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The Andreas Kapsalis Trio & “The Adventures of Prince Achmed”

November 9, 2009 by lowellfilm

SAVE THE DATE!

The Adventures of Prince Achmed [1926]
featuring a LIVE photoplay by The Andreas Kapsalis Trio
Monday, November 16 @ 7:30PM
UMass Lowell, Durgin Concert Hall
35 Wilder Street, Lowell
Admission: $5 adults / Free for UML faculty, staff & students (w/ID)

Don’t miss this incredible film + music event!
The Andreas Kapsalis Trio provides a live photoplay (soundtrack) to the silent 1926 animated film The Adventures of Prince Achmed, directed and animated by German animator & artist Lotte Reiniger. Renowned as the oldest feature-length animated film in existence, The Adventures of Prince Achmed gets its brilliant, mysterious feel from silhouette puppetry, a technique Reiniger perfected during her lifetime of creating breathtaking animated films. Come hear the Andreas Kapsalis Trio as they make a special visit to UMass Lowell and bring their own musical interpretation to this 1920’s masterpiece. [Please note that the above film clip does not feature the Kapsalis Trio score.]

This event is co-sponsored by the UMass Lowell Department of Music, the 119 Gallery, the Revolving Museum, and the Lowell Film Collaborative.

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The Boston Jewish Film Festival: a 21-year tradition!

November 6, 2009 by lowellfilm

The Boston Jewish Film FestivalThe 2009 Boston Jewish Film Festival is looking bigger and better than ever. With almost two weeks worth of film screenings and other exciting related events, the BJFF is once again bringing superior independent film to the Boston area. On a very related note, it is worth shouting off the rooftops that the BJFF was founded in 1989 by none other than filmmaker Michal Goldman, who will be debuting her newest documentary film, At Home in Utopia, right here in Lowell on Thursday, November 19 at the National Park Visitor Center [please see our Upcoming Events page]. We here at the LFC are extremely proud to be a part of that screening and to be welcoming Michal to Lowell!

We encourage everyone to visit the BJFF website and meet the great people who dedicate their time to bringing this important film genre to the region.

See you at the movies!

Visit the Boston Jewish Film Festival

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An exhibit for all us movie-house lovers: “The Art of the Movie Theater”

November 4, 2009 by lowellfilm

Wish you could bring back those days of the original, old movie theater? Thanks so much to our good friend Nancye Tuttle who tipped us off to this very awesome exhibit now showing at Lexington’s National Heritage Museum: ”The Art of the Movie Theater.” Journey back in time with photographer Stefanie Klavens and see her stunning photos of America’s most treasured movie palaces. The fact that they were CALLED “movie palaces” is a wonder in itself.

Read below for a full description of this great exhibit which runs October 24, 2009 – May 31, 2010. See you there!

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Crest Theater, Sacramento

Crest Theater, 1996. Sacramento, CA

THE ART OF THE MOVIE THEATER
October 24, 2009-May 31, 2010 | National Heritage Museum

During Hollywood’s golden age, from the 1920s through 1940s, nearly every American city and town had its own movie palace. Whether an extravagant, neon-clad jewel or a more modest structure, the neighborhood theater was a center of community life. Exhibiting a wide range of flamboyant architectural styles, America’s historic theaters have entertained millions, first as vaudeville houses and later as movie theaters.

During the Depression, these lavish theaters offered moviegoers an escape from hard times into a world of illusion. But as the post-World War II boom fed migration to the suburbs, many downtown palaces closed. Multiplexes later presented stiff competition for single-screen theaters by offering a choice of films at one convenient location. Some architectural treasures have been saved, finding new life as performing arts centers, but most are lost forever. In fact, in 2001, the National Trust for Historic Preservation placed the historic theater atop its Most Endangered Historic Places list.

Boston photographer Stefanie Klavens’ interest in 20th-century popular culture inspired her to begin shooting these images of grand picture houses over a decade ago. Regularly attending the Senator Theatre while growing up in Baltimore, Klavens always felt there was something special about the theater. Only years later, however, did she fully appreciate its 1930s Art Deco design. Not surprisingly, it was among the first venues she photographed.

Her continuing photographic journey has taken her all over the country, photographing ornate city palaces and intimate small-town movie houses. As more of these historic buildings close, Klavens documents this vanishing era in American culture.

About the Project: Klavens works in the traditional method, shooting on film, using only available light and long exposures for her interior views, and printing the photographs herself. All prints are loaned by the photographer.

The presentation of this exhibition has been supported by the Scottish Rite Masons of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, U.S.A.

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Celebrate Election Day with Dinner & a Movie!

November 3, 2009 by lowellfilm

Our friends at Lowell’s 119 Gallery have the right idea: have a film party to celebrate the closing of the polls. No doubt it will be another turbulent Election Day — shake that anxiety and give yourself a political wake-up call, Dj Spooky style.

Lincoln's America

Dinner & a Movie at the 119: Rebirth of a Nation
Tuesday, November 3 / 6:30 – 9:30 PM
119 Gallery, 119 Chelmsford  Street, Lowell
Admission: $15, includes film and dinner
Purchase tickets at the door or at www.119gallery.org
Dj Spooky’s Rebirth of a Nation is a film project based on a remix of D.W. Griffith’s infamous 1915 silent film Birth of a Nation. The original film was based on a novel and theater play by Thomas Dixon entitled The Clansman. What Dj Spooky is doing is applying dj technique to cinema in a way that parallels, deconstructs and remixes the original, so it is literally, Re-Birth of a Nation. Dj Spooky’s dramatic mood-piece has been touring for several years and has drawn acclaim around the world. From the Herod Atticus Theater at the base of the Acropolis in Greece, to the London IMAX – Europe’s largest movie screen – Dj Spooky has presented the remix as an engagement with film, music, and contemporary art. He likes to think of it as “film as found object” in the same sense that artists such as Marcel Duchamp, Jeff Koons, Andy Warhol, and David Hammons, amongst many others, have fostered creative investigations into the idea of found objects, cinema, and “appropriation art.”
Come enjoy this ground-breaking film right here in Lowell.

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El Dia de Los Muertos

November 1, 2009 by lowellfilm

The Exorcist - Spider Girl!

As the Day of the Dead descends upon us, we here at the Lowell Film Collaborative are giggling with an evil grin, as we have had a frightfully fantastic Halloween season over the past few weeks. It all started with a hugely successful Mill City Mayhem event at Second Wind Cafe on October 24. Then, this past Thursday, we were invited by our friend Nancye Tuttle to be guest speakers at her “Film, Video and Society” class as Middlesex Community College. The lecture was on nothing other than one of our favorite subjects – horror films, and it was an absolute joy to share our passion with a group of (mostly) interested students. On Thursday night, we ventured up to Litchfield, New Hampshire to brave the seven haunted houses of Nightmare New England. And we finished everything off with a Halloween night screening of the horror classic The Exorcist last night at The Music Hall in Portsmouth.

In between these events, we managed to stockpile our Netflix DVD queue with new and classic films that celebrate the season:

  • The Black Cat – Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi classic with plenty of meaty lines for both of them to chew on!
  • The Innocents – one of our favorite classic horror films of all time with a brilliant performance by star Deborah Kerr
  • The Children – creepy new British thriller about children who turn on their parents after catching a mysterious virus
  • Dead End – clever and gory film from a few years ago about a family who get lost when they take a new route to visit their relatives
  • Splinter – indie film with an original premise about a shape-shifting viral host that traps two couples in a gas station
  • Fear(s) of the Dark – brilliant French b/w animated anthology film that delves into our deepest, darkest fear(s)
  • Wendigo – Larry Fessenden film about a vacationing family terrorized by a psychotic local and a deep, dark secret
  • Long Weekend – 70’s Australian thriller about a camping couple who break some eco-friendly rules, then become victims of Mother Nature’s revenge
  • American Zombie – horror comedy mockumentary that examines a time when zombies have been fully integrated into society

It seemed only fitting that the apex of this wonderful season was last night’s screening. As we sat in the theater of the Music Hall watching a film that absolutely scarred me as a child when watching it on television with my parents at six or seven years old, I felt a sense of reluctance even as an adult when watching it – it is truly that terrifying. Brilliant performances by all the actors, especially young Linda Blair as the possessed child, coupled with the fear not only of the unknown but something that challenges the religious beliefs of our society, make The Exorcist a film that can never be rivaled in the frights it evokes. Happy Day of the Dead!

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Vermont International Film Festival

October 29, 2009 by lowellfilm

48

Burlington, Vermont isn’t exactly around the corner, but here at the Lowell Film Collaborative, we’re perfectly willing to drive for 3 1/2 hours to immerse ourselves in a film festival. Just in case you find it worth the drive, too, we’re here to tell you that the 20th Annual Vermont International Film Festival in Burlington looks like a fantastic event.

It started last Friday, October 23, and will continue through this Sunday, November 1. In the spirit of Halloween, there are a couple of spooky films on tap for this weekend (including a personal “must-see”, House of the Devil), but there are also loads of other films, including Orgasm, Inc., which premiered in draft form last year at UMass Lowell, and A Town Called Panic, a French stop-motion animation film that uses only children’s toys as props.

If you prefer art house screenings to Hallow’s Eve screamings, head up to Burlington for the 20th Annual Vermont International Film Festival!

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Spooky Film Lineup Comes to Dharma Buns in Lowell!

October 27, 2009 by lowellfilm

Dharma Buns gets into Halloween!

Dharma Buns celebrates Halloween in Lowell with eerie, fun flicks!

Yes, yes, ’tis our favorite season, so we’ll get our horror film fix any way we can!

Enter Lowell’s newest hot spot, Dharma Buns, serving up great burgs, shakes, sandwiches, Belgian fries and an impressive selection of Belgian beer… what’s not to love? And they’ve ingratiated themselves to the LFC by announcing their special Halloween film lineup taking place on that magical night, October 31st, and billed as the 1st Annual Dharmaween Party.

I’m going to quote our friends at Dharma as I don’t want to get their info wrong — if you want to receive updates on the eatery, sign up for their e-mail list at www.dharmabuns.net.

Here’s the Halloween film lineup, per the Dharma Buns e-newsletter:

Films start at 7:30PM
The Hitcher (1986, dir. Robert Harmon)
The Fog (1980, dir. John Carpenter)
[REC] (2007, dir. Jaume Balagueró and Luis Berdejo)
Halloween (2007, dir. Rob Zombie).

Be advised that all films have been rated for mature audiences only. A 10% discount will be offered to all patrons who show up in costume! Food specials include “the Nightmare”: a grilled-to-order pastrami with provolone and sauteéd onions laid out on our signature baguette. At 7:30, enjoy the much-anticipated Late Night Munchies Menu, which will be available from Oct. 31 every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night after 11 PM. Late Night Munchies will include items like Sliders (miniature versions of our regular, turkey and veggie burgers), Nachos, Stuffed Mushrooms, Mini Italian Rice Balls, Chunky Milkshakes and more!

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Mill City Mayhem 2009: A great time was had by all!

October 26, 2009 by lowellfilm

Trick 'r Treat premiered at MCM 2009!Even as I type, one of my most favorite films, Vincent Price’s The Fly, is on the tube. So of course I’m feeling the need to share some great photos from the Lowell Film Collaborative’s first horror film marathon, Mill City Mayhem! We want to thank everyone for coming out and attending this great event, with special thanks to Shannon Goor and Second Wind Café for hosting, Living Horror and Neil Lewis for their performances, and to Rick Stec, Rachel Chandler, and Roberto Dei, our fellow planning committee members. And to all our guests — YOU SURVIVED! Thank you for making MCM 2009 a truly horrifying event AND for helping the LFC celebrate their one-year anniversary!

We hope you enjoy these fabulously frightening event photos by our favorite Lowell photographer and great friend, Anne Ruthmann.

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Lowell’s First Horror Film Marathon: This Saturday!

October 23, 2009 by lowellfilm

Mill City Mayhem 2009: 8 Hours of Shock Cinema

The LFC has been hard at work planning the city’s first horror film marathon, set to premiere Saturday evening! Our partnership with Lowell’s Second Wind Cafe and local horror fans has yielded Mill City Mayhem 2009: 8 Hours of Shock Cinema, a showcase of some of the most unique and horrifying independent films to hit the screen in recent years. Our film list includes two of the best shock films out of France (so you can feel good about getting in some culture!)

If you haven’t purchased your tickets yet, there may be a couple more left so get ‘em while you can. Tickets are just $20/pp for the entire event.

Full details, including ticket info and our film lineup, are at www.millcitymayhem2009.com.

Hope we see you Saturday!

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Mill City Mayhem 2009: 8 Hours of Shock Cinema
Saturday, October 24
4PM – 12 Midnight
Second Wind Cafe (formerly Cafe Aiello)
30 Gorham Street, Lowell

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Today is Our Birthday!

October 21, 2009 by lowellfilm

It seems like decades ago, but in fact it’s only been one year – on October 21, 2008, a new organization called the Lowell Film Collaborative hosted its first screening. It was The Greening of Southie at the Lowell National Historical Park Visitor Center, and it was a partnership with the Lowell Green Building Committee, the first of what was to be numerous partnerships with organizations all over town, all in the name of bringing film to the citizens of Lowell.

Today, we turn a year old, and it is with absolute joy that we look back at a wonderful year of film, food and fun with our movie buff brethren. In one quick year, we have hosted a total of 32 films (that’s almost 3 movies per month!) at 11 different venues, and we can’t thank you enough for helping us realize our dream of screening films to anyone and everyone who will join us to see them. We will celebrate in style with a cake at this Saturday’s Mill City Mayhem horror marathon at Second Wind Cafe.

In the meantime, in case you’ve forgotten, below is a list of every film event we’ve hosted since October 21, 2008. Thanks again for helping the Lowell Film Collaborative bring film to the Mill City!

Killer Poet
October 6, 2009 – LNHP Visitor Center
Feat. Q&A w/ director Susan Gray and co-producer Dominick Musacchio
Funded through Moses Greeley Parker Lecture Series

Before the Music Dies
September 17, 2009 – LTC, Studio A
Cinema at Studio A Summer Independent Film Series

Best of the Hinterland Film Festival: A Selection of Shorts
September 3, 2009 – LTC, Studio A
Cinema at Studio A Summer Independent Film Series

Lowell National Historical Park Outdoor Film Event
August 25, 2009 – Boarding House Park
Partnership with Lowell National Historical Park

Medicine for Melancholy
August 20, 2009 – LTC, Studio A
Cinema at Studio A Summer Independent Film Series

Monster Road
August 6, 2009 – LTC, Studio A
Cinema at Studio A Summer Independent Film Series

O Brother, Where Art Thou?
July 21, 2009 – Athenian Corner
Food & Film Series
Partnership with Athenian Corner

Momma’s Man
July 16, 2009 – LTC, Studio A
Cinema at Studio A Summer Independent Film Series

The Real Dirt on Farmer John
July 14, 2009 – LNHP Visitor Center
Funded by Tufts New Entry Sustainable Farming Project

Twelve
July 9, 2009 – LTC, Studio A
Cinema at Studio A Summer Independent Film Series
feat. Q&A with producer Scott Masterson

Nerdcore Rising
June 25, 2009 – LTC, Studio A
Cinema at Studio A Summer Independent Film Series

Quilts in Women’s Lives
June 20, 2009 – New England Quilt Museum
Screened as part of the exhibit “Radka Donnell: The Work of Touch”
Partnership with New England Quilt Museum

A Convenient Truth: Urban Solutions from Curitiba, Brazil
June 18, 2009 – Taboca’s Steakhouse
Green Building Film Series
Funded by Lowell Green Building Commission

Right at Your Door
June 11, 2009 – LTC, Studio A
Cinema at Studio A Summer Independent Film Series

Circuit
June 2, 2009 – LNHP Visitor Center
Featuring Q&A with producer Jane-Sarah McFarlane

Scenes from a Parish
May 26, 2009 – LNHP Visitor Center
Featuring Q&A with director James Rutenbeck
Funded through a grant from Massachusetts Cultural Council

Going Green: Every Home an Eco-Home
May 21, 2009 – Lowell High School Freshman Academy
Green Building Film Series – feat. post-film panel discussion
Funded by Lowell Green Building Commission

Never on Sunday
May 18, 2009 – Athenian Corner
Food & Film Series
Partnership with Athenian Corner

Blue Vinyl: The World’s First Toxic Comedy
April 16, 2009 – Pollard Library
Green Building Film Series – feat. post-film panel discussion
Funded by Lowell Green Building Commission

The Gay Marriage Thing
April 15, 2009 – Christ Church United, Lowell
Partnership with Christ Church United

The Garden
April 14, 2009 – LNHP Visitor Center
Presented in celebration of Lowell Earth Day Festival
Funded by and in partnership with UMass Lowell RESD Dept.

Lowell Film Festival
April 3-5, 2009 – various venues

The Great American Quilt Revival
March 21, 2009 – New England Quilt Museum
Presented in celebration of National Quilting Day
Partnership with New England Quilt Museum

Solar Energy: Saved By the Sun
March 19, 2009 – Pollard Library
Green Building Film Series – feat. post-film panel discussion
Funded by Lowell Green Building Commission

8 1/2
March 9, 2009 – Caffe Paradiso
Food & Film Series
Partnership with Caffe Paradiso

Girls Rock!
March 3, 2009 – LNHP Visitor Center
Presented as part of Lowell Women’s Week
Partnership with Lowell Women’s Week

Zorba the Greek
February 9, 2009 – Athenian Corner
Food & Film Series
Partnership with Athenian Corner

Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus
December 7, 2008 – LNHP Visitor Center
Music on Film Series – feat. performance by Appalachian Still
Funded through Moses Greeley Parker Lecture Series

Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey
November 13, 2008 – Pollard Library
Music on Film Series – feat. performance by thereminist Jon Bernhardt
Funded through Moses Greeley Parker Lecture Series

Songs & Dreams of the Noble Old
November 7, 2008 – Eggroll Cafe
Part of the Triple Feature 2, feat. live music & photography
Partnership with UMass Lowell Friends of Photography

Tom Dowd & The Language of Music
November 2, 2008 – UMass Lowell, O’Leary Library
Music on Film Series – feat. Q&A with Dana Dowd, daughter of Tom
Funded through grant from Mogan Cultural Center

Africa Unite
October 26, 2008 – LNHP Visitor Center
Music on Film Series – feat. intro by UML Prof. Oliver Ibe
Partnership with Lowell African Cultural Assoc.
Funded through grant from Mogan Cultural Center

The Greening of Southie
October 21, 2008 – LNHP Visitor Center
Followed by panel discussion
Funded by Lowell Green Building Commission

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