The Belcourt Theatre presents Filmmaker Magazine’s “25 New Faces of Independent Film,” a selection of four feature films and accompanying film shorts beginning Wednesday, Sept. 19, that offers audiences a veritable roadmap of the next great talents in filmmaking. Filmmaker, a magazine of independent film, created its first edition of “25 New Faces of Independent Film” in 1998, and since then it has become the industry’s most-anticipated list with a solid reputation for spotting emerging talent.
The Belcourt Theatre was hand-selected by Filmmaker as one of only four theatres in the country — and the only venue in the Southeast — to feature a selection of films in a traveling screening series. In addition, the Belcourt will offer audiences post-screening Q&As with some of the New Faces filmmakers (details to be announced soon).
Tickets and information are available at the Belcourt's website. Up-to-the minute information is available on the Belcourt’s Facebook page and Twitter, @belcourt.
“We are pleased to have the Belcourt Theatre present our traveling screening series of ‘25 New Faces of Independent Film,’” said Nick Dawson, Filmmaker magazine managing director. “I’ve always appreciated the Belcourt’s film programming — the film selections demonstrate a genuine enthusiasm and passion for film, which is echoed in what we do — and how we do it — at Filmmaker.”
The series includes “Wildness” on Wednesday, Sept. 26, which is a non-fiction story about a weekly performance art party at an GLBT-friendly bar, directed by Wu Tsang.
On Wednesday, Oct. 3, “Oma & Bella,” a touching portrait of two female friends who are both Holocaust survivors, will screen. The film, directed by Alexa Karolinski, is co-sponsored by the Nashville Jewish Film Festival.
Director Patrick Wang’s poetic film, “In The Family,” will screen on Tuesday, Oct. 9. Set in Tennessee, the film depicts a gay man’s struggle for custody of his son and his search for peace after the death of his partner.
“The features and short films represented in this series showcase strong recent output from a diverse group of younger filmmakers,” says Toby Leonard, programming director at the Belcourt Theatre. “Filmmaker magazine’s ongoing work to highlight talent in the field of independent film aligns perfectly with our programming goals at the Belcourt, and we’re delighted to be part of this series.”
Other venues to screen “25 New Faces of Independent Film” are the IFC Center in New York, Ragtag Cinemacafé in Columbia, Mo. and NW Film Centre Portland, Ore.
“25 New Faces of Independent Film” film descriptions
“Wildness”
Wednesday, Sept. 26, 7 p.m.
In this portrait of the Silver Platter, a historic, GLBT-friendly bar on the eastside of Los Angeles that has catered to the Latin immigrant community since 1963, the bar itself becomes a character in a film that captures the creativity and conflict that ensue when a group of young, queer artists of color (Wu Tsang, DJs NGUZUNGUZU, and Total Freedom) organize a weekly performance art party. Director Wu Tsang, USA, 2012, 75 minutes.
“Oma & Bella”
Wednesday, Oct. 3, 7 p.m.
Co-sponsored by the Nashville Jewish Film Festival
“Oma & Bella” is an intimate glimpse into the world of two friends, having survived the Holocaust and then stayed in Germany after the war, who live together in Berlin. A portrait emerges of two women with a light sense of humor, vivid stories, and a deep fondness for good food. Created by Oma's granddaughter Alexa, the film captures their ongoing struggle to retain a part of their past while remaining very much engaged in the present. Director Alexa Karolinski, Germany, 2012, 76 minutes.
“In The Family”
Tuesday, Oct. 9, 7 p.m.
In the town of Martin, Tenn., Chip Hines, a precocious 6-year-old, has only known life with his two dads, Joey and Cody, who dies suddenly in a car accident. Just as Joey and Chip struggle to find their footing again, Cody’s will reveals that he named his sister as Chip's guardian. The years of Joey’s acceptance into the family unravel as Chip is taken away from him. In his now solitary home life, Joey searches for a solution. The law is not on his side, but friends are. Armed with their comfort and inspired by memories of Cody, Joey finds a path to peace with the family and closer to his son. Director Patrick Wang, USA, 2011, 169 minutes.