Review

Rapp Sheet — 04-07-10

The 2010 Kansas City Film Festival, or KC FilmFest, is just a week away — April 14 through 19, with screenings, workshops, discussions (and a party every night). Wednesday, April 7, you're invited to attend the KC FilmFest Pass Holder Preview event. Drop by the AMC Mainstreet 6 theatre downtown in the Power & Light entertainment district (at 14th and Main) any time between 5 and 9 p.m. and purchase your festival pass, pick up the actual tickets you need to attend screenings, and talk to FilmFest programmers who are on hand to help you decide what films and workshops to see. Image: courtesy of of KC FilmFest. All images link to specific film pages via 2010 KC FilmFest

In times of great challenge, people see movies.

Last April saw the successful debut of the Kansas City Film Festival, held in the AMC Mainstreet 6 theatre that was so new, many people didn't know it was there yet. The festival hosted a rich array of diverse films, engaged, informative guests and invaluable advisory panels. Those behind the event celebrated and started eagerly planning for next year. Sadly, a few months in, they were abruptly hit with the news that festival director Fred Andrews was experiencing dire medical issues and might not see next year's event.

In times of great challenge, people show movies.

The organizers of the 2nd Annual Kansas City FilmFest have risen to the occasion, circled the wagons and, with Andrews's oversight, helped fashion a festival that promises to be even more impressive than last year's. This fest can't help but be thought of as a humble tribute to a man who has for nearly two decades kept independent film accessible to the city he loves.

Fred Andrews (right), director of the inaugural Kansas City Film Festival in 2009, poses with guest of honor, actor Wes Studi. Photo: courtesy KC FilmFest

With the stakes particularly high, the festival organizers have delivered perhaps the most impressive and diverse offerings to date. Many are films one may never see again — or at least not have the opportunity to see any time soon.  This emotion-hued event offers an impressive line-up of film, workshops and celebrations that only bolsters its certain destiny of becoming a player on the festival circuit, and further seeds the ground for Kansas City as a major production area.

This poetry comes into play with the opening night film, Winter’s Bone, winner of the 2010 Sundance® Jury Prize. The KC-debut is particularly poignant, as the film was shot entirely in southern Missouri.  Writer/director Debra Granik will be in attendance for a Q&A following the screening  hosted by Jeff Goldsmith of Creative Screenwriting Magazine. Winter's Bone is a gut-wrenching and darkly suspenseful tale based on the novel of the same name by Missouri native Daniel Woodrell, and includes contributions by many regional film professionals. Granik will attend her screening at the AMC Mainstreet on April 14 at 7 p.m. and be available to answer questions.*

The Kansas City FilmFest is both a juried and curated festival offering full-length feature films, documentaries and shorts from more than 20 countries. Audiences will treated to Oscar nominated, pre-released, and Sundance® fan favorites as well as offerings from up-and-coming local talent. Through the week, audiences will get to experience a wide array of alternate selections, including:

— The screening of the 1975 sci-fi classic, A Boy and His Dog, with writer/director L.Q. Jones in attendance (April 17, 7 p.m. at the Tivoli Theatre). Based on a short story by Harlan Ellison, the story follows the tenuous journey of Vic (played by Don Johnson, in his film debut), who is accompanied by a wise-cracking telepathic dog named Blood, as they make their way through the bleak world of 2024. When Blood picks up the scent of a lone female, he inadvertently pitches his companion into following her "Downunder." Here he encounters  a world of artificial sunlight, named, aptly, 'Topeka," where a greasepaint-faced Jason Robards determines who lives and who is sent to "The Farm." This first and only feature by the actor-turned-director Jones has become a cult classic all over the world, and conveys  bizarre themes, and apocalyptic visions of dystopia which well pre-date the "Mad Max" franchise.

Don Johnson made his film debut in "A Boy and His Dog," one of the two 2010 Jubilee Showcase films; a remastering of this 34-year-old independent classic screens Saturday, April 17 at 7 p.m. Join Director L.Q. Jones afterwards for a discussion about the post-apocalyptic story set in the year 2024. Image: courtesy of the Kansas City FlimFest and the director

— Jubilee favorite, director Rob Nilsson, returns with his latest human drama, Imbued, inspired by a story by Kansas City’s Denny Dey. Imbued follows a complex character, Donatello, portrayed by Stacy Keach, who is addicted to betting and just about anything else he cannot attain. What he doesn't bet on is the strange and sudden appearance of Lydia — a beautiful woman with an expensive problem that Donatello is convinced he can solve. Nillson will be answering questions following his screening (April 17, 7 p.m.).

Wayne Federman appears in "I Am Comic," a documentary directed by Jordan Brady and screening April 15 from 7:15 to 8:45 p.m. Image: Image: courtesy of the Kansas City FlimFest and the director

— Other offerings on this most diverse and satisfying menu include the Slamdance hit film, I Am Comic, a documentary on the world of stand-up (April 15, 7:15 p.m.); Hipsters, a Russian musical set in the '50s with young people getting turned on to American music via the Voice of America (April 15, 7 p.m.); and Lovely, Still, a story of romance between seniors stars Academy Award winners Martin Landau and Ellen Burstyn and was produced in Omaha by Dana Altman, grandson of legendary KC director Robert Altman (April 16, 7:45 p.m.). In addition, and in tradition with its legacy, the festival will feature an array of Shorts Programs.

The complete schedule, as well as full program information can be found at www.kcfilmfest.org.

I'm looking forward to embedding myself with the brave troopers who will produce the Kansas City FilmFest 2010. In addition to initial interviews with the filmmakers, I will report "from the field" for each day of the event, with reports of past, now and future goings-on.

Please tune in and I hope to see you all  just before the lights go down!

A scene from the musical feature "Hipsters," a Russian comedy directed by Valery Todorovsky and screening April 15 from 7 to 8:55 p.m. Image: courtesy of the Kansas City FlimFest and the director

Note:
*Festival passes do not include the two showcase films, Winter's Bone and A Boy and His Dog; separate tickets are required (and available through the festival's site).

-re-

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