[Archived] News Release - From Oscar Winners to Student Shorts, the Alexandria International Film Festival Celebrates the Art of Film

City Press Release


	For Immediate Release	For More Information, Contact
	September 14, 2007 PIO# 229-07	Jennifer Harris, Communications Officer, at 703.838.5078

From Oscar Winners to Student Shorts, the Alexandria
International Film Festival Celebrates the Art of Film
Local Filmmakers Figure Prominently in Program

The first Annual Alexandria International Film Festival will offer a diverse menu of drama, documentary, comedy, animation, shorts and features when it debuts Thursday, September 27 at 7 p.m. at Market Square, 301 King St., and continues Friday, September 28 through Sunday, September 30 at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Madison Building, 600 Dulany St. This City event, the first to showcase the digital arts in Alexandria, is sponsored by the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities and the Alexandria Commission for the Arts.

The Festival begins Thursday with a live performance of movie soundtrack favorites by the Alexandria Singers and a program of short films produced by both Alexandria students and international filmmakers. One notable film to be featured is “Green Pages,” a futuristic comedy which is the first-ever adaptation of the phone book. The audience will also be treated to “coming attractions” for the films featured throughout the Festival.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Madison Building will be the location for both evening and matinee performances held from Friday, September 28, through Sunday, September 30. Highlighting the program will be the first public screening in Alexandria of “God Grew Tired of Us: the Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan,” directed by Christopher Quinn, who grew up in Alexandria and graduated from T.C. Williams High School. The film garnered top honors at the Sundance Film Festival. Other films to be presented at the Festival include:

Five shorts produced by students at the Mt. Vernon Community School and the Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School focus on the theme “Alexandria, My Hometown,” using clay animation, original rap music, acting and narration. The films highlight Alexandria’s history, environment, landmarks and child-friendly attractions.

Other films produced by Alexandrians, including: “Vietnam: the Next Generation,” by Sandy Northrop; “DeLeon Crossing,” by Bjorn Munson; “Ferocious Wildlife in a Two-Bedroom,” by Ruth Dubb; “For Emily,” by Stephanie Hafer; “The Last Greeks on Broome Street,” by Ed Askinazi; and “Out of Obscurity: The Story of the 1939 Alexandria Library Sit-In,” by Matt Spangler. Spangler’s film was made possible, in part, by a grant from the Office of Historic Alexandria.

“War/Dance,” from Maryland filmmakers Sean Fine and Andrea Nix-Fine, which won the 2007 Sundance Director’s Award. The film tells the story of war orphans competing in the Ugandan National Music Festival.

All programs of the International Film Festival are offered free of charge and open to the public. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is a short walk from the King Street Metro Station, and free parking is available at the Patent and Trademark Office Garage. Please be advised that some films may contain violence, language and adult themes that may be inappropriate for younger audiences.

To obtain a complete listing of film times and dates, to make a contribution to the Alexandria Commission for the Arts, or to volunteer, visit www.alexandriacommissionforthearts.org. For additional information, call Patti North-Rudin, International Festival Coordinator at 703.838.5095, extension 307 or email patti.north-rudin@alexandriava.gov.

The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the City's Human Rights Code and the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation, or to request materials in an alternative format, call Cheryl Anne Colton, Cultural Arts Administrator, of the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities at 703.838.6348 (TTY 703.838.4902) or email cherylanne.colton@alexandriava.gov.

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