The first Sunday of the Film Festival was an extraordinary day, after all the New Orleans Saints won the Super Bowl in their first ever appearance there.
While New Orleans was celebrating its victory (and suddenly it seemed like it was hard to meet anyone who wasn't from New Orleans) Emily Blunt (The Young Victoria), Carey Mulligan (An Education), Saiorse Ronan (The Lovely Bones) and Michael Stuhlbarg, (A Serious Man), were on the red carpet and then on the stage at the Lobero for the Film Fest's Virtuoso Awards.
Photo by CHUCK CAGARA / www.MagicalLightPhotography.com
Earlier in the day at the Lobero, Quentin Tarantino's conversation with Kirk Douglas following a special showing of Posse, was, according to Roger Durling one of the all-time highlights of his seven years as executive director of the Film Festival.
More coverage of the Film Festival at City 2.0.
My own Film Fest photo gallery, featuring the fine work of local photog Chuck Cagara of www.MagicalLightPhotography.com, is updated throughout the day.
In other news, Frank Magid, the TV news "consultant" and Santa Barbara resident, who is credited with having created the "happy-talk" format for local news, died Friday at Cottage Hospital.
If you haven't already seen it, I have the full story on Jerry Roberts victory over Wendy McCaw.
Among the many outlets reporting on Jerry's victory is the entertainment news website, The Wrap.
If you're playing hooky from work, here are some movies you might want to catch today.
Near Dark, this 1987 movie is part of the Kathryn Bigelow retrospective, (she's being honored at 8 pm at the Lobero tonight.) Roger Durling says "Near Dark," "makes Twilight look like Sesame Street." Shows at 11:00 am at the Lobero.
There is probably no reason to see Breaking News other than the fact that it has a number of well-known personalities from KEYT in it, although I am told by one person who has seen the film, that Gerry Fall, the former KEYT sportscaster, turns in a credible performance as "Jerry Blackwell," the TV news reporter who's life is falling apart. Screens at 12:30 pm at Victoria Hall.
Two Spirits. I had the pleasure of talking to Lydia Nibley, the director of this documentary, which was five years in the making, about a Navajo boy who was the victim of a hate crime. The film uses the story and aftermath of the boy's murder to examine native American beliefs about masculinity, femininity and sexuality. Patty Smith did the music for this film. It premiered in November at the Denver Film Festival. Screens at 3:30 pm at Victoria Hall.
God Went Surfing With the Devil, is a look at Israeli/Palestinian relations through the eyes of surfers. It is being shown at 4pm at the Museum of Art.
Behind the Lines, which screens at 9:30 pm at Victoria Hall is a locally produced documentary which offers a behind the scenes look at fighting a major wildfire.
Point Break, another film by Bigelow about bank robbers who are also surfers. "If you haven't seen it, it's a classic," according to Durling. Screens at 10 pm at the Lobero following the tribute to Bigelow as "Outstanding Director of the Year."
I love the smell of popcorn in the morning.
© 2010 by Craig Smith and www.craigsmithsblog.com
