PHILLY
EVENTS
Having covered last summer’s Philadelphia Independent Film Festival (PIFF) and reviewed a generous helping of its C-grade film school detritus, I can safely say that the festival’s a flurry of hit-or-miss. But amidst the amateurish acting and shaky camerawork, a few gems shine in 2010. The screenings end this Sunday, so don’t miss these local and international works by some budding cinematic geniuses – or at least imminently watchable entertainers:
The Visitors | dir. Samina Akbari | screening at Café Treece, Friday, June 25 at 7:50 pm | Sunday, June 72 at 2:00 pm, 1 hour…Philly’s lucky to be playing host to this official selection from the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. In it, a mixed-race couple living in Brooklyn cope with the burden of their disapproving families and a bevy of dark secrets. What’s more tragic: their misery lies in Brooklyn, surrounded by apathetic hipsters.
Exit 117 | dir. Kevin James McMullin | screening at Media Bureau, Saturday, June 26 | 11:30 pm, 1 hour & 15 minutes… Sweeping indie festivals from Seattle to Atlanta and charming the pants off of tri-state area audiences, Exit 117 gives Garden State a run for its money. It’s a portrait of New Jersey youth and their most intimate thoughts, experiences, and confessions. Kevin McMullin, the feature’s 21-year-old director and recent graduate of U. Penn, offers disjoint yet quaint vignettes of ten suburban teens stumbling their way into adulthood. The film certainly smacks of McMullin’s tender age, but based on this production, the kid’s going places.
Kandahar Break | dir. David Whitney | screening at Ruba Hall | Saturday, June 26 at 4:30 pm, 2 hours… Kandahar Break has already run on the BBC, CNN News, and the Berlin festival circuit, so Philly’s really no big deal. Whitney expertly crafts a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game following one British mine-clearing engineer through the deserts of Afghanistan into Pakistan as the Taliban pursues. This one’s not for the faint of heart, nor for the PTSD sufferer, but it’s a gripping tale with a subtle yet poignant political bent.
Who Killed Chea Vichea? | dir. Bradley Cox | screening at Media Bureau, Saturday, June 26 at 2:45 pm| Random Tea Room, Sunday, June 27 at 4:00 pm | Ruba Hall, Sunday, June 27 at 12:30 pm| 1 hour… The subtitle to this film, declared illegal by the Cambodian government as of May 1, reads, “A documentary about an untrue story.” I’m dying to know whodunit and who told that damn untrue story in this thorny political thriller revealing the murder of Chea Vichea, the leader of a Cambodian garment worker uprising.
Banana Bread | dir. Barton Landsman | screening at Media Bureau, Sunday, June 27 | 6:30 pm, 9 minute film followed by 1 hour discussion with director… If you don’t have time this weekend to see a full feature film at PIFF, check out this bite-sized slice of life featuring a concerned Jewish mother and her concerning Jewish son. It’s amazing how fast nine minutes can fly when you’re having fun.
For a complete list of films and more information, go here.
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Seriously, calling them a “generous helping of its C-grade film school detritus” is a retarded statement by someone who really doesn’t understand the meaning of the words “Independent Film Making” stick to the major Hollywood movies, they may just be more your style.
For the record, Kandahar Break was NEVER shown in the US, CNN, or the BBC. It ha snever been “broadcast” but has received considerable attention as it is a gritty Independent film like no other. It was rather sad that a film maker flew in from London to read your article and brought it to my attention in disgust. Makes your blog/mag look rather foolish if you ask me.
Sorry about your c-grade experience last year, I take blame for this as the Festival owner, but leave your grudge towards the programmers to digest, while at the same time kudos for your insight to Chea Vichea (South Philadelphia’s Rich Garella), Exit 117 and Banana bread… great Independent movies that deserve such attention.
You can see these films (perhaps for the first time
and others in the coming days and months at our daily #PUFF (Philadelphia Underground Film Forum) screenings at Media Bureau.
Regards,
Benjamin Barnett
Festival Director
Philadelphia Independent Film Festival
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