Sunday, April 16, 2006
The 50 short films will be shown over two nights.
By L. CROW
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The second annual Harry M. Warner Film Festival will begin Wednesday at Slippery Rock University with a tribute to George Romero and end Friday with a gala celebration at the Scottish Rite Cathedral, after the awards presentation.
Laurel Dagnon and Alison McNeal, both of Slippery Rock University, have organized the festival.
This year, 170 films were submitted, and out of those, 50 were chosen, said Dagnon. "They are short films -- under 25 minutes -- no 'big screen,'" she said.
The four categories are: narrative (a story being told but not a documentary), documentary, animation and experimental. The public is invited to view the films -- split between the two nights -- beginning at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at SRU's Swope Auditorium, then at the Cathedral at 6:15 p.m. Friday, with "movie munchies" available.
Films were submitted from the United States, plus 12 other countries, including Israel, Germany, France, Great Britain, Spain, Canada, Brazil and Australia.
This year, there are three judges for the event, including Cass Warner, granddaughter of Harry M. Warner, one of the four Warner Brothers, of movie-studio fame. The other judges are Ken Heusey and Thomas John.
Other activities
In addition to viewing the films, there are other activities planned for the festival. On Wednesday, a workshop on theatrical makeup will be given at the university by members of the theater department from 12:30-2 p.m.
At 2 p.m., there will be a screening of "Creepshow," written by Stephen King and directed by George Romero, a Pittsburgh native. Romero will be present to receive the 2006 Keystone Film Award at the ceremony, which begins at 6:30 p.m., and King has provided a testimonial on behalf of Romero, which will be read during the tribute celebration. All Wednesday events are free.
Another workshop will be held Thursday at 12:30 p.m. titled "The Reality of Films," conducted by a psychiatrist, counselor and two professors. The workshop will deal with the impact films have on people. Three films will be viewed, dealing with suicide, substance abuse and depression. Participants will discuss whether these conditions are depicted accurately in the films.
Awards
The film awards ceremony will begin at the cathedral at 8:30 p.m. Friday. There will be first-, second- and third-prize winners plus a number of honorable mentions.
In addition, the first "Pearl Award," named in honor of the mother of the famous Warner brothers, will be given to three recipients: Cloris Leachman, whose long list of Hollywood achievements spans from 1949 to the present; Rick Sebak of WQED Multimedia, for his Pittsburgh documentaries; and to WQED Multimedia itself, for its work on "The War That Made America." Leachman and Sebak will both be present for the event.
"The Night of Stars Gala is an unbelievable party," said Dagnon. "There are food stations with incredible food, and we will have a band and dancing." It is not a black-tie event, said Dagnon, who recommended business attire.
This annual event is really in preparation for the major celebration which will happen in 2007.
"Next year we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the opening of the first Warner Brothers silent film theater in New Castle," said Dagnon. "This will be a much longer event, probably a whole week, with various programming. We are working to renovate the Warner Theater, which was also used for talking films in the '20s."
XAdmission prices for Warner Film Festival events are: $5 for the Thursday screenings ($3 for students); $10 for Friday screenings; $75 for the gala event. For tickets or information, call the festival office at (724) 738-2030 or Lawrence County Tourism at (888) 284-7599.