The American Cinematheque will present THE BEST OF THE SLAMDANCE FILM FESTIVAL 2002 on February 6 & 7, 2002, a screening of the 5 of the 10 award-winners of the 8th annual Slamdance Film Festival. Scott Foundas wrote, “The festival slogan, “By filmmakers, for filmmakers,” is not a superficial mantra, but a true ideology that has steadfastly maintained by festival co-founders Peter Baxter, Dan Mirvish and Paul Rachman… There’s hardly another festival where the staff and filmmakers are of such a similar mindset — they want to make you aware of their films, but they don’t try to force them on you — Slamdance is about discovering films for yourself. Not yet a teenager, it has already produced a series of real finds, like Christopher Nolan’s “Following,” Monteith McCollum’s “Hybrid” and Larry Fessenden’s “Wendigo.” Filmmakers will appear in-person subject to availability. An additional evening of Slamdance Award-Winners will be presented on Wednesday, March 27th. Tickets are $8 general admission; $7 for students/seniors and $6 for Cinematheque and IFP/West Members. Festival organizers Peter Baxter and Dan Mirvish will also be on hand to present the films. All guests are subject to their availability. All screenings are at the newly renovated Lloyd E. Rigler Theatre at the historic Egyptian (6712 Hollywood Boulevard between Highland and Las Palmas) in Hollywood.
Slamdance, at one time considered a rival or alternative to the more established Sundance Film Festival which runs simultaneously in Park City, Utah, officially garnered Sundance founder, Robert Redford’s acceptance this year in an interview conducted by Robert Welkos of the Los Angeles Times. “The truth is I don’t mind… because the whole point is to promote independent film and we can’t possibly show all the films.” Films in competition at Slamdance must be by first time filmmakers and are made on a fairly low budget.
Wednesday, February 6, 2002 ^ The Wednesday, February 6th program is a 7:30 PM screening of the Winner of the Audience Award for Feature & Special Jury Honor STONE READER (140 min., USA) directed by Mark Moskowitz. A non-fiction feature that raises questions about literacy and book publishing wrapped around a filmmaker’s quest to find out why a critically acclaimed first novel and its author dropped out of sight. Discussion with filmmaker Mark Moskowitz to follow.
Thursday, February 7, 2002 ^ The Thursday, February 7th program begins at 7:00 PM with a screening of THE HOLY LAND (96 min., USA), the JURY WINNER FOR BEST DRAMATIC FEATURE. Director Eitan Gorlin turns our expectations of the “Holy Land” 360 degrees with his dramatic tale of a young rabbinical student goes to Israel in search of experience and falls for a Russian prostitute. Award sponsored by JVC Professional. Eitan Gorlin & actor Saul Stein will appear for discussion following.
With GRAND JURY AWARD WINNER FOR BEST SHORT NARRATIVE “Lurch” (20 min., Germany) directed by Boris Hars-Tschachotin. A man develops a special interest in the liquids used to preserve animals in bottles at Berlin’s Natural History Museum.
Following at 9:15 PM is LOUDER THAN BOMBS (92 min., Poland) directed by Przemyslaw Wojcieszek. Cinematography by Jola Dylewska, PSC. KODAK VISION AWARD FOR BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY. 21-year-old Marcin is forced to give his life a new meaning and direction after the death of his father and his girlfriend’s planned departure to the US. Starring Sylwia Juszczak, Rafal Mackowiak.
With Lisa Yu’s “Vessel Wrestling” (13 min., USA) JURY PRIZE FOR BEST EXPERIMENTAL SHORT Blood-sugar-sex-magic breeds in this sensuous claymation. Lisa Yu will appear for discussion following.
All films are separate admission except those listed as Double Features which are one ticket price for both films. There is a five minute break between films on double bills.
For more info, call 323-466-FILM or visit The Egyptian Theatre.
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