Kevin Carpenter, president of the Sutton-based West Virginia Filmmakers Festival, has posted the schedule of films to be shown. As yet, the 2009 WV Filmmaker of the Year has NOT been announced. As one of the three judges, I have watched several of the films and this year’s collection is outstanding. WVPBS Radio story on event.
Poster by WV filmmaker Sam Holdren
Kevin Carpenter, president and co-founder of the West Virginia Filmmakers Festival, asked me to write a short history of the festival since it is celebrating its 10th annual festival. Here are just some preliminary thoughts.
Steve Date from Minneapolis is through with his new doc, “Coalwood,” on the home town of Homer Hickam, Jr., author of “Rocket Boys” and many other books. The SCM will be showing his new film Friday October 2, at 7 PM at The La Belle Theater.( Shown the next day, Saturday, October 3, in Coalwood.) Admission is FREE. ( Read more about the film here in my previous columns.)
COMING SOON: THE 10th ANNUAL
WEST VIRGINIA FILMMAKERS FESTIVAL Sutton, WV - If you missed your chance to see the controversial new documentary “Coal Country” when it was making headlines in Charleston, you have a second chance during the 10th annual West Virginia Filmmakers Festival, which takes place October 2 - 4 in the town of Sutton in Braxton County. During the festival weekend, filmmakers and audiences will descend upon the geographical center of the state for the 2009 edition of this juried showcase of diverse works created by a variety of state film and video artists. (more…)
The first film shown at the Capitol Theater in Wheeling, WV for its “Gala Opening” on Thanksgiving Day 1928 was entitled Romance of the Underworld with Mary Astor, Robert Elliott, Ben Bard and John Boles. It will be shown on September 22 in Ohio County Public Library’s auditorium at 7 p.m. Right now, they are trying to find a piano player (yes, they have an almost brand new piano donated from one of our former trustee’s family) to play as they did at the Capitol Theater during the film. (more…)
The meeting will be on Saturday, October 3, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. in Sutton
PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release SEPTEMBER 14, 2009
FILMMAKERS IN
WEST VIRGINIA AT A CROSSROADS:
STATE ORGANIZATION TO DISCUSS FUTURE INDUSTRY NEEDSSUTTON - The future needs of professional, independent, and aspiring film and video artists in West Virginia will be discussed on Saturday, October 3, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. in
Sutton, WV during the annual membership meeting of the West Virginia Filmmakers Guild. (more…)
Belgian Embassy deputy chief of mission Sigurd Schelstraete on left, South Charleston Museum Foundation chairman Lura Watkins, and South Charleston Mayor Frank Mullens outside the New Interpretive Center
Celebrating the ONLY exhibit in the world honoring Belgian-American glassworkers, The South Charleston Museum in cooperation with many people including the New Interpretive Center, Sigurd Schelstrate, deputy chief of mission of the Embassy of Belgium in Washington, Mayor of South Charleston Mullens,DC designer Stan Bumgardner, Bob Anderson, director of the South Charleston Convention Center and made the opening of the $30,000 exhibit, “The Belgian Glassworkers and the Founding of South Charleston, 1907-28,” a great success.
Luis Argeo came to West Virginia several years ago to make a film about his Asturian relatives who had moved to central West Virginia. With the help of Chip Hitchcock and WVPBS, he made his excellent film, “AsturianUS.” ( You can see clips of the film and on the making of the film if you follow the previous link.) The film had its world premiere in Madrid and US premiere at The South Charleston Museum as part of its WV Labor Series. Now John Lilly,editor of Goldenseal magazine, has taken an article by Mr. Argeo and two stories by Raymond Alvarez to show the lost lifestyle of those Spanish immigrants to came to our state so many years ago. I highly recommend reading Lilly’s introduction and the other three stories and obtaining a copy of the film from WVPBS TV. The same fall issue has my abbreviated list of new films on WV and Appalachia, listing about 18 of the more than 50 films I have discovered or rediscovered this year. Lilly says he will post my complete list at some time.
Steve Date of Minneapolis has spent several years working on a new documentary about Coalwood, the home town of WV’s famous author Homer Hickam Jr. I write written about his film previously.I know the original book, “Rocket Boys,” was a popular and critical success, and the film version, “October Sky” also was a hit, winning many awards. ( I myself sent a copy to my father. I think that some of the subplots of the original book were dropped unfortunately. There was some controversy about why the film was not made in the actual Coalwood, but everyone should realize that when a major Hollywood film is produced, the technical realities like equipment, studio space, crew and staff are important, and that is why the film was shot outside of Nashville. Few films about any given location are every filmed in the origianl location.) Below is an e-mail I received from the director today. I am sure that many people in WV will want to see it along with “October Sky.” (more…)
The South Charleston Museum Foundation will present “Globe Trekker - Belgium and Luxembourgh,” a recent travelogue on Belgium on Saturday, September 12th, at 3 PM in The LaBelle Theater. The film will begin a three part series of events that celebrate the new “Belgian Glassworkers and the Founding of South Charleston, 1907-1928″ exhibit that will be opening following the film next door at The Interpretive Center. at 5 PM. WVPBS frequently shows Globe Trekker programs. Here is a full description of the film. Admission is free.
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