Festival Central

by Elizabeth McCarthy
Vail, Colorado isn't a film-friendly town.  Its most centrally-located movie theater was demolished last year to make room for luxury condos, leaving the famed resort with only one remaining theater--also slated to be demolished next month. 

And yet, the fifth annual Vail Film Festival came and went last week, bringing over 80 films to the rapidly changing ski mecca.  Makeshift screening rooms and the lure of fresh spring powder didn't keep visitors and filmmakers away from the festivities, and the young fest is evolving despite the obvious handicaps presented by the location (when all the construction is finished, there should be a new movie theater in town). 

Fest opener "Diminished Capacity" and closer "Mister Foe" were well-attended, but less talked-about.  The favorites, it seemed, were the true indies, like Amy Redford's "The Guitar" (whose two screenings were full), and Ari Gold's comedy "Adventures of Power," which won the audience award. 

"When we were playing to 'normal' people, the response is great.  Some snowboarder raced down the mountain, brought his snowboard into the theater because he didn't want to miss the movie, and stayed afterwards to tell me how much he loved it," Gold said of "Power," which preemed at Sundance. 

Tao Ruspoli's "Fix" won the feature award, and the film's star (and Ruspoli's wife) Olivia Wilde was there to accept the honor, as well as her own "Rising Star" award.  When asked how she was enjoying her time at the fest, Wilde said, "It feels like maybe how Sundance used to be."

Film fests set in idyllic mountain hamlets tend to attract submissions of the outdoorsy, environmentally conscious variety, and though the VFF skillfully represents all film genres, the documentary award went to "FLOW: For Love of Water," which was a part of the fest's Green Showcase. 

On the subject of the greening of the entertainment industry, environmentalist Adrian Grenier (pictured with Ari Gold) was on hand for the last few days of the fest to ski, hang out with friend/band mate Ari Gold, and accept his own Blue Sky Tribute award for environmental activism.  Grenier dutifully attributed his award not only to his work, but to the collective efforts of environmentalists. 

"It's not the type of award you put up on your mantle to feel good about yourself.  It's an award that is a reminder that we all have to commit to making sure we don't get farther into this dire mess."

One of the festival highlights included the festival panel, attended by Redford, Gold, "Lost's" William Mapother, and young actor Jesse Eisenberg, among others.  Topics ranged from the hardships of independent filmmaking, to the importance of screening films at smaller fests, to the changing face of entertainment media.

"The easiest thing to do is open in New York and L.A., but it's non-industry people--human beings--that I made this film for," said Redford.  "What's nice about a festival like this is that it creates an appetite for independent film."   

Gold agreed: "My movie is made about non-urban people.  I didn't want to show it in L.A. and New York." 

The articulate Mapother discussed the industry's increasing reliance on alternate outlets. "Just as studios have had to change their thinking, so do filmmakers.  They have to lose the idea of the 'big-screen' debut." 

 

Jennifer Phang's "Half-Life" won the Acura Grand Jury Award at the Gen Art fest in Manhattan.  Doug Pray's doc "Surfwise" won the audience award.  Best short went to Christina Voros' "The Ladies," and the audience awarded short Rajeev Dassani's "A Day's Work."  Jurors this year were Alan Cumming, Saskia Wilson-Brown, and Norman Reedus.

In its 13th year, Gen Art has perfected the nightly movie-and-a-party festival model.  With its hands equally in the fashion and visual art worlds they throw some incredibly good looking parties which are sometimes more memorable than the screenings.

In June, their 2nd annual Chicago edition starts up.

Variety's Justin Chang reviewed "Half-Life" here.

• Sprockets, Toronto's kid film fest, kicks off this weekend.  Some of their titles?  "My Happy End," "My Greatest Day Ever," and "A Sunny Day."  The most depressing title of the lot is "Giraffe in the Rain" and he doesn't look that sad about it.

• The British Academy of Film and Television Arts/Los Angeles will launch the BAFTA/LA British Comedy Festival in LA on April 28 that will honor the best in Brit TV and film comedy.  A panel that included Judd Apatow, Jake Kasdan, Adam Shankman, Nicholas Stoller, Hollywood Reporter's Elizabeth Guider and Variety's Steve Gaydos has chosen "Hot Fuzz," "Magicians," and "Run, Fatboy, Run" as finalists.  The winner will be announced May 1.

• In other inaugural news, Charleston gets a film festival. Their first annual event kicks off on May 1 for four days in South Carolina.  For info, go to www.charlesoniff.com.

Telluride has jumped from Apple to Dell.  The fest announced that a new computer giant will be its presenting sponsor after its three year relationship with Apple ended.  Dell will provide significant resources and financial support to the 35th event including special events, receptions, and the Dell Lounge, a gathering place for filmmakers. 

Telluride managing director Julie Huntsinger said "Dell's desire is to be a new creative face on the computer scene." 

She also acknowledged that sponsorship of the famously strict film festival has rules. 

"Sponsors understand they have to walk to walk. It partially comes from the town, whose goals and ideals intertwine with ours.  We're never going to become a 'Brought to you by' festival."

True to form, signage for Dell will be minimal around town.  While the company will be mentioned before each screening, the only way audiences will know that Dell's theater is the Opera House will be a simple placard outside.  Nothing is bigger than the festival signs, advertising nothing more than a "SHOW."

In this deepening recession it's refreshing to hear Telluride has found a company that's okay with its restrictions. But having just been forced to make the migration to PC from Mac, I feel deeply sorry for their IT guy.

Obviously, Stuart Townsend's "Battle in Seattle" starring Charlize Theron and Martin Henderson will open the 34th Seattle International Film Festival on May 22.  Theron and Henderson star with an ensemble cast including Woody Harrelson, Michelle Rodriguez, and Ray Liotta as characters thrust into the anti-globization riots that shook the city in 1999. Townsend, Theron and Henderson will attend the screening and a gala party afterwards.

"We're delighted to present an opening night film that will resonate with so many Seattleites," said SIFF Artistic Director Carl Spence. "Stuart Townsend has crafted a remarkable and entertaining movie. It's also a terrific fit for SIFF since it has such relevance to our collective history and sense of place."

The Seattle International Film Festival will run May 22 – June 15.