2012 WOODSTOCK FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES FEATURES COMPETITION LINEUP

The 2012 Woodstock Film Festival, taking place October 10-14, 2012, in Woodstock, NY, has announced the films competing in the Narrative Feature, Documentary Feature and Haskell Wexler Award for Best Cinematography categories. From the official press release:

Every year, the Woodstock Film Festival dedicates itself to showcasing the best independent films for cinephiles near and far. This year is no exception. Along with the all-around lineup for this year’s festival, only a few films are in the 2012 festival competition. Our panel of top-notch jurors – consisting of industry professionals and filmmakers of all varieties, including Timothy Hutton, Barbara Kopple, Lori Singer, Haskell Wexler, Bill Plympton and Johnathan Gray – have their work cut out for them as some of the best of WFF’s narrative, documentary, and shorts programs vie for awards. The stand-out short competition includes narrative, documentary and student categories depicting human struggles, foreign uproar, a child’s point of view and much more. Join us at this year’s Maverick Award Gala to find out who the winners are, Saturday evening, October 13th!
NARRATIVE FEATURES IN COMPETITION Editing Included
CALIFORNIA SOLO Directed by Marshall Lewy New York Premiere When you reach the top, is there anywhere to go but down? Former Britpop rock star Lachlan MacAldonich, in a sublime performance by Robert Carlyle, finds himself at this precipice as a once promising music career is now awash in booze and self- loathing. Director Marshall Lewy’s, sophomore effort is a moving departure from his feature debut, the comedy “Blue State” as Lachlan, now a farm manager in southern California, faces deportation after another ill-fated night of drinking and driving. Now in an effort to stave off expulsion from the U.S. he must reconnect with his ex-wife and the daughter he barely knows, and finally face the demons he has been avoiding to reclaim a life teetering on the edge. Screening Thurs. 10/11 Upstate Films Rhinebeck 8:15pm and Sat. 10/13 Upstate Films Woodstock 2pm
ELECTRICK CHILDREN Directed by Rebecca Thomas The power of music can be a transformative force, but 15 year old Rachel, a young girl from a fundamentalist Mormon sect, believes it can have the power to create life. Sheltered from the outside world, Rachel discovers rock music for the first time and is enraptured by the soulful singing emanating from the speakers. So enraptured, in fact, that upon learning that she is pregnant three months later, she comes to believe the music she heard is the cause of the new life growing inside of her. Escaping the marriage arranged for her, Rachel heads out in search of the voice on the tape that was responsible for her immaculate conception. Up and coming star Julia Garner dazzles as Rachel as she takes a life altering road trip to the city of Sin and discovers the world beyond her previously sheltered existence. Screening Fri.10/12 Woodstock Playhouse 4:45pm and Sat. 10/13 Rosendale Theater 2:30pm
EXIT ELENA Directed by Nathan Silver US Premiere Enter Elena, the quiet, fresh-faced newly christened assistant nurse. Under the impression she’s been prepared for the obstacles of being a live-in aide, she soon learns she’s been prepared for everything but her employing family. Jim and Cindy hire Elena to help with Jim’s elderly, over-looked mother Florence. Struggling to maintain her professionalism in the face of Cindy’s persistent requests that she become part of the family, Elena tries to keep her composure. On top of being forced into conversation, Zumba and to events she has no reason to attend, cue Nathan, Jim and Cindy’s neurotic, rebellious son. Elena tries to work her way through the maze of troubles this family has while still caring for Florence, but as circumstances change, she must decide where to turn next. Screening Sat. 10/13 Utopia Studios Woodstock 2pm and Sun. 10/14 Upstate Films II Rhinebeck 2:15pm
FIRST WINTER Directed by Benjamin Dickinson A record snowstorm strikes while a group of Brooklynites slumber at their farmhouse yoga retreat one winter, blocking roads, shutting off power, and turning the drug, sex, and privileged organic lifestyle they are accustomed to into a back-to-basics fight for survival. Running out of both food and time, the group finds themselves forced to face the harsh realities within themselves and of those around them as alliances crumble, ideals are tested, and they begin to accept their mortality. With brilliant wintery landscapes and a quiet, realistic approach, First Winter, Benjamin Dickonson’s directorial debut, shows what happens when one is pushed to their limit under extraordinary circumstances. Screening Thurs. 10/11 Utopia Studios Woodstock 6pm and Fri. 10/12 Rosendale Theater, 4pm
I AM NOT A HIPSTER Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton New York Premiere While this film’s title fits with the humorous portrayal of San Diego hipster culture, “I Am Not a Hipster” is so much more, serving as an engaging and thoughtful character study. Director Destin Daniel Cretton’s 2012 film tells the story of Brook Hyde, a 20-something up-and-coming musician within the San Diego indie underground. “Hipster” follows a week in Brook’s life as he struggles with familial reconciliation, his purpose as an artist, and the loneliness that hasn’t left him since the death of his mother. The film features engaging performances by actors Dominic Bogart as Brook and Alvaro Orlando as his peppy manager/sidekick. The film’s soundtrack, written by Joel P. West and recorded in collaboration with Bogart under the name Canines, becomes a character unto itself, with Bogart belting out tunes in several emotional live performances. Screening Fri. 10/12 Upstate Films I Rhinebeck 7pm and Sat. 10/13 Upstate Films Woodstock 4:30pm
NOR’EASTER Directed by Andrew Brotzman New York Premiere Erik Angstrom barely appears above the age of a college student, yet he has already committed to a life as a priest on the remote island of North Haven. Amidst a snow-covered and sparsely populated landscape, director Andrew Brotzman’s feature debut "Nor’easter" introduces audiences to a suspenseful and at times torturously mysterious community still recovering from the scandal of their church’s previous Father. A local family, the Greens, come to Angstrom about their son Josh who has been missing for over five years, in hopes, that despite his inexperience, Angstrom will be able to help them put their torn family back together. The priest is quick to encourage the family to move past the loss of their son, that is, until Josh suddenly returns home. Angstrom’s involvement with the Green family drives him to the brink, leading him to not only question his faith in God but the web of secrets and mysteries that he finds. Screening Fri. 10/12 Upstate Films Woodstock 2:15pm and Sat. 10/13 Upstate Films II Rhinebeck 4:30pm
SPARROWS DANCE Directed by Noah Buschel Leaving the apartment is a hard thing to do for the leading lady of Noah Buschel’s "Sparrows Dance," a delightfully tender story of an agoraphobic woman who falls in love despite not having left her apartment in over a year. Marin Ireland delivers a stunning performance as a woman confined to her small NYC apartment, struggling with tasks as simple as ordering Chinese take-out and getting her plumbing repaired. Wes, played by Paul Sparks, provides a comical and compassionate backdrop as Ireland’s plumber and romantic interest, balancing the emotional struggle of Ireland’s agoraphobia that she faces throughout the film. "Sparrows Dance" is a delicate mixture of quirks, romance and drama, utilizing the physical space of a one-bedroom apartment to create an intricate world of solitude that extends far beyond its visible limits. Screening Fri 10/12 Woodstock Playhouse 12pm and Sat. 10/13 Rosendale Theater 5pm
DOCUMENTARY FEATURES IN COMPETITION Editing Included
INFORMANT Directed by Jamie Meltzer East Coast Premiere This captivating and complex film tells the story of Brandon Darby, a charismatic grassroots activist-turned-vilified FBI informant. Beginning in the wreckage of post-Katrina New Orleans, where Darby and others founded a radical grassroots organization, director Jamie Meltzer brings us inside the mind of a man who sacrificed almost everything do what he felt was right. Screening Fri 10/12 Utopia Studios Woodstock 2:15pm and Sun. 10/14 Upstate Films II 4:45pm
MECHANICAL BRIDE Directed by Alison de Fren US Premiere Allison de Fren’s fascinating feature debut “The Mechanical Bride” provides audiences with a look into the clandestine world of artificial companionship with sexbots and astoundingly realistic female sex dolls, a world that is slowly gaining more of a public presence. Citing roots as early as Pygmalion, de Fren traces doll culture history through film, television and more recently, the erotic world of robotic technology. “The Mechanical Bride” delves into the intimate and psychological aspects of sex doll manufacturing and ownership, examining companies like RealDoll and Orient Doll as well as their influence on sexual culture and moral perspective. Screening Thurs. 10/11 Utopia Studios Woodstock 8:0pm and Fri 10/12 Upstate Films I Rhinebeck 9:30pm
OMA & BELLA Directed by Alexa Karolinski East Coast Premiere Alexa Karolinski’s film is a loving portrait of its two leading ladies as they embrace life in all its extremes, finding joy in the subtle moments and discovering hidden histories in unexpected places. Karolinski introduces us to Oma, her grandmother, and Bella, her grandmother’s friend, living in Berlin, Germany. We first meet them in the kitchen, where they prepare meals they learned to cook as children. The filmmaker weaves an unforgettable journey with these women through the stories they tell and the memories they share. Screening Sat. 10/13 Upstate Films II Rhinebeck 12:30pm and Sun. 10/14 Utopia Studios Woodstock 12:15pm
SHEPARD & DARK Directed by Treva Wurmfeld US Premiere Treva Wurmfeld’s feature documentary premiere “Shepard & Dark” is the compelling story of playwright, director, and actor Sam Shepard and his long-time best friend, Johnny Dark. Since 1963, the two have been inseparable- they have nearly half a century of letters, photos, and videos to prove it. While trying to compile their many decades of correspondence into a book, the friends are reminded of all that they have gone through over the years. Together, they have experienced birth, death, marriage, divorce, love, and loss. Now in their late 60s, neither man’s life is in the place he thought he would be when their friendship began. The letters force them to look into the past and confront the choices that they have made, both good and bad. Screening Thurs. 10/11 Utopia Studios Woodstock 3:30pm and Sat. 10/13 Rosendale Theater 12pm
VIRGIN TALES Directed by Mirjam Von Arx New York Premiere “You’re Christian, you’re beautiful, your name means free spirit, lover of God,” opens Virgin Tales, a documentary that takes a fascinating look at a growing counterculture trend affecting 1 in 8 girls in America. The film follows the evangelical Wilson family of Colorado Springs as they adhere to a life of “pure waiting,” a lifestyle in which their children vow to remain completely unsoiled until their marriage – even so far as saving their first kiss for the altar. Cameras follow the family through church services, conventions, purity balls and their home life, accompanied all the while by a video diary kept by Jordyn, the oldest unmarried sister who patiently waits for her turn. Director Mirjam Von Arx brings us this unexpected, two-year long glimpse into the real life of this family and those around them, set against the backdrop of the political tension of the past four years and the war in Afghanistan. Screening Sat 10/13 Utopia Studios Woodstock 4:45pm and Sun. 10/14 Upstate Films II Rhinebeck 7pm
WORDS OF WITNESS Directed by Mai Iskander Back with her second feature at the Woodstock Film festival, director Mai Iskander captures the chaos, excitement and danger of history as it unravels in real time. Set amidst Egypt’s recent political turmoil and moved forward by 22-year-old native Heba Afify, “Words of Witness” beautifully captures the journey of a nation as the audience is given a front seat in the revolution as it moves, through Heba’s eyes and ears, from excitement, hope, and disillusionment to ultimate determination to see authentic change. The fledgling reporter records new eruption with her pad and pen to both gather and disseminate the story via texts, Twitter and Facebook. Screening Fri 10/12 Upstate Films II Rhinebeck 3:30pm and Sun. 10/14 Upstate Films Woodstock 12pm
HASKELL WEXLER AWARD FOR BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
THE COMPASS IS CARRIED BY THE DEAD MAN Cinematographer: Luis David Sansans Directed by Arturo Pons East Coast Premiere An ordinary young boy from Mexico’s journey to the United States turns into an extraordinary odyssey riddled with adventure, heartache and triumph. Arturo Pons’ wonderful feature debut follows the story of Chencho, a child still holding a measure of the innocence of youth, as he embarks on a quest into the restricted United States to be reunited with his brother in the city only known to him as Chicago. Along the way he encounters several unique and fascinating strangers, who all leave their mark on him as they assist and follow him on his path. As they travel together, they learn to work together as they endure the hardships of the borderlands of Mexico including hunger, harsh border patrols, and loss in order to obtain their individual aspirations. As they unify, they rise up to meet the challenges on the road and gain the value of unlikely friendships. Screening Fri. 10/12 Upstate Films II Rhinebeck 8:30pm and Sun.10/14 Upstate Films Woodstock 4:30pm
FIRST WINTER Cinematographer: Adam Newport-Berra Directed by Benjamin Dickinson A record snowstorm strikes while a group of Brooklynites slumber at their farmhouse yoga retreat one winter, blocking roads, shutting off power, and turning the drug, sex, and privileged organic lifestyle they are accustomed to into a back-to-basics fight for survival. Running out of both food and time, the group finds themselves forced to face the harsh realities within themselves and of those around them as alliances crumble, ideals are tested, and they begin to accept their mortality. With brilliant wintery landscapes and a quiet, realistic approach, First Winter, Benjamin Dickonson’s directorial debut, shows what happens when one is pushed to their limit under extraordinary circumstances. Screening Thurs. 10/11 Utopia Studios Woodstock 6pm and Fri. 10/12 Rosendale Theater 4pm
NOR’EASTER Cinematographer: Ian Bloom Directed by Andrew Brotzman New York Premiere Erik Angstrom barely appears above the age of a college student, yet he has already committed to a life as a priest on the remote island of North Haven. Amidst a snow-covered and sparsely populated landscape, director Andrew Brotzman’s feature debut "Nor’easter" introduces audiences to a suspenseful and at times torturously mysterious community still recovering from the scandal of their church’s previous Father. A local family, the Greens, come to Angstrom about their son Josh who has been missing for over five years, in hopes, that despite his inexperience, Angstrom will be able to help them put their torn family back together. The priest is quick to encourage the family to move past the loss of their son, that is, until Josh suddenly returns home. Angstrom’s involvement with the Green family drives him to the brink, leading him to not only question his faith in God but the web of secrets and mysteries that he finds. Screening Fri. 10/12 Upstate Films Woodstock 2:15pm and Sat. 10/13 Upstate Films II Rhinebeck 4:30pm
Stay tuned for our OFFICIAL LINE-UP release September 18 along with the announcement of our HONORARY MAVERICK AWARD RECIPIENTS !