Cape May Film Festival Preview The 11th Annual Cape May Film Festival will take place at the Chalfonte Hotel October 21-23. The festival has won the JerseyArts People’s Choice Award for favorite film festival in New Jersey three years in a row, but it is not by any means resting on its laurels. This year the Festival is hosting executive producers, best-selling authors, celebrated actors, writers, directors, and (of course) the region’s most discerning film lovers. The Friday night opening features best-selling author George Anastasia. A Philadelphia Inquirer reporter on organized crime, Anastasia has a new book, The Ultimate Book of Gangster Movies. He will lead a panel discussion with Soprano’s star Vincent Pastore, director/producer/actor Danny Provenzano, and film enthusiast and Film Festival President Dottie Knapp. It’s an eclectic mix of producers, actors, writers, and film lovers that has lots to talk about—and “What’s your favorite gangster film” is only the start! What is your favorite “whack” scene, favorite fatal romance, favorite cat-and-mouse game— you name it. The Friday night reception and program starts at 7:00 p.m., tickets go on sale at 6:00 p.m. exclusively at the Chalfonte Hotel lobby. Saturday daytime at the Film Festival has always been reserved for short films, and this year is no exception. Reviewers accepted 30% of all films submitted, which they’ve weeded through many submissions to showcase the best. In addition, there are two guest curated programs. Returning this year is the Black Maria Film Festival, now celebrating its 30th year, and Curator John Columbus will be present to show a select number of short films from his program. Truly a “best of the fest” for Columbus, these films represent the choice selections from one of New Jersey’s most renowned film festivals. Dance on Film will return again this year, curated by independent filmmaker and dance professional Susannah Newman. These films have been hand-selected by Newman from among an elite few featured at the Lincoln Center in New York City. The international scope and choreography in these films is only matched by the outstanding direction and cinematography that make these films “world class.” Also on Saturday, there will be a screening of films featuring the “Artisans of Cape May” and will include favorites like Stan Sperlak, Victor Grasso, Richard Samuelson, and a host of other artists and musicians in Cape May that will provide the true local flavor for the arts right here in Cape May. The festival’s Saturday night feature is a New Jersey premiere—but more importantly a Sundance to Cape May exclusive! One of Cape May's favorite filmmakers Greg Henry was honored at Sundance with an award for Best Cinematography, and his first stop in New Jersey is the Cape May Film Festival! The film, "The Redemption of General Butt Naked," has been receiving honors all over the world, but this will be your first chance to see it here in the garden state. Henry is Executive Producer for the film, and says, "We've received our Sundance award because of the incredible work of Eric Strauss, Peter Hutchens, and Ryan Hill. We are especially glad because of the importance we all place on the craft of filmmaking as well as the stories." The documentary follows the life of a warlord-turned-preacher. The Economics of Happiness is also a New Jersey premiere, and it will be screened on Saturday night. The film features beautiful scenes from around the world, and a discussion of globalization versus localization. The movie will resonate with Cape May county residents who are champions of local trade and farming. The film is presented under a grant from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, and it will be moderated by Marguerite Chandler, local activist and scholar with a focus on a variety of environmental concerns. Saturday night continues with a presentation of edgy, quirky, and sometimes controversial short films in our Late Night screenings. This year’s collection represents what New Jersey filmmakers are creating with visions of suspense and action in tales that can only be described as strange and unpredictable. And where would the Cape May Film Festival be without Sunday Brunch? This year, we’ll have locally created brunch-time delicacies to go right along with locally-produced short films. You will marvel at the talent that resides right here in the county as we view several projects that feature your neighbors and colleagues—the ones you didn’t know could act so well! After that, we will feature a historic look at the gangster movies in a retrospective hosted by Dottie Knapp in keeping with our “gangster film” theme from the beginning of the weekend. For details or to buy weekend passes online, visit www.capemayfilm.org, call 609-884-6700, or email capemayfilm@hotmail.org. Weekend passes start at just $35!
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