Article published Sep 7, 2005
Birth of a
Film Fest
Bluegrass Independent Film Festival makes its debut
in Oldham County
Bruce Romans, equipped with his new writing and production effort “How
You Look to Me,” is just one of the local filmmakers whose efforts will
be on broad display at this year’s Bluegrass Independent Film Festival
in La Grange, Ky. Of note are Mark Mederson’s “Lifers,” Hank Rogerson’s
Sundance-endorsed “Shakespeare Behind Bars” and a new film by Vin
Morreale. Also of note is the heavy promotional lifting being done by
the Commonwealth’s Chamber of Commerce — an effort not seen previously
with regard to promoting Kentucky’s nascent film industry.
From
a pool of some 200-plus entries, these and an unspecified number of
other interesting films will be shown at three venues (Oldham County
Arts Center, The Oldham 8 Theaters and the Oldham County Fiscal Court
Building) along with various parties, meet-and-greets with area
filmmakers (including Morreale, Romans and others to be announced) and
a long overdue tribute to native son David Wark (D.W.) Griffith (who
eventually came back to his native La Grange, where he is buried), a
man often said to be one of the greatest filmmakers of all time and
whose first film was released exactly 90 years ago.
The
Griffith-related part of the program (said to have studiously avoided a
screening of the racist epic “Birth of a Nation”) is to be accompanied
by a talk and Q&A with Dr. Bruce Tyler, associate professor of
history at the University of Louisville. Griffith’s printed legacy, his
political slant and the debates that have been raging for decades over
his place in the pantheon will surely be rehashed and debated, although
it is doubtful that any resolving conclusions will be reached. Griffith
films will be shown outdoors at dusk on both Friday and Saturday at the
Oldham County Historical Society. These screenings are free to the
general public, with popcorn and lemonade provided.
Among the
first-run features coming to this new film fest are several with
origins that lead back to Kentucky. In addition to Romans’ film, which
boasts veteran Frank Langella (Mr. Whoopi Goldberg), there are the
highly anticipated indie efforts listed above, as well as Triple Sticks
Productions’ “Dog Me: Potluck,” which is said
to be a sort of
African-American “The Anniversary Party” wherein romantic conflicts are
addressed at a potluck dinner party. The film is the work of
writer-director David Lee III and has won awards (including a
prestigious Oscar Micheaux award) at a number of small but estimable
festivals.
Mederson’s film (see review on Page 28) is an efficient,
compact, humanist meditation on the exigencies and practical results of
putting criminals in jail for life with no possible way out. The film
poignantly and subtly underscores the fact that many of its subjects
would otherwise have been sentenced to death.
The main
attraction of the fest, though, may be its offerings of homemade fare.
The organizers prefer paperless entries submitted via the International
Film Festival Submission System (BrigitFest) — on the Web at
withoutabox.com. Withoutabox provides cost-saving, online entry to
major film festivals throughout the United States and in Europe with
one master entry form. This festival will ultimately offer awards in
seven different categories. These run the gamut from animation and
documentary through feature, short subject and comedy. And the festival
is replete with lectures, presentations and contests that pay off in
real dollars.
As a result of all this content, the schedule is quite complex. A
complete run-down can be found at the Web site (www.oldhamcountyarts.com/filmfest.htm),
and info is available by calling (866) 811-4111.
Folks interested in submitting entries for next year are encouraged to
head to withoutabox.com as mentioned above.
Judges
have culled the films to be screened from more than 200 submissions
from around the world, according to festival director Jay Broder.
“That’s
a very good number of entries for a first-year film festival.” With the
proper publicity, next year’s event could be world class.
“We hope
that everyone in the region will come out to enjoy the films and
provide feedback to these talented filmmakers,” added Broder, who is an
executive with a local credit card processing company as well as
president of the festival’s main sponsor, the Oldham County Arts
Association. He is anticipating attendance of 3,500 to 10,000 at the
festival.
Film festivals replicate like rabbits these days,
but the Kentucky Tourism Office seems to believe this one will be
successful and long running.
One-day ticket passes and weekend
ticket passes may be purchased in advance or at the door of each venue
(due to limited seating, advance ticket sales are recommended) for $10
per person for each day’s screening at ALL of the three venues. A full
weekend pass is available for $20, which allows unlimited access to all
screening venues. A Friday evening ticket pass admits you into the
ribbon-cutting ceremony, opening remarks, celebrity and VIP
introductions, that evening’s screenings, and the “Meet the Filmmakers
Party.”
Bluegrass Independent Film Festival
Sept 9-11
various locations
(866) 811-4111
www.oldhamcountyarts.com/filmfest.htm
$10-$20
Contact the writer at leo@leoweekly.com
Last changed: Sep 6, 2005