AIFF 2013: Choosing From So Many Good Options Friday

This is getting impossible.  There are too many options.  (Full schedule with links and times below.)

Lunch Discussion at 11:30 at the Bear Tooth:

"Guest speakers include: Tony Sheppard, AIFF founder; Ron Holmstrom, regional Screen Actors Guild Feature representative; Jerry Levine, producer, director and president of Connections Doc Film and Video; and other guests representing various groups who’ve been involved with 'Film in Alaska.'” 

This event doesn't conflict with any other event - except maybe your life.

The rest, I can only mention the films I've seen and I leave the rest for you to choose for yourself.  The links should help.


Eskimo Star - I saw a short portion of this a couple of years ago, if I remember correctly.  And I also knew Ted Mala the son of Ray back when I first got to Alaska in the late 70s.  Again, it doesn't conflict with any other events and what I saw before fills lots of Alaska and Hollywood history gaps.

Recommendations:

Some of my favorite shorts will play at the Martini Matinee at 3:30 at the Inlet Towers: Animation Hotline* - one of the few animated films that had both great original visuals AND meaningful content.
Reel Life - a great filmic comment on film reality
The Words I Love -  learning language is a great interest of mine and it's told in it own original way  (I'd note that the film maker, 'Benz' Thamachart Siripatrachai, is staying with us.)
Mr. Super Juice* - won me over with its irreverence, it pulls no punches (or juices)
Coffee Time - This one is so unexpected.  I won't say anything about it, except to say it's delightful.  Not for children.

*also playing at 7:30 in the Animation Program.  Three others I really liked in that program:

The Rose of Turaida -  a beautiful and original animation style tells a Latvian legend.
Lost and Found - visually beautiful adaption of a children's book.based on Oliver Jeffers' award winning children's picture book
Mr Hublot -  Magnificent visuals.

The Guide - I also found this short from the Biology Gone Wild Docs Program definitely worth a view - an African young man wants to be a tour guide in Mozambique's Gorongosa National Park.  That's already a pretty good story, but it gets additional power by the appearance of an intellectual hero of mine - biologist E. O. Wilson - and his relationship with the young guide.  7pm

There are just too many movies. And too many of them overlapping.  I can tell you I really liked the ones mentioned above, but you might not.  Just jump in and pick something. 

11:30 AM		One Course Discourse Event | 90 min.	Bear Tooth Theatre
1:20 PM		"Eskimo Star: From the Tundra to Tinseltown the Ray Mala Story" Book Signing with Author Lael Morgan Book Signing | 80 min.	Bear Tooth Theatre
3:00 PM		Martini Matinee Martini Matinee, Shorts Program | 100 min. screens with... Mister Super Juice | Mike Wellins 2013 The Innovator | Sean McCarthy 2013 Slomo | Joshua Izenberg 2012 The Words I Love | Thanachart Siripatrachai 2013 Reel Life | Laurence Relton 2013 The Anatomy of Injury | Danielle Lessovitz Coffee Time | Maria Fredriksson 2013 Animation Hotline | Dustin Grella Door Prize | Zsa Zsa Gershick 2009	Bear Tooth Theatre
6:00 PM		Art Docs Documentary Program | 65 min. screens with... The Models of Bekonscot | Sophie Le Neveu 2014 The No Name Painting Association | Joe Griffin 2013 Pottery Wars | Michelle Naomi Swallow 2013 Stan Herd: Down To Earth | Bradley Beenders 2012	Alaska Experience Theater - Large Theater
7:00 PM		Snowdance Docs Documentary Program, Snowdance | 90 min. screens with... Baking Alaska | Kari Barber 2013 Mike's Migration | Adam Kunz 2013 Open Season | Mary Katzke 2013 Seward Harbor Flipbook Vol. 1 | Kristopher Peck 2013	Wilda Marston Theatre at Z. J. Loussac Public Library
7:00 PM		Biology Gone Wild Docs Documentary Program | 88 min. screens with... The Guide | Jessica Yu 2013 Himalayan Gold Rush | Eric Valli 2012	Alaska Experience Theater - Small Theater
7:30 PM		Animation Animation Program | 120 min. screens with... Ahco on the Road | Soyeon Kim 2013 Animation Hotline | Dustin Grella Blue | Katelyn Bianchini, Rena Cheng, Asia Lancaster 2013 Caldera | Evan Viera 2012 A Clean Break | Richard Cunningham Collectors | Marcel Hobi 2013 Eye of the Storm | Christopher Alender 2011 Icarus Falls | Jesse O'Brien 2013 The Innovator | Sean McCarthy 2013 Lost and Found | Karen Star Mirage | Iker Maidagan, Dana Terrace 2013 Mister Super Juice | Mike Wellins 2013 Monkey Rag | Johanna Davidovich Mr Hublot | Laurent Witz, Alexandre Espigares 2013 Prima | Vanessa Rossi 2013 The Rose of Turaida | Ryan Grobins 2013 Yellow Sticky Notes | Canadian Anijam | Jeff Chiba Stearns 2013	Anchorage Community Works
7:45 PM		Antarctica: A Year on Ice Anthony Powell 2013 | Documentary | 92 min.	Alaska Experience Theater - Large Theater
8:00 PM		Vino Veritas Sarah Knight 2012 | Feature | 96 min. ** Note: Filmmaker attending	Bear Tooth Theatre
9:30 PM		Quick Freeze Film Competition Screening Quick Freeze | 120 min.	Anchorage Community Works
9:45 PM		Mourning Has Broken Jason Butler, Brett Butler 2012 | Feature | 77 min.	Alaska Experience Theater - Large Theater
10:15 PM		Contracted Eric England 2013 | Feature | 84 min.

AIFF 2013: Ingrid Veninger On "The Animal Project"

I went to Venice High School in Los Angeles.  Our school mascot was Gunther Gondolier. I know, Gunter isn't very Italian, but I assume it was the alliteration that counted.  There was a cartoon of Gunther Gondolier, but there was never anyone in a gondolier costume at the football games.  Until my class came along.  We took the cartoon to a costume design place and they made a giant plastic head and some costume that looked like what somebody thought a gondolier would wear.

I was the student chosen to introduce Gunther Gondolier to the student body.  I was a pretty reserved kid.  I didn't do outrageous things.  But when I put on the Gunther mask and costume, something happened.  I became a different person.  And as Gunther, I came up behind one of the cheerleaders from behind the curtain and put my arms around her from behind and pulled her back behind the curtains with me.  Not something I would have done as Steve.  And action that got me called into the Vice Principal's office for a warning.

I thought of this talking to Ingrid Veninger last night about her film The Animal Project.  It's about an acting teacher who has his students dress up in animal costumes.  Then she said, If you've ever been in a mask you're sort of free and liberated behind the mask.  Oh, my, that was true of me in the Gunther Gondolier costume.

She went on to talk about the animal costumes in the acting class in the film.  Not only are the actors in the animal costumes liberated, but so are the people encountering them.

I haven't seen this film, but it sounds like it will be interesting and different.  And this film played at the Toronto Film Festival and others, and just Tuesday night (yes, two days ago) won the best narrative feature at the Whistler Film Festival. 

But listen to it directly from Ingrid:







Here's the trailer for the film:

AIFF 2013: What To Do On Thursday

[UPDATE:  Dec. 12, 12:30am:  I originally posted this, by mistake, for Wednesday.  I fixed the title and now I've edited this to call more attention to The Animal Project playing at 8:30pm at the museum.]

My thoughts on Thursday.  Full schedule below.  

Juventad (Youth) is, I'm told, the pick for Thursday, 8pm at the Bear Tooth.  This is an autobiographical film by a well known Mexican director.  Wikipedia says:

Jaime Humberto Hermosillo (born 22 January 1942) is a Mexican film director, often compared to Spain's Pedro Almodóvar.  Born in Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, in center Mexico, Hermosillo's films often explore the hypocrisy of middle-class Mexican values.

He's worked with Gabriel García Marquez, the Nobel Prize winner for literature and author of One Hundred Years of Solitude.

But there are lots of other interesting choices.

I had a chance to talk to Ingrid Veninger about her film The Animal Project which is NOT

Ingrid Veninger saying "Mask"

about rescuing animals (see Lion Ark for that over the weekend).  This is about an acting instructor, his relationship with his son, and the use of animal costumes to teach acting.  I haven't seen this one, but it sounds like Ingrid is doing something unique here.  And it's already won awards in other festivals.   Ingrid told me this is her fourth feature in five years.  I've decided I'm going to this one at 8:30 in the Museum.  And she'll be there to talk afterward. 

But watch my video of Ingrid Veninger here. 

And I've got a couple of free passes for it so email me if any one wants to go at 8:30pm at the Museum. Their press kit includes this short description:

"An unorthodox acting teacher (Aaron Poole) attempts to push a group of eager young performers out of their comfort zones, while struggling with his own ability to live an authentic and fulfilling life with his teenage son."

The two mountain climbing docs are worth seeing.  The first repeats a 1963 climb of Everest and the second recreates a legendary mountain rescue in the Tetons.  In both films the original participants are interviewed to give their stories about the original events. 

The Iranian film, Everything is Fine Here, is an interesting film, not only because it's from Iran today, but also because of its look and feel.  The film was not approved for filming in Iran - it's about a rape and the effect on the woman and those around her.  It moves at a slower pace than American movies, so be ready for that.  The film makers were there Saturday and are schedule to still be in Anchorage so I'd guess they'll be there for this showing.  Anchorage is the US premiere of this film.  Here's a post with a video of the directors talking to the Anchorage audience in Farsi.

I'm going to see 7 Cajas on Saturday at 11:30 am.  Here's a link to a Huff Post description. It's apparently the biggest Paraguayan movie ever.  And you can see this Paraguyan film Saturday.

I'll go see the beginning of One for Ten at Loussac at 7pm

"Since [the death penalty was reinstated in the US in 1976], for every ten people that have been executed, one person has been exonerated and released from death row after spending an average of ten years in isolation."

And then to the Museum to see The Animal Project.  I have a hunch about this one. Ingrid is a good salesperson.  Again, check the video here.

Antarctica is supposed to be good.  I'll try to see it on the weekend.
9 Full Moons is a movie that reminds us how hard it is to pull off a good movie.  I saw it over the weekend.  There are interesting characters and some good scenes - I liked the interactions with the country western singer a lot - but it is long.  The movie has heart.  The film maker is scheduled to be there.  

\

The Schedule:

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• > print full schedule
• > print full schedule with synopses
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Thursday, December 12th
5:30 PM		Everything Is Fine Here pourya azarbayjani 2012 | Feature | 75 min.	Alaska Experience Theater - Small Theater
5:45 PM		Mountain Climbing Docs Documentary Program | 96 min. The Grand Rescue | Jenny Wilson, Meredith Lavitt, William A. Kerig 2013 High and Hallowed: Everest 1963 | David Morton, Jake Norton, Jim Aikman 2013	Alaska Experience Theater - Large Theater
6:30 PM		9 Full Moons Tomer Almagor | Feature | 103 min. ** Note: Filmmaker attending	Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center
7:00 PM		One for Ten Documentary Program | 120 min.	Wilda Marston Theatre at Z. J. Loussac Public Library
7:45 PM		Antarctica: A Year on Ice Anthony Powell 2013 | Documentary | 92 min.	Alaska Experience Theater - Small Theater
8:00 PM		Juventud (Youth) Jaime Humberto Hermosillo 2010 | Feature | 115 min.	Alaska Experience Theater - Large Theater
8:00 PM		7 Cajas Juan Carlos Maneglia | Feature | 100 min.	Bear Tooth Theatre
8:30 PM		The Animal Project Ingrid Veninger | Feature | 77 min.	Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center

AIFF 2013: A Short Trip to Iran? See We Are All Fine Here

We don't see many Iranian films in Anchorage.  And even more seldom is Anchorage the location of the US premiere of an Iranian film.  And just as rarely, do we get the film makers to answer our questions after the film.  But all three are the case for Everything Is Fine Here.

Everything is Fine Here, is an interesting film, not only because it's from Iran today, but also because of its look and feel.  The film was not approved for filming in Iran - it's about a rape and the effect on the woman and those around her.  It moves at a slower pace than American movies, so be ready for that.

I asked the film makers - Pourya Azarbayjani and Mona Sartoveh - if they would say a few words in Farsi about being in Anchorage.  Here they are:


sssss

A bit of "life mimics art" -the young woman in the movie gets a scholarship to study a while abroad.  And the film maker, lands his film in the Anchorage International Film Festival and gets to go abroad too.

AIFF 2013: What To Do On Thursday -

[UPDATE:  Dec. 12, 12:30am:  I originally posted this, by mistake, for Wednesday.  I fixed the title and now I've edited this to call more attention to The Animal Project playing at 8:30pm at the museum.]

My thoughts on Thursday.  Full schedule below.  

Juventad (Youth) is, I'm told, the pick for Thursday, 8pm at the Bear Tooth.  This is an autobiographical film by a well known Mexican director.  Wikipedia says:

Jaime Humberto Hermosillo (born 22 January 1942) is a Mexican film director, often compared to Spain's Pedro Almodóvar.  Born in Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, in center Mexico, Hermosillo's films often explore the hypocrisy of middle-class Mexican values.

He's worked with Gabriel García Marquez, the Nobel Prize winner for literature and author of One Hundred Years of Solitude.

But there are lots of other interesting choices.

I had a chance to talk to Ingrid Veninger about her film The Animal Project which is NOT

Ingrid Veninger saying "Mask"

about rescuing animals (see Lion Ark for that over the weekend).  This is about an acting instructor, his relationship with his son, and the use of animal costumes to teach acting.  I haven't seen this one, but it sounds like Ingrid is doing something unique here.  And it's already won awards in other festivals.   Ingrid told me this is her fourth feature in five years.  I've decided I'm going to this one at 8:30 in the Museum.  And she'll be there to talk afterward. 

But watch the video of Ingrid Veninger here. 

The two mountain climbing docs are worth seeing.  The first repeats a 1963 climb of Everest and the second recreates a legendary mountain rescue in the Tetons.  In both films the original participants are interviewed to give their stories about the original events. 

The Iranian film, Everything is Fine Here, is an interesting film, not only because it's from Iran today, but also because of its look and feel.  The film was not approved for filming in Iran - it's about a rape and the effect on the woman and those around her.  It moves at a slower pace than American movies, so be ready for that.  The film makers were there Saturday and are schedule to still be in Anchorage so I'd guess they'll be there for this showing.  Anchorage is the US premiere of this film.

I'm going to see 7 Cajas on Saturday at 11:30 am.  Here's a link to a Huff Post description. It's apparently the biggest Paraguayan movie ever.  And you can see this Paraguyan film Saturday.

I'll go see the beginning of One for Ten at Loussac at 7pm

"Since [the death penalty was reinstated in the US in 1976], for every ten people that have been executed, one person has been exonerated and released from death row after spending an average of ten years in isolation."

And then to the Museum to see The Animal Project.  I have a hunch about this one. Ingrid is a good salesperson.  Again, check the video here.

Antarctica is supposed to be good.  I'll try to see it on the weekend.
9 Full Moons is a movie that reminds us how hard it is to pull off a good movie.  I saw it over the weekend.  There are interesting characters and some good scenes - I liked the interactions with the country western singer a lot - but it is long.  The movie has heart.  The film maker is scheduled to be there.  

And there's the Animal Project which I'm told is good and what I've read is intriguing.  And I've got a couple of free passes for it so email me if any one wants to go at 8:30pm at the Museum. Their press kit includes this short description:

"An unorthodox acting teacher (Aaron Poole) attempts to push a group of eager young performers out of their comfort zones, while struggling with his own ability to live an authentic and fulfilling life with his teenage son."

The Schedule:

• > print my schedule
• > print full schedule
• > print full schedule with synopses
• > print filtered schedule
• help me with this tool

Thursday, December 12th
5:30 PM		Everything Is Fine Here pourya azarbayjani 2012 | Feature | 75 min.	Alaska Experience Theater - Small Theater
5:45 PM		Mountain Climbing Docs Documentary Program | 96 min. The Grand Rescue | Jenny Wilson, Meredith Lavitt, William A. Kerig 2013 High and Hallowed: Everest 1963 | David Morton, Jake Norton, Jim Aikman 2013	Alaska Experience Theater - Large Theater
6:30 PM		9 Full Moons Tomer Almagor | Feature | 103 min. ** Note: Filmmaker attending	Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center
7:00 PM		One for Ten Documentary Program | 120 min.	Wilda Marston Theatre at Z. J. Loussac Public Library
7:45 PM		Antarctica: A Year on Ice Anthony Powell 2013 | Documentary | 92 min.	Alaska Experience Theater - Small Theater
8:00 PM		Juventud (Youth) Jaime Humberto Hermosillo 2010 | Feature | 115 min.	Alaska Experience Theater - Large Theater
8:00 PM		7 Cajas Juan Carlos Maneglia | Feature | 100 min.	Bear Tooth Theatre
8:30 PM		The Animal Project Ingrid Veninger | Feature | 77 min.	Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center

AIFF 2013: What To Do On Thursday -

[UPDATE:  Dec. 12, 12:30am:  I originally posted this, by mistake, for Wednesday.  I fixed the title and now I've edited this to call more attention to The Animal Project playing at 8:30pm at the museum.]

My thoughts on Thursday.  Full schedule below.  

Juventad (Youth) is, I'm told, the pick for Thursday, 8pm at the Bear Tooth.  This is an autobiographical film by a well known Mexican director.  Wikipedia says:

Jaime Humberto Hermosillo (born 22 January 1942) is a Mexican film director, often compared to Spain's Pedro Almodóvar.  Born in Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, in center Mexico, Hermosillo's films often explore the hypocrisy of middle-class Mexican values.

He's worked with Gabriel García Marquez, the Nobel Prize winner for literature and author of One Hundred Years of Solitude.

But there are lots of other interesting choices.

I had a chance to talk to Ingrid Veninger about her film The Animal Project which is NOT

Ingrid Veninger saying "Mask"

about rescuing animals (see Lion Ark for that over the weekend).  This is about an acting instructor, his relationship with his son, and the use of animal costumes to teach acting.  I haven't seen this one, but it sounds like Ingrid is doing something unique here.  And it's already won awards in other festivals.   Ingrid told me this is her fourth feature in five years.  I've decided I'm going to this one at 8:30 in the Museum.  And she'll be there to talk afterward. 

But watch the video of Ingrid Veninger here. 

The two mountain climbing docs are worth seeing.  The first repeats a 1963 climb of Everest and the second recreates a legendary mountain rescue in the Tetons.  In both films the original participants are interviewed to give their stories about the original events. 

The Iranian film, Everything is Fine Here, is an interesting film, not only because it's from Iran today, but also because of its look and feel.  The film was not approved for filming in Iran - it's about a rape and the effect on the woman and those around her.  It moves at a slower pace than American movies, so be ready for that.  The film makers were there Saturday and are schedule to still be in Anchorage so I'd guess they'll be there for this showing.  Anchorage is the US premiere of this film.

I'm going to see 7 Cajas on Saturday at 11:30 am.  Here's a link to a Huff Post description. It's apparently the biggest Paraguayan movie ever.  And you can see this Paraguyan film Saturday.

I'll go see the beginning of One for Ten at Loussac at 7pm

"Since [the death penalty was reinstated in the US in 1976], for every ten people that have been executed, one person has been exonerated and released from death row after spending an average of ten years in isolation."

And then to the Museum to see The Animal Project.  I have a hunch about this one. Ingrid is a good salesperson.  Again, check the video here.

Antarctica is supposed to be good.  I'll try to see it on the weekend.
9 Full Moons is a movie that reminds us how hard it is to pull off a good movie.  I saw it over the weekend.  There are interesting characters and some good scenes - I liked the interactions with the country western singer a lot - but it is long.  The movie has heart.  The film maker is scheduled to be there.  

And there's the Animal Project which I'm told is good and what I've read is intriguing.  And I've got a couple of free passes for it so email me if any one wants to go at 8:30pm at the Museum. Their press kit includes this short description:

"An unorthodox acting teacher (Aaron Poole) attempts to push a group of eager young performers out of their comfort zones, while struggling with his own ability to live an authentic and fulfilling life with his teenage son."

The Schedule:

• > print my schedule
• > print full schedule
• > print full schedule with synopses
• > print filtered schedule
• help me with this tool

Thursday, December 12th
5:30 PM		Everything Is Fine Here pourya azarbayjani 2012 | Feature | 75 min.	Alaska Experience Theater - Small Theater
5:45 PM		Mountain Climbing Docs Documentary Program | 96 min. The Grand Rescue | Jenny Wilson, Meredith Lavitt, William A. Kerig 2013 High and Hallowed: Everest 1963 | David Morton, Jake Norton, Jim Aikman 2013	Alaska Experience Theater - Large Theater
6:30 PM		9 Full Moons Tomer Almagor | Feature | 103 min. ** Note: Filmmaker attending	Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center
7:00 PM		One for Ten Documentary Program | 120 min.	Wilda Marston Theatre at Z. J. Loussac Public Library
7:45 PM		Antarctica: A Year on Ice Anthony Powell 2013 | Documentary | 92 min.	Alaska Experience Theater - Small Theater
8:00 PM		Juventud (Youth) Jaime Humberto Hermosillo 2010 | Feature | 115 min.	Alaska Experience Theater - Large Theater
8:00 PM		7 Cajas Juan Carlos Maneglia | Feature | 100 min.	Bear Tooth Theatre
8:30 PM		The Animal Project Ingrid Veninger | Feature | 77 min.	Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center

[UPDATE:  Dec. 12, 12:30am:  I originally posted this, by mistake, for Wednesday.  I fixed the title and now I've edited this to call more attention to The Animal Project playing at 8:30pm at the museum.]

My thoughts on Thursday.  Full schedule below.  

Juventad (Youth) is, I'm told, the pick for Thursday, 8pm at the Bear Tooth.  This is an autobiographical film by a well known Mexican director who will be at the screening.  Wikipedia says:

Jaime Humberto Hermosillo (born 22 January 1942) is a Mexican film director, often compared to Spain's Pedro Almodóvar.  Born in Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, in center Mexico, Hermosillo's films often explore the hypocrisy of middle-class Mexican values.

He's worked with Gabriel García Marquez, the Nobel Prize winner for literature and author of One Hundred Years of Solitude.

But there are lots of other interesting choices.

I had a chance to talk to Ingrid Veninger about her film The Animal Project which is NOT

Ingrid Veninger saying "Mask"

about rescuing animals (see Lion Ark for that over the weekend).  This is about an acting instructor, his relationship with his son, and the use of animal costumes to teach acting.  I haven't seen this one, but it sounds like Ingrid is doing something unique here.  And it's already won awards in other festivals.   Ingrid told me this is her fourth feature in five years.  I've decided I'm going to this one at 8:30 in the Museum.  And she'll be there to talk afterward. 

But watch the video of Ingrid Veninger here. 

The two mountain climbing docs are worth seeing.  The first repeats a 1963 climb of Everest and the second recreates a legendary mountain rescue in the Tetons.  In both films the original participants are interviewed to give their stories about the original events. 

The Iranian film, Everything is Fine Here, is an interesting film, not only because it's from Iran today, but also because of its look and feel.  The film was not approved for filming in Iran - it's about a rape and the effect on the woman and those around her.  It moves at a slower pace than American movies, so be ready for that.  The film makers were there Saturday and are schedule to still be in Anchorage so I'd guess they'll be there for this showing.  Anchorage is the US premiere of this film.

I'm going to see 7 Cajas on Saturday at 11:30 am.  Here's a link to a Huff Post description. It's apparently the biggest Paraguayan movie ever.  And you can see this Paraguyan film Saturday.

I'll go see the beginning of One for Ten at Loussac at 7pm

"Since [the death penalty was reinstated in the US in 1976], for every ten people that have been executed, one person has been exonerated and released from death row after spending an average of ten years in isolation."

And then to the Museum to see The Animal Project.  I have a hunch about this one. Ingrid is a good salesperson.  Again, check the video here.

Antarctica is supposed to be good.  I'll try to see it on the weekend.
9 Full Moons is a movie that reminds us how hard it is to pull off a good movie.  I saw it over the weekend.  There are interesting characters and some good scenes - I liked the interactions with the country western singer a lot - but it is long.  The movie has heart.  The film maker is scheduled to be there.  

And there's the Animal Project which I'm told is good and what I've read is intriguing.  And I've got a couple of free passes for it so email me if any one wants to go at 8:30pm at the Museum. Their press kit includes this short description:

"An unorthodox acting teacher (Aaron Poole) attempts to push a group of eager young performers out of their comfort zones, while struggling with his own ability to live an authentic and fulfilling life with his teenage son."

The Schedule:

• > print my schedule
• > print full schedule
• > print full schedule with synopses
• > print filtered schedule
• help me with this tool

Thursday, December 12th
5:30 PM		Everything Is Fine Here pourya azarbayjani 2012 | Feature | 75 min.	Alaska Experience Theater - Small Theater
5:45 PM		Mountain Climbing Docs Documentary Program | 96 min. The Grand Rescue | Jenny Wilson, Meredith Lavitt, William A. Kerig 2013 High and Hallowed: Everest 1963 | David Morton, Jake Norton, Jim Aikman 2013	Alaska Experience Theater - Large Theater
6:30 PM		9 Full Moons Tomer Almagor | Feature | 103 min. ** Note: Filmmaker attending	Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center
7:00 PM		One for Ten Documentary Program | 120 min.	Wilda Marston Theatre at Z. J. Loussac Public Library
7:45 PM		Antarctica: A Year on Ice Anthony Powell 2013 | Documentary | 92 min.	Alaska Experience Theater - Small Theater
8:00 PM		Juventud (Youth) Jaime Humberto Hermosillo 2010 | Feature | 115 min.	Alaska Experience Theater - Large Theater
8:00 PM		7 Cajas Juan Carlos Maneglia | Feature | 100 min.	Bear Tooth Theatre
8:30 PM		The Animal Project Ingrid Veninger | Feature | 77 min.	Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center

AIFF 2013: For Real This Time: Wednesday Picks

This is a little easier than Thursday (tomorrow) which I posted already, by mistake.  Not quite as many choices.  You can check Thursday here.

Tonight's must see, so I've heard, is Vuelve A La Vida (Back To Life).  I got this mixed up with Juventud, which plays tomorrow.  The director, Carlos Hagerman is in town, I met him briefly this morning and got this photo.   Here's the description I could find about the movie:

"The love story between a top model from New York, a Mexican scuba diver and a shark."

The love story between a NEW YORK TOP MODEL, a scuba diver from Acapulco and a shark.

- See more at: http://talent.filmindependent.org/talent/bio/88#sthash.s1TX8fiC.dpuf

The love story between a NEW YORK TOP MODEL, a scuba diver from Acapulco and a shark. - See more at: http://talent.filmindependent.org/talent/bio/88#sthash.s1TX8fiC.dpuf

The love story between a NEW YORK TOP MODEL, a scuba diver from Acapulco and a shark. - See more at: http://talent.filmindependent.org/talent/bio/88#sthash.s1TX8fiC.dpuf

I'm headed for McConkey tonight, then to Vuelva A La Vida.

But the New World is a very fine movie that I highly recommend.  I wrote about it here.

Frozen Ground probably needs no introduction.  It's the big Hollywood movie, filmed here a couple of years ago.  I figure this will come to the regular theaters before too long, but the others won't.

Sorry this took so long.  I put up Thursday by mistake.  But at least that one's done now. 

Wednesday, December 11th
6:30 PM		McConkey Steve Winter, Murray Wais, Rob Bruce, Scott Gaffney, David Zieff 2013 | Documentary | 109 min.	Alaska Experience Theater - Large Theater
7:00 PM		The New World Jaap van Heusden 2013 | Feature | 83 min.	Alaska Experience Theater - Small Theater
8:00 PM		Vuelve A La Vida (Back To Life) Carlos Hagerman 2010 | Documentary | 72 min. ** Note: Filmmaker attending	Bear Tooth Theatre
8:30 PM		The Frozen Ground Scott Walker 2013 | Feature | 105 min.  AK Exp

There's more about Carlos Hagerman in Spanish here or a dodgy English translation here.

AIFF 2013: Picks for Wednesday [Thrusday]

[UPDATE:  Dec. 12, 12:30am:  I originally posted this, by mistake, for Wednesday.  I fixed the title and now I've edited this to call more attention to The Animal Project playing at 8:30pm at the museum.]

My thoughts on Thursday.  Full schedule below.  

Juventad (Youth) is, I'm told, the pick for Thursday, 8pm at the Bear Tooth.  This is an autobiographical film by a well known Mexican director who will be at the screening.  Wikipedia says:

Jaime Humberto Hermosillo (born 22 January 1942) is a Mexican film director, often compared to Spain's Pedro Almodóvar.  Born in Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, in center Mexico, Hermosillo's films often explore the hypocrisy of middle-class Mexican values.

He's worked with Gabriel García Marquez, the Nobel Prize winner for literature and author of One Hundred Years of Solitude.

But there are lots of other interesting choices. 

I had a chance to talk to Ingrid Veninger about her film The Animal Project which is NOT

Ingrid Veninger saying "Mask"

about rescuing animals (see Lion Ark for that over the weekend).  This is about an acting instructor, his relationship with his son, and the use of animal costumes to teach acting.  I haven't seen this one, but it sounds like Ingrid is doing something unique here.  And it's already won awards in other festivals.   Ingrid told me this is her fourth feature in five years.  I've decided I'm going to this one at 8:30 in the Museum.  And she'll be there to talk afterward. 

But watch the video of Ingrid Veninger here. 

The two mountain climbing docs are worth seeing.  The first repeats a 1963 climb of Everest and the second recreates a legendary mountain rescue in the Tetons.  In both films the original participants are interviewed to give their stories about the original events. 

The Iranian film, Everything is Fine Here, is an interesting film, not only because it's from Iran today, but also because of its look and feel.  The film was not approved for filming in Iran - it's about a rape and the effect on the woman and those around her.  It moves at a slower pace than American movies, so be ready for that.  The film makers were there Saturday and are schedule to still be in Anchorage so I'd guess they'll be there for this showing.  Anchorage is the US premiere of this film.

I'm going to see 7 Cajas on Saturday at 11:30 am.  Here's a link to a Huff Post description. It's apparently the biggest Paraguayan movie ever.  And you can see this Paraguyan film Saturday.

I'll go see the beginning of One for Ten at Loussac at 7pm

"Since [the death penalty was reinstated in the US in 1976], for every ten people that have been executed, one person has been exonerated and released from death row after spending an average of ten years in isolation."

And then to the Museum to see The Animal Project.  I have a hunch about this one. Ingrid is a good salesperson.  Again, check the video here.

Antarctica is supposed to be good.  I'll try to see it on the weekend.
9 Full Moons is a movie that reminds us how hard it is to pull off a good movie.  I saw it over the weekend.  There are interesting characters and some good scenes - I liked the interactions with the country western singer a lot - but it is long.  The movie has heart.  The film maker is scheduled to be there.  

And there's the Animal Project which I'm told is good and what I've read is intriguing.  And I've got a couple of free passes for it so email me if any one wants to go at 8:30pm at the Museum. Their press kit includes this short description:

"An unorthodox acting teacher (Aaron Poole) attempts to push a group of eager young performers out of their comfort zones, while struggling with his own ability to live an authentic and fulfilling life with his teenage son."

The Schedule:

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Thursday, December 12th
5:30 PM		Everything Is Fine Here pourya azarbayjani 2012 | Feature | 75 min.	Alaska Experience Theater - Small Theater
5:45 PM		Mountain Climbing Docs Documentary Program | 96 min. The Grand Rescue | Jenny Wilson, Meredith Lavitt, William A. Kerig 2013 High and Hallowed: Everest 1963 | David Morton, Jake Norton, Jim Aikman 2013	Alaska Experience Theater - Large Theater
6:30 PM		9 Full Moons Tomer Almagor | Feature | 103 min. ** Note: Filmmaker attending	Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center
7:00 PM		One for Ten Documentary Program | 120 min.	Wilda Marston Theatre at Z. J. Loussac Public Library
7:45 PM		Antarctica: A Year on Ice Anthony Powell 2013 | Documentary | 92 min.	Alaska Experience Theater - Small Theater
8:00 PM		Juventud (Youth) Jaime Humberto Hermosillo 2010 | Feature | 115 min.	Alaska Experience Theater - Large Theater
8:00 PM		7 Cajas Juan Carlos Maneglia | Feature | 100 min.	Bear Tooth Theatre
8:30 PM		The Animal Project Ingrid Veninger | Feature | 77 min.	Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center