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10th Annual Sacramento Film & Music Festival
Crest Theatre, July 24th – August 2nd
The 10th Annual Sacramento Film & Music Festival officially opens at 8pm on July 24th, with a welcome from Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson
and the presentation of the 2009 Film Arts Service Award to Ron Cooper, Executive Director
of Access Sacramento.
For years, Ron has been a champion of local filmmakers
getting their start in the industry, consistent with
the vision of the Festival which not only serves as
a juried competition for independent film from around
the world but also as a venue for the local film community
to share and screen their work.
This year’s Festival has 19 feature films, 75 films from the submission pool, and approximately
130 film projects in total, including music videos and
a special showcase of student film from the Art Institute
of Sacramento.
In total there are over 30 ticketed events and 10 assorted dinners, receptions and parties, all accessible
by a single Festival Pass*.
Highlights include:
Friday, July 24th - The opening night feature is the locally shot “Sensored**” starring Robert Picardo.
Mr. Picardo and the cast and crew will be in attendance
for the reception, screening, and opening night party.
Saturday, July 25th - For those who enjoy fishing and all things related
to the sport, “Rivers of a Lost Coast**” (11am) chronicles the now virtually lost steelhead fishing
phenomenon of Northern California’s rivers.
Narrated by Tom Skerritt, “Rivers” is another excellent locally produced film.
Saturday evening delivers the sixth year of the “Sac Music Seen” program (8pm) in which local bands and filmmakers collaborate to
create original music videos.
Sunday, July 26th - The first Sunday includes both an international feature
“Chaturanga” from India (4pm), and a program of international short films at 6:30pm.
The evening feature “Friends (With Benefits)**” is a romantic comedy of mixed attitudes and pairings
among a group of six close friends.
Monday, July 27th - In a first for the Festival, the wonderful marriage
documentary “Inlaws and Outlaws**” (6pm) is followed at 8:30pm by a live performance of songs from stage and screen
produced by Sacramento’s all new professional theater company, New Helvetia
Theatre (the production company by the recent Hedwig and the
Angry Inch).
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday’s programs begin at 5pm with a complimentary dinner generously provided
by Festival sponsor Rubios.
Tuesday, July 28th - The “CA Justice” program at 6pm combines three films that address personal stories
from California’s legal system.
For example, “Sin by Silence**” introduces the audience to several women who were
incarcerated for killing their extremely violent and
abusive husbands before CA law allowed for such a history
of abuse to be entered into evidence by the defense.
Additionally, at a time when the media often reports on the apparent lifestyle hypocrisies of many right-wing politicians, “Do As I Say**” (8pm) documents similar hypocrisies amongst several nationally recognized liberal political figures and celebrities.
Wednesday, July 29th - “Nightbeats**” (8pm) comes from local new producer and filmmaker Mike Carroll
and is an homage to the film noirs of the 1940’s.
Mike is an extraordinary artist who produces, writes,
shoots, directs, and edits his own work – an extraordinary feat in feature filmmaking.
Thursday, July 30th - An evening with the students and faculty of the Art
Institute of Sacramento (6pm), including projects from the film program and catering
by the culinary department.
Friday, July 31st - In a special screening at 7pm, the Festival is proud to present Directors Choice
Award winner “Paper Heart” starring Charlyne Yi and Michael Cera.
Charlyne’s attempts to prove that love doesn’t exist are somewhat stymied when she meets Michael
and begins to question her own convictions.
“Boppin’ at the Glue Factory**” (9pm) about a young addict who realizes that working at
the local senior residential facility might prove to
be a ready supply of narcotics, is followed by a program
of shorter films with a late night flavor at 11pm.
Saturday, August 1st - One of the most fun aspects of the Festival is the
annual unveiling of the 10x10 Filmmaker Challenge projects (7pm), the results of a program in which teams are permitted
10 days to make a film of no more than 10 minutes.
This year’s theme “Milestones and Markers” was prompted by the Festival’s 10 year anniversary.
Sunday, August 2nd - “The Power and the Powerless” (Noon) documents the fall and rise of communism in Eastern
Europe, using Czechoslovakia as an example of the effects
and aftermath on a younger generation.
The film also demonstrates how Russian- sourced communism was not always monolithic in nature,
with changes in regimes in Moscow altering the nature
of daily life in the Soviet block countries.
The Festival ends its 10th season with an after-party and awards ceremony at the Parlare Eurolounge,
beginning at 7pm.
*Capitol Weekly readers can purchase an All-Festival pass for $60 at the Crest Theatre box office.
Most regular screenings are individually priced at
$10 (a few receptions and special events are priced higher).
**These screenings include Q&A sessions with filmmaker.
The full Festival schedule and further information
can be found at www.sacfilm.com
