Aspen Film Teams Up With Snowmass

June 26th, 2007 at 05:51am Post Staff 43

SNOWMASS VILLAGE, COLORADO (Post Time News)--The town of Snowmass Village is embarking on a partnership with Aspen Film to deliver the nonprofit's signature shorts and films to Snowmass in summer 2007 as a part of its free Massive Music  Movies programming.

"Aspen Film is delighted to inaugurate a Snowmass Village summer presence with highlights from one of our signature events,” said Aspen Film Executive Director Laura Thielen, . “In order to celebrate this special collaboration with the Town of Snowmass Village, we've programmed a selection of terrific award-winning live action, animation, and documentary shorts that audiences have loved. The evening promises great fun from around the world."

The Lighter Side of Aspen Shortsfest at Snowmass starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Cabaret Room in the Silvertree Hotel. From the heart-warming to the hilarious, this special presentation highlights recent audience favorites. An Oscar-qualifying festival, Aspen Shortsfest is considered one of the world’s finest international short film and video showcases. The first program of the summer took place June 29, the weekend of Snowmass’ first Massive Music  Movies program.

The Lighter Side of Aspen Shortsfest at Snowmass was preceded on June 28th with the first Snowmass Summer of Free Music Series free concert at 6 p.m. on Fanny Hill by the legendary group War and followed on June 30th by an Independence Celebration that includes free evening concerts by critically acclaimed acts Son Volt and Keller Williams. A half hour laser light show designed specifically for Snowmass by renowned light show designer Jeff Silverman concludes the evening.

“Massive Music  Movies has been a successful draw for audiences in the past few years, and we wanted to up the ante this year by providing a new level of quality films to match the high caliber music,” said Snowmass Village marketing and special events director Susan Hamley. “We’re extremely pleased to be able to work with such a venerable institution as Aspen Film.”

During the August 2-4 Massive Music  Movies program, the film subject matter appropriately turns to rock 'n' roll. Following a free August 2 Summer of Free Music Series concert with the B-Side Players, on August 3, Aspen Film presents "Everyone Stares: The Police Inside  Out," directed by drummer Stewart Copeland, at the Silvertree Hotel at 7:30 pm. On Saturday, August 4, Massive Music  Movies brings free concerts by powerhouse acts John Hiatt and Shawn Colvin to Snowmass followed by an immediate showing of the award-winning documentary Air Guitar Nation, a hilarious and for-real look at the superstar world of air guitar competitions. The weekend also features Mountain Masterpieces, an Arts  Crafts fair that fills the Snowmass Village Mall with over 40 vendors and an art auctionette at Anderson Ranch.

The final Aspen Film and Snowmass movie collaboration on August 25 features a showing of Fritz Lang’s classic 1927 movie Metropolis with live musical accompaniment at the Cabaret Room in the Silvertree Hotel at 7:30 p.m.

About  the Films:
June 29: The Lighter Side of Aspen Shortsfest at Snowmass
Come travel the world and engage your funny bone – and imagination – with this selection of acclaimed shorts. Comedy, animation, light drama and documentary…something for everyone. Program runs 100 mins. Suitable for age 13 and older.

CARMICHAEL AND SHANE (Australia) A single father finds a unique approach to raising his two-year-old twins – just pick a favorite. For Interieur (France) Criquet loves his grandfather, a genuine memories collector who dreams of flying away but not before leaving his grandson a pure moment of eternity. Guide Dog (USA) In this sequel to his Oscar-nominated Guard Dog (Shortsfest ‘05), perennial Shortsfest favorite Bill Plympton has our intrepid hero helping the blind – with twisted results. If There Were No Lutherans...Would There Still Be Green Jello? (USA) One man. One sign. This humorous documentary shows how an offbeat Lutheran pastor changes his corner of the world — and local traffic patterns — one churchyard sign at a time. The Job (USA) The immigration debate just got a little funnier. Kwiz (Belgium) Armed with cell phones, two women old enough to know better indulge in a merciless knowledge test. How far will they go to not lose face? A Painful Glimpse Into My Writing Process (In Less Than 60 Seconds) (USA) The director gets straight to the point in this satirical rant about writer’s block. Pilgrim (Ireland) Being a stranger in a strange land presents an amusing quandary for our intrepid hero as he strives to fulfill his function. Ousmane (Senegal/France) Seven year-old Ousmane spends his days begging in the streets of Dakar, Senegal. His fascination with Santa Claus gives this sweet story a delightfully surprising twist. The Substitute (Italy) The new substitute teacher is acting strangely. It’s never too late to turn stereotypes and expectations upside down. Here’s to behaving badly with gusto! Tanghi Argentini (Belgium) An office clerk with a hankering to tango enlists the support of a workplace colleague as he prepares for a date. It’s Christmas time and the concept of giving assumes fairy tale proportions in this beguiling modern story.

August 2-4: Massive Music  Movies
Everyone Stares: The Police Inside  Out. From obscure gigs to international fame, drummer Stewart Copeland’s 2006 documentary about the rise and fall of The Police is taken from 50-plus hours of Super 8 footage shot of the band in the 70s and 80s and provides genuine insight into the world of rock stardom with all its chaos, creativity and conflict. (USA, 75 min. Not rated. Special thanks to Stewart Copeland.)

Air Guitar Nation. This battle of naked ambition plays out on the national and ultimately world stage as Air Guitar Nation engagingly chronicles the birth of the U.S. Air Guitar Championships. From U.S. regionals and nationals to the international play-offs in Helsinski, Finland, legions of aspiring rock stars live out their dreams on a quest to become the world champion in a strange world where musical ability plays second fiddle to virtual virtuosity. (USA, 75 min. Rated R.)

August 25
Metropolis. Director Fritz Lang's visionary 1927 science fiction silent film about the excesses of capitalism was the most expensive silent film ever. And it continues to captivate audiences. The movie takes place in 2027 in the futuristic city of Metropolis and will be accompanied by the music of pianist Hank Troy, who has been accompanying silent films since the 1980s in Denver, percussionist Ed Contreras who adds drama to a film with his musical rhythms and sound effects, and accordionist Rodney Sauer, who as director of the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra has toured the country performing historically accurate silent film scores. (Germany, 1927, Not rated.)

About Aspen Film
One of Colorado's most active film arts organizations, Aspen Film presents festivals, film series and education programs year-round. Aspen Film is made possible in part by the generosity of The Danny Kaye and Sylvia Fine Kaye Foundation, The City of Aspen, Town of Snowmass Village, The Little Nell, and Reel People: The Friends of Aspen Film. For more information on Aspen Film and its programs, please contact 970.925.6882 or visit www.aspenfilm.org

About Snowmass Massive Music  Movies.
In its fourth year, Massive Music  Movies has gained a reputation for bringing world-class free music and favorite classic movies to Snowmass Village each summer. Previous acts have included Nickel Creek, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Shawn Colvin, Derek Trucks, The Funk Brothers, and The Mutaytor. For more media information on Snowmass’ summer music, visit www.snowmasspress.com/mountainmusic

Media Contact: Allison Johnson
Phone: (970) 704-9988
Email:aj@snowmasspress.com

Entry Filed under: Movies, Snowmass, Aspen, Colorado, Post Time News, The West, United Post