It is that time of year once again - the annual Three Rivers Film Festival begins this Friday, November 6th and runs until Saturday, the 21st! This is the big film festival of western Pennsylvania, and I highly recommend making it out to a few of these screenings. This is an outstanding opportunity to get involved with the film community and see some of the best independently produced films out there today, some of which you may never get another chance to see again. Checkout the full schedule here! We've gone through the schedule and personally handpicked just a few of the films and events we don't want to miss, and don't want you to miss either! Check it out!
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus - Friday, Nov. 6 at 7:00 at Regent Square
The title suggests fable and adventure – and this audacious film delivers – but it's also a glorious tribute to the late Heath Ledger. Director Terry Gilliam made the inspired decision to bring in Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell to amplify Ledger's last, unfinished role. Set in present day London, this gorgeous morality tale tells the story of Dr. Parnassus (Christopher Plummer), a sideshow magician who pulls audience members onstage and sends them through a magic mirror into another world. But as a young man, Parnassus made a pact with the devil (Tom Waits, sporting a pencil-thin moustache), and began a centuries-long battle in which Parnassus is granted powers – immortality and the ability to guide the imaginations of others – but at great cost to himself and others. With a stellar cast and dazzling effects, this is the one everyone will be talking about. (Terry Gilliam; UK; 2009; 122 min) Tickets are $15. Print (above) courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
Artist Talk with Makiko Miyamoto - Saturday, November 7th, 1pm at Filmmakers Galleries (Melwood)
As part of the Opening Night festivities there will also be an artist's reception at Filmmakers Galleries (477 Melwood)at 8:30pm with New York-based artist Makiko Miyamoto for her work zoo of (in)animate. An opening night ticket is needed for this reception. Miyamoto's zoo of (in)animate will be on exhibit in Filmmakers Galleries through January 3, 2010. Her artist's talk about the work is on November 7 at 1:00pm in the gallery. Admission to her talk is FREE!
Egon and Dönci - Saturday, Nov. 7 at 2:00 and Tuesday Nov. 10 at 7:00 at Melwood
This delightful all-ages animated feature uses sounds and universal gestures, rather than dialogue, to communicate its characters' thoughts and ideas. We meet Egon, a would-be scientist and explorer, and his cat Dönci, who are the sole inhabitants of a distant planet. When an unidentified flying object with a message from Earth crashes into their planet, Egon wants to make contact with the strange blue planet. So he starts building a spaceship for intergalactic exploration, though continually thwarted by the inquisitive Dönci. Eventually, the duo reaches Earth where they get a lesson in life. A visually striking tale, yet with well-developed characters, it’s the first fully computer-generated animated film to come from Hungary. (Ádám Magyar; Hungary; 2008; 75 min) Presented in collaboration with the Arts+Technology initiative of the Pittsburgh Technology Council. Preceded by "The Dream" by Eli Kurlfink.
Link to the official site
Died Young, Stayed Pretty - Monday, November 16, 7:30pm at Melwood
One of the highlights of this year's SxSW Film Festival, Died Young, Stayed Pretty is an entertaining, rabble-rousing documentary that provides an in-depth survey of the graphic designers and artists responsible for the renaissance of indie-rock concert posters. Fueled by the lingering energies of the punk movement and tying into larger DIY scenes, the poster designers have turned silkscreen advertisements for concerts by groups like Arcade Fire, Radiohead, and Sonic Youth into artistic creations in their own right. "Never indulging in arch pretentiousness, but nevertheless revealing and revelling in all the things that a simple gig poster can be" – Vue Weekly. (Eileen Yaghoobian; USA; 2009; 95 min) Director Eileen Yaghoobian is scheduled to attend.
Competitive Shorts Program - Thursday, Nov. 19 at 7:30 and Friday, Nov. 20 at 9:15 at MelwoodSpace is devoted in the Film Festival each year for a competitive selection of shorts – a program for media artists to present work that allows them to creatively take risks, break new ground or challenge the viewer. This year we've selected 13 short films from more than 130 submissions from local, national and international artists. The categories are experimental, narrative, animation, and documentary. Prizes will be awarded (donated by Pittsburgh Filmmakers and Kodak) for first, second and third place. (Total program running time: 123 min)
The shorts include:
"The Wishing Bone" by Kevin Stock:
Plus these shorts:
"Vazaha" by Ben Hernstrom (locally known as Ambulantic for Pop City)
"Hermeneutics in Outer Space" by Sheila Ali
"An Introduction to Physics" by Caleb Foss
"The Banana House" by Hanna Dobbz
"Nello" by Kristen Lauth Schaeffer
I might also recommend a good read at Buzz, Buzz about the 3RFF which includes some great links to some of these films where you can see in them in their entirety online! Let's go to the movies!
Link
