BIFF 2007 Programming as of 3/30/07

FEATURE FILMS
Alice’s ant (US, 1969)
Arthur Penn Tribute Film
Directed by Arthur Penn
Written by Arlo Guthrie (song The Alice’s Restaurant Massacree), Venable
Herndon and Arthur Penn (screenplay)

Based on Arlo Guthrie’s epic song about getting arrested for littering in
Stockbridge, Mass., on Thanksgiving and the attendant results (including
being refused for military service in the Vietnam draft), Arthur Penn’s
Alice’s Restaurant—for which he was nominated for his second Academy Award
for Best Director—vividly captures the so-called “generation gap” with
colorful detail and great sympathy, while at the same time functioning as
something of an elegy for a counterculture on its last legs. Filmed in and
around Stockbridge, the movie features cameos by legendary folksingers
Pete Seeger and Lee Hays as well as Stockbridge police Chief William
“Obie” Obanhein, in his real-life role as the arresting officer. And Arlo,
of course, plays himself, as only Arlo can.

Arranged (US, 2007) - East Coast Premiere
Written and Directed by Stefan Schaefer
Two young women – one an Orthodox Jew, the other Muslim – meet and
become friends as first-year teachers at a public school in Brooklyn. Over the
course of the year they learn they share much in common, not least of
which is that they are both going through arranged marriages. Filmmaker in
attendance.

Bonnie and Clyde (US, 1967)
Arthur Penn Tribute Film
Directed by Arthur Penn
Written by David Newman, Robert Benton
More than just a retelling of the real-life legend of Depression-era bank
robbers Clyde Barrow (Warren Beatty) and Bonnie Parker (Faye Dunaway),
Arthur Penn’s Bonnie and Clyde was a landmark film, ushering in the era of
the “New Hollywood” and making stars of Penn and the cast, which also
included Gene Hackman and Estelle Parsons, who won an Oscar for Best
Supporting Actress. The taboo-breaking film is most notorious for its
blend of humor and graphic violence (which now seems tame in the era of
Quentin Tarantino, who was obviously greatly influenced by Penn), but its
most enduring feature is its anti-Establishment viewpoint, in which what’s
good is bad and what’s bad is good—an obvious commentary on the Vietnam
War and one that presciently prefigured the coming decade of government
scandals.

Broken English (US, 2006) – Regional Premiere
Written and directed by Zoe Cassavetes
In a startling mature and nuanced performance, Parker Posey plays Nora
Wilder, a thirty-something Manhattanite who is cynical about love and
relationships, in this astute collaboration with first-time
writer/director Zoe Cassavetes. Nora plugs away at her job in a posh
downtown hotel and can’t help but wonder what it is she has to do to find
a relationship as ideal as her friend Audrey’s (Drea De Matteo) “perfect
marriage.” It doesn’t help that her overbearing mother (Gena Rowlands)
takes every opportunity to remind Nora that she’s still unattached. After
a series of disastrous first dates, she meets Julien (Melvin Poupaud), a
seemingly devil-may-care Frenchman with a passion for living. Expecting
another disastrous ending, Nora tries to avoid making the same mistakes.
She finds herself in Paris looking to break old patterns. Inevitably,
Nora has to look inward before she can find a new outlook on life and most
importantly, love.

Cook Off! (US, 2007) – East Coast Premiere
Directed by Guy Shalem
Written by Cathryn Michon, W. Bruce Cameron, Wendi McLendon-Covey based
on the book “The Grrl Genius Guide to Life” by Cathryn Michon
Gluttony! Lies! Pay-offs! It’s not a presidential election; it’s the Van
Rookle Farms Cook-Off! Since 1952, Van Rookle Farms has hosted its annual
competition, where amateur chefs across America make their Van Rookle
inspired recipes. The stakes are high this year, with the largest cash
prize to date – one million dollars! A troupe of zany characters cooks
till the drop, while cameras converge in this cut-throat two-day
competition.
Writer and cast in attendance.

The Curiosity of Chance (Belgium, 2006) - Regional Premiere
Written and Directed by Russell P. Marleau
An already ‘out’ and eccentric teenager recruits a bizarre circle of
friends – made up of two oddball outcasts, a straight jock he’s crushing
on and a drag queen – to help him bring down the homophobic bully
threatening his would-be peaceful, high-school existence. Combine teen
angst, 80’s style and music with the flare of drag queens and what do you
get? The Curiosity of Chance. It’s like a John Hughes film that couldn’t
be made in the 80’s.

Drop Back Ten (US, 2007) – World Premiere of the Director’s Cut
Written and Directed by Stacy Cochran
Drop Back Ten is the story of a writer and his subject. Pete Barnes
(James LeGros) loses his newspaper job in the first frames of the movie
but quickly lands a magazine assignment, and is quickly dispatched by its
editors to write a celebrity profile, a flattering piece about an emerging
teen “star.” Pete soon discovers the star’s producers are as hard to
handle as the elusive young actor himself – and Pete is promptly fired,
rehired and sidetracked by the piece he is determined to write. A tale of
the pursuit of a story, Drop Back Ten reveals the heartbeat of that story
in its final moments when an unexpected character is disclosed as the
story’s uncelebrated, but clear-eyed, witness. Filmmaker and cast in
attendance.

Eagle vs. Shark (New Zealand, 2006) - Regional Premiere
Written and Directed by Taika Waititi
From New Zealand comes a wickedly offbeat love story – a funny, fractured
romance between two total misfits, woven into an all-consuming quest for
revenge, and shot through with the strange, sweet hilarity of the human
condition. Eagle vs. Shark introduces the original and delightfully
different vision of writer/director Taika Waititi, a young Kiwi comic star
who won and Academy Award nomination for his short film Two Cars, One
Night, which premiered to acclaim at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival.

Exiled (Hong Kong, 2007) - Regional Premiere
Directed by Johnny To
Written by Kam-Yuen Szeto, Tin-Shing Yip
For the first time since The Mission in 1999, Anthony Wong (Infernal
Affairs) and Francis Ng (Infernal Affaiars 2) once again team up with
Johnnie To and his regulars in another action-packed ensemble piece
Exiled. The time is 1998. The setting is Macau. Every living soul jumps
at every chance to make quick money before the Portuguese colony ushers in
a new ear under the Chinese rule. Fro the jaded hit men, they wonder
where this journey will end. Against this background of fin-de-siecle
malaise come tow hit men from Hong Kong set to take out a renegade member
trying to turn over a new leaf with his wife and newborn baby. They soon
find themselves in the throes of a dilemma when two of their former
associates also show up, intent on thwarting them at every cost.
Four Friends (US, 1981)

Arthur Penn Tribute Film
Directed by Arthur Penn
Written by Steve Tesich
Academy Award-winning screenwriter Steven Tesich (Breaking Away) and
Oscar-nominated director Arthur Penn team up for this “charming, powerful”
coming-of-age story to set against the protest, prosperity and broken
promises of the ‘60s. Coming to America with big dreams, young Danilo
stands before a future of endless possibilities…until he falls in love
with Georgia. A free-spirited flower child, Georgia loves
everyone…including Danilo’s two best friends! But their friendships are
strained when she becomes pregnant by one and marries another. Hurt and
despondent, Danilo begins an angry search for someone to fill the
void…until the friends’ fateful paths cross once again for a last,
explosive encounter. Cast in attendance.

The Go Master (China, 2006) – Regional Premiere
Directed by Tian Zhuangzhuang
The Go Master, the long-anticipated new film by acclaimed 5th Generation
Chinese director Tian Zhuangzhuang (Horse Thief, The Blue Kite, Springtime
in a Small Town), is based on the true-to-life story of the world’s most
renowned master of the ancient game of Go, Wu Qingyuan. Go, a table game
requiring intense stamina, energy, emotions, strategy and intellect from
its players, was developed in ancient China but found a new home in
post-Meiji Japan, where its adherents treated its rules and regulations in
a fashion far stricter and more disciplined than that of its Chinese
roots.�

Wu, a native of China, emerged as a prodigy who, at a young age, moved to
Japan and rose to prominence as the top Go player in the world. In Japan,
Wu overturned the established traditions and strategies of this ancient
game, earning multitudes of fans and enemies along the way. Set against
the backdrop of the tumultuous Sino-Japanese history of the 20th century,
he remained in Japan in spite of the politics and continued his passion
for the game. Wu never returned to live in China again, making him a
controversial figure in both countries. Now well into his 90s, he
continues to reside in Japan playing Go, writing strategy books and living
the life of The Go Master.

The Last Train (Germany, 2006) - Regional Premiere
Written by Steve Glantz
Directed by Dana Vavrova, Joseph Vilsmaier
For Christmas in 1937, Goebbels gave Hitler a complete set of Mickey Mouse
films.� For Hitler's 54th birthday, he decided to give him a Judenfrei
Berlin.  The Last Train tells the story of four families on that last
desperate train from Berlin to Auschwitz. One of life's most bitter
ironies is that under the most dire of circumstances, love for family and
children is most exquisite and even more than the will to live drives
husbands and wives, fathers, mothers, lovers to ruthless action and
compromised morality. And even as they try to save themselves amid the
thirst, hunger and heat, life goes on in the train.� Children are bored.�
Diapers need to be changed. And memories of past happiness become almost
as powerful as the present horror.Almost.
Writer in attendance.

Little Red Flowers (China, 2006) - Regional Premiere
Directed by Zhang Yuan
Written by Wang Shuo, Ning Dai, Zhang Yuan
Qiang is a four-year-old little rebel, possessed of a pair of luminous
eyes and a precociously indomitable will. His father deposits him at a
well-appointed residential kindergarten in post-1949 Beijing, since his
parents are often away. Life at the kindergarten appears rich and
colorful, made up of a variety of cheerfully sunny rituals and games meant
to train these children to be good members of society. But it’s not so
easy for Qiang to adapt to this kind of carefully organized, minutely
scrutinized collective life. A fierce individualist in miniature, he tries
but fails to conform to the model his teachers enforce. Yet he still
craves the reward that the other students win: the little red flowers
awarded each day as tokens for good behavior. Will he succumb to the
adult-enforced conformity around him, or will he insist on growing up his
own way, by his own rules?

Made in Brooklyn (USA, 2007) - World Premiere
Written and Directed by Luca Palanca
Made in Brooklyn is four stories that take place in Brooklyn, NY all
revolving around a cute little girl and her foul mouth mother selling
lemonade. Our first story sets the tone of nice guys finish last,
starring Michael Rispoli and Kathrine Narducci. Our second story stars
John Enos and Richard Portnow telling us you can take the guys out of
Brooklyn but you can never take the Brooklyn out of the guys. Our third
story is your fish out of waterstory when four neighborhood guys�leave
their street in Brooklyn for the first time and decide to go camping,
starring Luca Palanca, Peter Dobson, Costas Mandylor and Joe Tabbanella.
Our final story is about two hit-men who use music to hide their fears.
All stories are shot on location with five different directors. Filmmaker
in attendance.

The Orange Thief (US/Italy, 2006) - Berkshire Premiere
Written and Directed by Vinnie Angel, Boogie Dean, Arthur Wilinski
Indelible characters populate the world of The Orange Thief a cocky,
irrepressible and penniless young man who dreams of owning a piece of his
beloved Sicilian land.� And it is here, in Sicily, where we meet the fiery
and sensual Rosalba whose songs melt the heart of the murderous "Turrido,
the Smooth Blade" philosopher and brute, imprisoned for life.� Here
characters carry with them their dreams, be it salesman who wanders the
countryside selling socks, the tourist whose shirt holds strange secrets,
or the gentle prison guard singing sweetly to himself.
This is a world infused with magic realism.� Utterly delightful,
imaginative, and bold, this gem of a film features live music and singing
integral to the narrative and impossible to forget.� The making of the
film is nearly as remarkable as the film itself.� A seamless collaboration
between three filmmakers using untrained but abundantly talented actors,
this is a wildly original and truly independent endeavor. Filmmaker in
attendance.

Rocket Science (US, 2006) - Regional Premiere
Official Opening Night Selection
Written and Directed by Jeffery Blitz
A teenager tackles the mysteries of life, love and public speaking in
Rocket Science, a wry comedy of adolescent angst by Jeffrey Blitz,
director of the Academy Award®-nominated documentary Spellbound. Making
his feature narrative debut, Blitz leaves behind the conventions and
clichés of coming-of-age tales to instead conjure a world where everyone,
regardless of age, is befuddled by desire and the longing for human
connection. Mixing humor with a compassionate regard for his characters
and their idiosyncrasies, Blitz creates a film about the little insights
that can emerge from, and ultimately eclipse, the agonies and
disappointments of youth.�

Strike (Germany, 2006) - East Coast Premiere
Directed by Volker Schloendorff
Written by Andreas Pflueger, Sylke Rene Meyer
This is the story of Agnieszka - the smallest crane operator in the world,
an orphan who becomes a mother, a refugee who finds a home, an illiterate
who writes history. On the one hand the film deals with the paradigmatic
aspect of history, that is, the recurring genesis of political movements.
First come the dreamers, then the rebels, then the radicals and finally
the politicians. And they remain. In the civil rights movements, the Green
parties, the French Revolution, the Russian Revolution and so on… And it
is often the women who start the ball rolling. It is always those who
follow their calling; the secular saints - they are the people whose
strength and vision empower countless others.

On the other hand, Strike is an uplifting story of personal courage.
Agnieszka’s was a constant uphill struggle. She was an illiterate, an
orphan, a poor and lonely soul who could just as easily have ended up as
an alcoholic, a broken and embittered woman. That is what is so wonderful
and enchanting about her life - and so inspiring: each and every one of us
can change the world.

The Ten (US, 2006) - Regional Premiere
Directed by David Wain
Written by David Wain and Ken Marino
The Ten is comprised of ten blasphemous and hysterical stories inspired by
the Biblical Commandments, each told in a different style, but with the
characters and themes that overlap. The film is held together by a
narrator (Paul Rudd) who, in turn, has his own moral problems.

Vier Minuten (Germany, 2006) - East Coast Premiere
Written and Directed by Chris Kraus
Jenny is young. Her life is over. She killed someone. And she would do
it again. When an 80-year-old piano teacher discovers the girl’s secret,
her brutality and her dreams, she decides to transform her pupil into the
musical wunderkind she once was.

DOCUMENTARIES

Children of the War (US, 2007) – East Coast Premiere
Directed by Alexandre Fuchs
Hijos de la Guerra (Children of the War) is a feature length documentary
film about the world’s largest and most violent street gang: the Mara
Salvatrucha, also known as MS-13. The MS-13 gang spans the Americas with
an estimated membership of 100,000 people across the United States and
Central America. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has declared the
MS-13 the fastest growing and most violent street gang in the United
States.

The Mara Salvatrucha was formed in Los Angeles in the late 1980s by
Salvadoran Civil War refugees as a means to protect themselves from rival
ethnic gangs. The newly formed gang channeled the widespread trauma of a
genocidal civil war on entire generations of orphaned and abandoned
children into fanatical violence. This formed the basis for MS’s explosive
growth.
Filmmaker in attendance.

Crazy Love (US, 2006) – Regional Premiere
Directed by Dan Klores and Fisher Stevens
Written by Dan Klores
Dan Klores’ Crazy Love tells the astonishing story of the obsessive
roller-coaster relationship of Burt and Linda Pugach, which shocked the
nation during the summer of 1959. Burt, a 32 year-old married attorney
and Linda, a beautiful, single 20 year-old girl living in the Bronx had a
whirlwind romance, which culminated in a violent and psychologically
complex set of actions that landed the pair’s saga on the cover of endless
newspapers and magazines. With the cooperation of the principles, Burt,
now 79, and Linda, 68, Klores examines the human psyche and the concepts
of love, obsession, insanity, hope and forgiveness.

Darius Goes West (US, 2007) - Berkshire Premiere
Director: Logan Smalley
Where would you go if you’d never been away from home? What would you do
if you didn’t have much time left? DARIUS WENT WEST! Meet 15-year-old
Darius Weems from Athens, Georgia, who was born with Duchenne Muscular
Dystrophy (DMD), the most common fatal genetic disorder to affect children
worldwide. In 1999, he watched his beloved older brother, Mario, pass away
from the same disease at age 19. Soon after, Darius lost use of the
muscles in his legs and had to begin using a wheelchair. A group of
Darius’s college-age friends decided there was no need for his quality of
life to disintegrate along with his muscles. In the summer of 2005, they
rented a wheelchair-accessible RV and took Darius, who had never seen
mountains, the ocean or even crossed a state line, on the adventure of a
lifetime. They also found joy, brotherhood and the knowledge that life,
even when imperfect, is always worth the ride.
Filmmaker in attendance.

Falling Down Stairs (Canada) – Berkshire Premiere
Jacob’s Pillow Collaboration
Directed by Barbara Willis Sweete
Renowned cello virtuoso Yo-Yo Ma embarks on intense year long
collaboration with choreographer Mark Morris, which culminates in a
spectacular performance, conceived especially for film. Falling Down
Stairs follows Mark and Yo-Yo from city to city, documenting their
collaborations with remarkable intimacy, humor and candor.

Fully Awake: Black Mountain College (USA, 2007) – Premiere
Directed by Cathryn Davis Zimmer and Neeley House
Fully Awake: Black Mountain College is a documentary film about an
experimental college in North Carolina from 1933 to 1957. During its
short existence, Black Mountain College significantly affected the
American art scene, creating new models of artistic production that
altered the very definition of “art.” A haven for the avant-garde, the
college’s curriculum inspired collaboration and innovation. Attendees
included Buckminster Fuller where he built his first geodesic dome, John
Cage who staged the first multimedia “happening,” and the Black Mountain
Review published early Beat poets long before their work garnered
attention elsewhere. Fully Awake: Black Mountain College explores this
vibrant community, focusing on the college’s unique educational style and
the long reaching influence of its radical pedagogy. Filmmaker in
attendance.

Ghosts of Cite Soleil (Denmark/US, 2006) – Regional Premiere
Directed by Asger Leth, Milos Loncarevic
Billed as a Caribbean epic of family, love and violence, Ghosts of Cite
Soleil takes us inside the lives of the notorious gang leaders who
dominate the Haitian slum of Cite Soleil. The foot soldiers of the gang
leaders are known as chimeres (or “ghosts”) and it was those ghosts that
former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide is said to have employed to
silence his opponents. Shot in the months leading up to the overthrow of
Aristide in 2004, this captures the smoldering tensions between two gang
leaders and their love for the same woman.

Have You Seen Andy? (US, 2006) - Berkshire Premiere
Directed by Melanie Perkins
Have You Seen Andy? Is the personal story of a childhood friendship
abruptly ended by the tragic abduction of a young boy. On a hot summer
day in August 1976, a ten year-old Andy Puglisi was playing along with
dozens of other children at the Higgins Memorial Pool inn Lawrence,
Massachusetts. The suddenly, he disappeared. Twenty-two years later,
filmmaker Melanie Perkins, Andy’s childhood friend, begins her search for
answers in this powerful feature-length doc. Filmmaker in attendance.

Hunt Angels (Australia, 2006) – Regional Premiere
Directed by Alec Morgan
Rupert Kathner and Alma Brooks were the Bonnie and Clyde of Australian
showbiz. He was an artist (although some might say con artist!) and a
dreamer. She was a secretary at the local film studios, with a mysterious
past and enough sass to get what she wanted. When they met in the late
1930s, a revolutionary duo was born.

In the Shadow of the Moon (UK, 2006) - Regional Premeire
Directed by David Sington
In the Shadow of the Moon is an intimate epic, which vividly communicates
the daring and the danger, the pride and the passion, of this
extraordinary era in American history. Between 1968 and 1972, the world
watched in awe each time an American spacecraft voyaged to the Moon. Only
12 American men walked upon its surface and they remain the only human
beings to have stood on another world. Now for the first, and very
possibly the last, time, In the Shadow of the Moon combines archival
material from the original NASA film footage, much of it never before
seen, with interviews with the surviving astronauts, including Jim Lovell
(Apollo 8 and 13), Dave Scott (Apollo 9 and 15), John Young (Apollo 10 and
16), Gene Cernan (Apollo 10 and 17), Mike Collins (Apollo 11), Buzz Aldrin
(Apollo 11), Alan Bean (Apollo 12), Edgar Mitchell (Apollo 14), Charlie
Duke (Apollo 16) and Harrison Schmitt (Apollo 17). The astronauts emerge
as eloquent, witty, emotional and very human.�
In the Shadow of the Moon features exclusive NASA film footage including
astonishing space shots re-mastered from the original film rolls to reveal
the Apollo program with a visual clarity and impact it has never had
before. The mute 16mm rolls shot in Mission Control have been
painstakingly lip-synced with the 16-track audio recordings of the mission
controllers’ voice loop to re-unite the pictures and sound of many
historic moments for the first time, lending a striking immediacy to many
dramatic scenes.�

Invisible Wings (US/Berkshire) - World Premiere
Jacob’s Pillow Collaboration
Directed by Nuria Olive-Belles
One of the most uniquely inspired dance works of all time, Invisible Wings
makes a triumphant return to the Berkshires, first showing in this
remarkable documentary at the Berkshire International Film Festival and in
live performances at Jacob’s Pillow in August. Says choreographer Joanna
Haigood, who oversaw the film of her production, “When I first learned of
the Pillow’s historical connection to the Underground Railroad, I felt as
if I had found the missing link in my understanding of its sanctuary-like
atmosphere. For me, the atmosphere is also apparent in its history of
spiritual investigation and practice as seen in the dances of Ted Shawn
and in the artistic exploration that continues there today. My motivation
and inspiration for this project lie in our social need to recognize and
celebrate our histories—to illuminate and enrich our present through our
past. In this particular situation, I feel that there is a great
opportunity to unite 200 years of characters, stories, and place through
performance and at the same time reveal and preserve an important part of
our national heritage. The spirit of the Underground Railroad was driven
by compassion, respect, and cooperation between many kinds of people. With
the performance of Invisible Wings we celebrate its success through songs,
dances, and stories of the time. We dedicate this work to all of our
ancestors.”�

Lake of Fire (US, 2006) - Regional Premiere
Director: Tony Kaye
Ever since Roe v. Wade, the United States has been deeply divided on the
issue of abortion. In that landmark case, an unmarried woman was refused
an abortion in Texas. The judicial challenge that followed won women the
right to legal abortions. Proponents and opponents have lined up on either
side of the issue ever since, launching verbal abuse – and worse – at each
other. As the religious right has increasingly flexed its power, the issue
has become even more divisive – and violent.

Tony Kaye, best known for American History X, has been working on this
documentary for the past fifteen years. The film is shot in a steely black
and white; its monochromatic scheme is entirely apt and acts as a
counterpoint to its subject. While many try to treat the topic as a simple
question of right and wrong, Kaye goes out of his way to probe the
complexities of the issue; there are many shades of grey to the debate. He
gives time to both sides, and if his own viewpoint ultimately becomes
clear, he scores no easy points at anyone’s expense.

Interviewing a range of individuals – from fundamentalist Christians to
professors of sociology, philosophy and bioethics; from hardcore
pro-lifers to equally impassioned pro-choice advocates – Kaye splices into
what motivates both sides. It is in the grey areas that we find some of
the most interesting commentary, much of which is provided by Noam
Chomsky, who intelligently dissects the issue. Kaye also devotes time to
nurses and doctors who have been threatened, some wounded or killed in
attacks on their lives and clinics.

This is not a film for the faint-hearted; be warned that there are graphic
images of termination procedures and their aftermath. Kaye endeavors to
show abortion’s physical and psychological reality – to make clear what
exactly is at stake. Lake of Fire – the titles comes from one person’s
description of what awaits abortionists in hell – is measured, intelligent
and feels suitably objective regardless of one’s own position. A brave
film, it will prompt serious debate.

The American Elm: Majestic, Imperiled, Renewed (US, 2007) - Regional
Premiere
Directed by Dan Smith

The American Elm: Majestic, Imperiled, Renewed chronicles the rich legacy
of America’s most popular and loved urban tree, its decimation from Dutch
elm disease, and the discovery of disease-tolerant elms at a time when
cities are most in need of tough, fast-growing, large-canopy trees.� The
Berkshire region’s contribution to elm lore is featured prominently in the
film, from Sheffield’s planting of 1,000 trees during the Tree Bee of 1846
to the work today of Elm Watch, founded by photographer Tom
Zetterstrom, who’s work has put the Baldwin Hill elm image in top museums
across the world. � �Filmmaker in attendance.

The Men Who Danced (US, 1985) - Berkshire Premiere
Jacob’s Pillow Collaboration
Directed by Rob Honsa
The Men Who Danced presents the story of the first all-male dance company
in the United States, known as Ted Shawn’s Men Dancers.� This
award-winning film includes historic footage of the company performing in
the 1930s, capturing the beauty and rigor of Shawn’s choreography.�
Additionally, it tells the story of Jacob’s Pillow, from the time it was
an abandoned farm that Shawn purchased to house his new dance company to
the world-renowned festival it is today.� Highlights of the film include
interview segments with eight of the original Shawn dancers at a 50th
anniversary reunion at The Pillow in 1982, as well as rare archival films
and contemporary footage of these same dances being revived at the
festival.

Ted Shawn’s Men Dancers existed as a company for only seven brief years,
but the group’s impact has endured even as American male dancing has come
a long way in subsequent decades.� The Men Who Danced captures the early
struggle and the vibrant personalities engaged in the battle, while also
addressing the evolution and legacy of a concept that is still evolving
today.� Without Shawn, the American male dancer would not have achieved
his fullest sense of maturity and independence, and Jacob’s Pillow would
not be the international center for dance that it has become.
John Gruen of Dance Magazine called this film, “One of the most authentic
records we have of a most remarkable chapter in dance history” while the
Dance Films Association’s Deirdre Towers called it “unusually touching.”
Filmmaker in attendance.

The Music Inn (US, 2007) – Regional Premiere
Directed by Ben Barenholtz
Tucked away amidst the gently rolling Berkshire Mountains, in Lenox,
Massachusetts, something magical happened between 1951 and 1960 at a place
called Music Inn. Under the stewardship of Stephanie and Philip Barber,
Music Inn marked a turning point in the history of music in America.�
Virtually next door to the Boston Symphony’s Tanglewood Music Festival,
the Inn evolved from a midsummer haven for some of America’s greatest jazz
and folk musicians and performers, through a period of jazz and folk
“Roundtables” and then “Workshops” including scholars and critics,
culminating in the first School of Jazz -- where earnest and talented
students learned from and performed with accomplished masters. Frequent
participation of students and performers from Tanglewood stimulated
cross-fertilization between classical music and jazz. Music Inn was an
undeniable force in the emergence of jazz from crowded and smoky urban
clubs into concert halls.

During a decade rife with paranoia and finger pointing, an era of
anti-Communism, anti-“Other” fervor, Music Inn was a bold experiment.�
There, aspiring musicians learned from the very best.� Students and
faculty, young and old, rich and poor, white and black, communed together,
learned together and jammed together.� Careers were launched and legends
were made.� Music Inn harbored a racial and cultural harmony that defied
its surrounding environment and, for a brief time, music was all that
mattered. Filmmaker in attendance.

Nerves of Steel (Australia, 2007) - US Premiere
Directed by Andrea Ulbrick
The sport of Skeleton is a head-first, full-throttle slide down a winding,
icy track, known as one of the most dangerous and demanding sports there
is. And, for four fearless young women from Australia’s beaches, it’s
their unexpected chance to Olympic glory. Even though they’ll work
together to qualify for the Games, in the end, only one will be selected
to compete. Handpicked for the challenge, science is now pushing them to
new extremes. This exhilarating documentary follows the fate of the team
– the athletes, manager and coach – as they hurtle towards the 2006 Torino
Winter Games, tracking both the scientific juggernaut and the
all-too-human drama. Cast member in attendance.

Park Avenue Cubists (US/Berkshire, 2007) - World Premiere
Directed by James Christe
Written by T.W. Timreck
Rare, vintage film footage from the 1930s and 40s, artfully re-mastered,
tells the story of the glamorous artistic couple Suzy Frelinghuysen and
George L.K. Morris who championed abstract art in America. The footage
includes their European travel from the 1930s as well as their homes in
the Berkshires (which Morris co-designed), New York City and Paris.
Interviews of fellow artists including Will Barnet, and art critics Hilton
Kramer and Barbara Rose, friends and family, explaining this couples
impact on the history of Modern Art in America. The documentary is a lush
visual and audio feast, filled with beautiful paintings, scenery and
music. Filmmaker in attendance.

The Power of Community (US, 2007)
Directed by Faith Morgan
When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990, Cuba’s economy went into a
tailspin. With imports of oil cut by more than half – and food by 80
percent – people were desperate. This film tells of the hardships and
struggles as well as the community and creativity of the Cuban people
during this difficult time. Cubans share how they transitioned from a
highly mechanized, industrial agricultural system to one using organic
methods of farming and local, urban gardens. It is an unusual look into
the Cuban culture during this economic crisis, which they call “The
Special Period.” Filmmaker in attendance.

A Tale of Tanglewood: Peter Grimes Reborn (Canada) --Northeast Premiere
Directed by Barbara Willis Sweete
June 30, 1946. A nineteenth century English fishing village comes to life
in the hills of Massachusetts.� The occasion – an important one for modern
music.� The great Serge Koussevitzky, Founding Director of the Tanglewood
Music Centre, commissions Benjamin Brittan to write “Peter Grimes” – an
exciting new opera conducted by the 28 year-old Leonard Bernstein. Fifty
years later, with Maestro Seiji Ozawa at the helm, Tanglewood remounts the
now famous “Peter Grimes” with some of the world’s most gifted young
singers and instrumentalists.� For Maestro Ozawa, it is an exciting
rebirth of opera at Tanglewood.� For the student performers it is the
musical challenge of a lifetime.� For those who had been involved in the
original production, it is an occasion, not only for the passing on of
knowledge, but for reunion and nostalgia.
A Tale of Tanglewood: Peter Grimes Reborn weaves a tapestry that travels
back and forth over the fifty years that separate the two performances,
drawing parallels between the two productions as they build in momentum
and culminate in a sizzling performance attended by many of the original
performers – now in their 70’s and 80’s.
Out of this juxtaposition of past and present emerges a powerfully
resonant, multi-layered, often humorous portrait of one of the world’s
great music institutes.

The Tradition of Coaching (US/Berkshire, 2007) – World Premiere
Directed by Bill Sample
The Tradition of Coaching is a film that profiles the commitment, hard
work and tradition that come into play as Coachmen from all over the
country converge at Oreleton Farm in Stockbridge for a three-day
exhibition to drive their vintage Coaches in this engaging and visually
stunning sport. The Coaching background in the Berkshires is explored,
with mention of notable Berkshire residents who were heavily involved in
the sport in past years, when spectacular Coaches rolled along the byways
of Lenox and Stockbridge to the delight of thousands of on-lookers.
Filmmaker in attendance.

View from a Grain of Sand (US/Afghan, 2006) – Regional Premiere
Directed by Meena Nanji
2001 saw an unprecedented level of international interest in the lives of
Afghan women living under the Taliban. Since then, however, the media
spotlight on Afghan women has fallen, and with it, public knowledge of the
current situation Afghan women face. What are their lives like now? Have
they really improved since a new government took power? Have they gained
any real rights or do they still live in fear and repression?�
View From A Grain of Sand explores these questions and reveals how Afghan
women have had their rights stripped from them over the last 25 years.
Told through the eyes of three Afghan women: a doctor, a teacher and
women’s rights activist, the project provides illuminating context for
Afghanistan’s current situation and the ongoing battle women face to gain
even basic human rights.�
Shot over a three-year period in the sprawling refugee camps of
northwestern Pakistan and in the war-torn city of Kabul, the women’s
personal stories are located within the larger context of international
interference, war, and the rise of religious fundamentalists in
Afghanistan. The women lead us through Afghanistan’s complex history,
telling how global power plays have dramatically impacted their lives in
devastating ways. Illustrated by verité footage of their everyday lives,
together with rarely seen archival footage, their stories are powerfully
moving as they re-define strength and resilience in the face of on-going
struggle, and give a full and visceral picture of a still divided and
brutalized nation. As world attention has shifted to other crises, this
project re-focuses the camera on Afghanistan, remembering the voices of
those most vulnerable and most affected by the conflicts: women.

War/Dance (US/Uganda, 2006) – Regional Premiere
Directed by Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine
Set in Northern Uganda, a country ravaged by more than two decades of
civil war. War/Dance tells the story of Dominic, Rose, and Nancy, three
children whose families have been torn apart, their homes destroyed, and
who currently reside in a displaced persons camp in Patongo. When they
are invited to compete in an annual music and dance festival, their
historic journey to their nation’s capital is also an opportunity to
regain a part of their childhood and to taste victory for the first time
in their lives.
SHORTS

Betty La Flaca (US) – Northeast Premiere
Written and Directed by Hugo Perez
Skinny Betty might just as well not exist given the lack of attention she
gets from men, including her boyfriend Carlos.� Her co-worker, Reina,
recommends she have some work done to enlarge and enhance the most
important part of the body--her butt.� When Betty arrives at the homegrown
‘clinica’ in Maria Dolores living room in the Bronx, she has no idea how
much impact a little ‘work’ will have on her life. Filmmaker in
attendance.

Cracks (US) – World Premiere
Directed by Micah Baskir
A young girl leaves her home to find herself compelled to travel an
intricate path – walking only on the cracks in the pavement. Along her
journey, she faces challenges of every variety and with a combination of
luck and skill manages to happily skip on her way.

Cycle Unknown (US) – World Premiere
Directed by Jessica Daniels
It’s just another day of soap and fabric softener for Frank�Galleano, who
owns and operates his Queens neighborhood Laundromat. In�a world full of
eccentric characters, including his gum-popping sister�Lydia and the
omnipresent Man in a Mongolian hat, Frank works to�maintain a sense of
cleanliness and order over his domain, until his�humdrum daily life is
suddenly disrupted. Enter Marie, an immaculate�conception of woman, and
the answer to Frank’s prayers…until the�fateful Sunday when Marie drops
off a bundle of laundry that’s dirtier�than he ever could have imagined.
Filmmaker in attendance.

Dear Talulah (US) Berkshire Premiere
Directed by Lori Benson
Dear Talula is an autobiographical documentary tilm that tells the
personal story of Lori Benson, a 38-year-old woman in New York City who is
told she has breast cancer just 14 months after her daughter Talula is
born. With an intimate and caring approach, her friends and husband
follow her with a camera as Lori experiences her life change in an
instant. Filmmaker in attendance.

The Dig (US) – Regional Premiere
Directed by Joshua van Praag
A lonely archaeologist discovers objects buried along a Brooklyn riverbank
that lead her on a journey to unearth glimpses of the lives and deaths
that lie within them. Sabina Sciubba, of Brazilian Girls, Kim Chan (King
of Comedy, Kundun) and Megan Wyler star in this story about loss and
recovery in the big city. Filmmaker in attendance.

Escape Velocity (US) – World Premiere
Directed by Scott Ligon
Digital Artist Scott Ligon has completed his first animated short film,
Escape Velocity. The film explores the connection between Attention
Deficit Disorder (A.D.D.) and creativity using his own life in
self-deprecating, humorous examples. Scott forms a stream of
consciousness, multi-layered narrative that emulated the day to day A.D.D.
experience. Filmmaker in attendance.
Mariners & Musicians with Roseanne Cash (US) – New England Premiere
Directed by Steve Lippman
Exploring the intersection of longing, ancestry, family and time, director
Steven Lippman’s cinematic tone poem weaves conversation, writings and
music by acclaimed singer/songwriter/author Rosanne Cash. This tactile
dreamlike journey unites recitation, candid ruminations, music, haunting
Super 8mm & 16mm imagery, and Holga animation to create a unique portrait
of an artist. Featuring songs from Rosanne’s celebrated album ‘Black
Cadillac.’Filmed on location in New York City, Hendersonville, TN and
Ventura, CA. Filmmaker in attendance.

Naturalized (US) – World Premiere
Directed by Julia Kots
An Americanized Russian immigrant battles his overbearing family for the
right to undergo the ultimate rite. Filmmaker in attendance.

Paraffin (UK) - World Premiere
Directed by Laurence Easeman
Working as security drivers, escorting precious computer parts up to
Scotland, ex-paratroopers Finn and Tony know very little about each other.
That is until they journey back to London. Once the job is over, Tony
coerces Finn into going out for a drink in a dingy nightclub in
Middlesbrough. Finn begins to suspect that Tony is not all he appears to
be.During breakfast Finn begins to suspect that Tony may be involved in
the disappearance of a local child, who has been missing for five days.
Without the courage to confront this unstable man Finn finally parts
company with Tony and heads home. On his way home, the incident with Tony
bothers him and Finn switches on the tracking system to follow Tony. His
journey leads him to a local woods where Finn finally confronts Tony with
surprising and unexpected, dramatic results.
The Rest of Time (US/Berkshires) - World Premiere
Directed by John Whalen
The Rest of the Time is a six-minute, digitally composted dance film that
celebrates the fragile mystery of our inevitable passing. Each of us faces
a unique and certain death - but beyond the catastrophe there is something
shared by all. Produced and directed by John Whalan, conceived and
choreographed by Dawn Lane, The Rest of the Time combines a
choreographer’s optimistic view of acceptance, wit and commonality - with
a filmmaker’s uncertain vision of the incomprehensible moment between now
and never. Filmed entirely on location at the historic Stockbridge
Cemetery and features performances by five of the Berkshire’s finest
modern dancers. Filmmaker in attendance.
Small Boxes (Australia) - Northeast Premiere
Directed by Rene Hernandez
Small Boxes follows the journey of Alberto Alvarez, a 20 year old
Latino-Australian who lives with his mother and grandmother in the outer
suburbs of Sydney. Alberto works the night shift unloading boxes at the
local produce markets. On an outing with his grandmother, Alberto notices
a “position vacant” sign and decides to go for the job. But making a
change is difficult, and for Alberto it will mean learning about his
identity and finding the courage to believe in himself.
Trigger Finger (US/Berkshires) -World Premiere
Directed by Marc Maurino
Kate is a single mother desperate to stop her son Casey from going to war,
but will her love, the efforts of his friends, and even the involvement of
his long-estranged father be enough to stop him? Filmmaker in attendance.
What the Future of Music Sounds Like (UK) – Northeast Premiere
Directed by Matthew Bate
What the Future of Music Sounds Like tells of a lost chapter in the
history of British electronic music through the pioneering work of
composer Tristram Cary and the Electronic Music Studio.