Thanks to Our Sponsors

Reading Public Museum

Judy's on Cherry

GoggleWorks Event Rentals

Facility Rental at the GoggleWorks.

2011 Greater Reading Film Festival Schedule

Thursday |Friday |Saturday|Sunday|

Thursday, November 3, 2011 at Reading Public Museum & Reading Hospital’s School of Health Sciences Auditorium

5:30 p.m.           Opening Night Reception, Film: Day for Night and Discussion*  

The Festival will kick off with a special opening reception hosted by the Reading Public Museum. Guests will get an intimate look at Directing Hollywood while enjoying refreshments from Judy’s on Cherry. The Opening Night screening will feature a rare opportunity to watch Day for Night, directed by François Truffaut, atthe Reading Hospital’s School of Health Sciences Auditorium. Set in Nice's Victorine Studios, where it was also filmed, Day for Night (a.k.a. nuit américaine) is a touching and funny account of the travails (accidents, disputes, affairs, imbroglios, death) involved in the making of an all-star international film. The Opening Night finale will feature photographer Andrew Orth discussing his own travails photographing the directors in his exhibit - who all prefer to be on the other side of the lens. Special thanks to our reception Sponsors, Reading Public Museum, Judy’s on Cherry and the Reading Hospital’s School of Health Sciences.The Festival will kick off with a special opening reception hosted by the Reading Public Museum.  Guests will get an intimate look at Directing Hollywood while enjoying refreshments from Judy’s on Cherry.  The Opening Night screening will feature a rare opportunity to watch Day for Night, directed by François Truffaut, atthe Reading Hospital’s School of Health Sciences Auditorium.  Set in Nice's Victorine Studios, where it was also filmed, Day for Night (a.k.a. nuit américaine) is a touching and funny account of the travails (accidents, disputes, affairs, imbroglios, death) involved in the making of an all-star international film.  The Opening Night finale will feature photographer Andrew Orth discussing his own travails photographing the directors in his exhibit - who all prefer to be on the other side of the lens.

Special thanks to our reception Sponsors, Reading Public Museum, Judy’s on Cherry and the Reading Hospital’s School of Health Sciences.

 

Friday, November 4, 2011 –  at R/C Theatres Reading Movies 11 & IMAX

4:00 p.m.       Filmmaker: Jim Hubbard – meet the director!*

Filmmaker Jim Hubbard, a Reading resident since 2004, with a pair of short features shot by his former students at New York University, where he served on the film production faculty. Next Hubbard will share his short filmMain Street: New Orleans, a project that wasfunded by the Ford Foundation in 1960 and was one of the early forays into the use of video tape. Hubbard will share insights on his students’ work as well as discuss the challenges of early video tape technology.


Filmmaker Jim Hubbard, a Reading resident since 2004, with a pair of short features shot by his former students at New York University, where he served on the film production faculty.  Next Hubbard will share his short filmMain Street: New Orleans, a project that wasfunded by the Ford Foundation in 1960 and was one of the early forays into the use of video tape.  Hubbard will share insights on his students’ work as well as discuss the challenges of early video tape technology.

 

 

6:00 p.m.       Documentary: Truck Farm, directed by Ian Cheney *

Cheney’s film tells the story of a new generation of American farmers – urban farmers and a quest to find out if America’s largest city can learn to feed itself. This whimsical look at urban agriculture has won awards across the world. The panel discussion will feature Eron Lloyd, of Permacultivate, a Reading based educational non-profit organization that supports sustainable communities and Vinnie Bevevino, Owner of Washington D.C. based Seed and Cycle: Urban Agriculture and Compost Design and former Director of Urban Farming Operations at Engaged Community Offshoots in Prince Georges County Maryland Thanks to Bullfrog Films and Designworks Architects for their participation and support.Cheney’s film tells the story of a new generation of American farmers – urban farmers and a quest to find out if America’s largest city can learn to feed itself.  This whimsical look at urban agriculture has won awards across the world.  The panel discussion will feature Eron Lloyd, of Permacultivate, a Reading based educational non-profit organization that supports sustainable communities and  Vinnie Bevevino,  Owner  of Washington D.C. based Seed and Cycle: Urban Agriculture and Compost Design and former  Director of Urban Farming Operations at Engaged Community Offshoots in Prince Georges County Maryland

Thanks to Bullfrog Films and Designworks Architects for their participation and support.

 

 

8:00 p.m.       Documentary: Sex in an Epidemic, directed by Jean Carlomusto - meet the director!*

Sex in an Epidemic,is an engaging documentary that provides a socio-cultural perspective on the history of HIV as we mark the 30th anniversary of the first reported cases of the disease. Participating in the panel discussion will be Jean Carlomusto, director of Sex in an Epidemic, along with Berks AIDS Network/Co-County Wellness Services Executive Director Carolyn Bazik, and William Bender, instructor in the Undergraduate and Graduate Social Work Programs at Kutztown University. The panel will be moderated by Vanessa Domico, President and Founder of Outcast Films, a distribution company based in New York. Thanks to Co-County Wellness and Kent Davis for their support and participation.

Sex in an Epidemic,is an engaging documentary that provides a socio-cultural perspective on the history of HIV as we mark the 30th anniversary of the first reported cases of the disease.  Participating in the panel discussion will be Jean Carlomusto, director of Sex in an Epidemic, along with Berks AIDS Network/Co-County Wellness Services Executive Director Carolyn Bazik, and William Bender, instructor in the Undergraduate and Graduate Social Work Programs at Kutztown University.  The panel will be moderated by Vanessa Domico, President and Founder of Outcast Films, a distribution company based in New York. 

Thanks to Co-County Wellness and Kent Davis for their support and participation.

 

 

Saturday, November 5, 2011 –  at R/C TheatresReading Movies 11 & IMAX

1:00 p.m        Featured Directing Hollywood Filmmaker: John Dahl, You Kill Me, followed by special discussion with Dahl via Skype video conferencing projected You Kill Mefollows Frank Falenczyk, played by Ben Kingsley, an alcoholic hit-man working for the Polish mafia in Buffalo. When his drinking gets in the way of his work, his boss, mob don Roman (Philip Baker Hall), banishes him to San Francisco to dry out. Frank starts going to AA, and is given a job in a funeral home where he meets Laurel (Téa Leoni), a ballsy woman who seems to accept him despite his flaws. John Dahl has become known as the director of “Neo-Noir” movies, thanks to his success in bringing films like Red Rock West, Kill Me Again, Rounders, You Kill Me, Joy Ride, and The Last Seduction to the screen. Dahl will participate in a Skype video conference discussion following the screening of You Kill Me.onto the big screen*

You Kill Mefollows Frank Falenczyk, played by Ben Kingsley, an alcoholic hit-man working for the Polish mafia in Buffalo.  When his drinking gets in the way of his work, his boss, mob don Roman (Philip Baker Hall), banishes him to San Francisco to dry out. Frank starts going to AA, and is given a job in a funeral home where he meets Laurel (Téa Leoni), a ballsy woman who seems to accept him despite his flaws.

John Dahl has become known as the director of “Neo-Noir” movies, thanks to his success in bringing films like Red Rock West, Kill Me Again, Rounders, You Kill Me, Joy Ride, and The Last Seduction to the screen. Dahl will participate in a Skype video conference discussion following the screening of You Kill Me.

 

 

3:30p.m        Featured Directing Hollywood Filmmaker: John Dahl, Red Rock West

Nicolas Cage stars in this noir thriller as Michael Williams, a drifter who lands a job when a bartender, Wayne (J.T. Walsh), mistakes him for "Lyle from Dallas." But the gig isn't Michael's usual line of work: Wayne wants his wife, Suzanne (Lara Flynn Boyle), killed. When Suzanne serves up an appealing counteroffer, Michael's little white lie spirals out of control -- and then, the real Lyle from Dallas (Dennis Hopper) strolls into town. Red Rock West is a roller-coaster ride of a film, designed for those who like their thrillers spiced with the unexpected.

 

Nicolas Cage stars in this noir thriller as Michael Williams, a drifter who lands a job when a bartender, Wayne (J.T. Walsh),mistakes him for "Lyle from Dallas." But the gig isn't Michael's usual line of work: Wayne wants his wife, Suzanne (Lara Flynn Boyle), killed. When Suzanne serves up an appealing counteroffer, Michael's little white lie spirals out of control -- and then, the real Lyle from Dallas (Dennis Hopper) strolls into town.

Red Rock West is a roller-coaster ride of a film, designed for those who like their thrillers spiced with the unexpected.

 

 

7:00 p.m.      Featured Directing Hollywood Filmmaker: Mike Figgis, Time Code*By dividing the screen into quadrants, Figgis shows fours scenes of simultaneous action, each shot with one camera in a single day. This black comedy with a Hollywood twist features an all-star cast in a harrowing chronicle of fear and loathing in Los Angeles. There will be a discussion with Al Walentis following the film on this unique cinematic technique; Andrew Orth will join the panel with anecdotes and insights from his conversations with Figgis.

 

By dividing the screen into quadrants, Figgis shows fours scenes of simultaneous action, each shot with one camera in a single day.  This black comedy with a Hollywood twist features an all-star cast in a harrowing chronicle of fear and loathing in Los Angeles. There will be a discussion with Al Walentis following the film on this unique cinematic technique; Andrew Orth will join the panel with anecdotes and insights from his conversations with Figgis.

 

 

 9:00 p.m.        Featured Directing Hollywood Filmmaker: Randa Haines, Children of a Lesser God

Director Randa Haines is also featured in Directing Hollywood’s exhibit. Starring William Hurt and Marlee Matson in her Oscar winning performance and big screen debut, Children of a Lesser God was released in 1987 to critical acclaim and wide commercial success. This film will be subtitled for hearing impaired viewers.

 

Director Randa Haines is also featured in Directing Hollywood’s exhibit.  Starring William Hurt and Marlee Matson in her Oscar winning performance and big screen debut, Children of a Lesser God was released in 1987 to critical acclaim and wide commercial success.  This film will be subtitled for hearing impaired viewers.

 

 

Sunday, November 6, 2011 – R/C TheatresReading Movies 11 & IMAX

1:00 p.m.      Featured Directing Hollywood Filmmaker: John McTiernan, The Thomas Crowne Affair*Starring Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo, this dark comedy is about a bored, wealthy, businessman who steals great works of art for fun. Russo portrays the insurance agent intent on catching him. The 1999 film, a remake of the 1968 film with Steve McQueen, was a departure from McTiernan’s usual action adventures. Following the movie, Reading Public Museum Curator Scott Schweigert will discuss some of the world’s most infamous art heists—from da Vinci and Rembrandt to Picasso and Matisse—and explore the twists and turns of the investigations and recoveries of these priceless works of art.

Starring Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo, this dark comedy is about a bored, wealthy, businessman who steals great works of art for fun.  Russo portrays the insurance agent intent on catching him.  The 1999 film, a remake of the 1968 film with Steve McQueen, was a departure from McTiernan’s usual action adventures.  Following the movie, Reading Public Museum Curator Scott Schweigert will discuss some of the world’s most infamous art heists—from da Vinci and Rembrandt to Picasso and Matisse—and explore the twists and turns of the investigations and recoveries of these priceless works of art.

 

 

4:00 p.m.         Festival Finale Filmmaker Christina Heller: Libertopia – meet the director!*

The festival finale showcases Los Angeles director Christina Heller with her film Libertopia. Libertopia is a documentary that examines the people of the Free State Project in New Hampshire -- ordinary citizens attempting to reclaim a voice against big government, which they believe shares neither their priorities nor their interests. The documentary follows one man who is walking across the country to raise awareness about the Free State Project, another who already moved to New Hampshire and works as an advocate for medical marijuana patients, and a Ron Paul-inspired teenager who decides to leave his friends and family in California to live in New Hampshire. The director, Wyomissing native Christina Heller, will be on hand to discuss her experiences in directing this film.

The festival finale showcases Los Angeles director Christina Heller with her film Libertopia.  Libertopia is a documentary that examines the people of the Free State Project in New Hampshire -- ordinary citizens attempting to reclaim a voice against big government, which they believe shares neither their priorities nor their interests.  The documentary follows one man who is walking across the country to raise awareness about the Free State Project, another who already moved to New Hampshire and works as an advocate for medical marijuana patients, and a Ron Paul-inspired teenager who decides to leave his friends and family in California to live in New Hampshire.  The director, Wyomissing native Christina Heller, will be on hand to discuss her experiences in directing this film.

 

Thanks to R/C Theatres Reading Movies 11 & IMAX for their sponsorship of the festival

 

*Indicates panel discussion following film screening

Site Map | Printable View | © 2008 - 2012 Berks Arts Council