LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
Rehoboth Film Festival Pulls Off Another Stellar Performance |
The 2nd annual Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival came to a dramatic close on Sunday evening, November 14, after a 5-day marathon of cinematic delights that included sold-out shows, packed theaters, film directors and producers, and special events and parties.
"It's been an unbelievable experience," said festival director Barry Becker. "We brought some of the most talked-about independent films of the year to Delaware, along with works by emerging artists and films from 22 nations. And film fans from across the mid-Atlantic and beyond responded in a big way." Last year 6,000 tickets were sold to films during the festival. In 1999, that number jumped to 11,700, a remarkable leap and "hopefully a sign for the future," says Becker. Dozens of volunteers, under the guidance of Volunteer Coordinator Nancy Kaiser, helped manage all the sites and handle all the events necessary to make the festival a great success. The festival activities began on Wednesday evening, November 10, with an Opening Gala full of wonderful food from area restaurants, an open bar, great bands, and a large Hollywood beacon lighting up the skies of lower Delaware. Hundreds of party-goers were also treated to a surprise video "mockumentary" on the festival's many unsuccessful efforts to secure a big-name star for the Opening night. But it was the films people came to see from all over the East Coast and beyond. With 55 feature length films and nearly as many short films for all ages, the festival offered something for every taste and genre. Film fans began lining up early Thursday morning in the Rehoboth Mall Courtyard to get their tickets for the day. The new food court in the Mall this year, supplied by Yum Yum restaurant, in addition to a bar, kept film fans occupied and talking about their film experiences. The weekend was filled with many highlights, both at the theaters and at the special events at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center. On Saturday evening, guest conductor Gillian Anderson led the 11-member Rehoboth Beach Film Festival Orchestra in a stunning live accompaniment of the 1926 silent film classic Ben-Hur. Ms. Anderson has been involved in the full orchestral restoration of more than 2 dozen scores for silent films, many of which are lost or exist only as piano scores. She noted in her opening remarks that the festival was very ambitious in its second year to be taking on something as significant and technologically demanding as a silent film with live music. With more than 500 in attendance, she led a rousing 2-hour performance that swept the crowd into a standing ovation at the packed Convention Center. On Sunday afternoon the festival presented another special program, this one designed to raise funds for breast cancer education and services in the area. Climb Against the Odds is an emotional and moving film of courage and hope as a team of women attempt to climb Mt. McKinley, North America's highest peak. The event was made even more special by the appearance of Mary Ann Castimore, one of the climbers and breast cancer survivors, who spoke after the film and answered questions. All ticket proceeds will be donated to help reduce the chance that one woman in eight will get breast cancer. Several film directors and producers were on hand during the festival. Delaware native Julia Elliott introduced her amazing film Windhorse, which was shot in Tibet. Producer Matt Radicki was also at the festival with his award-winning film, 30 Still Single, Contemplating Suicide. Author and film producer George Pelecanos led a fascinating discussion on film noir following screenings of two such classics, The Big Heat and Kiss Me Deadly, while special effects guru Greg Kimble returned to not only host a highly entertaining seminar on special effects, but to offer a sneak preview of a work in progress on the lost art of Cinerama. This year, the audience selected the award winning films in several categories by casting ballots after the screening of each show. The race for the Best Feature was a hot one, with several films leading the way in close competition, but Bandits was the ultimate winner. Red Violin, with all 3 shows sold out, was a close second, followed by The Dinner Game and Bedrooms and Hallways. (The Red Violin is scheduled to play at the Movies at Midway soon. Check your listings) A Mile in My Shoes took the honors for Best Short, 24 Nights won for Best Debut Film, and Climb Against the Odds was the favorite for Best Documentary. While the festival is just over, planning is already under way for 2000. At the Closing Night festivities, the new logo and poster were unveiled for next year's festival, slated for November 8 -12. "Siquis, a highly talented design firm from Baltimore, had approached us this summer and offered to take on our design work for next year," says Becker, "and we're thrilled with what they presented." The new logo reflects a continued focus on the sea, while the poster is an artful play on water, film and the theme of "Being Submerged" in cinema. For more information on the Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival, contact the office at 4493 Highway One, call 302.645.9095, or e-mail rbfilm@dmv.com. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 9, No. 15, Nov. 24, 1999 |