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There’s something extraordinary right in our own backyard. A film festival to beat the band, and it’s just down the road (or train track). This year, the Philadelphia Film Festival celebrated its 16 th year, yet it still seems to be one of the best kept secrets around. Though many screenings sell out, and the crowds are well informed and appreciative, people seem to still be learning of this festival’s existence. Or occasionally one hears “I keep meaning to get there”, etc. Well, get there while the gettin’ is good next time it comes around. With over 200 feature films, 100 shorts, the festival runs for two solid weeks in late winter at a half dozen theaters all around Philly. Films screen from all over the world, and it is truly an amazing blend. The programmers really do their homework to bring the best quality films to the Philadelphia area.

Some of the categories this year were “World Focus”, “The Documentary Tradition”, “Asian Gangsters”, “Cinema of the Muslim World”, “American Discoveries”, “Danger After Dark”, “The Language of Comedy”, Fest Indies, showcasing local talent, and the list goes on and on, as well as films fresh from The Sundance Film Festival. In addition, there are incredible panel discussions, award ceremonies, a screenwriting competition, and then some. As of last year, the festival began a traveling version entitled “Reels on Wheels” for two days where festival films traveled to our own County, Bryn Mawr, and Ambler Theaters. Needless to say, it’s a must do event, and now you have plenty of time to plan for 2008.

I began working at the Philadelphia Film Festival about 5 years ago in Festival Guest Services. Mostly our job involves being a liaison between the filmmakers and all things festival. From picking filmmakers up at the airport or train station to escorting them to their screenings, parties, accommodations, being tour guides, etc., we are the go-betweens running all around Philly trying hard to be good ambassadors of the festival while not getting any parking tickets. Hence, there are stories. There are always stories. This year the stories are pretty cool to this writer. Lights, camera, action…….

I had several assignments over the two week long festival, and two of the said assignments stood out in particular. One of them happened to be the Disney crew. There was a special tribute to Roy Disney (nephew of Walt Disney) this year in honor of his work at Disney over the last 50 years. So Roy Disney came to town, along with Howard Green, (VP of Disney Studio Communications), legendary film critic Leonard Maltin, and his wife Alice. There were several events centered in and around the Disney visit including a special screening of Fantasia, complete with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra performing selections inspired by the film. For those that may not know or realize, the original score for Fantasia was performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra. There were also screenings of rare Disney shorts and early films as well as a special interview between Roy Disney and Leonard Maltin. All in all, the Disney events were a spectacular honor for the festival and a great presence for the city.

The screenings were great, and Roy was a splendid speaker, taking the time to answer audience questions, and provide insight into the vast realm of Disney. A few of us were invited to their Saturday evening dinner after the screening, and per their request, we ate at a true South Philly Italian restaurant, complete with great food, and a waitress that you couldn’t have written into a script better. It was an evening of delicious fare, good wine, and more great stories.

And now, for something completely different.
Our guest services team was informed that there was a certain museum that Leonard Maltin was interested in visiting. The Art Museum? Nope. The Rodin Museum? Nope. The Franklin Institute? Nope. It was the one, and the only, STOOGEUM. Yes folks, the museum of The Three Stooges. And without going into too much detail about the logistics, suffice it to say, we were in center city, the museum is in Springhouse (near Ambler), and they needed transport there. So since I’d already been working with them, I offered to provide the necessary transport via my trusty Subaru Forester. However, the only time that was possible for the adventure was early Easter Sunday morning. So off we went, Leonard, Alice, Howard, and myself. We journeyed up the road towards the burbs, and had a great time pondering just what the Stoogeum experience would bring, while telling bad jokes, and sharing stories of how we were all connected somehow by our New York and/or Philly roots. Upon arriving at this um, museum, one is stricken immediately with “I didn’t expect it to look like this”. Tucked away down a side street, the building looks more like a contemporary professional office. Gary Lassin, the owner was very excited to finally have Leonard Maltin as a guest in his most unique museum. Apparently, they had been corresponding for many years, so this was a reunion of sorts, even though it was the first time they’d met in person. Personally, even though I’m not a Stooges fan, I can honestly recommend the Stoogeum to anyone who is a fan of memorabilia and nostalgia. It is jam packed with thousands of items of every possible type. If you want to continue the adventure of the Stoogeum, Leonard Maltin has a great article about it on his website, www.leonardmaltin.com

Meanwhile, back to film and the film fest.
In a world that seems to absorb our senses in each new mode of media that comes around, it’s nice to know that there are still screens big enough to absorb our minds for a couple of hours of film time, whether at the County, or at this great festival. And sometimes the two merge, when a festival film in due course, reaches the beloved COUNTY THEATER.

One such film is called IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON, a documentary by David Sington. It is about the APOLLO missions, told through the stories and voices of most of the astronauts that were there. With extraordinary never before seen NASA footage, they share their stories in their own words. A rare inside look into the vast scope of the experience, knowledge, and extraordinary first hand accounts of being in the shadow of the moon.

It is truly a fresh approach (if you can imagine that!) and well done to be sure. David Sington was here from his home in England, and fresh off winning the AUDIENCE DOCUMENTARY AWARD at SUNDANCE. This is Sington’s first feature film, but his work in television documentaries is well known and respected as his background includes many docs for NOVA, BBC, Channel-4, etc.

David was my charge during his stay, and in that time I got to see his film twice and a half. It is a stunning film, and it was clear to me that this film will go places in addition to the moon. However, in the terrestrial world, it took a lucky break after a big storm taking the power out at THE PRINCE THEATER to get it on the big screen. And here’s that story……

Though we always hope for good weather during the festival, this year was quite unique as a Nor’easter came through, complete with snow, ice, sleet, and freezing rain. David’s plane was delayed several hours as a result, and landed smack dab in the middle of the storm. I picked him up at the airport with precious little time to spare to get him to his screening. We were strategizing about the order of things….getting him checked in at the hotel vs. getting him to the theater, etc. As we wound our way up Broad Street in torrential rain, with puddles turning into ponds, hoping against hope to get him to the theater on time, we phoned THE PRINCE THEATER, to give them our status report. Much to our surprise and chagrin, they promptly said not to bother rushing as the power had gone out! David made the call since I was trying to navigate through the rushing river called Broad Street, and all I can recall is how incredibly calm he was, (a true testament to his professionalism). In fact, the conversation went something like this, and all in a lovely English accent, which made it all the more civilized, “Oh…..so there’s no power? Oh, ok……yes, yes, no worries, well, yes, of course, I can narrate the film”. I’m behind the wheel thinking “this isn’t happening”, but it was, and that this filmmaker is not only calm, but has a great sense of humor. David soon became affectionately referred to as “low maintenance” by our Guest Services team.

He got off the phone and we continued strategizing. Fortunately he and I were on the same page, and both thought the best course of events would be to go to the theater anyway, as the power could return at any moment. We hadn’t realized that the audience was already told the screening would be cancelled. We arrived moments later, and about half of the audience had stayed in optimistic hope that the power would return. Well, 2 miracles happened. The first was a miracle for any city driver out there who knows what it’s like to try to park at Chestnut and Broad during a Nor’easter, or any other time for that matter. A parking spot appeared directly in front of The Prince Theater, just as I was about to put on my flashers and drop off this poor filmmaker in front of the theater so he wouldn’t get any more drenched than necessary. Before he could get the door open, I screamed, “ HOLD ON” and veered into that parking spot like the New York born and raised woman I am before anyone else dared swipe it from under me. David jumped out and ran into the theater, when the second miracle happened, THE LIGHTS CAME ON! With that, the remaining audience members became a unique set to watch the Philadelphia premiere of this extraordinary documentary introduced by a slightly soggy, but very cheery, English filmmaker named David Sington.

Because of the mishap with the power, the film festival added a third screening of IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON, and audiences were delighted! In the ensuing days, I had the privilege of being David’s tour guide around Philly, and we were joined by Michaela Majoun, host of WXPN’s illustrious morning show, and Jen Steinberg, documentary curator, as well as some other colleagues. Michaela interviewed David for the Public Access program on WXPN and I was present for that to see the great dialogue between the two of them. David considers it one of the best interviews he’s had!

To sum up…
The Philadelphia Film Festival is way more than meets the eye. To have a world class film festival in our own backyard is something to be treasured. Put it on your calendar, and we’ll hope to see you there next year to join in the stories and see great films!

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I saw and can recommend the following films.....

1. LA VIE EN ROSE....incredibly beautifully presented epic portrayal of Edith Piaf's life. A must see.

2. IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON.....
World Cinema Documentary Audience Award at Sundance 2007.
A fresh and stunning documentary about the Apollo missions told through the astronauts in their own words. Presents extraordinary and never before seen NASA footage of the Apollo space program. A rare inside look into the vast scope of the experience, knowledge, and extraordinary first hand accounts of being in the shadow of the moon.

3. WAITRESS.....GREAT film. A sweet peek into real life, with a taste of artist license and a whole lot of baking.

4. FAY GRIM....Hal Hartley's sequel to Henry Fool......fun and quirky whodunit. or maybe, who's doing it. (This writer went to college with Hal Hartley in the 80’s, at S.U.N.Y. Purchase in New York State)

5. CRUDE AWAKENING: Doc about Peak Oil, and our overuse of oil in general.

6. DAY NIGHT DAY NIGHT. About a suicide bomber and the lead up to the act. Interesting film, slow moving, and hard to watch in its intensity.

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