'MovieMaker' Magazine Names Indie Memphis to Its Top 50

MovieMaker, Spring 2013

The Indie Memphis Film Festival, which will mark its 16th anniversary this fall, has been named to MovieMaker magazine’s 2013 list of “Top 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee.”

The list is featured in its current issue and can be found both in print and on the website. 

For more than 10 years, MovieMaker has compiled its annual guide for aspiring independent filmmakers who hope to have their work seen by a number of festival audiences while remaining as economical as possible – a process integral to the essence of independent filmmaking. This year the magazine expanded its list from 25 to 50 festivals in “order to encompass a more diverse range of fest locations."

The Indie Memphis Film Festival was previously included as one on the magazine’s “25 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee” in 2011 and as one of the “25 Coolest Film Festivals” in 2009.

This year’s film festival will be held October 31 through November 3 and again be presented by Duncan-Williams, Inc. Films will be shown at three venues in Midtown’s Overton Square area: Playhouse on the Square, The Circuit Playhouse, and on three screens at Malco Theatres’ Studio on the Square. Additional festival events will be held at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art.

MovieMaker says it shifted “through more than 5,000 film festivals around the world, and took into account factors such as each festival’s history, prizes, judging panel and audience, the subsequent success of its alumni, and, of course, submission fees. These competitive criteria give the best festivals value that goes beyond just the numbers.”

Indie Memphis to present Double Feature on April 30: Room 237 and Antiviral at the Studio on the Square

Indie Memphis is bringing back the double feature.

Remember double features?   Older moviegoers will recall being able to watch two movies at one seating, but for the past decade or so they've become as rare as a cartoon before the main feature.

However, on Tuesday, April 30, Indie Memphis will present a double feature at Malco Theatres' Studio on the Square, with two new releases from IFC Films.

At 7 pm, Room 237 will be shown, followed at 9:15 pm by Antiviral.  Room 237 explores the hidden meanings within Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. Antiviral marked the feature film debut of Brandon Cronenberg, son of director David Cronenberg (A History of Violence, Eastern Promises, A Dangerous Method). 

Tickets for the double feature are $15 -- or $10 per film -- and are available in advance at www.indiememphis.com/ifc or at the venue beginning at 6 pm the night of the screening. A $2 discount is available for Indie Memphis members. Both films will be projected in the DCP digital format.

About the films:

Room 237 (2012, directed by Rodney Ascher) – An official Selection of the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival. In 1980 Stanley Kubrick released his classic horror film, The Shining. Over 30 years later, viewers are still struggling to understand its hidden meanings. Loved and hated by equal numbers, the film is considered a genre standard by many loyalists, while other viewers dismiss it as the lazy result of a legendary director working far below his talent level. In between these two poles, however, live the theories of ardent fans who are convinced they have decoded The Shining's secret messages regarding genocide, government conspiracy, and the nightmare that we call history. Room 237 fuses fact and fiction through interviews with the fans and scholars who espouse these theories. Ideas of five devotees of the film with wildly different ideas about its true meaning are braided together in a kaleidoscopic deconstruction of the horror classic. 

Antiviral (2012, directed by Brandon Cronenberg) – An official Selection of the 2012 AFI Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival. Syd March is an employee at a clinic that sells injections of live viruses harvested from sick celebrities to obsessed fans. Syd also supplies illegal samples of these viruses to piracy groups, smuggling them from the clinic in his own body. When he becomes infected with the disease that kills super sensation Hannah Geist, Syd becomes a target for collectors and rabid fans. He must unravel the mystery surrounding her death before he suffers the same fate. Starring Caleb Landry Jones (X-Men: First Class), Sarah Gadon (A Dangerous Method, Cosmopolis), and Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange, Time After Time).

Indie Memphis to Offer Four Classic and Contemporary Swedish Films in Celebration of Memphis in May

Indie Memphis will offer four acclaimed Swedish films next month as part of Memphis in May’s Salute to Sweden.

The series, named "Sweden @ 24 FPS" in reference to the 24 frames-per-second speed at which 35mm film is projected, will be held during four consecutive Wednesdays in May at Malco’s Theatre's Studio on the Square. All films in the series will be presented from 35mm film prints.

Ingmar Bergman's 1957 classic, The Seventh Seal, will open the series, on Wednesday, May 8, followed by Wild Strawberries on Wednesday, May 15. Sweden's 2011 Academy Award nominee, Beyond, starring Naomi Rapace who played the title role in the Swedish-language The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, screens on Wednesday, May 22. The 2010 absurdist comedy Sound of Noise closes the series on Wednesday, May 29. 

Each film will be shown twice, at 7 pm and 9:15 pm.  Tickets are $8 each and are available in advance at indiememphis.com/sweden. Indie Memphis members will have free admission with their Indie Memphis membership card, as seating permits.

All four films will be presented in Swedish with English subtitles.

During the last seven years, Indie Memphis has partnered with Memphis in May to bring World Cinema to Memphis as part of its international celebration. Last year, the series featured films from Belgium, at the Studio on the Square, the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, and the Evergreen Theatre.

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About the “Sweden @ 24 FPS” films:

The Seventh Seal (1957, directed by Ingmar Bergman) – Disillusioned and exhausted after a decade of battling in the Crusades, a knight (Max von Sydow) encounters Death on a desolate beach and challenges him to a fateful game of chess. Much studied, imitated, even parodied, but never outdone, Bergman's stunning allegory of man's search for meaning, The Seventh Seal, was one of the benchmark foreign imports of America's 1950s art-house heyday, pushing cinema's boundaries and ushering in a new era of moviegoing.

Wild Strawberries (1957, directed by Ingmar Bergman) – The film that catapulted Bergman to the forefront of world cinema is the director's richest, most humane movie. Traveling to receive an honorary degree, Professor Isak Borg is forced to face his past, come to terms with his faults, and accept the inevitability of his approaching death. Through flashbacks and fantasies, dreams and nightmares, Wild Strawberries captures a startling voyage of self-discovery and renewed belief in mankind.

Beyond (2010, directed by Pernilla August) – Loosely based on Susanna Alakoski's award-winning novel of the same name, Beyond is set in the southern Swedish town of Ystad in the 1970s. Starring Noomi Rapace of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Prometheus, the film is a gripping story of a woman's confrontation with memories from her troubled childhood.

Sound of Noise (2010, directed by Ola Simonsson and Johannes Stjarne Nilsson) – In this award-winning comedy, a tone-deaf, music-hating detective is faced with the worst case of his career when six activist drummers decide to attack the city with their music, performed on anything but ordinary instruments. Sound of Noise is a musical comedy about love, lunacy and loud drumming.

About Indie Memphis:

One of the city’s core arts institutions, Indie Memphis is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that connects indie filmmakers and film-lovers through the unique creative landscape that is the home of the Blues and the birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Through diverse year-round programming, a world-class annual festival, and on-going efforts to include new voices, new media, and new audiences, Indie Memphis enriches, inspires, and connects the Memphis community while cultivating interest in, and development of, independent film. In addition to its annual film festival, Indie Memphis presents year-round screenings and special events. For additional information, or for details about membership, visit www.indiememphis.com.

About Memphis In May:

Memphis in May International Festival, Inc. is a 501-C (3) not-for-profit, community-based organization that contributes to the economic growth of the community, fosters civic pride, promotes awareness of Memphis heritage and builds international understanding through education. In addition to the extensive education and international programs, Memphis in May also produces the city’s largest and most dynamic consumer events including The Beale Street Music Festival, the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest and the Sunset Symphony. More information can be found on the Festival’s website at www.memphisinmay.org.

Found Footage Festival returns April 15

After selling out Memphis shows in 2010 and 2011, we're bringing the Found Footage Festival back to the Studio on the Square on Monday, April 15 at 7:30 pm for an all-new showcase of videos found at garage sales and thrift stores and in warehouses and dumpsters throughout the country.

Tickets: $12 general admission and in advance / $9 for Indie Memphis members at the door.  ** Admission restricted to those 18 and older. **

Curators Joe Pickett (The Onion) and Nick Prueher (Late Show with David Letterman) will be on hand to host the screening and provide their unique observations and commentary on these found video obscurities. 

From the curiously-produced industrial training video to the forsaken home movie donated to Goodwill, the Found Footage Festival resurrects these forgotten treasures and serves them up in a lively celebration of all things found.

Since its first tour in 2004, the Found Footage Festival has gone on to sell out hundreds of shows across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., including the HBO Comedy Festival at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal. The festival has been featured on National Public Radio, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and G4 TV’s Attack Of The Show, and has been named a critic’s pick in dozens of publications, including The Village Voice, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle (“Riotous!”), AVClub.com (“Skull-crushingly funny.”), The Stranger, and The Chicago Tribune.

Indie Memphis filmmaker Alan Spearman receives Metropolitan Bank's third annual Emmett O'Ryan Award

2013 Emmett O'Ryan Award nominees: Jared Small, Alan Spearman, Eli Gold, Bill Price

Indie Memphis filmmaker Alan Spearman recently received the third annual Emmett O’Ryan Award for Artistic Inspiration, given by Metropolitan Bank to an emerging artist for his or her work that also bears promise for future artistic significance. The honor comes with a $2,000 cash award and Indie Memphis, as the nominating organization, receives $500.

Alan, an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and photojournalist, made his directorial debut in 2007 with the Indie Memphis Film Festival award-winning feature film, Nobody. In 2012, he completed five short films including As I Am, a project recently named by the video-sharing website Vimeo as one of its top 12 videos of 2012. The film follows Chris Dean, the Booker T. Washington High School student who introduced President Barack Obama at his high school graduation. It is a poignant depiction of the battle of everyday life  faced by children who grow up on the streets of South Memphis.  As I Am won both the Audience Award for Hometowner Film and the Jury Award for Best Hometowner Documentary Short at the 2012 Indie Memphis Film Festival. 

The "Emmett" Award was created is in honor of the late Emmett O’Ryan, a founding board member of Metropolitan Bank. Mr. O’Ryan was an avid art collector and artist. Metropolitan Bank created this award to honor Mr. O’Ryan and his contribution to the community. The winning entry and artist is selected by committee composed of Metropolitan Bank associates, a member of the ArtsMemphis Board or Directors and a member of Mr. O’Ryan’s family.

“Emmett O’Ryan was not only a very influential founding board member of Metropolitan, but he was a friend to many of us,” said Phillip May, Metropolitan’s Memphis President.  “It is important to us that we continue to honor his contribution to both the bank and to the arts.  We are grateful to ArtsMemphis and the nominating organizations for their help in making this event a reality, and we were thrilled once again with the quality of the nominees and the impact they are each having on the city of Memphis.”

Area nonprofit visual arts organizations are eligible to nominate affiliated artists for the Emmett O’Ryan Award. Other artist nominees this year included: Thomasin Durgin, nominated by the UrbanArt Commission; Elisha Gold, nominated by Crosstown Arts; Andrew Meers, nominated by the Metal Museum; Bill Price, nominated by Memphis College of Art; and Jared Small, nominated by the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art.

ArtsMemphis is hosting an exhibition showcasing the works of 12 Emmett nominees and recipients from the past three years. The exhibition is open 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m., Monday - Friday, through March 29 at ArtsMemphis, 575 South Mendenhall. It is free and open to the public.

About Metropolitan Bank:

Metropolitan, the banking subsidiary of Metropolitan BancGroup, Inc., is a $720 million financial institution. After its successful acquisition of Bancsouth Financial Corporation and its subsidiary, Bank of the South, in 2008 and its acquisition of a Tennessee state bank charter, Metropolitan currently operates seven full-service banking offices in Mississippi and Tennessee. Metropolitan offers a full range of financial products and services, including personal and business transaction accounts, online and mobile banking and bill payment, mortgages, home equity lines of credit, construction, commercial and consumer financing, treasury management, Xpress deposit, remote deposit capture and merchant card services. For more information, visit www.themetropolitanbank.com.

About ArtsMemphis:

Since 1963, ArtsMemphis has raised funds to ensure excellence in the arts and to build a vibrant cultural community for everyone. During FY12, ArtsMemphis allocated more than 95 percent of its annual campaign, in addition to enhancement funds from the historic Memphis for the Arts endowment campaign, to distribute $4 million, including more than 100 grants to 60 local arts and culture groups in 10 categories. For more information, visit www.artsmemphis.org. 

Indie Memphis Sets 2013 Festival Dates, Prize List Grows

The Indie Memphis Film Festival, nationally-ranked as one of the “25 Coolest Film Festivals” by MovieMaker magazine and named a “Top 20 Event” by the Southeast Tourism Society, has set October 31 through November 3 as the date for this year’s event.

The festival, presented again by Duncan-Williams, Inc., will award a total of $6,000 in cash – up from $2,000 in 2012. Duncan-Williams, Inc., an investment banking firm headquartered in Memphis with offices in ten states has been the festival’s presenting sponsor since 2011.

Indie Memphis, marking its 16th anniversary, will show films at three venues in Midtown’s Overton Square area, including Playhouse on the Square, The Circuit Playhouse, and on three screens at Malco Theatres’ Studio on the Square.  Additionally, related events will be held at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art.

The cash awards at this year’s festival include:

• $1,000 presented by Duncan-Williams, Inc. for the Duncan-Williams Scriptwriting Award
• $2,000 presented by the Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commission for Best Hometowner Feature ($1,000), Best Hometowner Narrative Short ($500), and Best Hometowner Documentary Short ($500)
• $1,000 presented by Classic American Hardwoods for Best Documentary Feature
• $1,000 for Best Narrative Feature
• $500 for Best Narrative Short
• $500 for Best Documentary Short

Last year’s film festival attracted 11,028, shattering the record of 8,000 set in 2011 – a 37.5 percent jump in attendance. The 2012 festival was held November 1 through 4.

“From the enthusiastic support of the Memphis business community to the unprecedented increase in attendance, we couldn’t be happier with the continued success of the festival,” said Erik Jambor, executive director of Indie Memphis.

Central to the festival’s growth was the new Innovation component, which presented a program of panel discussions and presentations by innovation and technology leaders, including FedEx CIO, Rob Carter; Google’s Head of Strategic Planning, Agency Development, Abigail Posner;  Digitas VP of Brand Content, Eric Korsh; and Hustle and Flow filmmaker Craig Brewer.

The festival also featured a "48-Hour Hack" presented in collaboration with LaunchMemphis and sponsored by Microsoft, as well as a series of Microsoft education and training opportunities. 

With a focus on regional filmmaking from all parts of the country, the festival brings a broad range of dynamic and engaging independent features, documentaries and short films to Memphis from across the country, transforming the city into a connecting point for filmmakers, musicians, artists, and audiences.

Festival sponsorships are now available. Those interested in joining Duncan-Williams, Inc. and other corporate sponsors, partners and patrons in supporting the 2013 Indie Memphis Film Festival should contact Indie Memphis executive director Erik Jambor by email at erik@indiememphis.com.

2012 Indie Memphis Film Festival Breaks Attendance Record

The 15th annual Indie Memphis Film Festival held earlier this month attracted 11,028, shattering the record of 8,000 set in 2011, according to final figures announced today.

Marking its 15th anniversary this year, the festival’s ticket and pass sales grew by more than 60 percent. The new mark for the four-day event represents a 37.5 percent jump in attendance over last year.  The festival, which was presented by Duncan-Williams, Inc., was held November 1 through 4.

“From the enthusiastic support of the Memphis business community to the unprecedented increase in attendance, we couldn’t be happier with the success of this year’s festival,” said Erik Jambor, executive director of Indie Memphis. “We look forward to expanding the festival in 2013, and engaging even more of Memphis in our year-round programs and special events.”

Central to the festival’s growth was the new Innovation component, which presented a program of panel discussions and presentations by innovation and technology leaders, including FedEx CIO, Rob Carter; Google’s Head of Strategic Planning, Agency Development, Abigail Posner;  Digitas VP of Brand Content, Eric Korsh; and Hustle and Flow filmmaker Craig Brewer.

The festival also featured a "48-Hour Hack" presented in collaboration with LaunchMemphis and sponsored by Microsoft, as well as a series of Microsoft education and training opportunities. 

The 2012 festival, which was named a "Top 20 Event" by the Southeast Tourism Society, included 39 feature films and about 70 shorts at four locations:  Playhouse on the Square, the Circuit Playhouse, the Malco Studio on the Square and the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art.  The event has been recognized by MovieMaker magazine as a "Coolest Film Festival" and a "Best Film Festival Investment." 

Also new this year was the festival’s award sculptures, designed and created by Yvonne Bobo and commissioned by Duncan-Williams, Inc.  The awards were presented by a jury of noted filmmakers and industry leaders, including Oscar-winner Dan Lindsay (Undefeated), Oscar-nominee Bruce Sinofsky (Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory), screenwriter Larry Karaszewski (Man on the Moon, The People vs Larry Flynt), music supervisor Joe Rudge (Beasts of the Southern Wild), and Zoetrope All-Story editor Michael Ray. 

Jury award-winners included the United States premiere Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me (Best Documentary Feature), Alex Karpovsky’s Red Flag (Best Narrative Feature), Sun Don't Shine (Nice Shoes Award), Redlegs (Duncan-Williams Scriptwriting Award), Throat Song (Best Narrative Short), and Open Five 2 (Best Hometowner Feature). Audience Awards were led by C. Scott McCoy's documentary, Antenna, about the famed Memphis rock club, and Dustin Hoffman's directorial debut, Quartet.  For the complete list of winners, visit click here.

Sponsors and supporters of the 15th annual Indie Memphis Film Festival included Duncan-Williams, Inc., Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, ArtsMemphis, Combustion, Malco Theaters, Microsoft, Modern Production Concepts, Nice Shoes, Nolan AV, Playhouse on the Square, Comcast, Elvis Presley Enterprises, FedEx, Hohenberg Foundation, Launch Memphis, Loeb Properties, Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau, Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commission, The Memphis Flyer, SAGIndie, Tennessee Arts Commission and WKNO-FM.

New Events, Noted Films Await Visitors as 4-Day Indie Memphis Film Festival Begins Thursday

A lineup of 40 features and 70 shorts will be screened at four locations beginning Thursday (November 1) at the 15th annual Indie Memphis Film Festival.

Presented by Duncan-Williams, Inc., the four-day festival has added a new innovation and technology program to its usual schedule of independent film screenings and live musical performances. Innovation topics range from digital storytelling and data management to the innovation economy and inclusive innovation.

Venues for this year’s festival are Playhouse on the Square, the Circuit Playhouse, Malco’s Studio on the Square, and the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. 

For the complete schedule, as well as information concerning tickets, passes, the innovation and technology events, and even the jurors, visit indiememphis.com.

This year’s fest will include the U.S. premiere of Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me, a film about a 1970s Memphis rock band. The film, which will be shown opening night at Playhouse on the Square, had its world premiere in London earlier this month.  Also on Thursday, the 900 minute documentary The Story of Film: An Odyssey begins its six-part screenings at the Brooks Museum of Art.

Part One of the gigantic undertaking will be shown at 10:15 am and Part Two at 6:15 pm.  The initial segment will show that ideas and passion have always driven film more than money and marketing. It includes the very first movie stars, close ups and special effects, and creation of the Hollywood myth. 

Part Two includes the Roaring 1920s when Hollywood became a glittering entertainment industry with star directors such as Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. But the gloss and fantasy was challenged by movie makers like Robert Flaherty, Eric Von Stroheim and Carl Theodor Dreyer, who wanted films to be more serious and mature. This was a battle for the soul of cinema. This resulted in some of the greatest movies ever made.                 

Of special interest to Indie Memphis fans will be Craig Brewer’s Indie Origins, a 90-minute program of short films from the early days of the fifteen-year-old festival. Memphis filmmaker Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow, Footloose) will chronicle the films and filmmakers that inspired him at the beginning of his career.

Indie Memphis’ new innovation and technology events, which complement the independent and creative spirit of the film festival, include topics ranging from design trends and digital storytelling to data management and the innovation economy, in addition to screening independent films and showcasing musical acts. The speakers for these new events come from top companies such as FedEx, Microsoft, IBM, Google, BBDO and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, among others.              

Two noted documentary filmmakers, Daniel Lindsay and Bruce Sinofsky, whose films both were nominated for Academy Awards last year after earlier screening at the 2011 Indie Memphis Film Festival, will serve as jurors at this year’s festival, which will be held November 1 through 4.            

Lindsay was co-director of Undefeated, which won the 2011 Academy Award for Documentary Feature. Sinofsky was co-director of the Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory, which also was nominated for best documentary.

In all, 14 jurors will participate in this year in the city’s nationally-ranked film festival, named one of the “25 Coolest Film Festivals” by MovieMaker magazine and a “Top 20 Event” by the Southeast Tourism Society.

Indie Memphis Teams up with FedEx and Microsoft to add Technology and Innovation to Festival

The 15th Indie Memphis Film Festival, presented by Duncan-Williams, Inc., has added new innovation and technology events this year on topics ranging from design trends and digital storytelling to data management and the innovation economy, in addition to screening independent films and showcasing musical acts.

The speakers for these new events come from top companies such as FedEx, Microsoft, Google, BBDO and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, among others.

The new innovation events complement the independent and creative spirit of the established Memphis festival, which takes place November 1-4th. Memphis has an entrepreneurial spirit that goes back to the beginnings of FedEx, Holiday Inn and even Elvis’ rock n’ roll. That melding of art and new ideas is part of the festival’s plans this year.

“With the digital convergence of film, music and interactive media, it has been part of our long-term plan to add an Innovation/Technology component to the Indie Memphis festival,” says Iddo Patt, Indie Memphis board president. “So when Kevin Mireles of FedEx approached us this summer with an idea for how to get it done in time for this year's festival, we jumped at the chance. With the help of FedEx, Microsoft and LaunchYourCity, we've been able to put together a concentrated program that would be the envy of any media and technology conference and will be a springboard to engaging the entire community in the creativity and innovation that are part of the soul of Memphis.”

The highlights of the innovation/technology events include:

• Thursday, November 1: Microsoft Experience Center and Windows 8 Boot Camp with hands-on opportunities with some of their newest technologies and products

• Friday, November 2nd: Creative Conversations: a series of panels focused on innovation, digital storytelling, innovation economy with FedEx CIO, Rob Carter; Google’s Head of Strategic Planning, Agency Development, Abigail Posner; Digitas VP of Brand Content, Eric Korsh; and BBDO Chairman and Chief Creative Officer, David Lubars. Also a session on Inclusive Innovation: finding new ways to make a difference and ensure everyone is able to participate in the innovation economy, with speakers Kimberly Bryant (Black Girls Code), and FedEx’s Sherry Aaholm; Microsoft’s John Daly on big data. And more…

• Friday, November 1-4: LaunchMemphis 48 Hour Hack where developers and diverse professionals can work with Windows 8 App to build apps, video games and web tools over the course of a single weekend

The festival will take place in Overton Square, with sessions held at theaters in the area including Playhouse on the Square, Studio on the Square and Circuit Playhouse. 

Festival and Patron Passes include admission to Thursday and Friday’s innovation events, as well as film screenings and music activities throughout the weekend. The film schedule will be available October 5. Last year’s festival attracted a record-setting crowd of more than 8,000 attendees with high-profile screenings including Oscar-winner Undefeated and Oscar-nominee Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory.

Alloy Orchestra Returns to Memphis in October For Performance of ‘The Complete METROPOLIS'

The Alloy Orchestra, a hit during their first two appearances at the Indie Memphis Film Festival, will return to Memphis next month, just two weeks before the festival’s 15th annual event.  The acclaimed group will perform its original score to Fritz Lang’s complete Metropolis at 8 pm, Wednesday, October 17 at the Malco Paradiso.

The performance is being presented by Indie Memphis and is made possible through the support of Dorothy Kirsch. Admission is $15 per person and $12 for Indie Memphis members. “Earlybird tickets” are available at a $2 discount through Thursday, October 4.

Called “the best in the world at accompanying silent films” by noted film critic Roger Ebert, the Alloy Orchestra performed at the Indie Memphis Film Festival in 2006 and again in 2009.  The Alloy Orchestra is a three-man musical ensemble, which writes and performs live accompaniment to classic silent films. Working with an outrageous assemblage of peculiar objects, they thrash andgrind soulful music from unlikely sources.

Performing at prestigious film festivals and cultural centers in the US and abroad (The Telluride Film Festival, The Louvre, Lincoln Center, The Academy of Motion Pictures, the National Gallery of Art and others), Alloy has helped revive some of the great masterpieces of the silent era.

Alloy began their career with their score for Metropolis in 1991.  The group has worked with 4 different versions of the film, including the newest “complete” version, released in 2010.  Alloy was invited in that year to perform their newest reworking of their score, at the TCM Classic Film Festival’s American premiere of the new restoration.  The packed house at Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Los Angeles, gave the musicians an enthusiastic standing ovation – a response that has been repeated many times as the group has toured with the magnificent film.

Craig Brewer’s Party to Offer Peek at This Year’s Indie Fest

Movie fans who can’t wait for the Indie Memphis 15^th annual film festival in November can get an advance peek a month earlier along with  live music, great food, movie trailers, door prizes and special screenings at a one-of-a-kind party on Beale Street hosted by filmmaker Craig Brewer.

The noted Memphis film director and screenwriter, whose rise to international stardom began with the Indie Memphis Film Festival, invites members and supporters to “Craig Brewer’s Indie Memphis Peep Show” on Thursday, October 4, from 7 pm to 9 pm at the historic A. Schwab, the 136-year-old store at 165 Beale Street.

The party is a special members-only event, but anyone can purchase a one-year $50 membership that includes a Festival Tripper Ticket, which provides access to non-gala films and panels at this year’s festival. The 15^th annual Indie Memphis Film Festival will be held November 1 through 4 and presented by Duncan-Williams, Inc.

“My party is actually a way to build membership and have an amazing evening at the same time,” says Brewer. “Indie Memphis has been a huge factor in my career and I want to play a role in its fantastic growth. This is a great way to kick off its 15^th anniversary.”

Brewer will preview some of the highlights of the festival for the party guests, and preside over entertainment including live music and the Sock It To Me Burlesque Troupe. In addition, members at the party will have the opportunity to buy specially discounted higher-level pass packages to the festival.

Indie Memphis Names Director of Operations

Mandy McBroom, who has been involved as a film festival professional since 2000, has been selected by Indie Memphis as its Director of Operations. 

McBroom, who attended Watkins Film School in Nashville until 2000, will be the first full-time staff member to hold the position at Indie Memphis. 

McBroom joins the organization after serving as Festival Director of the Nashville Jewish Film Festival from 2009-2011 and working at the Nashville Film Festival for eight years (2000-2009), where her responsibilities included Office / Membership Manager, Festival Coordinator, Shorts Programmer, Print Traffic Coordinator and Box Office Manager. She has also worked seasonally at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. 

Indie Memphis will hold its 15th annual film festival November 1 to 4, presented by Duncan-Williams, Inc.

Indie Memphis Concert Film Series adds The Who and Led Zeppelin to its August schedule

The Who in Texas, 1975. Courtesy of the Shelley Archives.

Indie Memphis, which opens its popular free Concert Film Series at the Levitt Shell on Saturday, July 21 with Stop Making Sense, announced today that its August screenings will include rare performances by The Who and Led Zeppelin, both from the Shelley Archives.

The Who Live in Texas 1975, screening on Saturday, August 11, captures the group at the height of their musical powers in the mid-1970s in Houston, Texas, and includes “Baba O’Reilly,” “Behind Blue Eyes,” “Won’t Get Fooled Again” as well as selections from Tommy and Quadraphenia. It is one of the last great Who concerts with the late Keith Moon.

Led Zeppelin in Concert: Rare Films 1968-1980, screening on Saturday, August 18, includes some of the most complete and rare performance footage of Led Zeppelin from television, concert tour, and in-studio films. The show includes “Whole Lotta Love,” “Dazed and Confused,” “Black Dog,” Misty Mountain Hop,” “Kashmir,” “Moby Dick,” and “Stairway To Heaven.”

Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, 1977. Courtesy of the Shelley Archives.

All the films in the summer series will begin at dusk, and are free to the public. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. This summer’s program is the series’ second season and is sponsored by Orion Federal Credit Union, Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc., Red Wax Music, Modern Production Concepts, Rock 103 and the Memphis Flyer.

Saturday’s film, Stop Making Sense, hosted by Orion Federal Credit Union, is the acclaimed Talking Heads concert film by filmmaker Jonathan Demme (Silence of the Lambs), called the “greatest concert movie of all time” by Rolling Stone magazine.

The July 28 event, also hosted by Orion Federal Credit Union, is a special screening celebrating the 45^th anniversary of the Monterey Pop festival with Jimi Hendrix and Otis Redding’s full performances from the famed 1967 festival, as documented by filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker in Jimi Plays Monterey and Shake! Otis at Monterey.

On August 4 the series continues with Elvis On Tour, hosted by Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. in anticipation of Elvis Week, which is August 10-18. The Golden Globe Best Documentary winner chronicles Presley’s whirlwind 15-city, 15-night 1972 tour.

Indie Memphis Concert Film Series returns to the Levitt Shell on Saturday, July 21 with 'Stop Making Sense'

Indie Memphis officials announced today that the popular free Concert Film Series will return again this summer with the first event to be held Saturday, July 21.

This summer's program will be the series second season at the Levitt Shell and will be sponsored by Orion Federal Credit Union, Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc., Red Wax Music, Modern Production Concepts, Rock 103, and the Memphis Flyer.

The films will begin at dusk and admission is free to the public. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

The series will open with two screenings hosted by Orion Federal Credit Union: Stop Making Sense on Saturday, July 21, and a special screening celebrating the 45th anniversary of the Monterey Pop festival on Saturday, July 28. 

Stop Making Sense is the acclaimed Talking Heads concert film by filmmaker Jonathan Demme (Silence of the Lambs), called the "greatest concert movie of all time" by Rolling Stone magazine. The Monterey Pop screening features Jimi Hendrix and Otis Redding's full performances from the famed 1967 festival, as documented by filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker in Jimi Plays Monterey and Shake! Otis at Monterey.

"Orion is excited to team with Indie Memphis to continue our support of the arts in Memphis. And what better way to do it than under the stars at one of our most legendary musical landmarks," said Daniel Weickenand, CEO of Orion Federal Credit Union."

On Saturday, August 4 the series continues with Elvis On Tour, hosted by Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. in anticipation of Elvis Week, which is August 10-18. The Golden Globe Best Documentary winner chronicles Elvis Presley's whirlwind 15-city, 15-night 1972 tour.

"Elvis Week 2012 is the 35th Anniversary and will be the largest gathering of Elvis fans from around the world that we've ever seen," said Scott Williams, Vice President of Marketing for Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. "This screening will be a great way for those of us in Elvis' hometown to come together and commemorate his remarkable career."

The series will continue through the remaining Saturday nights in August, with additional titles to be announced soon. Memphians will be able to help fund the final shows of the season with their contributions. 

2012 Global Lens Film Series kicks off June 7 at the Brooks

This summer, Indie Memphis continues its year-round collaboration with the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art by presenting the 2012 Global Lens Film Series, a ten-film program which showcases award-winning narrative feature films from Albania, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Iran, Iraq, Mexico, Morocco, Rwanda and Turkey. The series is sponsored by the Global Film Initiative and the Memphis Flyer. Screenings will take place at the Brooks' Dorothy K. Hohenberg Auditorium; admission is $8, $6 for members of the Brooks, and free for Indie Memphis members.

The lineup this year is really going to surprise audiences,” says Susan Weeks Coulter, Board Chair of the Global Film Initiative. “The cinematics are strong, the tone is fresh and the stories are thought-provoking and unlike anything we’ve seen before.

The series opens on Thursday, June 7 with a 7 pm screening of Amnesty (Official Albania Submission, 84th Academy Awards), Bujar Alimani’s sensitive chronicle of life and love in the Albanian prison system. The series runs through July and August, concluding on Friday, August 31 with a 2 pm screening of Tolga Karaçelik’s acclaimed Turkish “everyman” story, Toll Booth.

The 2012 Global Lens Film Series features numerous festival heavyweights, including Iranian newcomer Morteza Farshbaf’s darkly comic road trip, Mourning (FIPRESCI Prize and New Currents Award, 2011 Pusan IFF), Paula Markovitch’s picturesque and beautifully acted Argentine political drama, The Prize (Silver Bear, 2011 Berlin IFF and Best Film, 2011 Morelia IFF), and Pegasus (Golden Stallion, 2011 FESPACO and Best Cinematographer, 2010 Dubai IFF), Mohamed Mouftakir’s atmospheric psychological thriller about tribes and tradition in present-day Morocco.

The series also features four critically acclaimed films by first-time directors, including Gustavo Pizzi’s colorful rendering of artistic angst and ego in Rio de Janeiro, Craft (Best Actress, 2010 Rio de Janeiro IFF), Carlos Osuna’s charming Colombian rotoscope, Fat, Bald, Short Man (Official Selection, 2011 Chicago IFF), and Grey Matter (Best Actor and Special Jury Mention, 2011 Tribeca FF), the first feature-length narrative film from Rwanda to be directed by a native Rwandan (dir. Kivu Ruhorahoza).

The 2012 lineup is rounded out by Oday Rasheed’s moody Baghdad portrait of an assassin and his relationship with a troubled family, Qarantina (Official Selection, 2010 Abu Dhabi FF), and Sergio Teubal’s offbeat yet true-to-life fable of small town politics and finger-pointing, The Finger (Best First Feature Film, 2011 Guadalajara IFF).

Thursday, June 7 | 7 pm and Friday, June 15 | 2 pm
AMNESTY (AMNISTIA)
Director: Bujar Alimani
Albania | 2011 | 83 minutes
A new law allowing conjugal visits in Albanian prisons presents the opportunity for a sympathetic affair between a man and woman visiting their incarcerated spouses—until a prisoner amnesty threatens their fragile new bond.

Thursday, June 21 | 7 pm and Friday, June 29 | 2 pm
CRAFT (RISCADO)
Director: Gustavo Pizzi
Brazil | 2010 | 85 minutes
A struggling actress and celebrity impersonator lands an audition and what may be her “big break” after an inspired director recasts his film around her socially marginalized life as an underrated artist in Rio.

Thursday, July 5 | 7 pm and Friday, July 13 | 2 pm
GREY MATTER (MATIÈRE GRISE)
Director: Kivu Ruhorahoza
Rwanda | 2011 | 110 minutes
After government officials decline to support his project, a determined filmmaker enlists the support of a loan shark to finance his trenchant drama about the aftermath and impact of genocide on a brother and sister.

Saturday, July 14 | 2 pm and Friday, July 20 | 2 pm
THE FINGER (EL DEDO)
Director: Sergio Teubal
Argentina | 2011 | 93 minutes
In the face of electoral fraud and intimidation, the severed finger of a respected local leader points the way forward for independent-minded citizens and their town’s quest for democracy after dictatorship.

Thursday, July 19 | 7 pm and Friday, July 27 | 2 pm
FAT, BALD, SHORT MAN (GORDO, CALVO Y BAJITO)
Director: Carlos Osuna
Colombia | 2011 | 91 minutes
In this animated film, the prospects for a lonely middle-aged notary unexpectedly change after he joins a self-improvement group and his charismatic new boss—and strangely affable doppelgänger—takes an interest in his life.

Saturday, July 28 | 2 pm and Friday, August 3 | 2 pm
MOURNING (SOOG)
Director: Morteza Farshbaf
Iran | 2011 | 85 minutes
In the wake of his parents’ disappearance, a young boy is placed in the care of his deaf aunt and uncle who, during a road trip to Tehran, engage in a silent but apparently not-so-secret debate about the child’s future.

Saturday, August 4 | 2 pm and Friday, August 10 | 2 pm
PEGASUS (PEGASE)
Director: Mohamed Mouftakir
Morocco | 2010 | 104 minutes
A young woman, traumatized by her dictatorial father’s insistence she be raised as a boy, finds herself the unwitting patient of a psychiatrist intent on learning the truth behind the girl’s story.

Saturday, August 11 | 2 pm and Friday, August 17 | 2 pm
THE PRIZE (EL PREMIO)
Director: Paula Markovitch
Argentina/Mexico | 2011 | 115 minutes
A political activist’s life-in-hiding on an isolated stretch of Argentina’s coastline is jeopardized after her seven-year-old daughter is selected to participate in a local school’s patriotic essay contest.

Saturday, August 18 | 2 pm and Friday, August 24 | 2 pm
QARANTINA
Director: Oday Rasheed
Iraq | 2010 | 90 minutes
A sullen assassin, living above a dysfunctional family in Baghdad, captures the attention of the household’s unhappy mother, setting a dangerous stage for confrontation with the family’s lecherous father.

Thursday, August 30 | 7 pm and Saturday, September 15 | 2 pm
TOLL BOOTH (GISE MEMURU)
Director: Tolga Karaçelik
Turkey | 2010 | 96 minutes
An aging toll booth attendant, straining under the weight of a domineering father and suffocating work routine, finally begins to crack when faced with the emotional pressure of an unexpected romance.

Indie Memphis Film Festival a "Top 20 Event"

The Indie Memphis Film Festival, nationally-ranked as one of the "25 Coolest Film Festivals" by MovieMaker magazine, has been named one of the "Top 20 Events in the Southeast" for the month of November by the Roswell, Georgia-based Southeast Tourism Society.

A non-profit organization founded in 1983 and dedicated to the promotion and development of tourism through the Southeast, the Southeast Tourism Society is composed of about 800 organizations representing travel-related businesses in 12 states.

Indie Memphis, which will mark the festival's 15th anniversary this November 1 - 4, has added The Circuit Playhouse to the list of festival venues that also includes Playhouse on the Square, Malco Theatre's Studio on the Square, and the Dorothy K. Hohenberg Auditorium at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art.

The inclusion on the Southeast Tourism Society's list is the third honor Indie Memphis has received since last year's festival. The non-profit organization was awarded a $10,000 grant by the Academy Foundation of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organization that holds the Academy Awards.

Indie Memphis also was honored by Carnival Memphis with an Award of Excellence in recognition of outstanding achievement and service to the movie & film industry and the mid-south community.

"It is an honor to have our festival recognized by the Southeast Tourism Society in time for its 15th anniversary this November," said Indie Memphis executive director Erik Jambor. "Our secret Midtown event is becoming less and less of a secret."

Indie Memphis partners with The Orpheum for new "Indie Memphis Cinema Social Club"

The Orpheum Theatre has revealed the lineup of films it will present during its 2012 summer movie series and also announced it will partner with Indie Memphis on a new project called the “Indie Memphis Cinema Social Club.”

The Orpheum’s annual summer film series, this year called “Cults, Classics and Concerts,” will feature a number of movies it has not previously shown, such as O Brother, Where Art Thou? and The Princess Bride as well as the highly popular movies it screens every season, including Gone With the Wind and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The series will run from May 25 to September 14.

“In response to a number of requests we’ve received, The Orpheum this summer is going to offer a new series for those interested in independent films, an area of the industry that has shown amazing growth during the past few years, “ said Pat Halloran, Orpheum President & CEO. “We’re excited about teaming with an outstanding organization such as Indie Memphis to offer this series.”

Jam-packed with classic movie hits and cult favorites, The Orpheum's 2012 series of “Cults, Classics and Concerts,” will offer big entertainment at a small price. In addition to award- winning, critically acclaimed classic films, The Orpheum offers pre-show activities such as trivia contests, fashion shows, themed costume contests, vintage film shorts, and even a mini-concert on The Orpheum's own Mighty Wurlitzer Organ before select feature films.

Established for those who enjoy the edgy side of independent film, Indie Memphis Cinema Social Club events will be held on four Thursday nights during the summer. Films in the series will begin at 7:30 p.m. Each evening’s film will be preceded by a themed social hour that will include special libations and live music in the lobby of The Orpheum. The series will include four acclaimed features, including Donnie Darko and Pulp Fiction. All tickets will be $7 each at the door. Indie Memphis members will receive a $2 discount with their valid membership card. The price of the ticket includes the social hour which will begin at 6:30 p.m.

“We are thrilled to team up with The Orpheum to present the Indie Memphis Cinema Social Club,” said Erik Jambor, Executive Director of Indie Memphis. “The series will be a fun opportunity for indie film fans to see some of their favorites the way they were meant to be seen – on the big screen.”

Tickets for both the Summer Classic Movie Series and the Cinema Social Club are just $7 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under and may be purchased at The Orpheum Theatre Box Office two hours prior to movie start time. Doors open one hour prior to movie start time. A 10-ticket pack is available for $50 in advance at The Orpheum Theatre Box Office or the ticket counter at The Booksellers at Laurelwood and may be used in any combination for any movie in the series. For more information, please call (901) 525-3000 or visit www.orpheum-memphis.com.

Oscar-nominated animator Don Hertzfeldt to Appear in Memphis on April 18

Cult animator and Academy Award nominee Don Hertzfeldt will make a one-night appearance in Memphis at the Studio on the Square at 7 pm, Wednesday, April 18.

The event, “An Evening With Don Hertzfeldt,” is presented by Indie Memphis, the ArtsMemphis supported 501(c)3 non-profit organization which runs the annual Indie Memphis Film Festival, celebrating its 15^th anniversary this November.

Advance tickets are available here for $10 plus service fees. Indie Memphis members may purchase their tickets at a $2 discount.

Hertzfeldt’s Memphis visit is part of a nationwide theatrical tour in support of his latest film, the 23-minute “It’s such a beautiful day,” the third and final chapter in a trilogy about a mysterious man named Bill.  In 2008 and 2009, Hertzfeldt went on a similar 22-city theatrical tour in support of the second chapter in the series, “I am so proud of you,” which screened as part of the 2009 Indie Memphis Film Festival. The April 18 event is the tour’s first stop in Memphis.

During “An Evening with Don Hertzfeldt,” the entire animated trilogy will be screened together for the first time using new 35 mm prints, along with a selection of Hertzfeldt’s earlier work.  An on-stage interview and audience chat will immediately follow the screening.

Hertzfeldt, 36, is the creator of many short animated films, including the Academy Award-nominated “Rejected.” His animated films have been presented around the world and have received more than 150 awards, including a Short Film Palm D’or nomination at the Cannes Film Festival (“Billy’s Balloon”), the Sundance Film Festival’s Jury Award in Short Filmmaking (“Everything will be OK”), and Best Picture and Best Screenplay from the Fargo Film Festival (“I am so proud of you”). Before the age of thirty, his films already were the subject of several career retrospectives.

Hertzfeldt was the youngest director named in the “They Shoot Pictures, Don’t They” list of the “100 Important Animation Directors” of all time and. In 2010, he received the San Francisco International Film Festival’s “Persistence of Vision” Lifetime Achievement Award at the age of 33.

The Indie Memphis Film Festival, nationally-ranked as one of the “25 Coolest Film Festivals” and “25 Best Film Festival Investments” by MovieMaker magazine, has set November 1 through November 4 as the date for this year’s 15^th annual festival. For 2012, Indie Memphis has added The Circuit Playhouse to its list of festival venues that also includes Playhouse on the Square, Malco Theatre’s Studio on the Square, and the Dorothy K. Hohenberg Auditorium at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art.

AFFT Industry State Town-Hall Meeting streaming live at 1 pm

The AFFT Industry State Town-Hall Meeting at the Belcourt Theater in Nashville from 1 pm - 2:30 pm.

If you're not able to make it in person, you can watching live at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/afft-meeting. A video of the meeting will also be posted on the AFFT website.

For more info, read John Beifuss' article in today's Commercial Appeal here, and the Nashville Scene's recent coverage here.

For more info, contact Jan Falk, AFFT W. TN board member at gandjfalk@comcast.net

Indie Memphis Adds Craig Brewer, Gary Lendermon to Board

Filmmaker Craig Brewer and Duncan-Williams, Inc. marketing and communications vice president Gary Lendermon, have accepted invitations to join the board of directors of Indie Memphis, the ArtsMemphis supported 501(c)3 non-profit organization which runs the Indie Memphis Film Festival and other year-round programs.

The 15^th annual Indie Memphis Film Festival – set to take place November 1-4 at the Playhouse on the Square, The Circuit Playhouse, the Studio on the Square, and the Brooks Museum of Art – is a two-time Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences grant recipient, nationally ranked by MovieMaker magazine as one of the “25 Coolest Film Festivals” and “25 Best Film Festival Investments.”

“We are thrilled to have Craig Brewer and Gary Lendermon join our board of directors,” said executive director Erik Jambor of Indie Memphis. “Their experience and expertise will help our organization continue its growth and better serve the Memphis community.”

Other Indie Memphis board members include Les Edwards, Erin Hagee, Kerry Hayes, Adam Hohenberg, John Hubbell, Dorothy Kirsch, Pat Mitchell Worley, Susan Murrmann, Iddo Patt and Jason Wexler.

Craig Brewer

Craig Brewer wrote and directed the critically acclaimed, Hustle & Flow, which won the Audience Award at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival and the Academy Award for best song for "Hard Out Here For A Pimp." He moved on to direct Black Snake Moan with Samuel L. Jackson, Christina Ricci, and Justin Timberlake. His remake of Footloose, starring newcomers Kenny Wormald and Julianne Hough, was released in theaters in October 2011. Born in Virginia, Craig moved to Northern California and spent his childhood summers in Memphis. He grew up writing and directing plays in school, ultimately landing at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco before moving back and settling in Memphis with his wife, Jodi. After his father's untimely death, Craig used the small inheritance to make his first feature, shot on digital video, The Poor & Hungry, which became a hit on the festival circuit. Currently, he is writing Tarzan for Warner Brothers. 

Gary Lendermon

Gary W. Lendermon joined the firm in 2005 to oversee all facets of the growing regional firm’s internal and external communications and marketing efforts.  He has more than 30 years of experience in the marketing and communications field, having served as a divisional president for Archer Malmo, a Memphis, Tenn.-based AAAA advertising agency. He began his career in advertising with an international marketing services firm in New York and graduated at the University of Memphis with a bachelor’s of science degree. 

Film submissions are now being accepted from filmmakers who wish to hold their Memphis premiere at the Indie Memphis Film Festival this November. The festival’s “earlybird” deadline is Wednesday, March 7 with entry fees of $35 for feature films and $25 for short films; the final deadline is Wednesday, June 20 with entry fees of $70 for feature films and $60 for short films. Films made by Memphis-area filmmakers may submit their work in the Hometowner category at special discounted rates. Submissions are accepted through Withoutabox.com, with full details available at on the Indie Mephis website at www.indiememphis.com.

Awards include $25,000 in color grading and finishing services from Nice Shoes in NYC, a $1,000 cash prize for the winner of the Duncan-Williams Scriptwriting Award, and more to be announced.  Travel and lodging is provided for competition feature filmmakers participating in the festival’s “Filmmakers Asking Questions” program, funding by the Academy of Motion Art and Sciences.

Duncan-Williams, Inc., an investment banking firm headquartered in Memphis that has offices in ten states and provides financial advisory services, returns as presenting sponsor of the 2012 Indie Memphis Film Festival. With a focus on regional filmmaking from all parts of the country, the festival brings a broad range of dynamic and engaging independent features, documentaries and short films to Memphis from across the country, transforming the city into a connecting point for filmmakers, musicians, artists, and audiences.

Festival sponsorships are currently available. Those interested in joining Duncan-Williams, Inc. and other corporate sponsors, partners and patrons in supporting the 2012 Indie Memphis Film Festival should contact Indie Memphis executive director Erik Jambor by email at erik@indiememphis.com or by calling (901) 214-5171.