Document text
52 °F Forecast | Road Cams Friday, April 9, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend February 25, 2004 Film festival gains momentum AIFF returns in April with 73 films and a new executive director By BILL VARBLE Mail Tribune The Ashland Independent Film Festival is returning for a third edition with more films, more visiting filmmakers and a brand new director. The festival is scheduled for April 1 through 5 at the Varsity Theatre, Ashland, where 73 films will be shown on five screens in five days. AIFF’s new executive director is Tom Olbrich, returning to the Rogue Valley after a two-year absence during which he produced a daily show for Hawaii public radio. Olbrich created the One World performing arts series, which continues at Southern Oregon University. "It’s the third year," Olbrich says of the festival. "People worked hard the first year to get it off the ground. They worked hard the second time to improve it. "Now more people know who we are. There’s a momentum." Advertisement The festival begins showing films at noon April 1, and the last screening begins at 9:40 p.m. April 5. An opening night reception with filmmakers is planned for 8 to 11 p.m. April 1 at the Ashland Springs Hotel. An awards ceremony and party is planned for 7 to 11 p.m. April 4 at the old Ashland Armory. Included among the AIFF’s selections are the Northwest premier of the locally produced "Indigo"; Jacksonville resident and cult movie hero Bruce Campbell as the aging Elvis Presley in "Bubba Ho-Tep"; a drama documentary homage to American theater, "Broadway: The Golden Age"; and the Academy Award-nominated documentary, "Ferry Tales." Several locally produced films will be combined in a free program. The world premiere of "Crater Lake: Mirror of Heaven," produced by Southern Oregon Public Television, will be screened, as will animated shorts by Southern Oregon University Professor Miles Inada and SOU student Steven Hammond. Olbrich says if anything has surprised him, it’s how filmmakers seem to have embraced the event. He says 325 films were submitted, almost double the number of the last festival. "We started with eight people viewing them," Olbrich says. "We wound up with about 25. There were so many films." He attributes that in part to word of mouth among those who have come to Ashland, and in part to having the festival among those listed at www.withoutabox.com , a filmmakers’ resource. Many filmmakers will attend screenings of their films to take questions, including Michael Pressman, the former producer of "Chicago Hope," who will bring his indie film, "Frankie and Johnny Are Married." Olbrich says as many as one-third of the films will have filmmakers present. Also in this year’s festival are "The Olive Harvest," a dramatic feature made with an all-Palestinian cast and all-Israeli crew; a documentary on the 10th Mountain Division’s World War II heroics and their life since, "Fire on the Mountain"; the Burning Man-based documentary "Nothing Without You"; and the 1967 classic "The Incident," featuring Martin Sheen in his debut role with cinematography by local resident Jerry Hirschfeld. Oregon veterans of the 10th Mountain Division will also attend all screenings of "Fire on the Mountain." The 2004 award categories are Best Feature, Best Short, Best Cinematography/The Gerald Hirschfeld A.S.C. Award Feature, Best Acting Ensemble, Best Documentary, Best Student Film, and a new award this year, the John C. Schweiger Audience Award. At each screening through Sunday afternoon, audience members will be handed a ballot to rate films on a scale of 1 to 5. The winner will be announced Sunday evening. Reach reporter Bill Varble at 776-4478 or e-mail [email protected] If you go AIFF admission is $8 each showing ($6 seniors, $4 students). Passes to all films and receptions are $125 to $200. Tickets are on sale March 15-16 to AIFF members and beginning March 17 to the public. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times