The 19th Twin Rivers Media Film Festival opens Friday May 25th through 27th, at the Phil Mechanics Building at 109 Roberts St, and offers the community a chance to view interesting films, enjoy good food and drink, and mingle with special guest filmmakers all in one weekend.
The festival has more than 30 selections that include world premier feature films, shorts drama, documentary and animated films shown in the Flood Fine Arts Center Library and the Courtyard Gallery both at the Phil Mechanics Building in the River Arts District of Asheville.
The Courtyard Gallery, the group that organizes the festival, has brought independent filmmaking to the area for the past 20 years.
A short film called “Pin” was written and produced by Mountains Plain in Asheville and other local directors with films in the festival include Linda McLean presenting a series of “Little Pearls and Asheville local, Giuli Schacht, presenting a flash-mob film produced at the Daytona 500. Giuli will be on hand to offer insights on how to coordinate a group of 600 dancers to spontaneously break out in dance during a large car race.
The wide range of films vary from one set on the streets of India, Moscow, Milan, or Paris to one taking place at a futuristic clinic in Jerusalem, offering a young girl treatments to forget the violations of her father. Or here in the states an eighth grade student, from Fargo, SD explores how it feels to be bullied in school for being “different.”
Documentary films range from films examining the closing of 25% of California’s State Parks, to Nullification of Federal Government Power and films exploring the effects of Tween Queen Competitions on young girls.
“This year’s festival is bigger and more prestigious with films coming from every corner of the world and the US, and although we all have different objectives, this is a good place for independents to get feedback and learn about filmmaking,” Ms. Potter said.
Cynthia said she was also excited about the pot luck lunch discussions with the Veterans for Peace and members of the Baha’i faith on Saturday from 11am to 1:30 pm after screening the world premier documentary, “American Veterans: Discarded and Forgotten” and “Education Under Fire” a film dealing with the persecution of the Baha’i in Iran.
The Flood Fine Arts Center Library is the venue for the opening night festivities, which include food and wine, and live music. The opening night movie, “Siberia, Monamour” is a drama from the Russian Federation shot entirely in Siberia about a young child living with his grandfather who befriends on of the feral dogs that has killed his uncle.
“All three of the winning feature films should be seen this year,” states Ms. Potter, “this is a chance for Asheville audiences to view world premiers that will be distributed in theaters later this year.
All screenings are free and open to the public but a donation is suggested. The Twin Rivers Film Festival Schedule is:
Friday, May 25th–7:30 p.m. – Kick Off with: “Siberia, Monamour,” Directed by Slava Ross, Moscow, Russian Federation
Saturday:
11am “American Veterans: Discarded and Forgotten,” Gary Null, NY, NY
pot luck lunch 12-1pm
1pm : Education Under Fire, Jeff Kaufman, Director,
1:30-8pm Documentary Films, Animation and Experimental Film Winners Flood Fine Arts Center Library
1:30-8pm Short Drama Films, Courtyard Gallery
Sunday:
1pm-6pm: Documentary Films: Courtyard Gallery
1pm-6pm: Animation/Experimental and Commercial Film Winner, Flood Fine Arts Library
Friday June 1st 8pm
“The Duck Hunter”, Egidio Veronesi, Director, Modena, Italy: A film about memory and how it takes unexpected twists and turns in your life
Friday June 8th 8pm
A.L.F.” Lescure Jerome, Paris France: The Animal Liberation Front makes an attack on a lab and a drama-teacher must make a choice between an easy life or going to jail for his beliefs.
Friday June 15th, 8pm
“The Boy Who’d Never Seen Rain”, 70 min. Directed by: Kim Ramsay, Sydney , Australia. The poignant portrayal of an outback Australian sheep farming family struggling to remain together despite looming bankruptcy.
All screenings are free an open to the public at the Phil Mechanics Building at 109 Roberts St. in the River Arts District of Asheville. Call 828-273-3332 for more information.
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