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Fallbrook Film Festival Screens 71 Films with Something for Everyone

Creation Date Tuesday, 29 March 2011.

Fallbrook Film Festival Screens 71 Films with Something for Everyone
FALLBROOK, Calif., March 29, 2011 — The 2011 Fallbrook Film Festival, April 8, 9 and 10 at the UltraStar Cinemas at River Village in Bonsall, is ready to entertain and enlighten moviegoers with a wide range of genres in narrative and documentary films.

“We have a wonderfully eclectic lineup of films in the festival this year. There truly is something of each ‘flavor.’ We have ethnic films, hip hop, thrillers, documentaries, sci-fi, family films, films about immigration, fantasies — you name it! And many of the filmmakers will be present for Q&As with the audience.”

One of the festival’s Best Documentary Feature nominees is a film produced by the PBS American Masters series, John Muir in the New World. It will screen Sunday, April 10, at 4 p.m. Julien Lasseur, director of photography, will attend the screening for a Q&A with the audience.

The film’s PBS premier is scheduled for April 18 (9 p.m. on San Diego’s KPBS and LA’s KOCE), so the festival screening offers the public an early preview of a beautiful film about one of California’s most beloved environmental heroes.

“It’s incredible what we owe to John Muir and, in our era of Katrina and oil spills, how very much we should revere his message today,” said Susan Lacy, American Masters series creator and executive producer.

The festival opens Friday with the feature-length crime drama In/Significant Others. The film navigates through the lives of a town’s residents, each of whom is connected to the same homicide investigation.

A sampling of other films accepted in the festival includes:

Pumzi, a Kenyan/South African sci-fi film (Best Short Film at Cannes International Film Festival and screened at the Sundance Film Festival in 2010), set in East Africa 35 years after World War III’s battles over water. Pumzi is nominated for Best Narrative Short at the Fallbrook Film Festival.
 
Journey Home explores photojournalist Monty Marsh's journey along the transatlantic slave trade route and being Black in America today. Journey Home is nominated for Best Documentary Short.

The Response, in which a bi-racial team of paramedics must go into harm’s way during the 1992 LA riots to help a critically injured youth. The Response has been nominated for Best Student film in this year's festival.

May I Be Frank, a feel-good and funny feature documentary, follows the 42-day vegan food transformation of a down-and-nearly-out man seeking love.

Full Circle: Stitches in Time is an up-tempo exploration of the renaissance of needlecraft and fabric arts. Fiber artists, sit ’n stitch participants and quilters take the viewer on a colorful update of one of today’s hottest crazes.

For a full list of films and screening times, visit www.FallbrookFilmFestival.com.

The festival closes with best-of-show screenings at the Bonsall UltraStar Cinemas, April 11 through 14.
 
To purchase single-screening tickets and passes, and for more information about the films, Saturday workshops, volunteer opportunities, and other festival events, visit www.FallbrookFilmFestival.com.

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Military Films Make the Cut at Fallbrook Film Festival

Creation Date Thursday, 24 March 2011.

Military Films Make the Cut at Fallbrook Film Festival
FALLBROOK, Calif., March 23, 2011 — Independent films with military themes have claimed a noticeable place in this year’s Fallbrook Film Festival, which runs April 8, 9 and 10, at the UltraStar Cinemas at River Village in Bonsall.

“We are honored to have several wonderful military themed films this year,” said Festival Director Adrienne Armstrong Adler. “I think it reflects the deep concern we all feel for our military men and women who are serving right now around the world. The films address everything from a boy whose mother is deployed to Vietnam veterans returning to their wartime haunts to high-tech war games to a documentary about an East County woman who was a World War II Woman Airforce Service Pilot (WASP). We are excited about bringing these film to all the families in the region, but particularly to our military families and friends.”

The festival is offering military personnel and their families a 20 percent discount on single screening tickets, reducing the price to $8, with military ID.

The films include:

She Wore Silver Wings, nominated for Best Documentary Short, is about a woman who dreamt of flying as a girl and ultimately became a WASP — one of the unsung heroes of WWII.

World of Wargames, about two elite units of warriors who combat each other in a unique field of battle to determine the fate of the world.

Beneath the Same Sky, about 10-year-old James whose mother is deployed, providing him a lesson in sacrifice and a test of courage.

Killing Memories, a documentary of five Vietnam veterans who return to battle sites of 40 years before to confront their memories of the war.

Film competition winners will be announced at the festival’s gala party on Sunday, April 10, at 7:00 pm, at the Pala Casino Grand Ballroom. After Sunday’s gala and awards ceremony, the festival concludes with a best-of-show screening of nominated films at the Bonsall UltraStar Cinemas, April 11 through 14.
 
To purchase tickets and weekend and one-day passes, and for more information about nominated films, volunteer opportunities, workshops and other festival events, visit www.fallbrookfilmfestival.com.

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Military_Films_Download.zip

Actress Shirley Jones and Director David R. Ellis Headline Fallbrook Film Festival

Creation Date Thursday, 17 March 2011.

Jones and Ellis present special film screenings, Q&As, Saturday workshop

Actress Shirley Jones and Director David R. Ellis Headline Fallbrook Film Festival
FALLBROOK, Calif., March 17, 2011 — Academy Award-winning actress Shirley Jones and award-winning stuntman-turned-film director David R. Ellis are coming to the Fallbrook Film Festival to celebrate the art of film with festival-goers — and to be celebrated for their significant contributions to film.

The festival runs April 8, 9 and 10, at the UltraStar Cinemas at River Village in Bonsall. Film competition winners and other awardees will be honored at a gala on Sunday, April 10, at 7:00 pm, at the Pala Casino Grand Ballroom. The public is invited to all ticketed festival events, including the gala at which both Jones and Ellis will receive awards.

Jones will receive the Career Achievement Award in recognition of her long and varied career in film, on stage and on television, where she played the singing matriarch of the hit show, The Partridge Family. Earlier on Sunday, at 1 p.m., Jones will attend a screening of Elmer Gantry, a film for which she won a 1960 Academy Award for her supporting role as Lulu Bains, a minister’s daughter-turned prostitute. After the screening, Jones will have a Q&A session with the audience.

Ellis is the festival’s 2011 Spotlight Tribute Award honoree. He began his career at age 19 as a stuntman and by the time he was 26, Ellis was directing 2nd unit action scenes. He has gone on to direct seven feature films, including Snakes on a Plane.

Ellis said of directing, “With my films, I hope to entertain people, have them escape for a couple hours from what’s going on in the world. If I’ve done that, and they have a good time, then I’m happy.”

On Saturday at 2:30, Ellis will conduct a workshop, “How I Propelled Myself Into a Directing Career,” which will follow his transition from award-winning stuntman to respected action director. Then, at 4 p.m., he will have a Q&A with the audience prior to a screening of his 2004 thriller, Cellular, starring Kim Basinger and William H. Macy.

Ellis’ involvement in the Fallbrook Film Festival is indicative of his belief in the importance of the opportunities such festivals offer filmmakers and audiences.

“Some of my favorite films every year are not the $200 million dollar films,” Ellis explained. “They come from Sundance or Fallbrook or Toronto – all the different film festivals — and the festivals are great showcases for filmmakers to exhibit great films.”

After Sunday’s gala, the festival concludes with a best-of-show screening of all winning films at the Bonsall UltraStar Cinemas, April 11 through 14.
 
Festival passes and tickets are available at the UltraStar Theater box office and at Fallbrook’s Major Market. Single screening movie tickets are also available online at www.ultrastarmovies.com. For more information about volunteer opportunities, the screening schedule, workshops and other festival events, visit www.fallbrookfilmfestival.com.

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Jones_Ellis_Download.zip

Pakistani Filmmaker and Local Arts Patron Honored by Fallbrook Film Festival

Creation Date Thursday, 10 March 2011.

Frank Capra Award winner hopes to travel from Pakistan to attend awards ceremony

Pakistani Filmmaker and Local Arts Patron Honored by Fallbrook Film Festival


FALLBROOK, Calif., March 9, 2011 — Fallbrook Film Festival is pleased to announce two of its 2011 festival award winners for the upcoming festival, April 8, 9 and 10, at the UltraStar Cinemas at River Village in Bonsall.

Heal, a student film from the Chapman University made by Pakistani student Mian Adnan Ahmad, has won top honors in the festival’s competition, and Mary Perhacs, Executive Director of the Fallbrook Art Center, is being recognized as the festival’s 2011 Patron of the Arts.

Heal, a short film written and directed by Mian Adnan Ahmad and produced by Marcus Metsala and Mian Adnan Ahmad has won the Frank Capra Award, the festival’s highest award, given to the film that best uplifts the human spirit, as Capra’s films did so eloquently.

Heal tells the story of a young boy whose special gifts enable him to help his beloved teacher rise above the shattering effects of the conflict in Afghanistan and Pakistan to recapture hope. Ahmad made Heal while he was a Fulbright Scholar at Chapman University’s graduate program in film, in Orange, Calif. He has since returned to Pakistan where he is pursuing a feature length adaptation of Heal.

Ahmad wrote in an email to the festival, “It is indeed a special feeling to be given an award that is associated with a legend such as Frank Capra himself, and I am grateful to the Fallbrook Film Festival for recognizing Heal with this award.”

Ahmad hopes to attend the festival to accept the award from Capra’s grandson, director Frank Capra III. The festival is seeking donors to help cover Ahmad’s airline travel cost of approximately $1,700.

“Contributions of money or frequent flyer miles would be so appreciated,” said Festival Director Adrienne Armstrong Adler, “and they will facilitate a meaningful cultural exchange at a time when there is such a surge of hope for greater liberty in Adnan’s part of our world.”

To make a contribution, please contact K-B Gressitt at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 760-522-1064.

The festival did not have to look far for its 2011 Patron of the Arts Award winner: Fallbrook Art Center Executive Director Mary Perhacs has demonstrated a dedication to the arts since she first became involved with the center 12 years ago.

Perhacs is responsible for 10 exhibitions a year that draw more than 5,000 visitors to Fallbrook annually. Her goal is to create a space in the center that makes art accessible to everyone.

As for the film festival, “Film is much more accessible,” Perhacs said in a recent interview. “Art is a visual experience. You enjoy looking at a piece of art. But film calls upon all of the senses and immerses you in an experience. It is a form of art that is more acceptable to a much broader audience — and open to everyone.”

The Fallbrook Film Festival award ceremony will take place Sunday, April 10, at 7:00 pm, during the festival’s closing party at the Pala Casino Grand Ballroom. Winning films in all categories will be announced at the party, including Best Narrative Feature and Short, Best Documentary Feature and Short, Best Student Film, Best Animation, and Audience Choice.

The festival concludes with a best-of-show screening of all winning films at the Bonsall UltraStar Cinemas, April 11 through 14, along with as many award-nominated films as time permits.

Festival tickets will be available at the UltraStar Theater box office and at Fallbrook’s Major Market, starting Friday, March 11; single screening movie tickets will be available online at www.ultrastarmovies.com. For more information about the festival, films, workshops and volunteer opportunities, visit www.fallbrookfilmfestival.com.

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Heal_Perhacs.zip

New Fallbrook Film Festival Website Touts 2011 Workshop and Screening Schedule

Creation Date Wednesday, 02 March 2011.

FALLBROOK, Calif., March 2, 2011 — Fallbrook Film Festival has launched a new website just in time for 2011 festival-goers to plan for the April event. The festival, hosted by UltraStar Cinemas at River Village in Bonsall, runs April 8, 9 and 10, with best of show films screening April 11 through 14.

The website was designed by festival Creative Director Ron Shattuck and Nimbletoad, official website developers for the 2011 festival, and the site is being loaded with all the information needed to navigate the festival schedule.

Festival Director Adrienne Armstrong Adler explained that the upgraded website was an important part of the festival’s growth since it launched in 2008.

“From festival workshop and film descriptions to volunteer and press pass sign-up forms to ticket information to guidance for filmmakers, we’ve needed to handle more and more information,” Armstrong Adler said. “And we wanted what would be essentially a self-service site for managing it all. We are particularly grateful that we were able to launch the site well in advance of this year’s festival, so ticket buyers and workshops attendees have plenty of time — and the information they need — to plan. And, in addition to 71 fabulous films we'll be screening, we have four great workshops this year.”

The festival workshops are scheduled for Saturday, April 9, and they include themes for film lovers and filmmakers:

“Working With the RED Camera,” at 10 a.m., with Peter Hulst, cinematographer, will highlight the revolution of RED digital filmmaking;

“Growing Up Capra – Part 2,” at 11:30 a.m., with Frank Capra III, director, will continue the Capra family stories Capra shared at last year’s festival;

“If You Can Dream It, He Can Create It,” 1 p.m., with Barney Burman, 2010 Academy Award winning make-up artist, will demonstrate the art of special make-up for the big screen; and

“How I Propelled Myself Into a Directing Career,” 2:30 p.m., with David R. Ellis, director and former stuntman, will let you in on Ellis’ secrets of more than three decades of success in show business, including directing Snakes on a Plane.

Workshops will be held in the La Sala room at River Village. Tickets can be purchased beginning Friday, April 8, at Festival Headquarters, located adjacent to the UltraStar Theater, and at the La Sala room prior to the workshops on Saturday. VIP passes to the festival include all workshops. For more information, visit www.fallbrookfilmfestival.com.

Fallbrook Film Festival to Screen 71 Films in April

Creation Date Friday, 25 February 2011.

FALLBROOK, Calif., February 24, 2011 — The film submissions are in, the judging is complete, and now it’s time to decide which of the 71 accepted films you will watch at the 2011 Fallbrook Film Festival on April 8, 9 and 10, at the UltraStar Cinemas at River Village in Bonsall, 5256 South Mission Road.

“Our festival judges have been on one wild ride for the past few months, watching the 126 films submitted this year,” said Festival Director Adrienne Armstrong Adler. “Everything from shorts to documentaries to feature films — and from around the world. As we’ve seen consistently each year, the festival is growing in every way: the quality of the films submitted, the number of films we’re able to screen at the festival, and the increasingly diverse body of filmmakers represented. We are so eager to start sharing the selected films with the community. It’s a wonderful lineup!”

The larger number of films accepted has resulted in the festival’s expanding to a second screening room at UltraStar Cinemas, which festival organizers hope will be underwritten by a donor. The second theater will provide filmgoers options during the Sunday screenings, when two films will run simultaneously throughout the day.

This year’s films include two that were screened at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, Stones, a student film “created to reignite the passion for the Hawaiian culture,” and Living for 32, a professionally produced documentary that tells the persuasive story of Colin Goddard who survived the 2007 shooting at Virginia Tech and subsequently pursued proof of the nation’s inadequate gun control laws.

Filmmakers whose works will be screened include professionals, students, passionate amateurs and activists with cinematic messages.

“For example,” Armstrong Adler explained, “we have two very moving Holocaust remembrance films. One by Carlsbad high school students who actually made a trip to Germany to film We Must Remember, and The Desperate by Ben Hur Sepehr, a seasoned Iranian filmmaker who, 30 years ago, won a best director award that was presented by director Frank Capra. It really is a small world.”

On the lighter side, festival attendees will be able to see some comedy, some love stories and a musical or two, including Sudden Death!, a University of Southern California student MFA thesis film written and directed by Adam Hall. Sudden Death! features such notables as character actor Mark Christopher Lawrence and stage, film and television actor John Larroquette.

The festival’s sponsor, the Fallbrook Film Factory, will launch a new website next week, which will allow visitors to learn more about the films and filmmakers, festival workshops, and other events. Festival information will be updated regularly at www.fallbrookfilmfestival.com.

Fallbrook Film Festival Succeeding Despite Tough Economy Innovative fund raising and creative advertising prove key

Creation Date Monday, 21 February 2011.

FALLBROOK, Calif., February 8, 2011 — The Fallbrook Film Factory is in full fund-raising mode in preparation for the Fallbrook Film Festival of 2011, scheduled for April 8, 9 and 10. And the challenging economy of the past couple years has made financing the festival more challenging than ever.

But for Festival Director Adrienne Armstrong Adler, the challenge just demands a little more creativity.

"We've been working with past sponsors and some new ones," Adler said, "and we do still have some key and very affordable sponsorships available — people can contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 760-723-2971 for more information. But we're also branching out into more creative efforts, including how we sell tickets to the festival. Festival tickets are even going to be a Groupon deal-of-the-day in March. But sponsorships are still a key support for us, so we are grateful for the local businesses that are supporting this year's festival.  Without their help, the festival would not be able to continue.  We are reaching out to more businesses and individuals to come forward and help keep this important event alive in the North County region."

Current sponsors include: Pala Casino, dental offices of Drs. Carlson and Drury, the law office of Ron Coulombe, Pacific Western Bank, Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians, Bello Vita Spa at Welk's Resort, Ameriprise Financial, Mellano & Co.

The Fallbrook Film Festival’s mission is to showcase creative, culturally diverse and compelling works of cinematic art, from features to shorts to documentaries. The 2011 festival entries include films from the United States, Argentina, Spain, Russia, Japan, France, Azerbaijan, India and South Africa.

The 2011 Fallbrook Film Festival will be hosted for the second year by UltraStar Cinemas at its River Village Cinemas in Bonsall, at 5256 South Mission Road. For updated festival information visit www.fallbrookfilmfestival.com.

Fallbrook Film Festival Makes Final Call for Films, Hosts Joint Chambers Sundowner at Pala Casino

Creation Date Monday, 21 February 2011.

Fallbrook Film Festival Makes Final Call for Films, Hosts Joint Chambers Sundowner at Pala Casino


FALLBROOK, Calif., December 27, 2010 — The Fallbrook Film Factory is gearing up for a final rush of entries to its annual celebration of film and filmmakers, the Fallbrook Film Festival 2011. The deadline for entries is January 14, and submissions are accepted online at https://www.withoutabox.com/login/6206.

The festival’s mission is to showcase creative, culturally diverse and compelling works of cinematic art, from features to shorts to documentaries, and current festival entries reflect that dedication to diversity: In addition to a high volume of local submissions, the 2011 festival has attracted films from the United States, Argentina, Spain, Russia, Japan, France, Azerbaijan, India and South Africa.

“We are pleased to be able to bring such a culturally diverse collection of films to San Diego North County,” said Festival Director Adrienne Armstrong Adler. “We are making a final call for entries to see if we can get the word out to an even broader spectrum of filmmakers from around the world.”

Scheduled for April 8, 9 and 10, the Fallbrook Film Festival will be hosted by UltraStar Cinemas at its River Village Cinemas in Bonsall, at 5256 South Mission Road. Festival information is updated regularly at www.fallbrookfilmfestival.com.

The Film Factory will celebrate the close of the entry period and a countdown to the April festival by hosting the joint Bonsall and Fallbrook Chambers of Commerce Sundowner at Pala Casino on January 19, at 5:30 p.m. The Pala Casino is generously sponsoring the event, which includes a buffet supper and entertainment. The Sundowner is open to members of both chambers of commerce.

For more Sundowner information, members can contact their chamber offices.

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Hamilton_Princess.zip

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