REEL JERSEY FILM FESTIVAL-A Celebration of American Film Past, Present &  Future

SEPTEMBER 25th – 29th  at Willliams Center in Rutherford, New Jersey

bergencountyfilmcommission.org

September 25, 2008 (Thursday)

8:00 PM: Red Carpet Opening Night, Rivoli Theatre of Williams Center
Featured guest: award-winning actress Ruby Dee, recipient of the 2008 Bergen County Film Commission / Fort Lee Film Commission Barrymore Award for lifetime achievment in the American film industry.

• Oscar Micheaux’s Symbol of the Unconquered (1920) (shot in Fort Lee, New Jersey by African-American pioneer film director Oscar Micheaux).
Live Music with premiere of original score by West Village String Quartet

• New Jersey East Coast premiere: In the Shadow of Hollywood: Race Movies and the Birth of Black Cinema – NYC based African-American film historian and Micheaux scholar Pearl Bowser to moderate panel discussion prior to documentary film screening. Panelists will include award winning actress Ruby Dee (Ms. Dee appears in this documentary); film historian, author and Fort Lee Film Commission member Rutgers University professor Richard Koszarski; and a member of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, our program sponsor.

• Ms. Dee will sign copies of her book With Ossie and Ruby: In This Life Together, which will be on sale in the lobby during intermission.

Sponsor: National Coalition of 100 Black Women (Bergen County Chapter)

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September 26, 2008 (Friday)

• “Million Dollar Movie”: Gone With the Wind (1939)
Cinema 1: 10:00 AM (program runs 10:00 AM – 1:30 PM)
This screening is a prelude of the upcoming October-December “Million Dollar Movie” classic cinema series.

• Student Film Forum, presented /sponsored by Sirk Productions – Inside Reel
Cinema 2: 12 NOON – 2:00 PM
A program for Bergen County High School students. Sirk Productions of New York City will present clips from their “Inside Reel” programs and discuss the process of filmmaking to the student audience.

• Wolves of Kultur (1918) – Part 1 of 3
Cinema 1: 5:00 – 7:00 PM
North American premiere of restored serial produced in Fort Lee, New Jersey. Restoration funded in part by the Fort Lee Film Commission in association with Lobster Films and Serge Bromberg of France. Live musical accompaniment by Bergen County’s own Jeff Barker.

• The Drum Beats Twice (2008)
Cinema 3: 3:00 – 5:00 PM
Directed by New Jersey native Kenneth Del Vecchio. This film was shot in Bergen County, New Jersey and stars award winning actor Charles Durning.

• In the Shadow of Hollywood: Race Movies and the Birth of Black Cinema (encore presentation)
Cinema 2: 5:30 – 6:30 PM

• Silent (2008) (world premiere)
Rivoli Theatre: 6:30 PM – 8:45 PM
Directed by Michael Pleckaitis and shot entirely in New Jersey, this film features a unique theme – a silent film featuring one character that speaks. Red carpet premiere featuring live appearance by director Michael Pleckaitis and cast.

Weird N.J. Party / Midnight Horror Show

»click here to download PDF flyer

Friday, September 26 at 9:00 PM in the Rivoli Theatre
Two bands and a movie! Featuring live music by The Coffin Daggers and Clancys Ghost.

• Alan Rowe Kelly’s film, The Blood Shed (2007): “Just your average inbred hillbilly, cannibal family… from New Jersey!” And they’ll all be there…live in person!
• Movie trailers from your favorite “midnight movies”!

Admission $25; includes White Castle burgers, beer (provided by Anheuser-Busch), and soda (provided by Jersey’s Own Beverages). ID REQUIRED. Show your ticket stub from Friday’s party and get free admission to the Weird NJ Film Fest on Saturday!

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September 27, 2008 (Saturday)

• John Garfield Retrospective
Cinema 3: 12:00 NOON
Julie Garfield (John Garfield’s daughter) will open this program at noon.
Pride of the Marines (1945) NOON – 2:30 PM
Force of Evil (1948) 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
He Ran All the Way (1951) 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM

• “Hollywood and the Blacklist” – symposium featuring Academy Award winning actress and director Lee Grant
Rivoli Theatre: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Moderated by Victor Navasky, former editor of The Nation and author of Naming Names. Panelists to include Oscar winning actress and director Lee Grant, actress Julie Garfield (daughter of blacklisted actor
John Garfield), film historian Robert Sklar and Rutgers University professor of film Richard Koszarski. Symposium to be followed by screening of:
Down and Out in America (1986) – Academy Award winning documentary directed by Lee Grant. This is a timely reminder of the economic hardship faced by many Americans.

• “Hollywood on the Hudson”
Cinema 1: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Book signing and Q&A with film historian Richard Koszarski who has authored the newly published
book Hollywood on the Hudson. Richard Koszarski will introduce our Hollywood on the Hudson program.

• “100 Years of Film in Fort Lee”
Cinema 1: 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Centennial screening of the D. W. Griffith directed The Curtain Pole. This film, shot on the streets of
Fort Lee, New Jersey for Biograph, is considered the first American slapstick comedy and features Mack
Sennett. This program is the first in a yearly centennial celebration of films produced/shot in the
then center of American film production, Fort Lee.

• Wolves of Kultur (1918) – Part 2 of 3
Cinema 1: 1:30 PM- 3:00 PM
American premiere of restored serial produced in Fort Lee, NJ. Restoration funded in part by the Fort Lee Film Commission in association with Lobster Films and Serge Bromberg of France. Live musical
accompaniment by Bergen County’s own Jeff Barker.

• Looking for Alice (2008) (US premiere)
Cinema 2: 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Paris-based filmmaker Claudia Collao directs this documentary on the first woman director in cinema
history, Alice Guy Blache. Alice Guy Blache owned and operated Solax Studio in Fort Lee, NJ from 1912
through World War I. Ms. Collao will introduce this program and be available for a Q&A following the
screening.

• Weird N.J. Film Selection
Cinema 2: 3:30 PM – 7:00 PM (encore presentation if necessary 7:30 PM – 10:30 PM)
New Jersey: The Movie (2008)
Cinema 2 – 3:30 PM – 5:15 PM
Directed by Stephen J. Chernoski, this film explores the split personality of New Jersey via the influences of New York in the northern part of the state and Philadelphia in the southern part of the state. Director Stephen J. Chernoski to introduce film.
My Life as an Underdog (2006)
Cinema 2: 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
This is a story about Suzanne Muldowney, her art and her dream. Spanning over the course of seven
years this film follows one strangely fascinating persons struggle to find the true meaning of life. Director Boris Gavrilovic to introduce film.

• Lisa Loeb Songwriting Just For You (2008)
Cinema 1: 5:00 PM – 6:15 PM
Lisa Loeb is the first unsigned artist to top the American charts with her single “Stay” from the
soundtrack to 1994’s Reality Bites. Q&A with film director Joe Valenti.

• The Amazing Adventures of Little Batman (2008)
Cinema 1: 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
This fan-based film explores the life of a young Batman as he and the boy wonder Robin battle four
super villains in Gotham City. The entire cast was primarily 5 and 6 year olds. Co-written, directed and
shot by Joe Valenti.

• Gala Awards Ceremony and Cocktail Reception
Williams Center lobby, balcony, and the Black Box of the Rivoli
6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Tickets $100
Sponsored by the Williams Center Board and the Bergen County Film Commission. Featuring cocktail reception and live music.
– Alice Guy Blache Award recipient: Academy Award winning actress and director Lee Grant
– Reel Jersey Film Festival Award to actress Julie Garfield
– Reel Jersey Film Festival Award to LOOKING FOR ALICE documentary director Claudia Collao of Paris,
France
– Bergen County Film Commission Lewis J. Selznick Award to New Jersey Motion Picture and Television
Commission Executive Director Steve Gorelick
– Reel Jersey Best of Fest Awards to be announced

• Jersey Christmas (2008) (world premiere)
Rivoli Theatre: 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Red carpet premiere featuring live appearance by director Eric Weber and cast members. Q&A to follow screening.

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September 28, 2008 (Sunday)

• Jersey Filmmakers of Tomorrow Bergen County High School Student Film Festival
Rivoli Theatre: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Screening of student films and selection of audience choice award and award presentations.

• Filmmakers Symposium sponsored/presented by Sirk Productions – Inside Reel
Cinema 2: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Clips of soon to be released film Severe Clear; clips of Alice Guy Blache documentary currently in
production; screening of film Anytown USA. Chris Fraga, Marc Perez, and John Sikes of Sirk Productions to discuss their films and the filmmaking process.

• Wolves of Kultur (1918) – Part 3 of 3
Cinema 1– 1:00-3:00 PM
Final installment of restored movie serial. Live musical accompaniment by Bergen County’s own Jeff
Barker.

• Looking for Alice (2008)
Cinema 1: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Encore presentation. Paris-based filmmaker Claudia Collao directs this documentary on the first woman
director in cinema history, Alice Guy Blache. Alice Guy Blache owned and operated Solax Studio in Fort
Lee, NJ from 1912 through World War I.

• Do the Right Thing (1989)
Cinema 2: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
This Spike Lee directed film features great performances by Ossie Davis and Reel Jersey Film Festival award winning actress Ruby Dee.

• Silent (2008)
Cinema 3: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Encore presentation. Directed by Michael Pleckaitis and shot entirely in New Jersey, this film features a unique theme – a silent film featuring one character that speaks.

• Lisa Loeb Songwriting Just For You (2008)
Cinema 2: 6:00 PM – 7:00PM (encore presentation)
Lisa Loeb is the first unsigned artist to top the American charts with her single “Stay” from the soundtrack to 1994’s Reality Bites.

• The Amazing Adventures of Little Batman (2008)
Cinema 2: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (encore presentation)
This fan-based film explores the life of a young Batman as he and the boy wonder Robin battle four
super villains in Gotham City. The entire cast was primarily 5 and 6 year olds. Co-written, directed and
shot by Joe Valenti.

• Reel Jersey Shorts Program
Rivoli Theatre: 7:00 PM –10:00 PM
Filmmaker Doug LeClaire presents the best of current day film shorts. A highlight of this program will be two award winning short films directed by Jason Reitman who was recently nominated for an Oscar for Best Director for the hit film Juno.

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September 29, 2008 (Monday)

Outreach program to film and television production companies to encourage them to shoot and locate their studios in Bergen County.
10:00 AM – Rivoli Theatre

The Bergen County Film Commission and the Bergen County Economic Development Corporation sponsor this event jointly with assistance from the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission. This program will open with a press conference to be attended by officials including State Senator Paul Sarlo. New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission Executive Director Steve Gorelick will open the program.

Xanadu will sponsor a tour of the soon to open Xanadu entertainment complex to encourage film / TV production shoots at the complex.