Paxson Woelber grew up in Anchorage and is back here working after college. He has two films in the festival:
Hugo in the Land of Lemonsharks - which was chosen to be in competition
Hugo is part of the Animation 1 program which plays:
Saturday, December 5 – 5:45pm – Out North
Tuesday, December 8 – 7:45pm – Out North
The Prospector - which has some killer Alaska scenery that he created and a lead player who communicates mainly with his eyes.
Prospector is part of the Animation 2 program which plays:
Thursday, December 10 – 5:30pm – Out North
Sunday, December 13 – 12:45pm – Out North
Breathing Room
And since Paxson is an Alaskan film maker, they both play in Snowdance 3 which plays:
Saturday, December 5 – 12:30pm – Bear Tooth
Tuesday, December 8 – 5:30pm – Out North
And if you can't make it, the links will get you to the YouTube editions of the two short films.
I videod Paxson yesterday in downtown Anchorage. He talks about the two films and also the benefits of having his films up on YouTube. He'll be at the Festival so look for him and say hi.
Friday, December 04, 2009
Gov. Parnell Commits to Seriously Fighting Domestic Violence
Here's a press release and photo from the Governor's office. He's even putting resources into prevention. He announced this initiative at Bartlett High School, Thursday, Dec. 3.
State of Alaska > Governor > News > News Details Parnell Leads Effort to End Domestic Violence 
Printer Friendly
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 09-092
December 3, 2009, Anchorage Alaska – With a goal of ending the epidemic of sexual assault and domestic violence within a decade, Governor Sean Parnell today unveiled a comprehensive initiative to fight the cycle of abuse. The package of proposed legislation, budget requests, and administrative actions will comprehensively address domestic violence and sexual assault.
“Today we’re putting domestic violence and sexual assault at the forefront,” Governor Parnell said. “We’ll make it intolerable, unacceptable and the ramifications for those committing these crimes against Alaskans, unbearable.”
The governor’s 10-year plan to stop the epidemic of violence in Alaska’s homes and communities focuses on putting abusers behind bars, protecting victims, and helping them heal, and preventing abuse.
Among the initiative’s highlights:
• In partnership with the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault and the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, production and promotion of extensive public education campaign encouraging Alaskans to “Choose Respect”;
• Provide a more meaningful law enforcement presence for every community that desires it; notably by hiring 15 Village Public Safety Officers (VPSO) every year for the next ten years, as well as more troopers;
• Toughen guidelines for prosecutors in handling sexual assault cases, including limits on plea deals;
• Lead the charge to dramatically increase pro bono legal services available to victims;
• Increase funding for shelters to continue providing victims with the means to break free from abusive situations; and
• Coordination of state, federal, tribal and non-profit programs addressing domestic violence and sexual assault through the hiring of a domestic violence and sexual assault prevention coordinator at the Department of Law.
“Domestic violence and sexual assault must be prevented and stigmatized so pervasively that offenders know that they will face irreparable social, as well as legal, consequences,” Attorney General Dan Sullivan said.
Sullivan noted that the governor’s initiative differs from past efforts to address the problem because of its comprehensive approach, broad-based public education campaign, and guaranteed follow-through with the creation of a coordinator for domestic violence and sexual assault prevention and response.
In his proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2011, Governor Parnell has allocated funds for positions and programs to end what he describes as “this blight on our state.” This includes $75 million for the state’s new crime lab, $1.6 million for 15 VPSOs, and $1 million for VPSO housing.
Meanwhile, the Department of Law is moving ahead with updated guidelines for prosecutors “to ensure that sex offenders are dealt with harshly and shown no leniency,” Sullivan said.
Under the guidelines, when accepting plea deals these perpetrators will be required to plead guilty to sex crimes so that they do not avoid being registered as sex offenders.
Audio from today’s press conference is available at: http://gov.state.ak.us/audio/DomesticViolenceRollout_Dec3-2009.mp3.
More information on the governor’s initiative is available at: http://gov.state.ak.us/pdf/DVSA%20Fact%20Sheet%20final.pdf.
###
In the audio tape, Gov. Parnell sounds serious. He lists statistics:
How is he going to handle the evangelical churches that advocate corporal punishment? Henkima had a long post about this in September. In addition to quoting from James Dobson's book (via Max Blumenthal's book), Dare to Discipline, which advocates corporal violence, she also cites a 1985 Anchorage Daily News article:
Is this why Prevo's most visible public stands are against gays and not against domestic violence? Or is it because he can get his congregants to rally and donate to fight homosexuality, but if he acted as vigorously against domestic violence, he'd be acting against quite a few of his congregants? There really are victims of domestic violence who need our help and the State's help.
State of Alaska > Governor > News > News Details Parnell Leads Effort to End Domestic Violence Printer Friendly FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 09-092
December 3, 2009, Anchorage Alaska – With a goal of ending the epidemic of sexual assault and domestic violence within a decade, Governor Sean Parnell today unveiled a comprehensive initiative to fight the cycle of abuse. The package of proposed legislation, budget requests, and administrative actions will comprehensively address domestic violence and sexual assault.
“Today we’re putting domestic violence and sexual assault at the forefront,” Governor Parnell said. “We’ll make it intolerable, unacceptable and the ramifications for those committing these crimes against Alaskans, unbearable.”
The governor’s 10-year plan to stop the epidemic of violence in Alaska’s homes and communities focuses on putting abusers behind bars, protecting victims, and helping them heal, and preventing abuse.
Among the initiative’s highlights:
• In partnership with the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault and the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, production and promotion of extensive public education campaign encouraging Alaskans to “Choose Respect”;
• Provide a more meaningful law enforcement presence for every community that desires it; notably by hiring 15 Village Public Safety Officers (VPSO) every year for the next ten years, as well as more troopers;
• Toughen guidelines for prosecutors in handling sexual assault cases, including limits on plea deals;
• Lead the charge to dramatically increase pro bono legal services available to victims;
• Increase funding for shelters to continue providing victims with the means to break free from abusive situations; and
• Coordination of state, federal, tribal and non-profit programs addressing domestic violence and sexual assault through the hiring of a domestic violence and sexual assault prevention coordinator at the Department of Law.
“Domestic violence and sexual assault must be prevented and stigmatized so pervasively that offenders know that they will face irreparable social, as well as legal, consequences,” Attorney General Dan Sullivan said.
Sullivan noted that the governor’s initiative differs from past efforts to address the problem because of its comprehensive approach, broad-based public education campaign, and guaranteed follow-through with the creation of a coordinator for domestic violence and sexual assault prevention and response.
In his proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2011, Governor Parnell has allocated funds for positions and programs to end what he describes as “this blight on our state.” This includes $75 million for the state’s new crime lab, $1.6 million for 15 VPSOs, and $1 million for VPSO housing.
Meanwhile, the Department of Law is moving ahead with updated guidelines for prosecutors “to ensure that sex offenders are dealt with harshly and shown no leniency,” Sullivan said.
Under the guidelines, when accepting plea deals these perpetrators will be required to plead guilty to sex crimes so that they do not avoid being registered as sex offenders.
Audio from today’s press conference is available at: http://gov.state.ak.us/audio/DomesticViolenceRollout_Dec3-2009.mp3.
More information on the governor’s initiative is available at: http://gov.state.ak.us/pdf/DVSA%20Fact%20Sheet%20final.pdf.
###
In the audio tape, Gov. Parnell sounds serious. He lists statistics:
- Over 50% of Alaska's homicides involve domestic violence.
- The reported rate of sexual assault is two and a half times, at least, of the national average.
- The estimated rate of child sexual abuse in our state is six times the national average.
How is he going to handle the evangelical churches that advocate corporal punishment? Henkima had a long post about this in September. In addition to quoting from James Dobson's book (via Max Blumenthal's book), Dare to Discipline, which advocates corporal violence, she also cites a 1985 Anchorage Daily News article:
Prevo, whose Anchorage Baptist Temple runs the school, said corporal punishment will no longer be used on the pre-schoolers, “based on the fact it’s hard to spank and not take a chance of accidentally bruising.”
“When that happens, it puts our employees in an awkward position, and it’s not worth the hassle,” Prevo said. . .
He said corporal punishment will continue to be used at the grade school, junior and senior high school levels. [Ref #7]
Is this why Prevo's most visible public stands are against gays and not against domestic violence? Or is it because he can get his congregants to rally and donate to fight homosexuality, but if he acted as vigorously against domestic violence, he'd be acting against quite a few of his congregants? There really are victims of domestic violence who need our help and the State's help.
AIFF 2009 - Finding What's in Each Program - Animation
The Anchorage International Film Festival website is a big step up from last year, but there are still some problems. One is how to figure out what is in each program. Programs are the groups of shorter films that are shown together. They're on the AIFF website, but they are hard to find. This part is easier to do in the newsprint guides that are all over town. So here are the links for animation. I'll get Snowdance, shorts, and supershorts up soon.
**** Indicates films in the animated films in competition. You can see more details on them at the link.
Animation 1: Should I Go or Should I Stay?
Saturday, December 5 – 5:45pm – Out North
Tuesday, December 8 – 7:45pm – Out North
Birth
Bonefeather
Burn The Whole Place Down ****
Calypso ****
Cubes
E.T.A
Frozen Shorts - Snowdance too
Hugo in the Land of the Lemonsharks **** - Snowdance too
I Slept with a Cookie Monster ****
Manifestations
The Mouse That Soared ****
Sagan om den lille Dockpojken (The Tale of the Little Puppetboy)
This is Where We Live
Topi ****
Transparent Movement
The Veiled Commodity
The Very First Desire Now and Forever
We Are All Here
Animation 2: It's A Wild, Wild Life
Thursday, December 10 – 5:30pm – Out North
Sunday, December 13 – 12:45pm – Out North
Breathing Room
Calypso
Cravings
A Dog’s Life
Dried Up ****
Duck [Heart] Teslacoil ****
E.T.A.
For a Fistful of Snow
How To Animate
The Mouse That Soared ****
Nature on its Course
Otis V Monster
Puffer Girl
The Prospector - Snowdance too
Skylight
Smart Machine
Snakes on the Brain - Snowdance too
Topi ****
Yonder
Some of these are by Alaskans, so they will also show in the Snowdance programs. The ones I know for sure I've marked Snowdance, but I may have missed some.
**** Indicates films in the animated films in competition. You can see more details on them at the link.
Animation 1: Should I Go or Should I Stay?
Saturday, December 5 – 5:45pm – Out North
Tuesday, December 8 – 7:45pm – Out North
Birth
Bonefeather
Burn The Whole Place Down ****
Calypso ****
Cubes
E.T.A
Frozen Shorts - Snowdance too
Hugo in the Land of the Lemonsharks **** - Snowdance too
I Slept with a Cookie Monster ****
Manifestations
The Mouse That Soared ****
Sagan om den lille Dockpojken (The Tale of the Little Puppetboy)
This is Where We Live
Topi ****
Transparent Movement
The Veiled Commodity
The Very First Desire Now and Forever
We Are All Here
Animation 2: It's A Wild, Wild Life
Thursday, December 10 – 5:30pm – Out North
Sunday, December 13 – 12:45pm – Out North
Breathing Room
Calypso
Cravings
A Dog’s Life
Dried Up ****
Duck [Heart] Teslacoil ****
E.T.A.
For a Fistful of Snow
How To Animate
The Mouse That Soared ****
Nature on its Course
Otis V Monster
Puffer Girl
The Prospector - Snowdance too
Skylight
Smart Machine
Snakes on the Brain - Snowdance too
Topi ****
Yonder
Some of these are by Alaskans, so they will also show in the Snowdance programs. The ones I know for sure I've marked Snowdance, but I may have missed some.
AIFF 2009 - Finding What's in Each Program - Snowdance
The Anchorage International Film Festival website is a big step up from last year, but there are still some problems. One is how to figure out what is in each program. Programs are the groups of shorter films that are shown together. They're on the AIFF website, but they are hard to find. This part is easier to do in the newsprint guides that are all over town. So here are the links for the Snowdance programs.
Snowdance is the category that includes films made in Alaska or made by Alaskans. These films will also be in other categories such as animated, short film, etc. The festival website doesn't necessarily mention on the individual film pages that there will also be these Snowdance showings.
Snowdance 1
Sunday December 6 – 3pm – Bear Tooth
Thursday December 10 – 5:45pm – Alaska Experience
Year of Denali
In the Company of Moose
Snowdance 2
Tuesday, December 8 – 5:45pm – Alaska Experience
Saturday, Dec 12 – 5:30pm – Out North
Doing The Norway
Balls of Ice
Frozen Shorts
Sizzling Pleasures
Fat Bike
LoLo’s Music Box
Snowdance 3
Saturday, December 5 – 12:30pm – Bear Tooth
Tuesday, December 8 – 5:30pm – Out North
People of the Seal
Unalaska
Prospector
Hugo in the Land of Lemon Sharks
Snowdance 4
Saturday, December 12 – 12:45pm – Bear Tooth
Sunday, December 13 – 5:30pm – Alaska Experience
A Beautiful Journey
Queen Salmon
The Woods Between
Snowdance 5
Friday, December 11 – 6:00pm – Anchorage Museum
Ice Bears of Beaufort
Blood Red Shoes
Fast Food
Snakes on the Brain
Snowdance is the category that includes films made in Alaska or made by Alaskans. These films will also be in other categories such as animated, short film, etc. The festival website doesn't necessarily mention on the individual film pages that there will also be these Snowdance showings.
Snowdance 1
Sunday December 6 – 3pm – Bear Tooth
Thursday December 10 – 5:45pm – Alaska Experience
Year of Denali
In the Company of Moose
Snowdance 2
Tuesday, December 8 – 5:45pm – Alaska Experience
Saturday, Dec 12 – 5:30pm – Out North
Doing The Norway
Balls of Ice
Frozen Shorts
Sizzling Pleasures
Fat Bike
LoLo’s Music Box
Snowdance 3
Saturday, December 5 – 12:30pm – Bear Tooth
Tuesday, December 8 – 5:30pm – Out North
People of the Seal
Unalaska
Prospector
Hugo in the Land of Lemon Sharks
Snowdance 4
Saturday, December 12 – 12:45pm – Bear Tooth
Sunday, December 13 – 5:30pm – Alaska Experience
A Beautiful Journey
Queen Salmon
The Woods Between
Snowdance 5
Friday, December 11 – 6:00pm – Anchorage Museum
Ice Bears of Beaufort
Blood Red Shoes
Fast Food
Snakes on the Brain
Thursday, December 03, 2009
AIFF 2009 - HIPSTERS, Dance, Don't Walk, To Go See It!!
I read some reviews of Hipster online that sounded promising. But people have different tastes. One guy said after he saw it, he ordered the Russian only, no subtitles version, because that was all he could get, but he had to have it. I just got a sneak preview of Hipsters, the opening night movie for the Anchorage International Film Festival. I now understand how he felt. I've only seen a couple of the features, but if there's another feature as fun and interesting as this one, then this is going to be one hell of a festival.
OK, it's not perfect. For one thing it's too long for American attention spans.
But anyone seriously interested in film, and in the 20th Century, not to mention jazz, is going to be fascinated by this film. It's a Russian film about the Russian hipsters in the 1950s who flouted the Soviet system by wearing wild hipster fashion and playing and dancing to American jazz.
This is a movie about being free to be yourself, free to be different. And taking risks to be free.
The contrast between his grey uniformed, chanting classmates and the hipster styled Mel says it all as the party head rails in song against all the evil that Mel represents.
Look at the power of those shots, especially the middle one.
I wish I had time to show this film to some Russian friends and have them fill in so many missing details of this period. I'm dying to know what they'll think of this film, especially those who were in Moscow in the time of the movie. Until then, I have no clue what this movie means to Russians, whether it has any serious meaning to them or whether they think this is the equivalent of High School Musical.
Did I say this was a musical? It's an American musical in the same way the the Russian hipsters were American hipsters. It's a completely Russian version of an American genre.
Opening night tickets at the Bear Tooth are $25 Friday, December 4, 7pm, but they include the opening Gala party. A reason to get an "All Films and Events" pass. If that's too steep - the money helps pay for the festival - it plays again Saturday, Dec. 12 at the Bear Tooth, at 7:30pm for the regular $7 price.
Work out your schedule to be at one of the showings.
Some people have asked me what my relationship to the festival is. Are they paying me to promote it? I'm blogging independently on my own blog, not theirs. I like the kinds of films a festival brings to Anchorage and I want to see the Festival succeed. They do give me a media pass, and they treat me well, but I'm not a promoter. I'm blogging for my readers, not for the Festival. To let you readers know what's available, and when I get to see something I really like, to let you know. And if I think something is pretty bad, I'll warn you of that too.
Hipsters defies standard categories. I'm currently creating new braincells in an attempt to grasp what it's very existence means about the Soviet Union, about Russia, what I thought I knew, and what I'm going to have to study to fill in lots of gaps. But, be warned, it is long. But the final number (clip above) is absolutely worth staying for. The subtitle - hipster style conquers all fear - is clearly an important theme of the movie; unfortunately you can't hear the music now. You'll have to go to see the movie. And bring you sweetie to this one.
[Update Dec. 22: This is old news (October 22), but I just ran across it from ScreenDaily:
[UPDATE: To get a link for the DVD with English subtitles, go down to Chris Churchill's January 2013 comment below.]
OK, it's not perfect. For one thing it's too long for American attention spans.
But anyone seriously interested in film, and in the 20th Century, not to mention jazz, is going to be fascinated by this film. It's a Russian film about the Russian hipsters in the 1950s who flouted the Soviet system by wearing wild hipster fashion and playing and dancing to American jazz.
This is a movie about being free to be yourself, free to be different. And taking risks to be free.
These three pictures in the lecture hall were like a scene out of Pink Floyd's The Wall. The Hipster Mel is expelled from the Communist Party organization at his school.
Look at the power of those shots, especially the middle one.
I wish I had time to show this film to some Russian friends and have them fill in so many missing details of this period. I'm dying to know what they'll think of this film, especially those who were in Moscow in the time of the movie. Until then, I have no clue what this movie means to Russians, whether it has any serious meaning to them or whether they think this is the equivalent of High School Musical.
Did I say this was a musical? It's an American musical in the same way the the Russian hipsters were American hipsters. It's a completely Russian version of an American genre.
Opening night tickets at the Bear Tooth are $25 Friday, December 4, 7pm, but they include the opening Gala party. A reason to get an "All Films and Events" pass. If that's too steep - the money helps pay for the festival - it plays again Saturday, Dec. 12 at the Bear Tooth, at 7:30pm for the regular $7 price.
Work out your schedule to be at one of the showings.
Some people have asked me what my relationship to the festival is. Are they paying me to promote it? I'm blogging independently on my own blog, not theirs. I like the kinds of films a festival brings to Anchorage and I want to see the Festival succeed. They do give me a media pass, and they treat me well, but I'm not a promoter. I'm blogging for my readers, not for the Festival. To let you readers know what's available, and when I get to see something I really like, to let you know. And if I think something is pretty bad, I'll warn you of that too.
Hipsters defies standard categories. I'm currently creating new braincells in an attempt to grasp what it's very existence means about the Soviet Union, about Russia, what I thought I knew, and what I'm going to have to study to fill in lots of gaps. But, be warned, it is long. But the final number (clip above) is absolutely worth staying for. The subtitle - hipster style conquers all fear - is clearly an important theme of the movie; unfortunately you can't hear the music now. You'll have to go to see the movie. And bring you sweetie to this one.
[Update Dec. 22: This is old news (October 22), but I just ran across it from ScreenDaily:
Valery Todorovsky’s Russian entry Hipsters (Stilyagi) won the $100,000 narrative feature Black Pearl award as the Middle East International Film Festival (MEIFF) came to a close at the weekend.]
[UPDATE: To get a link for the DVD with English subtitles, go down to Chris Churchill's January 2013 comment below.]
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
AIFF 2009 - UFAQ's Overview Post
I'm not sure its cricket to have FAQs if no one has asked any questions so these are UFAQs - Unasked Frequently Asked Questions. This is information people might be or should be asking for. Below are links to posts with general information about the Anchorage International Film Festival.
Where's the official AIFF site?
Who won in each category? Live blogging from the Awards Ceremony.
What do all the categories mean? ("official selection;" "films in competition," etc. ) (This is a post from last year, but still gets the basic information across.)
What films are the best films this year?
Films in Competition are the ones chosen to compete for the Golden Oosiker awards. Here are guides to each category - something about each film and when and where they will play.
Films in Competition - Features
Films in Competition - Documentaries
Films in Competition - Shorts
Films in Competition - Animation
Films in Competition - Short Documentaries [Coming Soon - sorry never got this one]
How do I find the what's in the programs of short films playing together?
Easiest place is the printed program. It's hard on line.
Animation Programs
Snowdance Programs (films made in Alaska or by Alaskans)
I'm not interested in the festival, but if there are any films on my favorite place, food, sport, etc., I'd go. Are there any?
Here's an overview of topics and countries in the films - This is intended for people who aren't particularly interested in the festival, but might come to a few showings because a film is about a particular country or in a particular language or about a particular subject. This doesn't cover everything, but as much as I can identify. I'll keep updating. [coming soon - another good intention that never materialized.]
How do I find posts on specific films or film makers? (check the video posts below too)
11/21 Frozen Shorts
11/22 Dear Lemon Lima (Lima as in bean)
11/23 Fat Bike
12/09 Ryan Ward's Son of the Sunshine (also under videos)
[A lot of this went to the videos - see that list below.]
Do you have videos of the Festival? - I'll try to keep these up to date, but things get a bit hectic once the festival starts. I've tried to date these when they were shot rather than posted.
11/24/09 Rand Thornsley in his office (AIFF President and main programer)
12/1/09 Tony Sheppard on this year's Features (AIFF Founder and Features programer)
12/03/09 Anchorage animator Paxson Woelber
12/04/09 Audience Comments after Hipsters
12/04/09 Callum Paterson Animation Workshop Presenter/Film maker
12/05/09 Beth Varner Volunteer Coordinator
12/05/09 Devi Snively, Director of Death in Charge
12/06/09 Tapped Audience Reactions
12/06/09 Mount St. Elias Audience Reactions
12/08/09 Natalie Eleftheradis and James Harkness Celebrate "Birthday"
12/09/09 Bear Tooth Theater
12/09/09 Know Your Mushrooms and Trip to Hell and Back
12/09/09 Son of Sunshine Director Ryan Ward (short video at bottom of long post)
12/09/09 Cedric Sanders Q&A after showing of The Least Among You
12/09/09 Cedric Sanders in the Lobby
12/09/09 Audience Reactions to The Least Among You (The Sanders videos are all in the same post)
12/10/09 Short Interview with an AIFF Volunteer
12/10/09 Audience Comments: Adopt a Sailor, Circus Rosaire, Son of the Sunshine, Birthday, Against the Current, Shadow Billionaire, Paddle to Seattle, American Primitive, and Godspeed.
12/11/09 Jennifer Burns and Vincent P. Falk on Vincent
12/12/09 Security Guard talks about AIFF
12/13/09 Filmmakers Maddux, Bliley, and Burns talk about AIFF
12/13/09 Vincent Part 2: Director Jennifer Burns after last showing of Vincent.
12/13/09 Best of the Fest Annouced at Awards Ceremony
12/14/09 Albert Shin on his film Point Traverse
12/15/09 Viewer talks about Point Traverse
Where will the films be shown?
Locations: Bear Tooth, Out North, Museum, Alaska Experience Theater,
Marston Theater (Loussac Library) Sat. Dec. 12 Family Programming
What workshops are there?
Link goes to a list of the special workshops (scroll down the page) and a bit about the visiting film maker presenters. [Link goes to AIFF page right now. I'll add more stuff soon. Warning - Animation workshop is this Saturday - Dec. 5 - 3pm at Out North. ]
What are your criteria for a good movie? When I made my picks for last year's best films, at the end of the post I outlined my criteria. The link takes you to that post, scroll down to second part.
Should I buy a pass or just buy tickets as I go?
Tickets are $7 per film. All films passes are $75. So, if you go to eleven films, the pass is clearly the better deal. But there are other benefits to the pass. You do have to get a ticket (free) for each film and only a certain number of seats are held for passholders, but you do get priority seating with your pass.
And if you have a pass, you'll go see more films because you'll think "I've paid for them. I should go and get my money's worth."
All Films and Events passes are $95. This gets you into Workshops, a few extra events, like the opening night film (which is actually $25 a ticket) and the awards These extra events also have food.
[Update: another option is to volunteer and get a pass to a movie.]
The website ticket page has all the details.
What about family films? [Coming soon]
Saturday, December 12 at Loussac - in the Marston Auditorium. Check the printed program or the website.
Who Are You Anyways? - who's paying you to do this? does your brother have a film in competition? What is your connection to the festival? From an earlier post here's my
Disclosure:
Well I blogged the 2007 festival and the AIFF people liked what I did and asked if I would be the official blogger last year. They promised me I could say what I wanted, but I decided it was better to blog on my own and then if I write something that upsets one of the film makers, the Festival isn't responsible. They had a link to the blog last year. They also threw in a free pass for me last year and this year.
I probably won't say anything terrible about a film, but I did rant about one film two years that I thought was exploiting its subject as well as boorishly demeaning a whole country. I mentioned in an earlier post that if I sound a little promotional at times, it's only because I like films and I like the kinds of quirky films that show up at festivals, so I want as many people to know about the festival as possible so the festival will continue. Will I fudge on what I write to get people out? No way. There are plenty of people in Anchorage who like films. They're my main target. To get them out of the house in the dark December chill when inertia tugs heavily if they even think about leaving the house. But if others who normally don't go out to films hear about a movie on a topic they're into, that's good too.
Where's the official AIFF site?
Who won in each category? Live blogging from the Awards Ceremony.
What do all the categories mean? ("official selection;" "films in competition," etc. ) (This is a post from last year, but still gets the basic information across.)
What films are the best films this year?
Films in Competition are the ones chosen to compete for the Golden Oosiker awards. Here are guides to each category - something about each film and when and where they will play.
Films in Competition - Features
Films in Competition - Documentaries
Films in Competition - Shorts
Films in Competition - Animation
Films in Competition - Short Documentaries [Coming Soon - sorry never got this one]
How do I find the what's in the programs of short films playing together?
Easiest place is the printed program. It's hard on line.
Animation Programs
Snowdance Programs (films made in Alaska or by Alaskans)
I'm not interested in the festival, but if there are any films on my favorite place, food, sport, etc., I'd go. Are there any?
Here's an overview of topics and countries in the films - This is intended for people who aren't particularly interested in the festival, but might come to a few showings because a film is about a particular country or in a particular language or about a particular subject. This doesn't cover everything, but as much as I can identify. I'll keep updating. [coming soon - another good intention that never materialized.]
How do I find posts on specific films or film makers? (check the video posts below too)
11/21 Frozen Shorts
11/22 Dear Lemon Lima (Lima as in bean)
11/23 Fat Bike
12/09 Ryan Ward's Son of the Sunshine (also under videos)
[A lot of this went to the videos - see that list below.]
Do you have videos of the Festival? - I'll try to keep these up to date, but things get a bit hectic once the festival starts. I've tried to date these when they were shot rather than posted.
11/24/09 Rand Thornsley in his office (AIFF President and main programer)
12/1/09 Tony Sheppard on this year's Features (AIFF Founder and Features programer)
12/03/09 Anchorage animator Paxson Woelber
12/04/09 Audience Comments after Hipsters
12/04/09 Callum Paterson Animation Workshop Presenter/Film maker
12/05/09 Beth Varner Volunteer Coordinator
12/05/09 Devi Snively, Director of Death in Charge
12/06/09 Tapped Audience Reactions
12/06/09 Mount St. Elias Audience Reactions
12/08/09 Natalie Eleftheradis and James Harkness Celebrate "Birthday"
12/09/09 Bear Tooth Theater
12/09/09 Know Your Mushrooms and Trip to Hell and Back
12/09/09 Son of Sunshine Director Ryan Ward (short video at bottom of long post)
12/09/09 Cedric Sanders Q&A after showing of The Least Among You
12/09/09 Cedric Sanders in the Lobby
12/09/09 Audience Reactions to The Least Among You (The Sanders videos are all in the same post)
12/10/09 Short Interview with an AIFF Volunteer
12/10/09 Audience Comments: Adopt a Sailor, Circus Rosaire, Son of the Sunshine, Birthday, Against the Current, Shadow Billionaire, Paddle to Seattle, American Primitive, and Godspeed.
12/11/09 Jennifer Burns and Vincent P. Falk on Vincent
12/12/09 Security Guard talks about AIFF
12/13/09 Filmmakers Maddux, Bliley, and Burns talk about AIFF
12/13/09 Vincent Part 2: Director Jennifer Burns after last showing of Vincent.
12/13/09 Best of the Fest Annouced at Awards Ceremony
12/14/09 Albert Shin on his film Point Traverse
12/15/09 Viewer talks about Point Traverse
Where will the films be shown?
Locations: Bear Tooth, Out North, Museum, Alaska Experience Theater,
Marston Theater (Loussac Library) Sat. Dec. 12 Family Programming
What workshops are there?
Link goes to a list of the special workshops (scroll down the page) and a bit about the visiting film maker presenters. [Link goes to AIFF page right now. I'll add more stuff soon. Warning - Animation workshop is this Saturday - Dec. 5 - 3pm at Out North. ]
What are your criteria for a good movie? When I made my picks for last year's best films, at the end of the post I outlined my criteria. The link takes you to that post, scroll down to second part.
Should I buy a pass or just buy tickets as I go?
Tickets are $7 per film. All films passes are $75. So, if you go to eleven films, the pass is clearly the better deal. But there are other benefits to the pass. You do have to get a ticket (free) for each film and only a certain number of seats are held for passholders, but you do get priority seating with your pass.
And if you have a pass, you'll go see more films because you'll think "I've paid for them. I should go and get my money's worth."
All Films and Events passes are $95. This gets you into Workshops, a few extra events, like the opening night film (which is actually $25 a ticket) and the awards These extra events also have food.
[Update: another option is to volunteer and get a pass to a movie.]
The website ticket page has all the details.
What about family films? [Coming soon]
Saturday, December 12 at Loussac - in the Marston Auditorium. Check the printed program or the website.
Who Are You Anyways? - who's paying you to do this? does your brother have a film in competition? What is your connection to the festival? From an earlier post here's my
Disclosure:
Well I blogged the 2007 festival and the AIFF people liked what I did and asked if I would be the official blogger last year. They promised me I could say what I wanted, but I decided it was better to blog on my own and then if I write something that upsets one of the film makers, the Festival isn't responsible. They had a link to the blog last year. They also threw in a free pass for me last year and this year.
I probably won't say anything terrible about a film, but I did rant about one film two years that I thought was exploiting its subject as well as boorishly demeaning a whole country. I mentioned in an earlier post that if I sound a little promotional at times, it's only because I like films and I like the kinds of quirky films that show up at festivals, so I want as many people to know about the festival as possible so the festival will continue. Will I fudge on what I write to get people out? No way. There are plenty of people in Anchorage who like films. They're my main target. To get them out of the house in the dark December chill when inertia tugs heavily if they even think about leaving the house. But if others who normally don't go out to films hear about a movie on a topic they're into, that's good too.
APU Presidential Search - Finalists' Background Information
I've been absorbed in other things so I haven't posted this biographical information on the Alaska Pacific University Presidential search finalists I got the other day. Click the link for other posts on the APU presidential search (and other posts with APU mentioned.) The search committee is scheduled to make a decision December 10 and a public announcement in early January.
BACKGROUND ON THE FIVE FINALISTS IN APU PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH
Dr. Betsy Vogel Boze, former Campus Dean and CEO Kent State University at Stark, North Canton, OH Dr. Boze is a Senior Fellow at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities in Washington, DC. She is a Professor of Business Administration at Kent State University Stark and CEO and Campus Dean from 2005 through 2009.
As inaugural dean, Boze led the School of Business at the University of Texas at Brownsville from 1994‐2005. She was a Master Planner in the creation of the UT TeleCampus and served as Assistant to the President of Tulane University as an American Council of Education Fellow. She earned her Ph.D. in Business Administration from the University of Arkansas, and her MBA and Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Southern Methodist University.
From 1989 to 1994, Dr. Boze lived in Anchorage and served as Chair of the Business Administration Department, and Professor of Marketing, at the University of Alaska Anchorage.
She is widely published on post‐secondary education, marketing and distance learning.
Ms. Bernice Joseph, ViceChancellor Rural, Community & Native Education, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK Ms. Joseph has worked at University of Alaska in Fairbanks, Alaska since 2001, serving in the position of Vice‐Chancellor for Rural, Community and Native Education. Prior to that, she served as Deputy Commissioner in the Department of Commerce & Economic Development, a position she was appointed to by Governor Tony Knowles. She also served as an Instructor and Assistant Professor at UAF from 1994 through 2000 teaching courses in grant writing, management and community planning. She earned her MBA and Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and is currently a Ph.D. candidate with the University of South Australia.
Ms. Joseph is a life‐long Alaskan and a long‐time resident of Fairbanks, Alaska and has held a number of positions with Doyon Limited, the Fairbanks Native Association and Doyon Foundation. She is an active Board member of many local non‐profit organizations, and was recognized in 2003 with “Citizen of the Year” presented by Doyon, Limited. In 2006 UAF recognized her with an Alumni Achievement Award for Community Support, and in 2008 she received the Chiefs Knife Award from Alaska Village Initiatives for her commitment to education.
Dr. Don Bantz, Academic Vice President & Provost Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA Dr. Bantz has worked at Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington since 1988, teaching in the Master’s of Public Administration Program, serving three years as Academic Dean and for the past six years as Academic Vice President & Provost. He earned his Ph.D. and MA in Public Administration from the University of Southern California and is a graduate of Fullerton State University with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Management and Marketing.
From 1974 through 1986, Dr. Bantz lived in Anchorage where he worked in the community health field first with the Alaska Federation of Natives, and then serving as Executive Director for the Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center. In 1984 he was recognized as Alaska Public Administrator of the Year.
Dr. J. Andy Sheppard, Academic Vice President Southwestern College, Winfield, KS Dr. Sheppard has worked at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas since 1997, teaching Philosophy and Religion, serving as Associate Dean of Faculty and for the past six years as Academic Vice President. He earned his Ph.D. in History of Philosophy from the University of Sheffield, England, his MA in Historical Theology from the Iliff School of Theology and is a graduate of Bethany College with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature.
Dr. Sheppard is widely published on the subjects of medieval philosophy and religion and was awarded a three year ORS Fellowship by the Committee of Vice‐Chancellors and Principals of the Universities of the United Kingdom on the basis of merit and research potential.
Dr. Steven Corey, Executive Vice President Prescott College, Prescott, AZ Dr. Corey has worked at Prescott College in Prescott, Arizona since 2001, serving as Executive Vice President and teaching Nonprofit Management and Entrepreneurship. Prior to that he worked at Cumberland University in Tennessee for nine years, serving as Assistant Athletic Director, Vice President for Athletics, and Vice President for Administration. He earned his Ph.D. in Higher Education Finance from the University of Arizona, his MBA from Cumberland University, his Master of Science from Arizona State University and is a graduate of California State University, Fresno with a Bachelor of Science degree.
Dr. Corey has served as a member of the Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education since 2006 and is currently Chair, having been appointed by Governor Janet Napolitano and reappointed by Governor Jan Brewer. He also served as an adviser to Governor Brewer’s transition team for higher education and is active in many national and local civic and professional organizations.
AIFF 2009 - Tony Sheppard on This Year's Feature Films
I talked to Tony Sheppard, founder of the Anchorage International Film Festival, and now the Feature Programer, in his office yesterday, a few days before the opening of this year's festival.
(One tiny note. Dear Lemon Lima is pronounced as the bean, not Peru's capital. I wonder if a linguist could explain why everyone I've run into has made this mistake.)
(One tiny note. Dear Lemon Lima is pronounced as the bean, not Peru's capital. I wonder if a linguist could explain why everyone I've run into has made this mistake.)
Municipality of Anchorage's New Fitness Plan
Perhaps Mayor Sullivan noted the study that reported that Alaska is the 18th most obese state and he decided we all need more exercise. Knowing that we need to slim down, but that we resist efforts to make us healthier, I'm guessing that the Mayor simply ordered Public Works to leave snow berms across people's driveways when they finally got around to plowing. I'm certainly fitter. You can see the before and after pictures below.
Our driveway BEFORE I shovelled.
Our Driveway AFTER I shovelled.
And here's one of our newly buff neighbors. You can see the pile of snow he moved. And this isn't light fluffy snow. This was packed down, chunky, wet snow.
Thanks Dan, I needed to get out and exercise. Keep this up and we'll all be so fit we won't even need health insurance.
Our driveway BEFORE I shovelled.
Our Driveway AFTER I shovelled.
And here's one of our newly buff neighbors. You can see the pile of snow he moved. And this isn't light fluffy snow. This was packed down, chunky, wet snow.
Thanks Dan, I needed to get out and exercise. Keep this up and we'll all be so fit we won't even need health insurance.
Monday, November 30, 2009
City sNOw Plowing Blues
From the Muni website, here's the Municipal "Plow-Out" . . . policy? Target? Rule of thumb? I'm not sure what to call it. Typicality?
The snowfall wasn't particularly heavy and our street still has yet to be plowed. Now it was Thanksgiving. But that was Thursday, not Friday. And the website does say:Snow Plowing and Removal
After a snowfall, Street Maintenance crews typically have snow plowed within 72 hours. This is referred to as a “Plow-Out”. As the snow is plowed, Street Maintenance crews begin removing and hauling the snow to designated storage sites. This cycle will continue after every major snow fall.
Click on the following links to find your area on the Plow-Out Map, or to check the status of current Plow-Outs.
Snow Plow-Out Plans
During the winter season (October through May) Street Maintenance crews work twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week providing snow plowing, snow removal, ice prevention and de-icing on Municipal maintained streets and sidewalks.And I checked the Muni Snow Plow Status Map that shows (you can double click to enlarge it)
Well, I'm not sure this the snow plow status map. It does say street-sweeping map. (I didn't catch that part in my screen shot.) But it also says as of Monday, 30 November 2009, so I have to assume it isn't a street sweeping map.
As of 6am this morning, it looks like about half of Anchorage hadn't been cleared yet. Their snow plow out plan has 1/3 done Day 1, 1/3 done Day 2, and 1/3 done Day 3. Going on Day 4, they had done maybe 1/2.
The snow plow out plan says that my neighborhood is either due to get plowed the first day (Plan A) or the third day (Plan B) after it snows. But I'm not really sure how to tell when it's Plan A or Plan B.
Anyway, I don't know why, I just know the city is behind their own schedule for plowing the streets. I'm expected to have my car off the street until they plow. With a one car garage and wife-gets-the-garage rule at our house, that isn't always easy. If I could tell when they were going to plow it would be easier. But the snow is so bad right now, I had trouble getting it across the street and onto a vacant space on my neighbor's property. And you can see the truck in the video above.
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