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2nd annual FilmDayton Festival coming May 14-16

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filmdaytonThe three-day schedule for the FilmDayton Festival is packed with everything from local rock videos to Academy Award-nominated films, parties to a story pitch session, a “screenless screening” to student films.

The festival will be held Friday, May 14, through Sunday, May 16, in downtown Dayton at The Neon movie theater, 130 E. Fifth St., and Gilly’s nightclub, 132 S. Jefferson St. Events also will be held at Think TV, 110 S. Jefferson St., and in the former Greyhound station on Fifth Street in the City of Dayton Transportation Center.

Pricing for individual tickets to films will be $5 and workshops will be $15. Weekend passes are available: The $35 Reel Deal pass includes access to all three days of films. The $75 All-Access pass includes the Reel Deal benefits, plus access to special parties on Friday and Saturday nights. Tickets and passes will be available soon at www.FilmDayton.com. In addition, discounts and special screenings are available to FilmDayton members. Visit the Web site for more information and to become a member.

The FilmDayton Festival will spotlight Dayton-centric feature and short films from around the world and the city’s own backyard, along with workshops, Q&A sessions and much more. A complete schedule follows, and highlights include:

• Winner of the 2010 Sundance Grand Jury Prize, the family drama Winter’s Bone will be shown exclusively at the FilmDayton Festival before it opens to the general public in June.

• WYSO 91.3-FM Director Neenah Ellis hosts the first “Screenless Screening,” a presentation of Dayton stories and sounds akin to Story Corps or This American Life ― and an unconventional listening experience in a dark movie theater.

• The producer of the gripping international documentary Burma VJ will be at the festival all the way from Denmark for a Q&A and discussion following the film.

• Convention features photography and sound by Daytonians and 2010 Academy Award nominees Steve Bognar and Julia Reichert.

• During the second annual Pitch It! session, festival-goers can take a stab at selling their film ideas to industry pros.

• Sunday Spin, written and directed by former Daytonian Nichol Simmons, features a 100 percent Dayton cast and crew.

• Wright State University’s popular Big Lens Film Festival will feature the most recent work by students in the university’s award-winning motion pictures program.

• Rev. Cool, longtime DJ of the popular “Around the Fringe” show on WYSO 91.3-FM, and his Arkestra Ensemble will take over Gilly’s with music and dance during a special Saturday night party.

“The FilmDayton Festival gives audiences a unique opportunity to see award-winning films and the work of young, emerging filmmakers ― all with a Dayton connection,” said Ron Rollins, FilmDayton board president. “This memorable three-day experience spotlights the creativity coming out of and inspired by our city.”

With twice as many films being screened in multiple locations, the FilmDayton Festival has doubled in size from last year. In 2009, the inaugural festival featured such award-winning films as 45365, which has gone on to win three film festival awards, and Blue Car, for which actress Agnes Bruckner was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award. In addition, last year’s festival sold more than 1,000 tickets to screenings and workshops, awarded 10 individual student films $1,000 each, and brought a larger audience to Wright State University’s Big Lens Film Festival.

“We expect this year’s festival to have an even further reach,” said Eva Buttacavoli, FilmDayton director. “It’s a chance to learn about the far-reaching scope of film in the Dayton community, which audiences really appreciate and enjoy.”

FilmDayton promotes the art, craft and business of filmmaking in the region; presents year-round events, including the annual FilmDayton Festival; and helps grow the next generation of filmmakers and film lovers. For more information, visit www.FilmDayton.com.

Dayton Jewish International Film Festival Returns

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dayjewishfilmfestOpening on Tues, April 13th, the Jewish Film Festival celebrates it’s 10th anniversary by sharing 12 films, live discussion and receptions at five locations over the next two weeks.

Selections range from documentaries like Refusenik– on the campaign to free Soviet Jews to animated shorts like God & Co, starring Comedy Central’s Jonathan Katz.   Many of the films are foreign and will feature subtitles. Tickets are $8.50 for adults, $7.50 for students and full festival passes are available for $65.Tickets may be purchased online or contact Karen at 853-0372 for more information.

Short Films By, For and About Women

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lunafestLUNAFEST is a traveling film festival celebrating women filmmakers while also raising awareness for women’s issues and supporting nonprofits that benefit women in the US and Canada.  This years festival will be on Sun, March 28th from 3-5:30pm at The Neon, 130 E. Fifth Street, Downtown Dayton.  Ranging in style from Animation to Documentary, in origin from Brazil to Bulgaria,in subject from Beauty to Bicycling, tickets are just a $5 or $10 donation or $3 with a student ID.  As a special edition to the fest, Dayton Native, Alicia Conway will screen her short, RITE, followed by a Q & A with the filmmaker.  Rite portrays the day of a young girl’s coronation and entry to adulthood in a family with some grisly traditions.

For more information on the 10 shorts featured, click here.

Sponsors for this years local LUNAFEST include Dayton Women’s Rights Alliance, American Association of University Women and Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region.

Established in 2000 by LUNA, the makers of the Whole Nutrition Bar for Women, LUNAFEST is completely funded by LUNA and run by a small, dedicated group of LUNA employees. 100 percent of all proceeds are donated to charity – 15 percent to the Breast Cancer Fund and the remaining 85 percent of proceeds go directly back to hosting community organizations.

images-92Over the years, as LUNAFEST has grown from a single annual event to more than 140 festivals each season, LUNA’s commitment to this worthwhile program has grown as well. To date, LUNAFEST has raised over $470,000 for worthwhile women’s organizations, while raising hope and awareness for the stories of women everywhere.

The Last Truck: An Interview with Filmmakers Steve Bognar and Julia Reichert

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The Last Truck PosterThe workers of the General Motors SUV assembly plant in Moraine, Ohio, must have woken up on Christmas morning of 2008 with the feeling that they just got a lump of coal in their stockings. Two days prior, on December 23rd, the GM plant shut its doors for good, leaving its 2,500 workers and 200 management staff members without jobs.

With so many people affected by the foreclosure, two filmmakers wanted to tell the story of the final months of the GM plant through the eyes of the workers. Steve Bognar and Julia Reichert are the writers, directors, editors, and producers of a 40-minute documentary called The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant, which will be screened at UD on February 2nd.

As both Yellow Springs residents and independent filmmakers, Steve and Julia bring a unique perspective and philosophy on life that is reflected in their career.

Julia’s attraction to photography first spawned her interest in communicating social issues with a large group of people. Her first documentary, Growing Up Female, was released in 1971 and considered the first film to come out of the modern women’s movement.

“It wasn’t until later that I realized the power of film as an art form and not just a medium of communication,” Reichert said.

Steve’s journey into the world of independent film similarly started when he was introduced to the photography book The Americans by Robert Frank.

“It opened my eyes to the power, the poetry, and the meaningfulness of documentaries,” Steve said.

Their first directorial film project together was a documentary called A Lion in the House, which followed five families each with a child diagnosed with cancer. After six years of filming and 525 hours of footage, Steve and Julia were able to shape the story into a four hour long movie that premiered on PBS over two nights.

“It was the toughest film we’ve made by far, but as both humans and filmmakers, it was also the most profound thing we’ve been through,” said Bognar.

A Lion in the House had its world premiere at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival and is considered the longest film to be presented in the documentary category. To Steve and Julia’s delight, many of the families and doctors featured in the movie came out to see the film.

While at the festival, however, Julia felt ill with what she thought was emotional and physical exhaustion as a result of her tireless efforts to complete the documentary. But in a stroke of cruel irony, Julia was diagnosed with cancer and had to leave the Utah screening early to undergo treatment.

With the help of the many people who came out to support the film, A Lion in the House finished its run at Sundance and was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize. Steve and Julia even won a prestigious Primetime Emmy for their documentary in 2007; an award that has since been overshadowed by Julia being cancer-free for three and a half years now.

On June 3, 2008, Steve, Julia and the Dayton community were shocked to hear about GM’s decision to close the local assembly plant.

“We both had seen the plant and knew it was a huge part of the Dayton community,” Steve said, “so it was devastating news to hear that the plant was going to close. Dayton is in a tough situation. Our city has been hit hard with job loss and I think we all have to do what we can to help each other out.”

Together Steve and Julia set out to help the thousands of people who considered themselves more family than GM co-workers by telling their story.

“Your job as a documentarian is to find and feel the story, open your heart to people, and throw away your own preconceptions,” Bognar said.

For six intense months, Steve and Julia shot 100 hours of footage and interviewed many workers who would prove the factory worker stereotype to be completely inaccurate. The Last Truck uses these revealing interviews to portray the emotional toll of not only losing a job, but a sense of self as well.

Since its HBO premiere on September 7, 2009, Baltimore Sun film critic David Zurawik named the documentary as one of the top ten television programs of 2009. In October, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences listed The Last Truck as a possible contender for the Documentary Short Subject Oscar at the 82nd Annual Academy Awards. And now this powerful documentary will be featured at the University of Dayton.

Presented by ArtStreet, Film Dayton, and the University of Dayton Initiative on Sustainability, Energy and the Environment (SEE), The Last Truck will be screened on Tuesday, February 2nd at 7 p.m. in the Science Center Auditorium on the University of Dayton campus. This event is free and open to the public.

Be sure to stick around following the film as Steve Bognar, Julia Reichert, and one or more workers portrayed in the film will be having an open discussion about the documentary for all in attendance.

“My life has been enriched so much to be a part of such a creative medium,” Julia said. “Just going out into reality is such an adventure.”

“I feel so lucky to work, grow as a documentarian, and try to tell meaningful stories,” Steve said. “Bearing witness to the human experience is the best thing we can do with our skills.”

For more information about the February 2nd screening, please call (937) 229-5101. For a campus map, click here. A parking permit is required and can be obtained at the main visitor center on the University circle or parking booth at Lot C on Evanston Avenue.

Barbara Kowalcyk to Speak at UD Screening of ‘Food, Inc.’

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FoodIncCincinnati resident Barb Kowalcyk, who is featured in the documentary, Food, Inc., will be at the University of Dayton on Friday, January 15, to discuss her involvement in the film. After her 2 1/2 year old child died from E. coli, Kowalcyk has since become a food safety advocate, fighting to give the USDA the power to shut down plants that repeatedly produce contaminated meats.

The pre-film discussion and reception will begin at 8 p.m. in ArtStreet Studio B. The film, directed by Robert Kenner,  will immediately follow the discussion, starting at 9 p.m. Seating is limited, so be sure to get there early! This event, sponsored by ArtStreet, Film Dayton and the University of Dayton’s Initiative on Sustainability, Energy and the Environment, is free and open to the public.

ArtStreet is located on the 300 block of Kiefaber Street on the University of Dayton campus. For directions and parking information, visit http://artstreet.udayton.edu or call (937) 229-5101.

Film Festival seeks entries

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images-65The festival’s goal is to showcase short films that spotlight the best of local filmmaking talent, from students to professionals to everyone in between. The festival will also include a works-in-progress segment, and audience choice awards for the most popular films.

They are now accepting submissions of short films for the festival–finished films or works in progress. The deadline is Friday, January 22, 2010. The entry fee is  $10.
To be considered for entry, the majority of each film needs to have been shot in one of the following counties: Greene, Montgomery, Clark, Madison, Fayette, Clinton, or Warren. (Exceptions may be made if a filmmaker from one of those counties shotVenessaQuery their film elsewhere.) Films should be no longer than 15 minutes in length. Festival Director Vanessa Query says “we’ll allow for a 1 or 2 minute leeway to suit the filmmaker’s vision.”

To submit a short film, go to http://www.littleart.com/site.php/shortsfest which contains the entry form and other submission guidelines. You can also join the festival’s Facebook page for more information and updates: http://www.facebook.com/ysshortfilmfest

The actual viewing of the shorts will be on the afternoon of Sunday, February 21 at the Little Art Theatre in Yellow Springs. The event will begin with a test screening piece. A few works-in-progress will be shown; the filmmakers will request the audience’s feedback in helping them to craft the final project.  Then, the short films will be screened in a few one-hour blocks (program length to be announced in February). There will be audience choice awards for the most popular films.  A reception will follow the event. The program will be repeated on Saturday, February 27.

Filmmaker Returns Home To Debut Documentary

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images-27Award-winning filmmaker and former Daytonian Tony Heriza returns to the Gem City to premiere his new documentary “CONCRETE STEEL & PAINT” at noon on Saturday, November 14 at the NEON movies. Following the film is a discussion with the director Tony Heriza and with Public Defender Carl Goraleski, and University of Dayton Law Professor Vernellia Randall. Admission is $5.00. Clilck to view the trailer: Concrete, Steel & Paint

“CONCRETE STEEL & PAINT” – filmed in Graterford prison and in the city of Philadelphia – documents a unique collaboration. When men in a prison art class agree to collaborate with victims of crime to design a mural about healing, their views on punishment, remorse, and forgiveness collide. At times the divide seems too wide to bridge. But as the participants begin to work together, mistrust gives way to genuine moments of human contact and common purpose. Their struggle and insights gained are reflected in the art they produce. The documentary is edited by local filmmaker and two-time Oscar nominee Jim Klein. Tony Heriza is one of the founders of CITYFOLK.

Little Art’s nonprofit status = FREE movie

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Yellow Springs movie house The Little Art just recently received it’s is 501(c)(3) NON PROFIT organization status from the government! While this won’t change much for the general public, what is does mean is that the Little Art can:

  • Allow donors a tax deduction for their contributions
  • … Seek foundation and government grants for special projects
  • … Offer a wider range of programs and events

According to owner Jenny Cowperthwaite for the past 8 years “THE FRIENDS OF THE LITTLE ART’s financial support” is what kept the doors open anyway.

taking_woodstockIn celebration of this momentous turning point in the Little Art’s 80-year history of showing movies in Yellow Springs this weekend all showings Ang Lee’s TAKING WOODSTOCK will be FREE! Of course, donations are welcome and now they are also a tax deduction.

Roger Ebert says, “TAKING WOODSTOCK” has the freshness of something being created, not remembered.” Director Ang Lee “distills the flavor of this transforming event and hints at how it transformed some who were there,” writes the Philadelphia Inquirer. The San Francisco Chronicle raves: “If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to be there — to actually be there, man — this movie gets it.”

Your chance to see Last Truck documentary for FREE

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Last Truck Dayton ShowsFor months local filmmakers Julia Reichert and Steven Bognar filmed, interviewed and lived the last days of the Moraine Assembly Plant to create an emotionally raw and poignant look at the employees on their final weeks at work. In August HBO came to Dayton to debut the documentary to a full house of GM employees at the Schuster Center. Then on Labor Day the story played nationwide on HBO.

Now HBO has gone even further to celebrate the town that provided the story for The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant. On Saturday Oct 24 there will be three screenings at the Neon Movies and Little Art Theater. HBO has generously rented the theaters so the shows can be free and open to the public.

Some of the former GM workers featured in the film will be at each screening for Q & A afterwards.

Just last week The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that the field of Documentary Short Subject contenders for the 82nd Academy Awards has been narrowed to eight films, of which three to five will earn Oscar nominations and Last Truck has made that list.

Showtimes:

Neon Movies
5th & St. Clair, Downtown Dayton
12:00pm and 1:30pm

Little Art Theater
247 Xenia Avenue, Yellow Springs
4:00pm

Horrorama is Friday – Get the Inside Scoop from the Organizers and Dr. Creep on WYSO

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horrorama 09It’s been over 20 years since Shock Theatre graced the TV sets of Dayton residents, but as Halloween approaches the Miami Valley, you can still catch Dr. Creep at many area events.  One event that’s been a become a seasonal tradition for fans of scary movies is Horrorama, a charity horror film marathon that’s been in the area since 1997.  Dr. Creep will be on hand to host this year’s festivities this Friday, October 23 starting at 7pm at the Englewood Theater.

Dr. Creep and two of the organizers of Horrorama will be guests on WYSO’s Kaleidoscope this Wednesday night, October 21 around 9pm.  Tune into WYSO at 91.3Fm or listen online at wyso.org.

Benefit Screening of Fresh, The Movie

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fresh_poster_new-500x646As part of Miami Valley Grown’s first ever Local Food Week, a screening of Fresh will take place on Thurs, October 8th at 8pm at the 2nd Street Market.

FRESH celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system. Each has witnessed the rapid transformation of our agriculture into an industrial model, and confronted the consequences: food contamination, environmental pollution, depletion of natural resources, and morbid obesity. Forging healthier, sustainable alternatives, they offer a practical vision for a future of our food and our planet.

Among several main characters, FRESH features urban farmer and activist, Will Allen, the recipient of MacArthur’s 2008 Genius Award; sustainable farmer and entrepreneur, Joel Salatin, made famous by Michael Pollan’s book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma; and supermarket owner, David Ball, challenging our Wal-Mart dominated economy.

Miami Valley Grown is a local group of volunteers working to connect local growers, farmers & producers with local buyers, striving to educate our community of the benefits of buying locally.

For more info on MVGrown & Local Food Week, please visit MiamiValleyGrown.org

Media That Matters Film Festival

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film_fest_09Come out and support local media and your first amendment rights as DATV presents the “Media That Matters Short Film Festival” on September 17th at 7:30pm, at the Neon Movies in Downtown Dayton. I went to this event last year and it was a really good time, the short films were very well done and really made you think.. well worth the price of admission to see these amazing short films.

The “Media That Matters Short Film Festival” is the premier national showcase for short films on the most important topics of the day. “Media That Matters” engages diverse audiences and inspires them to take action.

The festival features 12 jury selected short films that tackle a broad range of social issues with humor, humanity and honesty in 12 minutes or less. Topics range from gun violence and media censorship to urban development and climate change.

“By presenting this showcase DATV hopes to inspire Dayton area residents to use media to help make a difference in our community,” said Dan Suffoletto, Marketing Director.

Tickets to the festival are only $15 and I’ll deliver them myself to your house… or they can be purchased online at www.datv.org, at the Neon Movies box office, or at DATV’s Public Access Center located at 280 Leo St. in Dayton.

The event includes light refreshments and door prizes, with drinks available for purchase. Attendees will also receive a “Take Action Guide” that gives information about how they can take the messages of the films and make a difference in their daily lives.

Proceeds from the event will benefit DATV. DATV’s mission is to be a community forum that empowers all citizens to learn, create and express their ideas through electronic media. To accomplish its mission DATV provides the training equipment and facilities for local residents to make a difference in their communities by creating their very own noncommercial cable TV programs.

Downtown Dayton LGBT Film Festival

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lgbt_filmfestThe Downtown Dayton LGBT Film Festival (presented by the Downtown Priority Board) provides a space for voices to be heard that aren’t often represented in mainstream media.  The subjects range from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.  Generally, the festival highlights films that are made with smaller budgets.  These movies go relatively unnoticed beyond the LGBT community, but they’re strong pieces of work that merit being seen.

The Edge of Heaven, a selection from last year’s festival, went on to be named one of the “Top 10” films of the year by many critics.  Were The World Mine, last year’s opening night film, garnered a large following and won multiple awards around the world.  In 2007’s festival, the short film Freeheld went on to win an Academy Award.  This film was not screened anywhere else in the Dayton Region.

This year’s films include:

Friday September 25

Saturday September 26

Sunday September 27

This has become an annual tradition for both the Downtown Priority Board AND The Neon, and it brings people in from other cities like Cincinnati and Columbus.  As a priority board member I’m proud of our continued support for this film festival.

Check out this event on the DaytonMostMetro.com Event Calendar!