to see it end so much that he asked director Kenneth Price if he was planning a sequel and my husband said he thought the concept could even hold up for a feature-length film.
Also loved the collage-1050s look of Voice on the Line by Kelly Sears, the only woman among the filmmakers of the opening night programs. I'm wondering why I don't see more women directors.
To choose short films for the festival from among the submissions, Hatch said he and Braid will typically spend 9 hours a day watching 50 to 60 short films to select the ones to show. I didn't get the sense he was complaining, though.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
What do you want to see?
It's the question I've been asked a lot this week. I wanted to look at the schedule to map out what I can see -- many tough decisions await me once I consult the grid, which I can download as a PDF this year rather than wait until opening night. Then I'll sit down with a pen and highlighter in full geek mode to see what is possible.
Until then, I made a wish list list based on the trailers, film guide and Festival Director Jed Dietz's favorites.
Dogtooth
La Pivellina
Putty Hill
Night Catches Us
Music by Prudence
Mars
12th & Delaware
The Oath
American Jihadist
Family Affair
Casino Jack and the United States of Money
Pidgeon: Impossible (animated, looks hilarious)
Cyrus
Mother and Child (closing night film)
Gabi on the Roof in July
Chang: A Drama of the Wilderness (with live accompaniment by the Alloy Orchestra)
Quick Gun Murugun
A Small Act
Tiny Furniture
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