One of my most favorite signs of early spring: The announcement of the full schedule for the annual Independent Film Festival of Boston. This year marks the fifth edition, and while I've attended every one so far, this is the first year I've purposefully left my social schedule open between April 25th and May 1st. No conflicts, no out-of-town trips, no rock shows to get in the way. The only choices I'll have to make are between films I want to see that happen to conflict with each other.
The opening night film this year is director Hal Hartley's latest, Fay Grim, with Parker Posey in the title role. If the character's name sounds familiar to Hartley fans, it's because the movie is a sequel to his 1997 film Henry Fool, with Posey reprising her character. Co-star James Urbaniak, who will be appearing at the opening night screening, also reprises the role of her brother Simon Grim. And while Urbaniak's imdb listing is lengthy, I'm most psyched to see the man who voices Dr. Venture on the animated Venture Bros. series on Adult Swim, and a guy whose blog I read regularly.
Thursday, April 26th, 2007
The world premiere of On Broadway on the fest's second night will be the quintessential Boston-flavored affair, as the film couldn't be any more locally connected. It's set here, was filmed here, and most of the cast and crew are from here. The screening is sure to be a party, with director Dave McLaughlin and some of the cast in attendance, including former New Kid Joey McIntyre, Watertown native (and, yes, leather-pantsed vampire slayer) Eliza Dushku, and (cue "The Final Countdown") Arrested Development's low-voiced puppet-master, Will Arnett. No doubt much of the crew will be in the audience as well, and I'm sure tickets will disappear shortly. Hell, I'd stop reading this right now and go get yours if I were you.
Friday, April 27th, 2007
Friday night at the Brattle brings the documentary Punk's Not Dead, about the current and ever-evolving state of the over 30-year-old punk rock movement. Tons of bands and musicians in this thing, o'course: Fugazi, Dead Kennedys, Circle Jerks, X, Black Flag, NOFX... the list goes on and on. Director Susan Dynner will be in town for both screenings of the film, and I'm sure she'll have some stories to tell.
Saturday, April 28th, 2007
There is no film with a higher geek-factor this year than documentary The King of Kong, which means, of course, that I am compelled to attend. Seriously, an entire movie about the original world record-holder of the Donkey Kong high score, and the man who threatened to dethrone him 20 years later? Total arcade generation gold. (also screens on Friday night)
Sunday, April 29th, 2007
Sunday night I'll be at The Ten, directed by David Wain of The State comedy collective, and of the sadly departed Stella TV series. Apart from the Stella episodes and shorts, I believe this is the first film he's directed since 2001's Wet Hot American Summer, which had a pretty great cast... but this one might just top it: Paul Rudd, Famke Janssen, Winona Ryder, Justin Theroux, Liev Schreiber, Gretchen Mol, Rob Corddry, Janeane Garofalo, Adam Brody, and Jessica Alba. And that's not even a complete list of recognizable names. The film is a series of ten (duh) short stories centered around the ten commandments, and word is that someone from the cast will make it to one or both of the screenings (there's another the previous day as well).
Monday, April 30th, 2007
During the Silver Jews tour of Israel in the summer of 2006, filmmaker (and blogger) Michael Tully followed David Berman & company around to document the noteworthy trip, and the results are the film Silver Jew. As a longtime Joos fan who was very glad to see them play here in Boston that year, I'm really looking forward to this one, especially with director Tully in attendance at both screenings (the film also screens on Sunday night).
The music geek in me won out over the baseball fan on this particular night of the fest, but I've gotta mention the documentary Rumbo a Las Grandes Ligas, which I'd be seeing if it wasn't for Silver Jew. It takes an in-depth look at baseball in the Dominican Republic, where for many kids it's more a religion than a pastime. Our own Big Papi, the Red Sox David Ortiz (who, as I type this, has just hit a couple homers), appears in the film , and both director Jared Goodman and producer Eran Lobel will be at the screening. And hey, the Sox are off that day, and will be back in town to play Oakland... wonder what the chances of Ortiz showing up at that screening are? Hmmmm...
Tuesday, May 1st, 2007
The film that will officially bring the 5th annual Independent Film Festival of Boston to a close is the world premiere of Brooklyn Rules from Rhode Island-born director Michael Corrente. He'll be at the final night screening of the movie, which stars Alec Baldwin, Freddie Prinze, Jr., Scott Caan, Jerry Ferrara (Entourage's Turtle), and Mena Suvari.
And that hardly scratches the surface of this year's lineup, and as the fest gets closer I'll no doubt add a bunch more to my "gotta see" list (especially some of the "late night" screenings). Check the full schedule to make your own list, and get on those tickets (or better yet, a festival pass) before they're gone... every year too many film fans are shut out who wait until the last minute, so don't be one of 'em.
For more on all the films, visit the excellent new Unofficial Guide to the 2007 IFFBoston. Apparently the 5th year anniversary gift for a film festival is your very first fansite.
Check out this little feature on Boston.TV about the premiere screening of the Mission Of Burma documentary that took place at last year's IFFBoston. Randomly, Amie and I can be spotted in the crowd for a micro-second, and it was good to see my old friend Dan (who used to sell me lots of records at Pure Pop in Burlington, Vermont) interviewed briefly, saying "I'm a huge Burma fan, absolutely".
A final footnote: Just when I thought the festival couldn't be improved, I discover that the Somerville Theater now serves beer on tap. Nothing better to wash down the ol' popcorn.
One of my most favorite signs of early spring: The announcement of the full schedule for the annual Independent Film Festival of Boston. This year marks the fifth edition, and while I've attended every one so far, this is the first year I've purposefully left my social schedule open between April 25th and May 1st. No conflicts, no out-of-town trips, no rock shows to get in the way. The only choices I'll have to make are between films I want to see that happen to conflict with each other.
