Now in it’s 17th year, the unique Wine Country Film Festival is gearing up for its much anticipated opening night gala followed by three weeks of independent film screenings, receptions, special events and a salute to Jane Seymour. The festival this year includes screenings of over 100 films from 32 countries ranging from narrative, documentary, animation and shorts in various venues from outdoor wine vineyards to historic theatres. The 2003 Wine Country Film Festival begins July 17th and runs through August 10. The first section takes place July 17 – July 27 in Napa Valley and the second section in Sonoma Valley, July 31- August 10.
The Wine Country Film Festival kicks off on Thursday, July 17th, with a special screening of “I’ll Be There,” written and directed by Craig Ferguson, starring opera sensation Charlotte Church. Preceeding the screening, will be the short film “The Long & the Short of It,” written and directed by Sean Astin best known for his role as Sam in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but even more so as Mikey in “The Goonies.”
Festival highlights include…”The Life and Art of Charlie Chaplin” directed by Oscar winner Chuck Workman, which will have its U.S. Premiere at the festival with interviews from such notable directors as Woody Allen and Martin Scorcese; “Puckoon” written and directed by Terence Ryan, starring Sean Hughes, Eliot Gould and Sir Richard Attenborough; The documentary, The Day My God Died by Andrew Levine, narrated by Tim Robbins and composed by his brother David Robbins; The narrative feature “Searching for Wooden Watermelons”
written by Wendy English and directed by Bryan Goldsworthy; “Family Tree” directed by Vicky Jenson (co-director of Shrek) starring Harland Williams and Oscar nominee Talia Shire; “Through the Lens: The Dream America Tour” directed by Maria-Elena P. Pineda, a documentary focusing on child photographers which will be also accompanied with a workshop lead by Napa photographer, Margretha Lane.
The closing night film will be on August 10th with a screening of the International hit French film, “The King is Dancing” directed by Gerard Corbiau. An awards ceremony will commence on August 9th.
For more information, check out the Wine Country Film Festival wesbite.
