The 2015 Festival has something for everyone including top award winning films from the United States, South America, Italy and Korea. The newest addition to the festival is the exclusive area showing of the hit film Best of Enemies, the world premiere of the short, Blind Date and The Anonymous People that will be shown here just before the organization’s star-filled free event in Washington, D.C. in October.
Ticket costs are $10 per film for adults or a festival pass for $150 that includes all of the films and the opening/closing receptions (a $400 value). Tickets are available at chesapeakefilmfestival.com now.
On Friday at 5PM enjoy a short opening reception at the Avalon with light fare catered by Bannings and a cash bar. The festival kicks off with its first-ever CFF in-person presentation, Magnificent Movie Music (6PM). Host Rachel Franklin demonstrates just how “movie music” drives our limbic systems to create those indelible cultural memories – including the music in some of our own festival films. Following this is Landfill Harmonic (7:45 PM) –underprivileged Paraguayan kids use musical instruments built from junked scraps found in a landfill to form their own orchestra!
On Saturday, films will be screened all day at the Avalon Theatre beginning at 9AM and at Easton Premier Cinemas (Saturday only) beginning at 10AM.
Sports lovers should get up early on Sat. to catch a double-header: the elder basketball champs in Coming Back to the Hoop (9AM) and Sons of Ben (10:50 AM), chronicling the grass-roots plan to bring world-class soccer to Philly.
At mid-day Saturday, women take a front seat. The first film is Arc of Light: A Portrait of Anna Campbell Bliss (12:15 PM) – an artist whose approach to art proved syntonic with her incredibly varied interests; and Women of ’69, Unboxed (1:30 PM) – unorthodox trailblazers of ‘60s subculture from Skidmore College, Class of ‘69. The trajectory to the present is complete with a trio of women millennials on a mission in a kooky misadventure called June Adrift (9PM). The producer/writer of Arc of Light, women in the film, Women of ’69,Unboxed, director of Coming Back to the Hoop and director of June Adrift will be here in person to discuss their films.
Cuba: The Past Is Living Now (6:15 PM) is a local film about a sailing excursion and exploration of Cuba. Thus, to mark the occasion the CFF is encouraging area restauranteurs to feature Cuban cuisine on Saturday night. Participating restaurants offer a 10% dinner discount off regular menu prices, excluding Happy Hour, for those who can show a ticket stub or festival pass. The restaurants will include the Washington Street Pub, Tidewater Inn, Out of the Fire and the Victory Garden Café.
Celebrate ‘50s icon Tab Hunter (Tab Hunter Confidential, 7:30 PM) with vintage ‘50s and ‘60s vehicles parked in front of the Avalon Theatre. The cars are compliments of a group of motoring enthusiasts seeking to form a classic car museum in St. Michaels.
Some excellent films from Italy, Korea, and Argentina are featured at Easton Premier Cinemas. Indulge your senses by viewing The Great Beauty (10AM) and the most popular movie ever in Korea, The King and the Clown (1:45PM). The must see film, Best of Enemies, about the 1968 televised debates between Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley, Jr. is a must see event (12:30 PM). Wild Tales (9PM) is just that – absolutely wild and quite amusing. And don’t miss Farmland (4PM), an up close look at today’s farmers. Farmland includes a panel discussion with top names in legislation and agriculture plus free samples in the “Birthday Room” at Premiere Cinema. It Follows (7PM) is the CFF’s first horror film, guaranteed to creep you out.
Two separate rosters totaling 14 short films will be shown on Sat. at 3PM and on Sunday at 3:45 PM. Check the program for summaries of these outstanding shorts. Actors, directors and producers of these films will be here for panels and Q & A discussion. Hugh Gregory Gallagher Theatre, Inc. For All Seasons, Inc., Chesapeake Voyagers, Inc., Maryland Coalition of Families for Children’s Mental Health, Benedictine School and Mental Health Association in Talbot County will be hosting a panel discuss following the film Dockyard Chief to discuss the issues of single parenting and challenges of similar children portrayed in the film.
On Sunday, films start at 10AM with The Internet’s Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz, the web savant whose cyber-exploits collided head-on with the political leviathan. Two films that follow explore cutting-edge realms of thinking and learning – An Ecology of Mind (11:45 AM) and Most Likely To Succeed (1PM) followed by a panel discussion on education.
Bring the kids to see Take a Peek at the Chesapeake (3PM) that includes a visit with the teacher and children from the film. CFF’s second in-person presentation, hosted by Prof. Drew Babb, 100 Greatest TV Spots of All Time (6PM).
Look for two other films presented by Easton restauranteurs, Life of an Ingredient (Jordan Lloyd of Bartlett Pear Inn and Anonymous People, (Bob Yabroff of Brassier Brightwell) as well as panel discussions and Q&A sessions.
The Anonymous People (4:45 on Sunday, Sept. 20 at the Avalon will include a special for film goers at Brassier Brightwell following the film) are a feature documentary film about the 23.5 million Americans living in long-term recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs. Laszio Jaress, on of the organizers will be here to discuss the upcoming free event, Unite to Face Addiction, being held Oct. 4, 2015 on the National Mall in D.C. The event features performances from Sheryl Crow, Joe Walsh, Steven Tyler of Arrowsmith, and Jason Isbell of the Fray and John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls.
Sunday’s closing reception starts at 5:30 PM at the Bartlett Pear Inn Patio and will feature products from the farms shown in the film, Life of an Ingredient prepared by Chef Jordan Lloyd with wine from Triple Creek Winery and beer from National Premium Beer and music by Fox Twin Trilogy.
Check online at chesapeakefilmfestival.com for info on films, tickets and menus for receptions or call 410-822-3500. Tickets will also be for sale from Sept. 8 – 16 at the Talbot Chamber of Commerce 101 Marlboro Ave., Ste. 53 in Easton from 9-3 Mon – Fri and closed from 12-1 for lunch.
On Friday night from 5-8 PM and Sunday from 10-4 PM at the Avalon Theatre we will have a silent auction featuring entertainment and sports memorabilia, jewelry and trips.
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