Category Archives: DCIFF inside

How news does travel – Les Blank in DC

Posted on March 2, 2012 by | Comments Off

Seems that Washington DC is just awakening to the fact that the great documentary filmmaker is in the nation’s capital this week. Les Blank: Living in Film on Thursday night was followed by a screening of his film Sworn to the Drum at the Smithsonian today. Tonight’s rarely seen documentary by Les Blank - on a major rock star of the 70s, described by the Washington Post “The best film ever made on rock.” (1974/90 mins./USA) sold out quickly following yesterday’s Washington Post article.  The DC Independent Film Festival has responded by adding an extra screening of the film at noon, Saturday March 3rd. Same venue. Tickets at the festival website or directly at brownpapertickets.com.

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Eating your shoe

Posted on February 25, 2012 by | Comments Off

Les Blank, guest of honor a this year’s DC Independent Film Festival is not too concerned about how long a film is.  While television has encouraged films to fit into an exact programming format, independent film eschews such narrow confines. Perhaps the most intriguing film length is the 20 minutes Les Blank dedicated to  Werner Herzog eating his shoe.  Herzog promised to eat his shoe if a certain young American film student went out and actually made the film he was always only talking about. The young student was Errol Morris, who met the challenge with his off-beat 1978 pet cemetery documentary Gates of Heaven (and went on to make The Thin Blue Line and Fast, Cheap and Out of Control ). Les Blank then made the film of Herzog eating his shoe.

Come meet Les Blank and learn about his life through film at the DC Independent Film Festival 2012, March 1st.

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Cutting Edge Animation and Experimental Film

Posted on February 22, 2012 by | Comments Off
Animation, digital technology and imagination come together nowadays at the forefront of creativity – a place where new ideas take wing alongside new science. The DC Independent Film Festival’s Cutting Edge Program on Saturday March 3rd, 4.30pm at the US Naval Heritage Center, 701 Pennsylvania Ave, DC 20004 captures this energy. With filmmakers attending – including renowned cartoonist Patrick Chappatte – and a skype discussion with Drained director Nick Petersen and his producer, the much-loved and admired actor Jon Heder.

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World Premieres at DCIFF

Posted on February 18, 2012 by | Comments Off

Film festivals showcase both the films and the people who made them, so it is excellent that  so many filmmakers will attend the DC Independent Film Festival (Feb 29-March 4, 2012) this year.  The festival has 3 feature premieres:

The gothic vampire movie The Caretaker will be discussed by director Tom Conyers and producer Mike White who are flying in from Australia. The film is presented by the hugely successful and talented producer Jorge Sarlegui (Queen of the Damned, Dread and The Red Planet).

The Bright Side of the Moon, a visually powerful and tense psychological thriller, set in snow-bound Canada will be director Farhad Ahi’s first feature film made in North America.  Farhad Ahi  will come from Canada to present the film with director of photography Yadi Shahbazi.

Finally, DC’s own Rohit Colin Rao, brings his first feature film Ultrasonic to the screen. Shot on a micro-budget, but with macro style, this black and white film delves into conspiracy, paranoia and friendship.  Rohit Rao with cast and crew will be there to answer questions.

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