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City will host R.I. film fest
Joel Furfari 08/09/2004
PAWTUCKET -- For the first time since its inception, the Rhode Island
International Film Festival is coming to Pawtucket.
The 100-seat theater inside the Blackstone Valley Visitors Center, 175 Main
St., will host a series of screenings this week as the city plays host to
the festival for the first time.
Herb Weiss, the city's cultural affairs officer, said officials want to
bring more films into the theater.
"It's underutilized right now and we're in discussion with some groups to
see if we can begin bringing in more screenings to the theater," he said.
Film buffs will be in for a treat this week: The theater will host
screenings on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. The film festival's gala
opening is Tuesday.
At 8 p.m. on Wednesday, the film "Parallel Lines" will be screened in
Pawtucket. The documentary, directed by Nina Davenport, covers a road trip
across the United States in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
There will also be a screening of Bruce Dellis' short filmLincoln: A Life
Embellished," a satirical take on the Civil War president's life.
On Thursday, the documentary "Germany and the Secret Genocide" will be
screened at 7:30 p.m. as part of the Providence Jewish Film Festival. The
film recounts the Armenian genocide and the complicity of the German
government in the abuses of the Ottoman Turkish government.
The final screening will be Sunday at 2:30 p.m., when the festival brings
"First Israeli in Space: Ilan Ramon." This documentary film, directed by
Neil Weisbrod of Israel's Channel One, chronicles the life of Israeli
astronaut who died in last year's space shuttle Columbia disaster.
A short film called "Indecision," directed by Mary DeBarry, will also be
screened. The comedy is about a young woman who can't make up her mind.
Weiss said the film festival is especially exciting because it serves as a
prelude to the upcoming Pawtucket Arts Festival.
"We're very excited about this new relationship between the two festivals,"
he said.
The film festival, in its eight year, will feature screenings of 265 films
from across the United States and more than 60 countries. Organizers are
expecting 20,000 movie fans to attend screenings.
Actor Andrew McCarthy, of "Pretty in Pink"fame, is making his directorial
debut at the festival, and actor Zach Braff, who plays a doctor on NBC's
"Scrubs," is receiving an award.
George Marshall, executive director and chief executive of the festival,
said the event attracts a lot of filmmakers because it's the only one in New
England where a film can qualify for an Academy Award. He said five films
screened at the festival in the past seven years have been nominated for
Oscars, and two have won.
Eva Saks, a director from New York, will be showing three of her films this
year, including "Date."Saks has attended the festival six times, and hopes
to shoot one of her upcoming films in the area. She said she keeps returning
to Rhode Island because she's drawn to the neighborhood feeling and loves
the architecture.
"I'm kind of crazy into this festival, into this town,"she said. " I dig
it."
With AP reports.
ŠThe Pawtucket Times 2004
Top Stories
City will host R.I. film fest
Joel Furfari 08/09/2004
PAWTUCKET -- For the first time since its inception, the Rhode Island
International Film Festival is coming to Pawtucket.
The 100-seat theater inside the Blackstone Valley Visitors Center, 175 Main
St., will host a series of screenings this week as the city plays host to
the festival for the first time.
Herb Weiss, the city's cultural affairs officer, said officials want to
bring more films into the theater.
"It's underutilized right now and we're in discussion with some groups to
see if we can begin bringing in more screenings to the theater," he said.
Film buffs will be in for a treat this week: The theater will host
screenings on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. The film festival's gala
opening is Tuesday.
At 8 p.m. on Wednesday, the film "Parallel Lines" will be screened in
Pawtucket. The documentary, directed by Nina Davenport, covers a road trip
across the United States in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
There will also be a screening of Bruce Dellis' short filmLincoln: A Life
Embellished," a satirical take on the Civil War president's life.
On Thursday, the documentary "Germany and the Secret Genocide" will be
screened at 7:30 p.m. as part of the Providence Jewish Film Festival. The
film recounts the Armenian genocide and the complicity of the German
government in the abuses of the Ottoman Turkish government.
The final screening will be Sunday at 2:30 p.m., when the festival brings
"First Israeli in Space: Ilan Ramon." This documentary film, directed by
Neil Weisbrod of Israel's Channel One, chronicles the life of Israeli
astronaut who died in last year's space shuttle Columbia disaster.
A short film called "Indecision," directed by Mary DeBarry, will also be
screened. The comedy is about a young woman who can't make up her mind.
Weiss said the film festival is especially exciting because it serves as a
prelude to the upcoming Pawtucket Arts Festival.
"We're very excited about this new relationship between the two festivals,"
he said.
The film festival, in its eight year, will feature screenings of 265 films
from across the United States and more than 60 countries. Organizers are
expecting 20,000 movie fans to attend screenings.
Actor Andrew McCarthy, of "Pretty in Pink"fame, is making his directorial
debut at the festival, and actor Zach Braff, who plays a doctor on NBC's
"Scrubs," is receiving an award.
George Marshall, executive director and chief executive of the festival,
said the event attracts a lot of filmmakers because it's the only one in New
England where a film can qualify for an Academy Award. He said five films
screened at the festival in the past seven years have been nominated for
Oscars, and two have won.
Eva Saks, a director from New York, will be showing three of her films this
year, including "Date."Saks has attended the festival six times, and hopes
to shoot one of her upcoming films in the area. She said she keeps returning
to Rhode Island because she's drawn to the neighborhood feeling and loves
the architecture.
"I'm kind of crazy into this festival, into this town,"she said. " I dig
it."
With AP reports.
ŠThe Pawtucket Times 2004