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The Monday Morning Question: Film Festivals
Monday, February 16, 2009
Barring illness, bad weather, or a sudden case of cold feet (possible!) I will be attending the entire 2009 Kansas Silent Film Festival in Topeka in a couple of weeks. I'm kind of cursed when it comes to this festival. The times I've attended have all ended horribly, and many times I've tried to attend but something crappy has happened and prevented me from going. So I'm a little spooked, and I make no promises to meet anyone there, because I will invariably not show up or die or something.
But this leads me to my question: What film festivals have you gone to? Which ones do you recommend?
I swear I have asked this before, but my brief re-read of the past Monday Morning Questions says I haven't. If I've repeated myself, then so be it.
Posted by Stacia at 2:37 AM 8 comments
Labels: the monday morning question
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8 comments:
For the past 8 years I've made the frozen trek to Chicago in late January to endure B-Fest: 24 straight hours spent wallowing at the bottom of the cinematic bell-curve.
Not for everyone, but if you're so inclined to such films, and don't mind a raucous crowd, it is truly an awesome/grueling/mind-blowing experience.
Details can be found at
b-fest.com
and
www.badmovieplanet.com/3btheater
/filmfests/filmfestindex.html
I got to 4 yearly. Cinefest, Cinevent, Slapsticon, and Capitolfest. I haven't made it out to Cinecon yet but if the funds hold out this year......
I went to Cinefest in 1990, but it's usually impractical for me to attend anything that isn't close by. I went to a NYC Fangoria Horrorfest in 1985 out of sheer curiosity, and sheer curiosities are what I saw--the attendees were the main scare. There was another mini-fest of sorts in NYC in 1983, where I got to shake the hand of Dorothy Malone--very nice lady. Not quite related, but I attended a couple of movie collectors shows in NYC, one in which I beheld Julie Newmar peddling her autograph for $25 and a photo. I only observed; her eyes looked uncomfortably red.
But Cinefest was the real deal, wallowing in sounds and silents for three days. What a rare luxury! Otherwise there's always Film Forum in NYC, but I haven't attended that in over ten years, he types wistfully.
I empathize with Stacia--I usually dread making definite travel plans because it invariably triggers the likelihood of a total catastrophe that wouldn't happen if I didn't brazenly announce a fearless commitment for fun and adventure.
I've been to the KSFF four times and Cinecon four times. I guess that next weekend will break the tie. I'm dragging along a friend this time.
I hope to meet you there, Stacia.
I go to Cinevent, which is in Columbus in May and Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention which is in August/September in Aberdeen, MD. Both have good sized dealer's rooms and screening rooms. The Aberdeen convention has guests with panels and such, usually focusing on TV and radio. The screening room has a mix of everything. Cinevent is all silents and early sound shorts. Both are well worth going to.
I've only been to Cinefest and Capitolfest, both are somewhat near me and both are great.
The only film festival I regularly attend is the Maryland Film Festival, which always features a live presentation of a silent film with music by the Alloy Orchestra. Their scores work very well with a live audience, and its always great to see these films the way they were meant to be seen.
I really have to make it out to Cinecon one of these days.
Sorry I haven't replied on this thread, folks, I kept waiting to find out if I really was going to have to cancel my trip to the KSFF, and it looks like I will. I'll mention it in my Monday post in a few minutes.
That said, Cinefest sounds like the place to be.
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