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February 22, 2005
FIFTEEN YEARS OF MAVERICK MOVIEMAKING: CINEQUEST RETURNS TO SAN JOSE
The Bay Area has a wealth of independent film, from the festivals that crop up year round to the network of art houses circling the Bay. The crown jewel in the Bay Area’s indie film scene is Cinequest, which starts next week. Cinequest is San Jose’s annual Maverick film festival, twelve days of independent films, panels, classes, and events celebrating emerging and cutting-edge filmmakers. This year it runs from March 2 through March 13, and will screen nearly 200 feature and short films.
The festival kicks off at 7:30 pm on March 2 with "A Manual for Love Stories" at the California Theater, followed by a gala with the filmmakers at the Hotel Montgomery. "A Manual for Love Stories" is a delightful Brazilian film which takes on all the clichés of a romantic comedy as it follows an unlikely couple from their initially disastrous meeting to their happily ever after. The narrator explains the process of creating a romantic comedy to us, and occasionally has to force his recalcitrant hero to follow the rules.
Following the opening gala, the festival hits the ground running. The heart of the festival is Camera 12, which has devoted four screens to the festival. There will also be screenings at San Jose Repertory Theater, which has been converted into a cutting-edge digital theater; on San Jose State University campus; and at the California Theater, a restored motion picture palace built in the twenties. All four venues are within walking distance of each other.
The California Theater even has a pipe organ, which will be accompanying the two silent film events of the festival. On Friday, March 4 there will be a double feature of Harold Lloyd films: "Safety Last" (1923) and "Movie Crazy" (1932). Suzanne Lloyd, granddaughter of Harold Lloyd and Lloyd historian, will speak and answer questions after the films. The following Friday, March 11, there will be a double feature of "Carmen" (1915) and "La Bohème" (1926).
There will be more than seventy feature length films shown at the festival, many of them accompanied by short films, plus eight short film programs. The features range from a Swedish documentary about a little town with a passion for arm wrestling ("The Armwrestler from Solitude") to a sci-fi fantasy filmed entirely in front of a green screen ("Able Edwards"). There are comedies and tragedies, thrillers and oddities. The films come from all over the world, and some of them were filmed right here in the Bay Area.
Those who can't make it to San Jose for the festival but who have access to a good internet connection are in luck; cinequestonline.org will be showing the films and events online in DVD quality streams. There is also a special contest on the site: The Viewers' Voice Collection and Competition, which runs through the end of February. Viewers can download the competing films and vote on them. At the end of the month, the top three features and the top three shorts will be awarded special screening slots during the festival.
Cinequest offers classes as well; there will be two all-day series of classes, one for screenwriters (Friday March 11) and one for producers (Saturday, March 12). Both classes are geared toward all levels, so both novices and pros are encouraged to check them out. Cinequest is also offering, for the fifth year in a row, a four-day symposium on digital filmmaking. Sponsored by technology partners like Adobe, Kontiki, and PalmSource and presented by the people who are developing and using these new technologies, the Digital by Digital forums offer a look at the latest in film technology. They promise to be fascinating for both filmmakers and film buffs alike. This year, the five presentations will be covering affordable digital effects, new distribution and delivery methods for completed films, a comparison of the different digital options available for both recording and showing, video for mobile devices like Palm Pilots, and the effects of affordable high-quality digital technology on film as an artistic medium.
Another annual event at Cinequest is the presentation of the Maverick Spirit Award, the festival's highest honor. Each year, an exceptional filmmaker who represents the Maverick spirit is chosen and invited to the festival. Past recipients have included John Waters, Gus Van Sant, Kevin Spacey, Spike Lee, Sir Ian McKellan, and William H. Macy. This year, Sir Ben Kingsley will be receiving the award and participating in a lively moderated conversation with the audience. Sir Ben is best known for his work in the films "Gandhi" and "Sexy Beast," and is recognized as a phenomenal actor of both stage and screen. An Afternoon with Sir Ben Kingsley will take place on Saturday, March 5 at 2:00 pm, at the California Theater.
Cinequest offers the Bay Area the chance to attend an international film festival right in our back yard. Whether you're a film love, a film maker, or someone hoping to break into the industry, it has a lot to offer. Tickets are available online at www.cinequest.org or by phone at (408) 295-FEST. There are numerous options for those interested in attending, from passes to tickets to individual events.
Posted by Ealasaid at February 22, 2005 01:21 PM