Scroll down for Cinequest ‘Best Bets,’ film capsules and a selective calendar.
A generation ago,Cinequest was a meeting place for film fans who wanted to a chance to see movies that flew under the radar. Today, Cinequest is a nexus of experiences: a teaching facility on the newest methods for filmmaking and distribution, a showcase for up and coming filmmakers, a 13-day social event for partygoers and serious networkers alike.
Classic-film fans who like to sample revivals have a few options, too: F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu is showing on the big screen of the California Theatre on March 11 at 7pm, in a tinted 35 mm print from the Murnau Foundation; and 1958’s Plan 9 From Outer Space will presumably look three times as good in its new 3D version when it shows March 5 at 10pm at San Jose Rep. The festival is also presenting 3D minifeatures in a scientific vein on March 2 and 10 at 9:15pm.
On hand to receive the Maverick Spirit Award: John Turturro, whose film Passione opens the festival on March 1; surfing great Bethany Hamilton, subject of the closing-night biopic Soul Surfer; and actresses AnnaSophia Robb and Alyson Stoner of Step Up 2. Other big names this year include Edward James Olmos, who will show up for the premiere of America on March 3; and the cast of Samuel Bleak (Deborah Kara Unger, James Russon and more), who will be here for the film’s premiere on March 5. Perhaps even more interesting to the hundreds of film students in the valley are the workshops happening March 4-8, especially the demonstration of 3D technology on March 5.
Coming to Cinequest on March 4, Jacob Rosenberg leads a seminar on “Mastering the Art of Maverick Filmmaking.” On March 8, the festival hosts an editing seminar in which a rough cut of the new film by Zach Sutherland will be screened, to be followed by a panel discussion of where the cutting should take place. Titled “The Rough Cut” it begins at 9:30pm.
March 11 is the return of the Day of the Writer. It’s an ever-popular program bringing screenwriting professors and working scriptwriters together to discuss the problems of writing for films. Also returning: James Dalessandro, whose book 1906 is about to become the first live-action film made by Pixar. The Adobe Youth Voices program aims to arm children in tough neighborhoods with cameras and the means to make films about their experiences. On March 12 at 11am, there will be a screening of the end result of the program.
It’ll be a hectic, delightful two weeks, with plenty of surprises (and a guaranteed catastrophe or two) and Metro plans to be in the thick of it. Our street team will be jostling with the paparazzi at all the parties; and our critics will be tweeting live from screenings (check out the action on our Facebook page: Metrofb.com and on Twitter at metronewspaper). For complete festival schedules, see http://www.cinequest.org. (Full disclosure: Metro is one of the Media sponsors of the festival.)
Cinequest Best Bets: Film Capsules
Acquainted With The Night
March 4 at 4:45pm, Camera 12; March 6 at 9:15pm; March 10 at 2:15pm, Camera 12
The Blind
March 5 at 4:30pm, Camera 12; March 6 at 9pm, Camera 12; March 8 at 4:15pm, Camera 12
Little Baby Jesus Of Flandr
March 2 at 8:45pm, Camera 12; March 6 at 11:30am, Camera 12; March 9 at 2:30pm, Camera 12
Medal of Honor
March 9 at 7pm, Camera 12; March 12 at 6:45pm, Camera 12
The Nobel Prize Winner
March 8 at 7:15pm, Camera 12; March 10 at 2:45pm, Camera 12; March 12 at 12:15pm, Camera 12
Potiche
March 9 at 7pm, California Theater
Plan 9 From Outer Space
March 5 at 10pm, San Jose Rep
22nd of May
March 3 at 9:30pm, California Theater; March 7 at 6:30pm, Camera 12; March 10 at 11:45am, Camera 12
Samuel Bleak
March 5 at 7pm, California Theater; March 6 at 9:30pm, San Jose Rep; March 7 at 7pm, San Jose Rep
80 Days
Wed., March 2 at 4:15pm, Camera 12; Fri., March 4 at 4:30pm, San Jose Rep; Mon., March 7 at 4:30pm, San Jose Rep
Copacabana
Wed., March 2 at 9:15pm California Theatre; Fri., March 4 at 12:30pm, Camera 12; Mon., March 7 at 7pm, California Theatre
Midnight Son
Fri., March 4 at 9:30pm, San Jose Rep; Sun., March 6 at 6:45pm, Camera 12; Fri., March 11 at 12:30pm, Camera 12
Snow
March 3 at 9:15pm, Camera 12; Sun., March 6 at 4:15pm, Camera 12; Tue., March 8 at 2pm, Camera 12
The Snow Caveman
Fri., March 4 at 5pm, Camera 12; Tue., March 8 at 9pm, Camera 12; Wed. March 9 at 4:45pm, Camera 12
Togetherness Supreme
Sat., March 5 at 6:45pm, Camera 12; Thu., March 10 at 7:15pm, Camera 12; Fri., March 11 at 8:45pm, Camera 12
Troublemaker
Fri., March 4 at 9:30pm, Camera 12; Sun., March 6 at 1:30pm, San Jose Rep; Mon., March 7 at noon, Camera 12
The World According to Ion B.
Wed., March 2 at 2:30pm, Camera 12; Fri., March 4 at 3pm, Camera 12; Sun., March 6 at noon, San Jose Rep
Take a Chance America
March 3 at 7pm, California Theatre; Sat., March 5 at 4:15pm, California Theatre; Mon., March 7 at 9:30pm, Camera 12
Bad Behaviour
Fri., March 4 at 11:50pm, Camera 12; Tue., March 8 at 9:30pm, Camera 12; Fri., March 11 at 5pm, Camera 12
Dreaming Nicaragua
Sat., March 5 at 11:30am, Camera 12; Tue., March 8 at 7pm, San Jose Rep; Sat., March 12 at 2:30pm, Camera 12
The Happy Housewife
March 3 at noon, Camera 12; Thu., March 10 at 9:45pm, California Theatre; Sat., March 12 at 7:30pm, Camera 12
Here’s the Kicker
March 3 at 7pm at San Jose Rep; Sat., March 5 at 2pm, Camera 12; Wed. March 9 at 3:45pm, Camera 12
A Kiss and a Promise
March 3 at 7:15pm, Camera 12; Sun., March 6 at 1:15pm, Camera 12; Mon., March 7 at 2pm, Camera 12
The Life of Fish
Wed., March 2 at 4:30pm, Camera 12; March 3 at 7pm, Camera 12; Sun., March 6 at noon, Camera 12
A Little Help
March 3 at 9:15pm, Camera 12; Sat., March 5 at 9:15pm, California Theatre; Wed. March 9 at noon, Camera 12
Mamma Gogo
Wed., March 2 at 7pm, California Theatre; Fri., March 4 at 7:30pm, Camera 12; Sun., March 6 at 11:15am, Camera 12
Mystico Fantastico!
March 3 at 7pm, Camera 12; Sat., March 5 at 4:30pm, Camera 12; Tue., March 8 at 4:30pm, San Jose Rep
Nannerl, Mozart’s Sister
Sun., March 6 at 1:30pm, California Theatre; Thu., March 10 at 6:45pm, Camera 12
New York Decalogue
Sun., March 6 at 6:15pm, Camera 12; Tue., March 8 at 9pm, Camera 12; Fri., March 11 at 2:30pm, Camera 12
Poligamy
Wed., March 2 at 12:15pm, Camera 12; Thu., March 10 at 5pm, Camera 12; Fri., March 11 at 9:45pm, Camera 12
Small Town Murder Songs
Fri., March 4 at 9:30pm, California Theatre; Sun., March 6 at 4:30pm, California Theatre; Fri., March 11 at 2:45pm, Camera 12
Village Without Women
Wed., March 2 at 7pm, Camera 12; Fri., March 4 at 9:15pm, Camera 12; Mon., March 7 at 4:30pm, Camera 12
