by erin thursby scopes1925@msn.com
What: Savannah Film Festival
When: Oct 27-Nov 3
Where: Savannah, Georgia
From feature-length films to two-minute shorts, the Savannah Film Festival can give you the creative film fix you need between now and Jacksonville’s own film fest.
But sitting in the flickering light of the projector booth isn’t the only thing the Fest’s got going on. There are also pro workshops on filmmaking, lectures from people in the know and discussion groups. You can ask questions about the artistry and the industry as well as meet filmmakers.
The Fest really helps educate not only the general public, but also those who are studying film or wish to become filmmakers themselves. Students from in and around Georgia screen the films and meet with the filmmakers at talkbacks, enjoying the benefits and insights of those already in the industry.
USA, 2007, 122 min., 35 mm
Director: John Sayles
Rural Alabama, 1950. Cotton harvest. It’s a make-or-break weekend for the Honeydripper Lounge and its owner, piano player Tyrone “Pine Top” Purvis. Deep in debt to the liquor man, the chicken man and the landlord, Tyrone is desperate to lure the young cotton pickers and local Army recruits into his juke joint and away from Touissant’s, the rival joint in town. After firing his regular talent, Tyrone announces that he hired the famous electric guitar player, Guitar Sam, for a special one-night-only gig to save the club. On the day of the show, the train arrives and Guitar Sam is nowhere to be found. Tyrone is forced to take drastic action and makes a deal with Sheriff Pugh to release Sonny, the kid who hopped off a freight car in Harmony, and turned up in the club claiming he could play the guitar as well as any Guitar Sam. Tyrone cleans up Sonny as a last-ditch scheme to pass off the young guitar picker as Guitar Sam, just long enough to cut the lights and run off with the cash box.
USA, 2007, 121 min., 35 mm
Director: Anton Corbijn
Ian Curtis has aspirations beyond the trappings of small-town life in 1970s England. Wanting to emulate his musical heroes, such as David Bowie and Iggy Pop, he joins a band and his musical ambition begins to thrive. He is distracted from his family commitments by a new love and the growing expectations of his band. This conflict leads to ever growing misunderstandings
USA, 2007, 65 min., Beta SP
Director: Barrett Tripp
“Hello, I’m Harry van Gorkum and I’m in search of Real America.” British actor Harry van Gorkum grew up with an image of America created by Hollywood. But now that he’s living here, he’s wondering, “Is this the real America?” Harry crisscrosses the country on a quest, living out of a comically small teardrop camper. Harry enthusiastically endears himself to his American hosts at every stop. At the end of each day, Harry asks of his newfound friends, “Where should I go next to find real America?”
USA, 2007, 25 min., special screening, Beta SP
Director: Jason Antoon
Jesus Cooks Me Breakfast is a surreal comedy that questions the existence of God and man’s eternal task in finding him. Jules Berlandt is a depressed man who stuffs envelopes for a living. With a broken relationship hanging over his head and a life heading comfortably nowhere, Jules’ life is turned upside down when Jesus Christ unexpectedly knocks on his front door and wants to cook him breakfast. Jules is told the real reason behind the son-of-God’s visit. Jesus tells him that “God is missing” and he wants Jules to activate his life and find his Dad. The only thing left is for Jules to eat the omelet. Jules must either eat the omelet or reject it. Both choices have heavy consequences for his life and mankind as we know it. Will he eat the omelet?
USA, 2007, 90 min., special screening, 35mm
Director: Bryan Gunnar Cole
Day Zero follows the lives of three best friends in New York City who have thirty days to come to terms with their fate after the military draft is reinstated. The three friends (Chris Klein, Elijah Wood, Jon Bernthal) will find their relationships tested as they confront tightly held beliefs about life, death, courage and love.
USA, China, 2007, 122 min., 35 mm
Director: Marc Forster
Based one on of the most acclaimed novels in recent memory, The Kite Runner is a profoundly emotional tale of friendship, family, devastating mistakes and redeeming love. In a divided country on the verge of war, two childhood friends, Amir and Hassan, are about to be torn apart forever. Now, after 20 years of living in America, Amir returns to a perilous Afghanistan under the Taliban’s iron-fisted rule to face the secrets that still haunt him and take one last daring chance to set things right.
USA, 2007, 90 min., feature, Beta SP
Director: Dean Ronalds
A quirky twist on the vampire tale, set in modern day corporate America. Employees of Berm-Tech Industries, Inc. have kept the family secret for a long time. For years it has been business as usual, until the top vampire in charge contracts a dreaded disease and invites the first humans to work in the office in more than a century.
USA, 2007, 92 min., feature, 35 mm
Director: Alan Cumming
In his solo directorial debut, Suffering Man’s Charity, Alan Cumming plays John Vandermark, a failed composer turned music teacher with a weakness for impoverished young men of great aspirations.
For a full schedule of films, including more special screenings, features, shorts, animation films, documentaries and student entries, go to scad.edu/filmfest/
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