Film Festivals – Page 26 – We Are Movie Geeks

SLFS Interview: Tony West – Director of THE SAFE SIDE OF THE FENCE

THE SAFE SIDE OF THE FENCE screens Sunday, July 19 at 1:00pm at The Tivoli Theater as part of this year’s ST. Louis Filmmaker’s Showcase. Ticket information can be found HERE

World War II’s Manhattan Project required the refinement of massive amounts of uranium, and St. Louis-based Mallinckrodt took on the job. As a result, the chemical company’s employees would become some of the most contaminated nuclear workers in history. Tony West’s new documentary THE SAFE SIDE OF THE FENCE both explores that legacy — St. Louis is still coping with the fallout of creating some of the world’s first nuclear waste — and tells the story of nuclear workers both past and present.

Tony West took the time to answer some questions about his film for We Are Movie Geeks in advance of its screening at the St. Louis Filmmaker’s Showcase.

Interview conducted by Tom Stockman

We Are Movie Geeks: What was your filmmaking experience prior to THE SAFE SIDE OF THE FENCE? Is this your first feature-length documentary?

Tony West: This is my first Feature-length documentary as a director/writer. I had worked on documentaries in the past that were produced by others, but as a videographer or sound tech. My background is in television, and early on I did mostly network news and commercials. Most of my work these days comes from covering sports like Major League Baseball, Hockey and the NFL. My news background was what really helped me produce the documentary.

WAMG: What inspired you to make this film about the nuclear waste problem in Missouri?

TW: I met an investigative reporter named Carl Stelzer who had written a story about contamination in Venice IL at the former Dow plant. We looked into doing a documentary about Venice, but the more I learned about the history on the St. Louis side of the river the more I felt that the story had to be expanded. Meeting the workers really motivated me do get involved. They were mostly older gentalmen that were struggling with various illnesses that they believed were work related.They were all really nice people and I just wanted to do something to help them.

WAMG: Did you grow up with an interest in movies or are you more of an environmental activist expressing your views with your film?

TW: My older brother Marlon was the one that was into film at an early age. He talked my parents into getting him a film camera around the age of 12 and he began making stop action films. I was his little assistant.Marlon was an inspiration for me. By the time we got to High school I wasn’t sure what I wanted to study in college. Marlon asked me “what do you like to do?” I told him “I like to play sports and watch TV” He said, “why don’t you go to the library and get a book on television and see if that’s something you want to do?” Once I saw the pictures of studios and cameras I was hooked. I went into television and Marlon became a Disney animator. I’m also interested in protecting the environment so I figured I could use my production skills to help start a national conversation about these issues.

WAMG: Who are some documentary (or narrative) filmmakers that you admire?

TW: I’m a fan of Ken Burns. I like how he is not afraid to tell the whole story, good, bad and ugly. Jazz and Baseball were standouts for me. I loved “The Cove” and “The Kid Stays in The Picture” are other doc’s I enjoyed. As a director of photography I can’t help but admire the work of filmmakers Wes Anderson, and then there are my classic heroes like Billy Wilder. Just too many to name. I’m a film freak.

WAMG: What were some of the particular challenges you encountered making THE SAFE SIDE OF THE FENCE?

TW: Wow, where do I start?When you are dealing with events that occurred as far back as 70 years, unfortunately there are not many workers who are still around to tell that story first hand. That’s another reason why I felt it was important to do this story now. I wanted their voices preserved in history. In some cases security guards of plants would try to stop me from shooting near their property (I would be on a public street). Some companies claimed they had to be cautious because of terrorism. In my view that can become a convenient way to prevent you from doing journalism that may be unflattering to the company. There are also people in the film that are dead set against any kind of nuclear and there are nuclear workers in the film that obviously have the opposite view. They want to work in a safer work-place but don’t want their job to go away. I had to strike a balance between those opposing views. The biggest challenge was how to educate people on these subjects without panicking them. I don’t want people to run screaming from the theater after watching this film, I want them to calmly walk out and discuss these important issues from a more enlightened position.

WAMG: THE SAFE SIDE OF THE FENCE is amazingly well-researched. How long did it take you to get it all together?

TW: I started back in 2010 so a little over 4 years. I didn’t have much funding so I had to do this project around my paid work. I also didn’t have an army of people I could send out looking for stuff so I had to do much of it myself. I had people like Dr. Denise DeGarmo, Kay Drey, Wendy Verhoff and Denise Brock who had been researching this subject long before me that I could work with also. I had a great deal of help from Chris Ballew who worked with me on his spare time. Chris found many important documents that I may not have ever found on my own.

WAMG: Much of the footage, like Enrico Fermi’s first nuclear reactor, Chicago Pile 1, is fascinating. Where did you dig up this archival footage and was there footage you were looking for but were unable to find?

TW: I used websites that specialize in historical footage. Their search engines were very crude so I would spend hours looking through clips that had little to do with my search sometimes. I would have liked to have found footage of the refining process here in St. Louis during the Manhattan Project but with that project being as secretive as it was it’s understandable that pickings were slim.

WAMG: What was it like taking a tour of Weldon Springs, an area once so badly contaminated, as it exists today? Was it weird? Were there other people there?

TW: It was very weird going into the quarry itself. Standing in that very spot where I had seen pictures of those barrels dumped. I was a little uneasy about it but I wanted to get the shot and I was curious to see what it looked like now. In the end I trusted Dr. DeGarmo, who had been to the site many times. We spent the whole day with Dr. DeGarmo going to sites all over the St. Louis. I think she calls it “The Atomic Tour” There where many people riding on the Katy Bike trail but the quarry itself is off the beaten path. We were the only ones back there which made it a little more spooky.

WAMG: Were there people that you tried to get involved in the film that did not want to speak to you?

TW: The lockout was still going on in Metropolis when we got there and the primary goal of the worker was to get back to work (albeit in a safer work place). They were put in a tough position, speaking their minds to us on camera might jeopardize them getting back in, but they also wanted their stories told. Many workers spoke to us off camera about what it was like to be inside the plant. One told me, I don’t want to die inside this plant, but this is how I provide for my family. As you can imagine, I really wanted that line in the film but I respected this man’s fragile position. I went there to help those workers not to mess things up for them.

WAMG: Did you try and contact any current representatives of Mallinckrodt to get their take on the story?

TW: No, I was more interested in people who were there at the time. Once I had letters and documents from representatives who were there in the 40’s I preferred their first hand accounts.

WAMG: I had heard about the burning waste in Bridgeton, but was unclear of its origin until I watched your film. What would you like to see happen, perhaps legislatively, to address this problem?

TW: It would be ideal if the waste were to be removed from the landfill and disposed of properly but I don’t think that is as easy as many think. Once people see the film, they will understand just how difficult it is to remove all traces of this material once it has been dumped in the wrong place. If they decide to remove it, will their clean up be good enough? Will people say, ‘Hey, there is still some in there”. I would like to see more focus on the system that allows people to get away with dumping these materials in the first place. This isn’t the only landfill like this. We need to fix these problems on the front end because once they get to this stage there are no easy answers. It’s important to point out that the EPA has 5 air monitoring stations in the area and they post the results online for the public to see.

WAMG: How has THE SAFE SIDE OF THE FENCE been received so far, especially by the people involved such as Denise Brock and Kay Drey?

TW: Denise and Kay both love the film. I knew Kay before I started this project and have always respected her work in the community. She has fought her whole life to make this a better planet that we can all share, and to hear her praise my work was one of the proudest moments of my career. I can’t say enough about Denise Brock and how many lives she has touched with her work. To have her and the workers be so moved by the film is truly satisfying.

WAMG: Tell me about your next project?

TW: At this point I don’t have another project in mind, but I didn’t have one in mind when this came along either. I guess I will wait and see.

Check Out The Program For The 15th Annual Whitaker St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase

The 15th Annual Whitaker St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase, an annual presentation of the nonprofit Cinema St. Louis, serves as the area’s primary venue for films made by local artists.

The Showcase screens works that were written, directed, edited, or produced by St. Louis natives or films with strong local ties.

The 15 film programs that screen at the Tivoli from July 19-23 serve as the Showcase’s centerpiece. The programs range from full-length fiction features and documentaries to multi-film compilations of fiction and documentary shorts. Many programs include post-screening Q&As with filmmakers. There are 94 films in this year’s event.

The Showcase also hosts a free closing-night awards party on Thursday, July 23, at Blueberry Hill’s Duck Room. KDHX-FM DJ Rob Levy will spin music, and Cinema St. Louis will announce the Showcase films chosen for inclusion in the St. Louis International Film Festival. Juried awards for the best Showcase films will also be given. Complimentary beer is supplied by Kräftig; cash bar for all other drinks. Attendees must be 21 or older.

Tickets for film programs from July 19-23 at the Tivoli are $12 each; $10 for students with valid and current photo ID and for Cinema St. Louis members with valid membership cards. Advance tickets are on sale at the Tivoli Theatre box office (4-10 p.m. Monday-Friday and noon-10 p.m. Saturday-Sunday). No phone sales, but tickets can be purchased online at http://www.landmarktheatres.com/st-louis/tivoli-theatre/film-festivals. There is a $1 per-ticket service charge; online sales are limited to full-price tickets only. The closing-night awards party is free and does not require tickets.

Highlights of this year’s Showcase include the following:

● Four Way Stop. A 17-year-old inner-city African-American, Allen (Paul Craig) is desperately trying to improve his life but lacks essential support from family: His absent father is a needy drug addict, and his seriously ill mother offers only relentless criticism. Although offered illegal work by childhood friend Tay, Allen resists the lure of the street and instead seeks legitimate employment. But in his hunt for a better job, Allen ends up jeopardizing his current fast-food position by chronically arriving late or simply failing to show. Angry at the racism he confronts and the limited options he’s given, Allen all too often engages in self-sabotage, thwarting his attempts to do the right thing.

● The Safe Side of the Fence. World War II’s Manhattan Project required the refinement of massive amounts of uranium, and St. Louis-based Mallinckrodt took on the job. As a result, the chemical company’s employees would become some of the most contaminated nuclear workers in history. This documentary both explores that legacy — St. Louis is still coping with the fallout of creating some of the world’s first nuclear waste — and tells the story of nuclear workers both past and present.

● Sleep With Me. “Sleep With Me” is a dark suburban drama focusing on Paul (Cliff Chamberlain) and Gabi (Danielle Camastra), a young couple unsuccessfully striving to start a family. Paul lives in the shadow of his overbearing father (played by veteran character actor Raymond J. Barry), and Gabi copes by engaging in risky activities that threaten to break up their marriage. Helmed by acclaimed regional filmmaker Brian Jun — whose previous features include “Joint Body” and Sundance competition film “Steel City” — this ensemble drama explores themes of sex, infidelity, and black-market drug use.

● Ferguson Matters. This provocative and compelling shorts program explores the effects of the Michael Brown shooting on Ferguson and the region, while also offering glimpses of hope and progress in the area.

● America’s Blues. Transcending generations and racial barriers, the blues laid the foundation for pop culture and virtually all American music. Through interviews with musicians, historians, professionals, and activists, “America’s Blues” offers a new angle on an established narrative, focusing on the evolution of the blues and the music’s impact on American society and culture.

● Weldonkrieg. The hobby of World War II re-enacting started in Weldon Spring, Mo., in the mid-1970s, and this documentary by “Rhineland” director Chris Grega takes a look at the origins of the event — called Weldonkreig — and chronicles its triumphant return in 2014.

● The Heroin Project. “The Heroin Project” raises awareness about the devastating impact of heroin. Although focused on events in Madison County, Ill., the film documents a widespread but underdiscussed problem that affects not just the St. Louis metro area but the entire country. Beyond the monetary cost of increased law-enforcement efforts and goods stolen from businesses, the negative effects of heroin are more accurately measured in the ever-growing number of young lives lost.

The Whitaker Foundation serves as title sponsor for the 2015 Showcase. The foundation’s twofold mission is to encourage the preservation and use of parks and to enrich lives through the arts. By supporting excellence in the arts, the Whitaker Foundation promotes art forms and institutions that challenge, entertain, and contribute to our overall quality of life.

The event’s other sponsors include Arcade Apartments, Arts & Education Council, First Rule, Kräftig, Missouri Arts Council, Missouri Film Office, Regional Arts Commission, and St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission.

For more information, visit www.cinemastlouis.org.

https://www.facebook.com/STLFilmmakersShowcase

Sunday-Thursday, July 19-23: Film Programs
Tivoli Theatre, 6350 Delmar Blvd.
$12 each; $10 for students and Cinema St. Louis members

See full schedule at www.cinemastlouis.org for times and film descriptions.

Thursday, July 23: Closing-Night Awards Party
8 p.m.-midnight at Blueberry Hill’s Duck Room, 6504 Delmar Blvd.
Free (donations accepted); attendees must be 21 or older; sponsored by Kräftig

LINK TO FULL PROGRAM PDF: http://cinemastlouis.org/sites/default/files/downloads/2015/SLFS_15_FINAL-web.pdf

68th Festival de Cannes Awards; Jacques Audiard’s DHEEPAN Wins Palme d’Or

The 12 days of the prestigious 68th Festival de Cannes came to a close on Sunday (May 24, 2015) when the winners were announced during the Awards Ceremony.

The Palme d’Or went to Jacques Audiard’s DHEEPAN. To escape the civil war in Sri Lanka, a former soldier, a young woman and a little girl pose as a family. They end up settling in a housing project outside Paris. They barely know one another, but try to build a life together.

The prize for Best Actress was shared by Rooney Mara for her role in CAROL, by Todd Haynes and Emmanuelle Bercot, for her role in Maïwenn’s MON ROI.

Best Actor went to Vincent Lindon for his role in Stéphane Brizé’s LA LOI DU MARCHE (THE MEASURE OF A MAN).

The Best Director prize was awarded to NIE YINNIANG (THE ASSASSIN) by Hou Hsiao-Hsien. In 9th Century China, a high born female assassin must choose: sacrifice the man she loves or break with the sacred way of the righteous killers.

An honorary Palme d’Or was awarded to Agnès Varda for her entire career.

Watch the press conference HERE.

Joel Coen and Ethan Coen were the two Presidents of the Jury of the 68th Festival de Cannes. Other members included Rossy de Palma (Actress – Spain), Sophie Marceau (Actress, Director – France), Sienna Miller (Actress – United Kingdom), Rokia Traoré (Composer, Singer-songwriter – Mali), Guillermo del Toro (Director, Writer, Producer – Mexico), Xavier Dolan (Director, Writer, Producer, Actor – Canada), and Jake Gyllenhaal (Actor – United States).

FEATURE FILMS

Palme d’Or
DHEEPAN Directed by Jacques AUDIARD

Grand Prix
SAUL FIA (SON OF SAUL) Directed by László NEMES

Award for Best Director
HOU Hsiao-Hsien for NIE YINNIANG (THE ASSASSIN)

Award for Best Screenplay
Michel FRANCO for CHRONIC

Award for Best Actress Ex-aequo
Emmanuelle BERCOT, Rooney MARA in MON ROI Directed by MAÏWENN
Rooney MARA, Emmanuelle BERCOT in CAROL Directed by Todd HAYNES

Award for Best Actor
Vincent LINDON, Stéphane BRIZÉ in LA LOI DU MARCHÉ (THE MEASURE OF A MAN) Directed by Stéphane BRIZÉ

Jury Prize
THE LOBSTER Directed by Yorgos LANTHIMOS

Palme d’Or – Short Film
WAVES ’98 Directed by Ely DAGHER

Awards for Un Certain Regard 2015 were handed out on Saturday.

Un Certain Regard 2015 presented in competition 19 films hailing from 21 different countries. Four of the works were first films. The Opening film was An by Naomi Kawase.

With Isabella Rossellini (filmmaker – United States, Italy) as its President, the Jury was comprised of Haifaa al-Mansour (director – Saudi Arabia), Panos H. Koutras (director – Greece), Nadine Labaki (director, actress – Lebanon) and Tahar Rahim (actor – France).

UN CERTAIN REGARD AWARD
HRÚTAR (Béliers / Rams) by Grímur Hákonarson In a remote Icelandic farming valley, two brothers who haven’t spoken in 40 years have to come together in order to save what’s dearest to them – their sheep.

JURY PRIZE
ZVIZDAN (Soleil de plomb / The High Sun) by Dalibor Matanić

BEST DIRECTOR PRIZE
Kiyoshi Kurosawa for KISHIBE NO TABI (Vers l’autre rive / Journey to the Shore)

UN CERTAIN TALENT PRIZE
COMOARA (Le Trésor / Treasure) by Corneliu Porumboiu

PROMISING FUTURE PRIZE
MASAAN by Neeraj Ghaywan

Ex aequo
NAHID by Ida Panahandeh

Disney•Pixar’s INSIDE OUT To Premiere At Cannes Film Festival 2015

©2015 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Disney•Pixar’s INSIDE OUT not only ventures inside the mind – it’s heading to the 68^th annual Cannes Film Festival for its World Premiere.

Academy Award winner Pete Docter, who helmed Disney•Pixar’s UP (the first animated film ever to be the Festival’s Opening-Ceremony film), directs INSIDE OUT, an original new movie from Pixar Animation Studios. Docter, producer Jonas Rivera (UP), and co-director Ronnie Del Carmen (UP) will be on hand in Cannes, along with members of the all-star English-language voice cast.

“We are overjoyed at being included in this year’s official selection at Cannes,” said Docter. “With ‘Inside Out,’ we spent years imagining – and then building – never-before-seen settings and characters within the mind. It was an incredible, fun and exciting challenge and now we can’t wait to share it with the world.”

Do you ever look at someone and wonder what is going on inside their head? Disney•Pixar’s original new film INSIDE OUT ventures inside the mind to find out.

Based in Headquarters, the control center inside 11-year-old Riley’s mind, five Emotions are hard at work, led by lighthearted optimist Joy (voice of Amy Poehler), whose mission is to make sure Riley stays happy. Fear (voice of Bill Hader) heads up safety, Anger (voice of Lewis Black) ensures all is fair and Disgust (voice of Mindy Kaling) prevents Riley from getting poisoned—both physically and socially. Sadness (voice of Phyllis Smith) isn’t exactly sure what her role is, and frankly, neither is anyone else.

When Riley’s family relocates to a scary new city, the Emotions are on the job, eager to help guide her through the difficult transition. But when Joy and Sadness are inadvertently swept into the far reaches of Riley’s mind—taking some of her core memories with them—Fear, Anger and Disgust are left reluctantly in charge. Joy and Sadness must venture through unfamiliar places—Long Term Memory, Imagination Land, Abstract Thought and Dream Productions—in a desperate effort to get back to Headquarters, and Riley.

Directed by Academy Award winner Pete Docter (“Monsters, Inc.”, “Up”), produced by Jonas Rivera, p.g.a. (“Up”), co-directed by Ronnie Del Carmen (“Up”) and featuring an original score by Michael Giacchino (“The Incredibles,” “Ratatouille,” “Up”), Disney•Pixar’s INSIDE OUT opens in U.S. theaters on June 19, 2015.

Hashtags: #InsideOut

Official “Inside Out” Website: http://movies.disney.com/inside-out

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Memorable Highlights From The 2015 TCM Film Festival

For the sixth consecutive year, thousands of movie lovers from around the globe descended upon Hollywood for the TCM Classic Film Festival. The 2015 festival took take place Thursday, March 26 – Sunday, March 29, 2015 and no matter your favorite genre, attendees were treated to an extensive lineup of great movies, appearances by legendary stars and filmmakers, fascinating presentations and panel discussions, special events and more.

Friday night’s screening of APOLLO 13 was definitely one of the most exciting events of the festival. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Ron Howard’s impressive telling of the nearly doomed mission of the 3 astronauts aboard Apollo 13 looked as spectacular as the first time audiences saw it 20 years ago.

Host and long-time NASA enthusiast Alex Trebek was on hand to introduce the film, as well as introduce fans in attendance to the real Captain Jim Lovell (played in the film by Tom Hanks). Also joining them on stage for a brief discussion before the film was Bill Paxton, who plays astronaut Fred Haise in the film.

Lovell, who also served as technical advisor on the film, shared some great insights about the story itself, as well as some fun trivia about the film. Perhaps one of the most famous lines in film history – “Houston we have a problem” was not actually said by Lovell, as seen in the film, but by fellow mission astronaut Jack Swaggart (played in the film by Kevin Bacon).

Another fun fact he shared was that he originally told director Ron Howard that he would like Kevin Costner to portray him in the film because he thought they bore a striking resemblance. After the studio’s choice of John Travolta (yes, John Travolta!) turned it down, Howard suggested Tom Hanks and the rest is film history.

Paxton also shared stories about filming the zero gravity scenes, taking over 25 flights on NASA’s KC-135 aircraft, also known as the “vomit comet.”

APOLLO 13 being re-released on Blu-ray from Universal Studios Home Entertainment on June 2nd, and its definitely worth a look.

“Action supports the drama…” – Terry Leonard, stuntman

Hosted by TCM’s own Ben Mankiewicz, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK screened before a full house at El Capitan theater. Fans were treated to an amazing tribute video showcasing legendary stuntman Terry Leonard. The crowd went wild as Leonard came out to talk about his experiences in Hollywood.

Although famous for being Harrison Ford’s stunt double in RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, Leonard has appeared as a stuntman and stunt coordinator in hundreds of Hollywood films, including Apocalypse Now, The Fugitive, and Romancing The Stone.

In one of the most famous stunts in film history, Leonard is dragged beneath a speeding truck on his back, moving the length of the truck to come out the back on a rope, in RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. The idea of that stunt was Leonard’s – as a tribute to famed stuntman Yakima Canutt, who did the stunt originally using a stagecoach.

Leonard’s version was named 4th in a list of the best movie stunts of all time.

One of the less successful films of the “disaster” genre, EARTHQUAKE (1974) was still fun to see outside by the pool at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

Starring Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, Lorne Green, George Kennedy and Richard Roundtree – among many other stars of the early 70’s – EARTHQUAKE attempted to show audiences what a real 7.0+ earthquake would do to Los Angeles.

The pre-show guest was none other than Richard Roundtree. Sharing his thoughts on the film, Roundtree told host Ileanna Douglas that after having starred in the SHAFT movies and television series in the early 70’s, he was looking to break out of the mold.

For disaster film fans, the movie mostly holds up, but the dialogue and most of the “destruction of the city” scenes are unintentionally hilarious.

Starring Doris Day (in her first starring role) and Howard Keel, CALAMITY JANE (1953) tells the story of famed wild west heroine Calamity Jane and her storied relationship with Wild Bill Hickok. The film was Warner Bros. response to the highly successful Annie Get Your Gun (1950) which also starred Howard Keel, alongside Betty Hutton as the title character.

Doris Day is perfectly cast, with her spunky dialogue, not to mention her singing and dancing chops. The song “Secret Love” became an instant chart-topper and won the Academy Award for Best Song. The film was also adapted for television in 1963, with Carol Burnett in the title role.

I had never actually seen this movie, but somehow over 60 years later, it is still so very entertaining.

Another movie I had never seen on the big screen, PSYCHO (1960) starring Janet Leigh, Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles and Martin Balsam, was extremely entertaining to see in the huge, “main house” of the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood.

Still as creepy today as it was 55 years ago, the film really holds up well, especially for many in attendance who had never seen it (suprisingly!). The infamous “shower scene” has become iconic in pop culture and still freaks us out every time!

On hand for the pre-show discussion was director Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Worlds End), who confessed that he too had not seen it on the big screen and being a big Alfred Hitchcock fan, was excited to see it. He commented that he admired Hitchcock’s technique of showing the audience one thing and then doing something completely different. He cited one early trailer for Psycho in 1960 that actually showed Vera Miles in the shower, so as not to give away that it was actually Janet Leigh who would succumb to said psycho.

The man knows his Hitchcock and it was great to see a contemporary director downright giddy over a movie that came out before he was even born.

With the world premiere of a new restoration, the classic 42nd STREET, starring Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell and Ginger Rogers did not disappoint. The story takes place “backstage” at a musical production, complete with snappy dialogue and toe-tapping production numbers.

Nearly 50 years after its release, the film inspired a 1980 Broadway production that won the Tony for best musical and became a long running hit.

On hand to share her thoughts on the film was Tony winner Christine Ebersole, who starred in the 2001 Broadway revival, which won the Tony for Best Revival of a Musical.

The film was nominated for the Academy Award for best picture in 1934 and in 1998 it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

The theme for the 2015 TCM Classic Film Festival was History According to Hollywood:
The Old West. Medieval England. Ancient Rome.

Hollywood has found endless inspiration in re-creating historical moments and bringing to life the heroes and villains of the past, creating a form of time travel for audiences through the ages and around the world.

The 2015 TCM Classic Film Festival explored how cinema has shaped how we view – and remember – history.

http://filmfestival.tcm.com/

68th Festival de Cannes Poster Features Ingrid Bergman

© FDC / Lagency / Taste (Paris) / Ingrid Bergman © David Seymour / Estate of David Seymour – Magnum Photos

Hollywood star Ingrid Bergman is featured on the official poster of the 68th Festival de Cannes

Bergman was a modern icon, an emancipated woman, an intrepid actress, and a figurehead for the new realism. She changed roles and adoptive countries as the mood took her, but never lost sight of her quintessential grace and simplicity.

This year’s poster captures the actress, who worked with Alfred Hitchcock, Roberto Rossellini and Ingmar Bergman, and starred opposite Cary Grant, Humphrey Bogart and Gregory Peck, in all her beauty, her face lit up by a calm serenity that seems to herald a promising future.

Liberty, audacity, modernity – values also shared by the Festival, year after year, through the artists and films it showcases. Ingrid Bergman was President of the Jury in 1973.

“My family and I are deeply moved that the Festival de Cannes has chosen to feature our magnificent mother on the official poster to mark the centenary of her birth,” said Isabella Rossellini. “Her outstanding career covered so many countries, from the smallest European independent films to the greatest Hollywood productions. Mum adored working as an actress: for her acting was not a profession but vocation. As she put it, ‘I didn’t choose acting, acting chose me.’

Ingrid Bergman, in Her Own Words‏, a documentary by Stig Björkman (the author of books and documentaries on Woody Allen and Ingmar Bergman) will also be screened as part of the Cannes Classics.

Finally, the Festival de Cannes will also be associated with the ‘Ingrid Bergman Tribute’ to be organised next September by Isabella Rossellini, to celebrate the centenary of her mother’s birth.

The show, directed by Guido Torlonia and Ludovica Damiani, will be based on the star’s autobiography and her correspondence with Roberto Rossellini. It will be performed in the five key cities in Ingrid Bergman’s life: Stockholm, Rome, Paris, London and New York, and will feature, alongside Isabella Rossellini, Jeremy Irons, Fanny Ardant, Christian De Sica and several other actors. The show’s cast will be announced at next Festival.

The 68th Festival de Cannes will take place from May 13 -24, 2015. The Jury will be presided by the American directors Joel Coen and Ethan Coen. The Official Selection will be announced on Thursday, April 16.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC To Open 2015 TCM Classic Film Festival – Julie Andrews & Christopher Plummer To Appear

Hollywood will come alive with The Sound of Music (1965) this spring as the beloved, Oscar®-winning classic returns to the big screen to celebrate its 50th anniversary with a gala opening-night screening on Thursday, March 26 at the 2015 TCM Classic Film Festival. Legendary stars Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer will join Turner Classic Movies host Robert Osborne at the world-famous TCL Chinese Theater IMAX to introduce the beautifully restored film and kick off the sixth annual festival, which will run March 26-29, 2015, in Hollywood.

The film is being presented in collaboration with Twentieth Century Fox, in celebration of their Golden 50^th Anniversary Blu-ray release arriving on March 10, 2015.

The Sound of Music is the story of the Von Trapp family, whose lives are forever changed by the arrival of Maria, the warmhearted young governess who brings joy and music to the Captain (Plummer) and his children. The film earned Andrews her second consecutive Oscar nomination after having won the previous year for her performance in Mary Poppins (1964).

The TCM Classic Film Festival’s screening of The Sound of Music will mark the second year in a row that a Rodgers & Hammerstein musical has opened the week’s festivities. Last year, the duo’s groundbreaking Oklahoma! (1955) launched the 2014 TCM Classic Film Festival, with Shirley Jones attending.

The Sound of Music joins a growing list of restored classics being showcased at the 2015 TCM Classic Film Festival. TCM previously announced that the festival will feature restored versions of Ron Howard’s Apollo 13 (1995), William Dieterle’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939) and Charles Reisner and Buster Keaton’s Steamboat Bill Jr. (1928). The Keaton comedy will also be accompanied by legendary silent film composer Carl Davis conducting the world premiere performance of his new score for the film.

Passes for the 2015 TCM Classic Film Festival are on sale now and can be purchased exclusively through the official festival website: www.tcm.com/festival. Additional screenings and events will be announced over the coming months.

Opening Night Gala – The Sound of Music (1965)

The Sound of Music (1965) – 50th anniversary celebration presented in collaboration with Twentieth Century Fox – Featuring a live appearance by Julie Andrews & Christopher Plummer

Robert Wise’s sumptuous, Oscar®-winning adaptation of Rogers & Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music is one of the most beloved musicals of all time and one of the genre’s biggest box office hits. It is the story of Maria, a spirited young woman who leaves a convent and becomes a governess to seven unruly children. Her charm and songs soon win the hearts of the children and their father but when Nazi Germany unites with Austria, Maria is forced to attempt a daring escape with her new family.

Also starring with Andrews and Plummer in The Sound of Music are Eleanor Parker, Richard Haydn and Peggy Wood, along with Charmian Carr, Nicholas Hammond, Heather Menzies, Duane Chase, Angela Cartwright, Debbie Turner and Kym Karath as the von Trapp children.

The Sound of Music is packed with musical delights, from the stunning and iconic mountaintop opening title song to the infectious joy as Maria and the children sing “Do-Re-Mi” while canvassing the spectacular Austrian countryside. Other unforgettable songs in the film include “My Favorite Things,” “Edelweiss” “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” and “Sixteen Going on Seventeen,” to name a few.

The Sound of Music topped the box office in 1965 and continues to rank as one of the most popular films of all time. The film earned 10 Oscar nominations, winning for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Sound, Best Film Editing and Best Adapted Score.

Julie Andrews has been a beloved and much-honored star of stage, screen and television for more than half a century. She was already a Broadway legend when she made her feature film debut in 1964’s Mary Poppins. Andrews’ iconic performance in the title role of the magical nanny brought her an Academy Award® a Golden Globe and a BAFTA Award. The following year, she earned a second Oscar® nomination and won another Golden Globe Award for her unforgettable portrayal of Maria Von Trapp in The Sound of Music. She received her third Academy Award nomination and won another Golden Globe Award for her “dual” role in Victor/Victoria (1982).

Today’s young film audiences may be more familiar with Andrews as a queen trying to train her teenaged granddaughter to be a princess in the hit films The Princess Diaries (2001), and its sequel, The Princess Diaries 2: The Royal Engagement (2004). Andrews also voiced the character of Queen Lillian in the blockbuster hits Shrek 2 (2004) and Shrek the Third (2007). More recently, she voiced the narration of the hugely successful Disney release of Enchanted (2007). In 2010, Andrews added to her multi-generational appeal with the releases of The Tooth Fairy, Shrek Forever After and Despicable Me. Her earlier motion picture credits include The Americanization of Emily (1964), Hawaii (1966), Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967), Star! (1968), Darling Lili (1970) and 10 (1979), to name only a few.

Andrews received her honors as a Dame of the British Empire by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on New Year’s Eve 1999. She was also a 2001 Kennedy Center Honoree. For more about Andrews and her activities and book collection, please go to www.julieandrewscollection.com.

Christopher Plummer has enjoyed almost 60 years as one of the theatre’s most respected actors and as a veteran of over 100 motion pictures.

Plummer’s more recent projects include the highly praised animated films Up, 9 and My Dog Tulip, as well as the title role in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, directed by Terry Gilliam. He played the great novelist Tolstoy opposite Helen Mirren in The Last Station for Sony Classics where he received his first Academy Award nomination in 2010. He followed that up the next year with another nomination and a win for Best Supporting Actor in Beginners from writer/director Mike Mills and appeared in David Fincher’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo that same year. In July and August 2012, he returned to the Stratford Festival to perform his one-man show that he created entitled A Word or Two, directed by Des McAnuff.

In 2014, he starred opposite Oscar winner Shirley MacLaine in Elsa & Fred directed by Michael Radford, Hector And The Search for Happiness directed by Peter Chelsom.

In 2105, he will star in Danny Collins opposite Al Pacino and Annette Bening for writer/director Dan Fogelman and The Forger opposite John Travolta directed by Phillip Martin.

His recent self-written best selling memoir, In Spite of Myself (Afred A. Knopf Publishers) is being much lauded by critics and public alike.

Twentieth Century Fox proudly honors the 50^th Anniversary with an unprecedented year-long company-wide celebration highlighted by theatrical and home entertainment releases, and a slate of cross-company and promotional partnerships that will bring one of the world’s most ‘favorite things,’ to millions around the globe. The unparalleled golden anniversary of the film’s premiere will launch March 2 in the UK and March 10 in the US, with the release of the 5-disc Ultimate Collector’s Edition 50^th Anniversary Blu-ray™/DVD/Digital HD. Beautifully restored, the 5-disc 50^th Anniversary Blu-ray™ features over 13 hours of bonus content highlighted by the all-new documentary “The Sound of a City: Julie Andrews Returns to Salzburg.” The treasured film will also once again proudly shine on the big screen in commemoration of this special anniversary through a Fox partnership with Fathom Events and Turner Classic Movies. A beautifully restored version of the film will be shown for two days only, April 19^th and 22^nd, in over 500 theatres across the US.

For the sixth consecutive year, thousands of movie lovers from around the globe will descend upon Hollywood for theTCM Classic Film Festival. The 2015 festival is set to take place Thursday, March 26 – Sunday, March 29, 2015. Over four packed days and nights, attendees will be treated to an extensive lineup of great movies, appearances by legendary stars and filmmakers, fascinating presentations and panel discussions, special events and more.

The theme for the 2015 TCM Classic Film Festival will be History According to Hollywood:

The Old West. Medieval England. Ancient Rome. Hollywood has found endless inspiration in re-creating historical moments and bringing to life the heroes and villains of the past, creating a form of time travel for audiences through the ages and around the world. These films, however, are not always true to the historical record. Filmmakers have often created works about the past that are a reflection of the period in which they were made, or change facts to suit a particular storyline. The 2015 TCM Classic Film Festival will explore how cinema has shaped how we view – and remember – history.

TCM host and film historian Robert Osborne will once again serve as official host of the TCM Classic Film Festival, with TCM’s Ben Mankiewicz introducing various events. The festival’s official hotel and central gathering point for the sixth consecutive year will be The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, which has a longstanding role in movie history and was the site of the first Academy Awards® ceremony. The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel will also offer special rates for festival attendees. Screenings and events during the festival will be held at the TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX, the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres and the Egyptian Theatre, as well as other Hollywood venues.

Passes for the 2015 TCM Classic Film Festival are on sale now and can be purchased exclusively through the official festival website: www.tcm.com/festival.

SLIFF 2014 Review – STILL LIFE

STILL LIFE screens at 6:55pm Saturday November 22nd at the Plaza Frontenac Theater as part of the ST. Louis International Film Festival

Review by Dana Jung.

In art and photography, the term “still life” refers to a picture of inanimate objects frozen in time. There is no story, no sense of who the objects may belong to, or where they came from, or what may happen to them next. They are just there, possibly never having any human contact at all. The wonderful new film STILL LIFE takes the concept of things seemingly without purpose or meaning, and creates a stirring portrait surprisingly full of emotional depth.

John (Eddie Marsan) is a dedicated civil servant whose job it is to arrange the funeral services for those poor souls who die alone, without immediate family or even friends to say final farewells to them. John is very thorough in his work, selecting the music, writing the eulogies, and even attending each service personally. He also does some tracing of individuals, trying to track down long lost relatives. However, even when John successfully locates an estranged son or daughter, he finds that there are reasons his cases die alone: anger, abandonment, and other hard feelings cause rifts between people that are usually irreparable.

Director Uberto Pasolini establishes John’s life and work in some nicely composed opening scenes. The script also provides some wry touches of humor as the idea of looking through a recently deceased’s personal effects is darkly surreal at best. But there is more to Pasolini’s tale than a quirky character study. When John loses his job due to downsizing to make room for more modern, impersonal practices in dealing with people who die alone, John decides to pursue one final case to locate a man’s missing daughter. As he conducts his investigation, he finds that the deceased lead quite a colorful life, even though he was an imperfect man as well as an actual criminal.

Marsan is perfectly cast as John. An excellent character actor (WORLD’S END, SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN), Marsan is probably best known as the belligerent Inspector Lestrade on the BBC’s SHERLOCK HOLMES series. Quiet and unassuming, Marsan makes John a likable, slightly eccentric fellow who keeps a photo album full of the photographs of people who have passed on because he actually cares. John is also the ideal vehicle for Pasolini to develop the film’s themes of the importance of staying connected to those you love, and to never become “still” or complacent, because life may just pass you by. Mortality is something we all have to deal with eventually, and this thoughtful and poignant film’s final scenes pack an emotional punch that will stay with you. It reminds us that life is fleeting, so appreciate its fullness each and every day.

SLIFF 2014 Review – HOLBROOK/TWAIN: AN AMERICAN ODYSSEY

HOLBROOK/TWAIN: AN AMERICAN ODYSSEY screens 6:00pm Sunday, November 23rd at Webster University’s Moore Auditorium as part of the St. Louis International Film Festival. Ticket information can be found HERE

Review by Kathy Kaiser

Director Scott Teems brings to a life a documentary that will touch you in a profound and intensely gratifying way, as he takes you deep into the life of American Author Samuel Clemens – a.k.a. Mark Twain – but through the eyes and 60 year career of American icon and prolific actor, Hal Holbrook. HOLBROOK/TWAIN: AN AMERICAN ODYSSEY tells the tale of Hal Holbrook’s life and legacy playing the legendary author Mark Twain – as told by fellow actors, mentors, even Twain historians, who share how Holbrook’s constant and unwavering presence in theaters on Broadway and all across our nation, in 20 foreign countries, in front of five President’s – even performing behind the iron curtain, has made not only Mark Twain, but Hal Holbrook an AMERICAN LEGEND. Teems also takes you deep into Holbrook’s life beyond the make-up and persona of Twain, that is both touching and revealing, as Holbrook shares his own thoughts too, on playing such an iconic character, his undying love for his third wife – Dixie Carter, and how his children’s lives were tragically affected from his lack of fathering, in pursuit of his one true passion – ACTING.

Whether you enjoy History or not, or enjoy documentary’s, or not – HOLBROOK/TWAIN: AN AMERICAN ODYSSEY is one of those films that you have to place on your MUST SEE LIST at SLIFF this year, as it is both creatively stimulating and emotionally moving from it’s very first frame to it’s last. Seeing Holbrook not only perform, but to actually bring MARK TWAIN to life was incredible to see, and hearing what others had to share about his work throughout his career was also very moving. Seeing Holbrook perform this masterpiece of work in person, would truly be a highlight for me personally too, as apparently, even though his is now a spry 89 years of age, performing is still one of his true joys in life, and seeing this “lecture” would be unforgettable.

SLIFF 2014 Review – WHEN GOD LEFT THE BUILDING

WHEN GOD LEFT THE BUILDING screens Sunday, November 23rd at 2:20pm at The Plaza Frontenac Cinema as part of the St. Louis International Film Festival. Ticket Information can be found HERE

I was raised in the Baptist Church. At the age of eleven I lost all my faith when my Father died and I “wandered in the wilderness”, so to speak, for years. I took up the practice of Nicheren Buddhism and became a member of the SGI (Soka Gakkai International) in 1984 and quite frankly it saved my life. I am happier now than I have ever been and find a great deal of comfort in practicing Buddhism.

I say this as a prelude to telling you about an incredible documentary, WHEN GOD LEFT THE BUILDING. We meet Thom Schultz, writer and photographer who specializes in Church related issues. We go along with him as he visits several churches and allows a great many people to speak; Pastors, lay members and people who just do not go to church anymore, and we find out some incredible and sobering information.

The American Church, as we have known it for generations, is dying out. Schultz tells us that 4000 churches close their doors, every year! That’s 4000! In my regular job as a security guard I recently had a conversation with a “church lady” who insisted that Christianity is growing by leaps and bounds. Apparently that is just not the case.

The documentary begins with a televised news report from Springfield, Missouri, (KY3 TV no less). A report about a Church in Aurora, Missouri that closed its doors recently due to lack of attendance and finances to go forward. Is Missouri not one of the major “Bible Belt” states? Is Springfield not the world headquarters for several major denominations of Christian Churches?

In all honesty and sincerity I had no idea this is what is going on in America. In my younger, full blown radical atheist days I would have applauded this news. Now I find it shocking, sad and yes, horrifying.

Religion is supposed to offer aid and comfort and hope to people. That is what Buddhism is all about and I thought that was the aim and purpose of all religions. Call me a cock eyed optimist but I honestly thought that was the purpose of any faith. Apparently there are a lot of people out there without hope or faith or comfort of any kind.

The documentary visits several churches but spends most of its running time at Park Church in Newark, New York and Pastor J. Christy Wareham and some of his disaffected members. We hear from several of his congregation that they don’t “get” his sermons, that he is too hard to understand, that very often he will not even read a passage from the Bible. With his long hair and 60s survivor look (he even plays guitar during services) it’s easy to see why some members of his church might not approve of his methods. But it is still shocking and sad to see the congregation vote and move to fire the Pastor from his job. And which apparently did nothing to stop the slow disintegration of this church that was built well over 100 years ago.

In a clever bit of comparison Schultz talks about and visits the Eastman Kodak company in Rochester, New York, what’s left of it any way? He compares Kodak’s failure to innovate and change with the times with the Church’s failure to do the same. We hear at length from Steve Sasson who worked for Kodak for years and in another shocking piece of information we learn that he and couple of co-workers developed the first digital camera, in 1974! I had never heard of this information either but Sasson still has the camera, brings it out and demonstrates it for Shultz. It is large, heavy and awkward but it still works. Sasson recalls showing this prototype digital camera to a high ranking Kodak executive. The response from upper management? “I hope you fail!”

We are then treated to archive footage of Kodak buildings in Rochester being demolished. This lack of foresight is comparable to American Churches that are having a hard time getting people into the pews. When God Left the Building is not without hope however. We end with several people talking about their success with opening coffee houses and trying different ways to give hope and comfort to people who might not ever set foot in a traditional church.

We hear quite a bit from Nathan Matz, a Reading, Pennsylvania police officer and a devout Christian who tells of the pain he and many other people experienced when 6 of his fellow officers committed suicide with their own weapons over the last 6 years.

Determined to do something for his community Officer Matz organized a church fellowship, where beer is served! Needless to say he did not get a lot of support from his church but it got people into a space to talk about faith that might never go near a traditional church.

Whatever your beliefs, however you seek comfort in anything that is faith based you owe it to yourself to see When God Left the Building. I would not like to see the American Church disappear; we would all be much poorer as a result.

Here’s the trailer for WHEN GOD LEFT THE BUILDING:

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