Cinefest 2011 Closing Night

I often find at the end of a film festival, some of the films I chose to see will unintentionally deal with the same topic on some level: Brother & Sister, Terri and Vampire all dealt with care for an elderly parent, two of which had Alzheimer's. Womb explored an Oedipal complex and Brother & Sister performed a staged version of Oedipus. If I thought about it longer, I'm sure I'd find more cross references.

I enjoyed my movie dates with the two "D"s - It was never intentional, but I often found myself at the same film as either David or Darryl; and they weren't stalking me either, but if we saw each other in line, we would sit together (never both at once) to watch the film and discuss after. I was going to take a picture of each of them, but for some reason, I felt odd saying "Can I take your picture for my blog?", felt it would smack of Reality TV blogging.  Although, I take pictures of people for blogging purposes all the time.

For instance, I had a great time talking to these two guys at the Closing Night Party at Positano Coast.

Adams and Dalbey

Jon Adams and Chris Dalbey (bishopdalbey) are a screenwriting team with 5 screenplays presently being shopped around.

I wanted to be sure to get a picture of the Cinefest Artistic Director, Josh Goldbloom (far right), pictured here with Jim Mahoney (Producer of Good Day For It) and Greg Dusdow.

Mahoney, Drusdow and Goldbloom

And I talked a bit with Tim who was a Jury Judge.  He recommended going to the Film Festival in Rehoboth, (November) says it's surprisingly well done each year and room rates are reasonable. I just may do that.

Tim the Juror

 Positano Coast is one of my favorite restaurants, not so much for their menu, but rather for the layout and ambiance.  The Closing Night Party was unfortunately, cash bar, but what normally is a $12 glass of wine was only $5.  Of the butlered app's my favorite were the miniature potato croquette balls, served on silver spoons, but as you can see, I got comfortable and forgot to even snap food pics.

In summary, what I experienced of Cinefest 2011, was well run and decently attended. I was disappointed no one showed up for Karoke at the Mexican Post on Wednesday, I left around 10:30pm, and there were a few too many Kung Fu movies on the schedule for my taste, but otherwise kudos to PCA for pulling off a festival in just 3 months.

Party Guest with Spurlock

I'm not going to include the closing night film: Pom Wonderful Presents the Greatest Movie Ever Sold in this post, I actually first saw the film at a press screening through Philadelphia Film Society, who also set up the interview with director, Morgan Spurlock, so that post will be up on the PFS site and T & T later this week.

Here's the list of Cinefest film's that won awards and because I like to support film in Philly, I'd like to also acknowledge the sponsors who allow it all to take place:

Best Feature Film: Lapland Odyssey
Best Documentary Film: Project Nim
Best First Film: Kinyarwanda
Best Director: Azazel Jacobs for Terri
Best American Independent Film: Hamill
Festival of Independents Award: Calendar Girl
Best Feature Film: Cost of a Soul
Best Documentary Film: The Interrupters
Best Danger After Dark Film: Stake Land

Presenting Sponsors: Philadelphia Cinema Alliance, TLA Video, Visual Sound, Scrapple TV.
Official Sponsors: Positano Coast, DIVE, State of Pennsylvania, Wells Fargo, Pennsylvania Film Office, Pennsylvania Festivals.
Patron Sponsors: FilmThreat, PIFVA, TD Bank, The Trocadero, Opa, North Bowl.
In-Kind Sponsors: Bluecoat Gin, Glaceau/Smart Water/Vitamin Water Zero, independence Visitors Center, Barefoot Wine & Bubbles, Mexican Post, Smirnoff, National Mechanics, Triumph Brewery Company, The Legal Intelligencer, The Prime Rib, Stan Gym, 24/7 Comedy Radio, Lovash Restaurant.
Industry Sponsors: Sony Pictures Classics, Magnolia Pictures, Samuel Goldwyne, Screen Media Films, Mage Works Productions, Indomina Productions, Terry Hines & Associates, The Promotions Group Corporation, IFC Midnight, Allied Advertising.
Community Sponsors: French-American Cultural Foundation, Bryn Mawr Film Institute, Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival, Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival, Arden Theatre Company, The Philadelphia Film Society, the Greater Philadelphia Film Office, City of Hope, Relache.