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With there being an extra day this year (this Friday to be exact), we know you’ll be looking for something to do with all your new found time.  So in preparation for this upcoming Film Geek Weekend, in which the 5th annual True/False Film Festival will take place in Columbia (Missouri), we made a little True-False quiz of our own for you to take.

We’ll wait for the class to put your pens down before we grade papers.

For those who failed their quiz (or those not interested in taking it), let’s have a quick study session about this film festival.  True/False is an annual Film Festival taking place for the 5th year in Columbia, MO.  Unlike other film festivals this one is just for documentary films, attracting filmmakers from across the world.  This festival isn’t so much juried, but sometimes films show up here before making it to a larger release - past examples include films like Murderball, The Corporation, and last year’s breakout The King of Kong.

This year’s festival is going to be a little bit different since their largest venue, the Missouri Theater, is closed for renovations.  Also passes for the festival have already sold out, and ticket reservations have ended online, so there’s a pretty good chance you’ll be waiting in line to see films if you haven’t made plans already.  Even the events’ organizers consider this years’ fest a leap of faith.

In spite of these inconvenient facts, at least about 15,000 people make the trip each year.  We suspect attendance might be a bit higher for this year’ festival, which begins this Thursday February 28th and will continue through Sunday March 2nd in 2008.  Check their schedule for the details too numerous to list here.  And unless you’ve already made reservations for lodging, or have arrangements with a friend in Columbia, you’ll be losing your whole weekend in Columbia rather than gaining a day because of your own leap of faith this year.

Extra credit?  Check out the organizer’s blog, add your pictures to the group’s FlickR photo pool, or add this event (and others we cover) to your calendar.

Film is magic.  I’m not just saying this as a film student either.  Rather there is something special about this medium that attracts storytellers and magicians to try their hands at daft illusions.  The stories that can be told through this form affects us differently psychologically than any other method.  That being said, there is a big difference in storytelling that’s easy to over look; film goers sit in a dark room silently and begin to suspend their sense of disbelief as to what is happening on screen in a subjective environment.

Unlike any other medium, this magical form forces us to have a solitary experience.  So why then should millions of people celebrate this art form alone in their living rooms?  Cinema St. Louis is offering an alternative this Sunday February 24th with an Oscar party of their own.  Starting at 6pm you can join the festivities (for a cost), or at 7:30pm you can join other film fans on a budget (for FREE) downstairs for free in the Pageant.  More information is available on that event’s webpage.

While we’re waiting for the release of the new film calender from the Webster Film Series, we found this notice posted around the campus of Webster University.  Upon contacting the individuals responsible for this special unscheduled screening (or at least its notice), we were unable to receive any additional information about the film(s) being screened or what makes them necessarily shrouded in secrecy.

What we do know from this document, is that this special screening will take place again at 8 PM this Thursday January 31st and Friday February 1st, as parts 2 and 3 of the undisclosed three-part series of films.  You must be over the age of 18 to Attend, and viewer discretion is advised because this is

“a show that epitomizes the unique aspects of a genre that is widely misunderstood by many people…we are not disclosing what the feature is in order for you to view it without preconceived notions.”

We suggest coming in with an open mind, although we cannot claim to know what exactly we’re getting you into right now. If you know anything about the screening, please let us know.

If you’re asking yourself, to paraphrase the famous poem “I’m not even sure (where) I’m supposed to be where today?”, maybe this is your early morning call after you’ve rolled out of your bedroom closet.  The first annual Clerksfest will take place tonight, November 29th at The Moolah Theater & Lounge in Midtown St. Louis.

Along with double-feature screenings of Clerks at 9:30 and Clerks II around 11:30, guests will get their hand on door prizes like free commemorative shirt and autographed memorabilia.  You can strut your stuff in public for the Randal Walk contest, and Walt “Lon Chaney of the ’90s” Flanagan might be the model of at least 4 choices for the Look Alike contest. 

What’s the matter - you don’t appreciate our ruse?  Clerks is indeed loosely based on the “Divine Comedy”, with short breaks representing the 9 levels of hell.  At least you’ll be doing good even if you feel like a dirty jizz mopper afterwards - If this event catches on, it might snowball (heh) into a series of screenings to help subsidize the purchase of land for a hostel in town.  And if you’re put off by the charitable ticket price, $25 online or $30 at the door, we suggest you leave change when applicable;  “Be Honest” you weren’t making plans (except for that hockey scrimmage) today anyway.

Saint Louis International Film Festival

November 8-18 2007

‘Nuff Said.

http://www.cinemastlouis.org/fest.html

(Check your local listings)

See you here, there, everywhere.

While we may have written about this film festival a little earlier, we can’t emphasize enough how large the Filmgate Int’l Student Film Festival looms on our film-geek calendar.  Featuring films from around the world and in our own backyard, this 2nd annual film festival shows the best in student film work available, probably for the first and last time you’ll ever be able to see the films.  Our friends from the Webster Film & Video Society will be on hand to organize this start of the fall season in the Webster Film Series.

It all goes down this Friday-Sunday, August 17-19, with each 2+hour film programs starting at 8pm (except Sunday, which starts at 2pm).  Each film will be screened in the Winifred Moore Auditorium at Webster University, with tickets selling for only $4 (and cheaper rates for multi-day passes).  You can start exploring the films program schedule on the festival’s website, to help sort out which films you’re interested in seeing.  And after you view the films, you’ll be able to rate and review the films you watched and share them with your friends.

I am keenly aware that more than a couple readers might hear “student film” and run away.  But to be sure there would be films people actually want to see, I participated in a selection panel for the narrative film category (although there will be documentary and animation/experimental films as well).  Here’s a few mostly incoherent notes I managed to write about these films selected, for you to use/decipher (after the bump):

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We’ve already tried to get you out to theaters this week, much less our effort to encourage film screening attendance on a weekly basis.  Now, during the dog days of summer, comes a reasonable excuse for inviting your friends to revel in the voyueristic glory that is good film.  But seeing as our taste for film is exceedingly local this season, here are a few films you simply must see in St. Louis this weekend if you’re going to see them at all.

Premier Screening

• 10 MPH @ 3pm on Saturday August 11th in the Tivoli Theater
  
  This inventive take on the road trip genre of films tells the story of two aspiring filmmakers who try to find meaning somewhere between Seatle and Boston - except doing so on Segway scooters. If that doesn’t sound original enough, you’ll get a chance to harass the film’s creators in a Q&A after the film. But don’t take your time, because unlike this films’ protagonists, this film will be going somewhere soon.

Reel Late @ The Tivoli

• Dead Alive (aka Braindead) @ midnight on Friday-Saturday August 10-11th, and 10pm on Sunday August 12th
  
  This early film of Peter Jackson’s (yes, that director) is probably one of the bloodiest zombie/horror films ever made. And while this film might not be for the squeamish, you’ll also want to bring along your sense of humor, if not merely irony/poetic justice. A must see for fans of the genre, much less audiences inclined by the midnight format.

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Just because you’re still waiting to watch your illegal/pirate copy of the Simpsons movie, doesn’t mean you still shouldn’t pay for a film.  For instance, this Wednesday Saint Louis will play host to at least two film premiers, both of which are unlikely to become torrent files any time soon.  Instead, why not support the filmmakers behind two original films today; although you’ll need to pick one since they play around the same time.  Here’s a little more information to help you make your decision:

• American Gothic @ 7:30 PM in the Plaza Frontenac Cinema

  We learned about this premier by invitation via Facebook, and while remaining tickets are scarce, I know at least one ticket will be left open. Just tell them you have permission from Matt Hurst. Their Facebook group describes the film as follows - 

  Sex, Drugs, and the American Dream…Be The Shoe Productions will be premiering our newest movie, American Gothic, in a private screening at Plaza Frontenac Cinema.

  THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT
  If you have not yet paid, just pay at the event.

  For more info visit www.betheshoe.com

• Daddy Day Camp @ your local theater listing

  We read about this film in the Saint Louis American, which usually means Antonio wrote about it first.

And later this weekend, be sure to check out the road trip film 10 MPH @ the Tivoli.  But we’ll talk a little more about that film and others on Friday (as usual).

Because you still crack a smirk, ash your mock cigar, and say “…that’s what she said”, the Webster Film Series’ Strange Brew presents Animal Crackers @ 8 pm in the Schlafly Bottleworks in Maplewood.  For those of you unfamiliar with the Strange Brew series here’s a short introduction I wrote about this series of cult films.  As for those of you unfamiliar with Animal Crackers, the WFS describes it thusly:

Captain Spaulding (Groucho Marx), the noted explorer, returns from Africa and attends a gala party held by Mrs. Rittenhouse (Margaret Dumont). A painting displayed at the party is stolen, and the Marx Brothers help recover it. Well, maybe ‘help’ isn’t quite the way to describe it… Typical Marx Brothers zaniness follows, including Groucho’s African lecture about shooting an elephant in his pajamas, a madcap card game between Harpo, Chico and great musical numbers like Hooray for Capt. Spaulding – which became Groucho’s theme song.

And don’t forget to check out Labyrinth @ the Tivoli, which closes Thursday night (check the Tivoli website for times).  My friend Dave insists that seeing the young Jennifer Connelly is worth the price of admission itself, but I’d put my money on David Bowie as the goblin king. Given Bowie’s history of terrible acting and the surrealistic muppet monsters, this film should leave you “screaming like a baby”.

While I’m usually happy as a pea in pod to share some of my favorite upcoming films every weekend, there comes a time that an entire weekend or evening must be put aside for special screenings.  These festival screenings of films separate those who are merely interested in showcase from the die hard film geeks.  It is for the latter’s sake that I simply must post this notice, lest they miss another film fest.  While each one of these festivals warrants their own blog posts, for now please mark your calendars.

• 2007 St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase (presented by Cinema St. Louis)
  July 21-26, 2007 @ the Tivoli Theater, Centene Center for Arts & Education, and Blueberry Hill (check schedule for show times)

  This seventh annual showcase of local films of national quality features a special compilation screening of “This is Lo-Fi Saint Louis”, including a discussion of videography and blogging with Bill Streeter. In fact most films in the showcase will feature a Q&A with their creators, all of whom are supposed to have strong ties to the area and many for whom this screening might be the only one of their works. That alone can justify the $10 ticket price (or $8 for students), which are available ONLY through the Tivoli Theater’s box office in advance, and on a first-come, first-serve basis during the festival (no internet or phone sales).

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