A total of 56 films from 16 countries, including 24 International selections, will be screened at the upcoming Derby City Film Festival, February 17th – 19th, but this year films from current and former Kentucky residents are the one’s dominating the field.
Of the films who’s filmmakers are from Kentucky, seven of them are feature films, four are shorts and one is a documentary. Another feature film “Sam Steel and the Crystal Chalice” is from New Albany filmmaker Tom Whitus and was shot in Louisville and the documentary “Bailout” is from Chicago filmmaker Sean Fahey and part of it was shot at the 2011 Kentucky Derby. “Steele”, starring Kevin Sorbo, screens on opening night and “Bailout” screens Saturday afternoon.
Also on Friday night is the film “Wid Winner and the Slipstream” from Western Kentucky native Alex O Gaynor. “Winner” tells the story of two men who embark on a cross-country journey to face the past, change the future, and collect enough used-auto parts to build a time machine. Much of the film was shot in Western Kentucky.
Four more features take the stage on Saturday including the World Premiere of “Frames” from Western Kentucky graduate Brandon Colvin. In “Frames” a young filmmaker uses his camera to transform the banality of his hometown into art. When a friend goes missing, however, his footage exposes a disturbing mystery . . . one he might be merely inventing.
Producer and St. Xaiver alum John Paul Rice brings his latest collaboration with writer and director Edgar Michael Bravo, “Mother’s Red Dress”, back to his hometown. “Red Dress” is a tragic love story/psycho-drama about a young man, Paul, who is suffering from PTSD and trying to piece together the past after seeing his mother kill her abusive boyfriend.
Louisville natives, and Ballard High graduates, Scooter Downey & Sean Elliot bring the feature “It’s in the Blood” to their hometown Saturday night. Featuring Lance Henriksen, Elliot & Rose Sirna, “Blood” tells the tale of a father and son who become stranded in the wild and must confront the horrors of their past to escape with their lives. However, this wilderness is not what it seems, and as they deteriorate, so to does their concept of reality: horrifying creatures, ghostly apparitions, is it all in their heads, or could the truth be far more terrible?
Prior to the screening actor Lance Henriksen will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the festival for his outstanding contributions to Television and film over the last 40 plus years.
Henriksen is probably best known for his role as Bishop in the “Aliens” and “Aliens vs. Predator” films and video games, but he has also appeared in the classic films “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”, “The Right Stuff” and “Terminator” among others. In the late 90’s he played Frank Black in the television series “Millennium”. and more recently he has lent his voice talents to video games like “Transformers”, “Call of Duty” and “Mass Effect”. The film and award presentation begin at 8:00 PM.
Saturday’s final film at 10:00 PM is Matt Niehoff & Brian Cunningham’s feature film “Overtime” , which was shot in Louisville and features Al Snow, John Wells & Sebrina Siegel. “Overtime” follows two hitmen who find themselves caught up in a conspiracy they never imagined which includes alien zombies. Both films are included on one ticket.
The short films from Kentucky include “Bizarnival: Tuxedos in the Attic” from Todd Sheene, Allen Martin, and Scott Stafford and three World Premieres from Louisville filmmaker and DCFF founders Kristofer & Ashley Rommel. “Please Try Again”, “Just for Today” and “Wireface: In the Beginning…” we all shot in Louisville and feature local talent. All four of the short films screen Saturday at various times. “Bizarnival” is also a nominee for Best US Short Film.
Henriksen is probably best known for his role as Bishop in the “Aliens” and “Aliens vs. Predator” films and video games, but he has also appeared in the classic films “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”, “The Right Stuff” and “Terminator” among others. In the late 90’s he played Frank Black in the television series “Millennium”. and more recently he has lent his voice talents to video games like “Transformers”, “Call of Duty” and “Mass Effect”.
Sunday features the World Premiere of former Northern Kentucky, now Cincinnati, filmmaker Isaac Stambaugh ‘s latest film “Smells Like Community Spirit” and Lexington filmmaker Michael Crisp’s documentary “Legendary: When Baseball Came to the Bluegrass”.
The 2012 Derby City Film Festival runs February 17th – 19th at the Clifton Center in Louisville, Kentucky.