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News & Features
From the Idyllwild Town Crier weekly newspaper, 12.03.09 edition.
Cutting edge indie lineup for first film
fest
By Marshall Smith, Staff
Reporter
Steve Savage, Idyllwild International Festival
of Cinema (IFC) director, announced an exciting lineup of edgy
and provocative indie films designed to establish IFC as the preferred
festival for up-and-coming breakout directors.
“We’ll be screening some really exciting new films that have not been
released yet,” said Savage, “and bringing to the Hill writers,
producers, directors and actors who are beginning to shake up the
industry.” Savage expects upwards of 1,500 out-of-towners to pack the
town during the festival’s six days — Jan. 11 through 16. Savage plans
red carpet arrivals, world premieres, screenings, seminars, gala awards
ceremonies and a festival closing reception honoring featured filmmaker
Will Wallace.
Actor/director/producer Wallace, son of famed director Terrence Malick,
has appeared in major Hollywood films, “The Thin Red Line,” “I Am Sam,”
“The New World,” “Rules of Engagement,” and ICF Director Savage’s film
“Legacy,” which receives its world premiere at ICF. Wallace just
finished “The Tree of Life,” in which he stars with Brad Pitt and Sean
Penn, slated for 2010 release. As ICF featured filmmaker, Wallace
will be on display as actor and as director in six films, including his
feature directorial debut “Cake,” and acting turns in “Legacy,” “Broke
Sky,” “Clear Lake, WI” and in two short films.
Savage is excited about his lineup and previewed his “Director Picks”
for this article:
“Broke Sky,” from writer/director Thomas L. Callaway and featuring
Wallace, follows two county workers and best friends who remove road
kill from Texas highways. One day they make a discovery that unearths
long-buried, dark secrets from their pasts, and drives a wedge between
their friendship, forever changing their lives.
“Clear Lake, WI,” from writer/director Bruce Ide and starring Michael
Madsen, is a horror film that combines religious fanaticism, a strange
illness that plagues the eponymous title town and five teenagers who
find they can’t escape ghosts.
“The Killing Jar,” writer/director Mark Young’s film, also starring
Michael Madsen, with Jake Busey (Gary’s son) and Carson Une (“True
Blood” and upcoming “Friday Night Lights”), depicts a stranger armed
with a shotgun who takes seven patrons hostage in a remote roadside
diner. As the body count increases, desperate survivors discover one of
the hostages may be even more dangerous than their captor.
A special screening of “The Shortcut,” from executive producers Adam
and Scott Sandler, directed by Nicholaus Goossen, with Dave Franco
(James’ brother) and Josh Emerson of “Jennifer’s Body” fame, a horror
film that sprang from a memory of Adam and brother Scott’s life — an
odd old man, his run-down house, a shortcut past the house, and scary
and unexplained happenings to those that take the shortcut.
“Cake: A Wedding Story,” Wallace’s directorial turn featuring G.W.
Bailey (“The Closer” and “The Jeff Foxworthy Show”) and Thomas Calabro
(“Melrose Place”).
“The Independent,” from Australian director Andrew O’Keefe that
Savage pronounces, “One of the coolest movies I’ve seen in a long time
with award-winning acting, script and cinematography.”
“Legacy,” Savage’s world premiere is not entered in audience-judged
festival competition. It stars Wolfgang Bodison (“A Few Good
Men,”“Akeellah and the Bee” and “Joe Somebody”), Wallace and Kyrie
Maezumi (“Passions”).
Savage also picks Argentinean director Gaston Biraben’s film “Cautiva,”
with music by local Analia Lenchantin. “It’s one of the best films I’ve
seen in the last 10 years,” he said; United Kingdom director Reg Davis’
film “Psychosis,” starring Charisma Carpenter (“Buffy the Vampire
Slayer,” “Veronica Mars,” and “Charmed”) and Slaine Kelley (“The
Tudors”); “A Way Back In” from Director Brad Mays and starring Kimber
Eastwood (Clint’s daughter) and Spike McQueen (Steve’s son).
Also on the lineup as Festival Director Picks are six breakout
documentaries. Savage especially likes French director Dominique
Lachart’s “Beyond Afghanistan,” examining the politics of northern
Afghani warlords. “The footage is really gripping and raw,” he said.
The full festival lineup and ticket pricing and packages are available
on the website www.idyllwildinternationfestivalofcinema.com (also see
box).
Festival tickets can be bought on the Town Crier website at
www.shop.towncrier.com and at the Town Crier office.
“This is going to look and feel like a really big festival,” said
Savage referring to festival accoutrements that will dress the town
including a huge LED screen and festival banners and signs. Savage is
recruiting volunteers to help him run day-to-day activities. “I’m
calling everyone [volunteers] ‘festival associates,’ and giving them
chances to introduce films, conduct actor and director Q and A sessions
as well as assist with some of the more mundane chores,” said Savage,
calling attention to how he plans to respect and acknowledge locals who
step up to assist.
Chuck Huddleston, festival executive producer, is busy lining up
in-kind corporate sponsorships. Subaru has agreed to provide
scholarships for 30 off-Hill and 10 local kids to attend a one-week
filmmaking boot camp next August.
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