ART & CULTURE BRING CHARISMA TO PALM BEACH COUNTY
By: Hope Wilkos, Writer/Blogger Photographer: George Whylie Videographer: Maxine NolanApril is the one month of the year when spring brings us much more than flowers. It is the time when art and culture are at their finest in Palm Beach County, Florida as the Palm Beach International Film Festival makes its way into the spotlight of the entertainment world.
Some of the most enchanting films in the world are viewed for the very first time by well-received audiences and film critics alike.
The Palm Beach International Film Festival is committed to supporting emerging filmmakers of today and tomorrow. The festival strives to recognize new and original voices all throughout the world and channel that excitement of film into local schools and inspire students that have been given a magical talent of expression. This event has notably received the classification of one of the top 25 Independent Festivals in the world.
You could say that Palm Beach is where it all begins. Filmmakers have participated from over 55 countries. Through funds generated from this stimulating festival of the arts, more than $1 million has been donated to local school programs to date. During the Palm Beach International Film Festival, students who have taken advantage of the year-round activities, seminars, workshops and “hands-on” experiences, have their chance to exhibit the passion to pursue filmmaking as there is a Student Showcase of Films focusing on young students and awarding scholarships to those most deserving of the honor.
It is also a competitive forum and at the end of the week, awards are handed out for Best Picture, Best Documentary, Best Director, Best Actor/Actress, Best Short Film and Audience favorite at the closing celebration.
As PBIFF celebrates its 18th year, it will begin on April 4th and run through April 11, 2013. Opening night will be filled with thrills as ‘DECODING AnNie pArker’ starts the week off at Muvico Parisian 10 @ CityPlace, a plush theatre in the heart of West Palm Beach. This is the story of the brave and irreverent Annie Parker who watches her family devastated by a cruel illness and her fight against the odds learning many life lessons. The film follows two women on remarkable journeys over a 15 year time period. It stars a powerful cast with Maggie Grace, Academy Award winner Helen Hunt, Samantha Morton who plays Annie, Rashida Jones and Aaron Paul. It is based on a true story and on this very special evening, the real Annie Parker will be on hand at the theatre along with Director Steven Bernstein. It all begins at 7:00 p.m. and continues way after the curtain comes down. Guests are invited to opening night festivities at the luxurious rooftop of Two City Plaza overlooking the city with a spectacular view of the Intracoastal Waterway. Here, a sampling of culinary delicacies and live music by The Sheffield Brothers will keep you dancing until the twilight hour.
In the northern part of the county, Cobb Downtown @ The Gardens will be the location of some of the outstanding films. Muvico Parisian 20 @ CityPlace will serve the central county and Frank Theatres in Delray Beach will serve the southern portion of Palm Beach County along with the Lake Worth Playhouse Stonzek Theatre. This year will bring film goers 26 World and 8 U.S. Premiere Feature films to the Palm Beach International Film Festival.
Features, documentaries and shorts will be presented and filmmakers from Russia, Spain, Argentina, Italy, Nepal, Croatia, Haiti, Singapore, Australia, Canada, the United States and more are well represented.
“We are excited by this year’s program,” comments PBIFF Director Randi Emerman, ” which reflects our ongoing mission to engage with the community, expanding and enhancing its knowledge of the world through unique lens of independent film. We encourage people to take this opportunity to enjoy these diversely international stories.”
Exhilarating highlights await you as on Sunday evening, April 7, the festival will present an evening of music videos along with a reception at the famed DeBilzan Gallery in Delray Beach. Take part in the Eastern European Sidebar. This is a tribute to South Florida’s burgeoning Russian population. A selection of films from the Eastern bloc will let you see life from a different perspective. Russian Film Commissioner, Eugene Zykov, will attend the festival and make an appearance at the screening of The Flying Elephant for a Q&A after the film.
With such a wide array of films, every day will be an amazing experience.
In the feature category, see the World Premieres of ‘Twilight of the Gods’, ‘Lost For Words’, ‘Pablo’, ‘Full Circle’, ‘Lonely Boy’ and more. ‘Rushlights’ and ‘Waves’ will make their U.S. debuts and ‘The Deception’ and ‘The Mystical Laws’ will make their Florida Premieres.
Documentaries are filled with great works of art such as ‘Bearing Witness: The Voices of Our Survivors’, ‘Comedy Warriors-Healing Through Humor’, ‘Haiti Untold’, ‘Haverim’, ‘Pad Yatra: A Green Odyssey’, ‘Sweet 16’, ‘Trafficked – The Reckoning’ and more.
In addition, the variety continues with Eastern European features and voices of local films.
The festival will come to a culmination on Thursday, April 11th as the U.S. Premiere of ‘Chez Upshaw’ is featured and this enchanting film will close out the festival at Frank Theatres CineBowl & Grille/IMAX. This is a comedy directed by Bruce Mason and starring Illeana Douglas and Kevin Pollak. An endlessly bickering but truly devoted and quirky couple run a B&B that is about to sink when along comes the opportunity of a lifetime……they turn it into a ‘check in, don’t check out’ last resort for assisted suicides. Make sure to come to this evening because the Director, Bruce Mason, and actress, Illeana Douglas, will be in attendance. Socialize and relive the week at the “It’s a Wrap” party immediately following the screening of this film.
The Palm Beach International Film Festival is definitely not to be missed. It will give you the cultural edge that you have been craving and will expand your cinematic taste buds. To check out the daily schedule and buy tickets, go to: www.pbifilmfest.org.
PHOTO CREDITS: Facebook Page of Palm Beach International Film Festival
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