REEL
COOL:
The Official Hotel Headquarters and The
Newsletter of the
Guest Services Suite for PFF 2008
www.pennslanding.hyatt.com April
2008
From Me to You:
A word from the New Guy
Friends,
As many of
you may be aware, this will be my first festival with the
Between
April 3rd and April 15th, we are hosting 273 screenings
across five venues and six screens.
There are 138 feature length films, and 108 shorts in this year’s
program. Some films were made by
big-name filmmakers, or star popular celebrities; some were made by fringe
artists and have no recognizable names attached to them. Some are local
I urge you
to spend a few extra moments nose-deep in your Program Guide before you
purchase all your tickets. A film
festival is a special event, not only because it may happen but once a year,
but because it could very well be the only
chance you will have to see some of these films. There are movies that are made as labors of
love, which circulate around various festivals and then vanish, never to be
released in theatres or on DVD.
This is
your opportunity to splurge, to spend an excessive amount of time in the
near-darkness of a theatre with dozens of strangers, together marveling at the
splendor of the flicker before you.
So plan on being “sick” and out of work for a few extra days early in
April. Mentally prepare yourself for the numb butt
which will surely find you after hours of sitting in the movies. Stop eating popcorn now, because you’ll probably
get your fill of it during the festival.
And stay up for two weeks with me celebrating the magic of the moving
image.
I look
forwards to playing with all of you April 3-15th.
Just don’t
look for me on April 16th, as I’ll be in bed.
Membership Coordinator
________________________________________________________________
To purchase tickets for the 17th
Philadelphia Film Festival:
-visit our website at www.phillyfests.com (credit card sales only)
-call 267-765-9700
x4 10am-9pm daily (credit
card sales only)
- visit any TLA video location
Opening Night of the 17th
Come celebrate the magic and wonder of the Human
Spirit as we prove that it’s not how old you are on a piece of paper, but how
Young you feel in your Heart…
Already a massive festival hit at 2008 Sundance Film
Festival and 2008 SXSW, Young @ Heart kicks off the 17th
Described as a Rockumentary meets Senior care, Stephen Walker’s heartwarming film follows a New England-based retiree’s choir preparing for their upcoming concert tour ‘Alive & Well’ and showcases an array of old classic rock numbers and contemporary songs from the likes of The Clash, The Ramones and REM.
The performers may be old, but they are larger than life—like the 93 year old Eileen who leads the chorus on the Clash’s ‘Should I Stay or Should I Go,’ or the tender and heartfelt performance of Coldplay’s ‘Fix You’ performed by the enigmatic 81 year old Fred with his oxygen tank in Tow.
This film may not seem like the obvious choice for a movie night out, but even hardened Newsweek critic David Ansen was won over by the assorted characters and exploits of these musical trobadours. He admitted, “it's a film I would recommend to anyone.”
So isn't it time you come and join the growing chorus of film critics and festival goers that are already ‘singing’ the praises of this ‘little gem of a movie’ and enjoy the opening of a truly wonderful festival!
After the screening, come share your thoughts, get some
screening tips, and meet other festival film-lovers as we celebrate the Opening
Night with a party at XIX (19th floor of the Park Hyatt
To reserve your tickets to this wonderful movie, and the Opening Night Party, call the Film Festival ticketing office at 267-765-9700 x4, visit our website at www.phillyfests.com, or go to any TLA Video location.
Tickets are selling fast, so don’t hesitate, you won’t want to miss this!
In A Dream
Meet and Greet
with the Filmmakers and Subjects!
In celebration of the hometown premiere of In A Dream, the award-winning feature-length documentary directed by Jeremiah Zagar, Philadelphia's Magic Gardens (1020-1022 South St.) will be hosting a meet & greet on Saturday, April 5th at 12pm. The filmmakers will be in attendance, as will the film's subjects—Isaiah, Julia & Ezekiel Zagar.
The event will immediately precede the film's second
screening at the 17th annual
*A third screening
has just been added for:
Admission is free but a $5 donation to the
Short synopsis of the film: Over the past four
decades, artist Isaiah Zagar has covered more than
50,000 square feet of
For more information, visit:
http://www.philadelphiasmagicgardens.org
Sunday, April
Tbar,
So the Film Festival has begun, but you can’t decide which
films you want to see. Here is your chance to hear the truth from the
opinionated lion’s mouth. Join us for a free-wheeling conversation with some of
Philly’s highly influential print and radio film critics. From the most
controversial to the more subtle films, this event is guaranteed to turn up the
heat! Space is limited.
Critics to be in attendance:
-
Gary Kramer (PGN,
Aroundphilly.com)
-
Matt Prigge (
-
Bobbi Booker (The
-
Shaun Brady (
-
Sam Adams (
Hosted by Tbar,
come and explore an urban tea bar retreat where you can relax, rejuvenate, and
re-store yourself with over 70 types of premium loose leaf teas, as well as
special tea drinks such as tea lattes, bubble teas, and tea fizzes. Also unique tea-infused sweets and pastries, and modern teaware.
PFS Thanks its Sponsors!
The Film Festival is a large undertaking, and we recognize that it would
not be possible without the support of these generous organizations:
The Presenting Sponsors of
the 17th
Pennsylvania
Film Office, The Bridge: Cinema De Lux/ National
Amusement, the City of Philadelphia/Department of Commerce, SCION, TLA
Entertainment Group with its divisions: the six TLA Video Stores, the award
winning retail website TLAVideo.com, and the film distribution label TLA
Releasing
The
Official Sponsors of the 17th
Greater Philadelphia Film Office, Philadelphia City
Paper, RAE at the Cira Centre, Modern Eye, Harmelin
The Partner Sponsors of the 17th
WHERE, Whole Foods, WXPN, Haru,
Lisa M. Reisman et Cie, The
Gallery at Market East, Drexel University and the Antoinette Westphal College of
The Patron Sponsors of the 17th
Caviar Assouline, Campus
Philly, SAG Indie, Metro Newspapers, Philadelphia
Trolley Works, Bluecoat Gin, Eight Marketing, Hifi
House, University City District, The Restaurant Collection, YUB PR, Main Line
Today, Sheraton University City, P.I.N.K., French-American Cultural Foundation,
Vesuvio, Castle of Dracula, Glaceau
Smart Water, Commercial Loan Capital, the French Embassy
These
people recognize a good deal when they see one!
Wilkommen! Bienvenue! Welco
PFS
gratefully acknowledges all new and returning cast
Exec. Producers: Garrett Brown, James Ounsworth,
Judy Pote, Will Sachse,
Ellen Shire
Producers: Anthony Creamer
Directors:
Brian Flieder, Charlene Aikman, Deborah Duskey, Hillary
Fox, Jay Guben, Joanne Godley, John Kominetz, Karen Baldwin, Lisa Reisman
Halterman, Louis Bluver,
Michael Buckley, Michael Donahue, Molly Dougherty, Victor Keen
Screenwriters: Liam O’Donnell, Sophie Janney
Stunt
Doubles: Barbara and Edward Silver,
Caroline and William Couture, Martha Moore
Best
Boys/Best Girls: Adelaide Paul,
Allener Rogers, Amy Finkelstein, Barry Yaches, Brooke Hauer, Carol Finkle, Carol Haufler, Carol Keidel, Cartherine Lajoie, Charles Lerman, Constance Ward, Cynthia Claus,
Daniel Benenson, Darla Henning, David Allen, Donna
Andrews, Elias & Esta Schwartz, Elizabeth Beech,
Estelle Bronstein, Gail Rosen, Gail Sernoff, Gary
Barnes, Greg Weyant, Hari Koursaros, Howard Rosen, James Farmer, Jennifer Armstrong,
Jill Horn, John Exley, Joseph Bierman,
Joy Cannon, Julian King, Julie Courtney, Julie Schneider, Julie Stewart, Karen Wosiski, Kay Armstrong, Kay Kling, Laila
Littlejohn, Margaret Harris, Marion Wyce, Mark Dames, Mathias Wegner, Meghann Matwichuk, Merry Guben,
Extras: Augustine Roth, Barbara Black, Barbara Ryan,
Benjamin Costa, Cheryl Hassman, Constance Kirker, Debi Feder, Deborah Cipriano, Diana Zelman, Dominic DiBernardi,
Donna Hillary, Edward Bleeden, Evelyn Bender, Fred
Furman, Ginna Lawler, Glenn Heppard,
Helen McKeever, Jim Genzano,
Judy Christis, Laura Snyder, Leslie Mooney, Margaret
Brogan, Margaret R. Spencer, Mary English, Molly Karpin,
Nikki Marx, Robert Hotes, Rochelle Greenfield, Sandra
Cadwalader, Sean O’Leary, Shaina
Robbins, Stephanie Steinman, Steve Axler, Tamme Hoey
Students: Alexis Plukas,
Carolyn Terry, Damien Andre, Danita Fries, Debbie Bambino, Joseph Jeffries,
Kathleen Chase, Linda Saroeun, Matthew Herrera, Paula
McHarg, Sharan Knoell
Keep Your Reel Love Alive!
Are you enjoying your PFS membership?
Relishing the opportunity to see major studio films before their
official release dates? Basking in the
admiration of family, friends, and co-workers who consider you a film
oracle? Don’t let your PFS Membership
expire. Renew today and keep your reel
love alive!
Joining or renewing couldn’t be easier.
Contact our Membership Coordinator,
Thanks
for Playing a Starring Role!
The
PAUL SCHRADER AT DREXEL
Paul Schrader, director and screenwriter, will be the Film & Video
Program in Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts
and Design at
Over the past four decades, Schrader has worked with film makers Martin Scorsese, Sydney Pollock and Brian DePalma. Scorsese filmed Paul Schrader’s screen plays of Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, City Hall, The Last Temptation of Christ and Bringing Out the Dead. Other Schrader screenplays were for the films American Gigolo, The Yakuza and Hardcore. Schrader’s enormous success as a screenwriter allowed him to undertake directing his own films which are notable for their stylistic and thematic risks.
Schrader’s strict parents, who raised him on Calvinist principles, did not allow him to see any movies until he was 18. His life quickly changed when he began his college education and immersed himself in film making.
DETAILS:
- Paul Schrader screening of The Comfort of Strangers
- Tuesday, April 15,
- Bossone
Auditorium (
- Free and Open to the Public
- More Information: 215-895-1029 or www.drexel.edu/westphal
Film at International
House
Tango of Slaves
dir. Ilan
In
an effort to document his family history, filmmaker Ilan
Ziv traveled to
preceded by
Zygosis
dir. Gavin Hodge and Tim Morrison,
Paying tribute to John Heartfield,
the anti-Nazi German satirist who pioneered the art of photomontage, Zygosis is a radical and humorous
cinematic homage to Heartfield’s methods. In addition
to showing some of Heartfeld’s famous photomontages,
the film incorporates animation of archival material, contemporary interviews,
and footage shot in
International House
215-387-5125
www.ihousephilly.org