Indie cult film/off-beat comedy duo Jay & Silent Bob (Jason “Jay” Mewes and actor-director Kevin Smith) are partnering with Fathom Events to present Kevin Smith: Live From Behind Featuring Jay and Silent Bob Get Old — this is a one-night only, 3-hour event on Thursday, February 2 with Smith and Mewes hosting their popular podcast (or SModcast as they call it), followed by a live-stream Q&A session with fans. It’s an interactive audience experience due to hit 300 cinemas simultaneously that allows fans to be part of the show by submitting questions to Smith and Mewes via social media.

Don’t know who Jay & Silent Bob are? This brief routine will help define the act:

Yeah, it’s not for everyone, but trust us, they have a legion of loyal followers. We had a terrific time seeing Kevin Smith in person at the Boston premiere of his newest film, Red State, dare I say one of our favorite flicks of 2011 due mostly to Michael Parks’ riveting performance. Smith did his best to field questions, but seemed to get caught up in his own diatribe — but no matter, he was a fabulous entertainer and all of us were into it. He has a way of sweeping you up into his cluttered, passionate head. Be warned, chances are, Jay and Silent Bob will have no filter!

Full details on Kevin Smith: Live From Behind Featuring Jay and Silent Bob Get Old can be found at Fathomevents.com. Tickets are $16 for the event and can be purchased at Lowell’s Showcase Cinema — order fast, as only 250 seats are available!

Director John Sayles makes a guest appearance at the Cape Ann Community Cinema, December 28 at 7:30PM. Tickets on sale now!

We take great joy in promoting our good friend Rob Newton up in Gloucester at the Cape Ann Community Cinema. Not only is Rob one of the hardest working people to ever own a movie theater, but his passion and love for what film can do for a community is second to none. If you haven’t visited the Cape Ann Cinema, we URGE you to make plans in the coming year, or, if at all possible, next Wednesday, December 28. On that evening, you’ll be treated to a VERY special director event with legendary indie filmmaker John Sayles who’ll be promoting and screening his newest work, Amigo. Also in attendance will be his partner Maggie Renzi and local film producer Sarah Green, who will moderate the post-film Q&A with Sayles and Renzi.

Seriously, friends — you will NOT want to miss this event. You’ll be a stone’s throw from Sayles no matter where you sit in this great little theater! And the price? It’s an unbelievable $12.50 per ticket, and even less if you’re a member of the Cinema.

Below is a trailer for Amigo as well as the official press release about the event. Be sure to snag your tickets ASAP — we hope to see you there in just over a week!

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OSCAR NOMINEE VISITING CAPE ANN DEC. 28
John Sayles presents his new film “Amigo” and meets the fans

[December 19, 2011 * Gloucester, MA] – The Cape Ann Community Cinema at 21 Main Street in Gloucester will host two-time Oscar-nominated filmmaker John Sayles and his partner, Maggie Renzi, on Wednesday, December 28th at 7:30pm. Sayles and Renzi will personally present their new film, Amigo, and stay for a Q&A after the film, hosted by local film producer Sarah Green.

This is the 17th feature film from Sayles, and it stars legendary Filipino actor Joel Torre as Rafael, a village mayor caught in the murderous crossfire of the 1899 Philippine-American War. When U.S. troops occupy his village, Rafael comes under pressure from a tough-as-nails officer (Chris Cooper) to help the Americans in their hunt for Filipino guerilla fighters. But Rafael’s brother (Ronnie Lazaro) is the head of the local guerillas, and considers anyone who cooperates with the Americans to be a traitor. Rafael quickly finds himself forced to make the impossible, potentially deadly decisions faced by ordinary civilians in an occupied country. A powerful drama of friendship, betrayal, romance and heartbreaking violence, Amigo is a page torn from the untold history of the Philippines, and a mirror of today’s unresolvable conflicts.

Sayles’s past films include Return Of The Secaucus 7 (1979), The Brother From Another Planet (1984), Matewan (1987), Eight Men Out (1988), Passion Fish (1992), The Secret Of Roan Inish (1994), Lone Star (1996), Limbo (1999), Sunshine State (2002) and Honeydripper (2007).

Tickets for this special event are $12.50, $10.00 for Cinema members, available at the Cinema or online at www.CapeAnnCinema.com.

Thursday the 22nd through Sunday the 25th at 5:00pm (plus a 2:30pm show on Sat. Dec. 24), the Cinema concludes its annual holiday tradition of “The Nutcracker,” this year featuring the Bolshoi Ballet’s presentation. Tickets are $15.00 adults, $12.50 for Cinema Members and $10.00 for children up to age 12. Tickets are available at the Cinema box office and on the Cinema’s website at www.CapeAnnCinema.com.

Another great film festival hits New England this weekend when the 2011 Camden International Film Festival (CIFF) comes to Maine from Thursday, September 29 to Sunday, October 2. This gives you about one week to peruse the Festival website, pick your films, and snag your passes! We hope to see at least a couple of days worth of screenings, though the robust film line-up and choice of 9 venues makes it delightfully challenging to pick our favorites. If you’re looking to be a part of the action, volunteer opportunities may still be available — click here for complete details on volunteering at the CIFF as well as some of the great incentives.

We’re shining a spotlight on three of the films that have piqued our curiosity: Convento, At Night They Dance (La Nuit, Elles Dansent), and To Be Heard. The latter title is especially poignant to us as we are huge supporters of the spirited and passionate young people of FreeVerse!, Lowell’s own Youth Poetry Slam Team. We know they’d be incredibly inspired by this film so we’ll be looking into its availability for a Lowell screening.

One other film that deserves an asterisk is Paul Goodman Changed My Life, which we saw this past July at the Maine International Film Festival. The film is a remarkable look at a brilliant, complex, literary man who inspired a generation; we were very fortunate to have director Jonathan Lee present at the screening as well as Goodman’s daughter. If you’re able to hit the CIFF, we highly recommend checking on which filmmakers are in attendance.

Enjoy the sneak previews below and be sure to visit CamdenFilmFest.org for complete Festival information!

Get more information on Convento

Get more information on At Night They Dance

At Night, They Dance from Les films du tricycle on Vimeo.

Get more information on To Be Heard

To Be Heard: Trailer from Edwin Martinez on Vimeo.

Movie-lovers at the Newburyport Documentary Film Festival at the Newburyport Screening Room.

Founded by Nancy Langsum and Andrew Mango, the Newburyport Screening Room started out as a small business dream built on grassroots ideals, passion, and perseverance. It’s an AMAZING story, and fortunately, all the details of their multi-year (at times uphill) venture are perfectly captured on their History Page which we wholeheartedly encourage you to read. Again, fascinating stuff and all documented. We have great admiration for this duo!

A treat for those of us who adore chatting endlessly about film is the Screening Room’s monthly film discussion hosted by the Newburyport Film Society. Founded in January 2010, the Film Society is an informal group open to the public that meets the first Monday of the month at the Screening Room for a flick and post-film discussion. (Read “Port Film Society Nights look to get people talking,” Jan. 2010). Film discussion groups are a great way to hone your movie chops, meet good people, and share those intense post-film thoughts floating around your head. Er, Tree of Life anyone? The Newburyport Film Society also produces the Newburyport Documentary Film Festival, an annual event held at the Screening Room and the Firehouse Center for the Arts, a marvelous performing arts center also in downtown Newburyport.

The coming attractions at the Screening Room are impressive and have us dashing to our calendars. We’ve listed their schedule below through September 15, but please visit the Newburyport Screening Room for full details and descriptions. Hit this marvelous little venue and enjoy your summer film viewing while supporting a local indie/art house cinema. And let them know the Lowell Film Collaborative sent you!

July 8 – 21: Beginners
Get those happy endorphins going — see this film! Two thumbs WAY UP from the LFC.

July 22-25: Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall All His Past Lives
A winner at Cannes 2010 with an international ghostly twist. 

July 29-August 4: Cave of Forgotten Dreams [in 2D]
Werner Herzog’s newest documentary mesmerizes — a stunner.

August 5-18: Buck
At the top of our own must-see list — we’ll be hitting this one for sure.

August 19-22: The Trip
This Steve Coogan/Rob Brydon venture had us longing for food, travel, and our own British sidekicks. Two thumbs WAY UP on this one.

August 26-29: Tabloid
You can’t go wrong with director Errol Morris, just bring along that open mind.

September 2-15: Magic Trip
Try to catch the Monday, September 12 screening which features a Q&A with Alison Ellwood, the film’s writer, director, and editor!

So unfolds the compelling documentary Winnebago Man, which marks the directorial debut of Austin-based filmmaker Ben Steinbauer. After some soul-searching, Steinbauer decides to seek out Rebney to find out who and where this internet phenomenon is today, how much he knows about his YouTube stardom, and what he would tell his admirers were he ever given the opportunity. What unfolds is a story too bizarre, unique, and hilarious to be anything but real life. Steinbauer does find Rebney, and their discussions provide some of the funniest, genuine moments in a documentary since American Movie. Rebney alone is worth the cost of admission. But just as fascinating are the moments when fans are given the chance to express their appreciation to him, and the ultimate effect these words have on the cynical cyber-star.

The LFC had the pleasure of taking part in a free pre-screening of Winnebago Man on July 13 at the Brattle Theatre in Cambridge. It opens for a full run at the Kendall Square Theater on Friday, July 23. For its honesty, ingenuity, and subtle Jack Rebney star power, we highly recommend this independent gem which has already seen major success in the film festival circuit, including South by Southwest (SXSW) and Toronto’s famed Hot Docs. Tip: If you’re able, check out a screening featuring a Rebney guest appearance as he tours with the film!

If you’ve ever wanted to make your own film but don’t have the millions of dollars needed to fund it, why not do the next best thing – create a trailer for it! The Brattle Theatre recently announced their Trailer Smackdown 2010 contest, and the deadline for entries is quickly approaching. The idea is pretty simple – create an original trailer for the fictional film Labor Day, include the required items designated on the entry form, and keep the finished product under two minutes long. The entry fee is $10, and completed trailers must be submitted to the Brattle no later than Tuesday, July 13.

A preliminary judging round will determine the finalists to be screened on July 15 for Audience Award consideration. After the trailers are screened at the Trailer Treats event on July 15, final awards will be determined by audience ballot. For full details, visit the Trailer Smackdown page on the Brattle Theatre’s website.

Shutter Island
Thursday, June 17  |  6:30PM
Chelmsford Public Library
25 Boston Road, Chelmsford
Free admission

In case you missed it in theaters but still want to enjoy the crazy ride in a group setting, Shutter Island – Martin Scorsese’s hit adaptation of the eerie Dennis Lehane novel – will screen at the Chelmsford Public Library tonight. Praised by many critics as another Scorsese suspense classic, Shutter Island follows federal marshal Teddy Daniels in his journey to an isolated mental hospital to investigate the recent disappearance of a patient admitted for murdering her three children. Questioning the head of the institution and his staff, Daniels begins to suspect there is much more to the story than he has been told. Eventually stranded on the island with his partner due to a hurricane, Daniels must unlock the secrets of Shutter Island as his own sanity begins to unravel. The outstanding ensemble cast includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, and Max von Sydow.

Lehane’s Shutter Island was selected as the book of choice for Chelmsford’s 2010 “One Book, One Chelmsford” community reading extravaganza. Lehane held court at Chelmsford High School’s Performing Arts Center on June 13, captivating the audience with his stories and quick wit. In addition to Shutter Island, other Lehane novels will also be featured in the “One Book” programming. Snuggle up to some suspense this summer!

We enjoyed a full house at our screening of "Enlighten Up" at Life Alive Cafe, May 24!

The LFC has been flying on air from our last two film events, Browsing Through Birke’s and Enlighten Up! It seems our wishes for hosting full-house screenings and bringing the community together around film have been granted as of late, and we are here to thank YOU. Thank you for your attendance and support; thank you for spreading the word and bringing your friends and family; thank you for helping subsidize our mission through your kind donations; and thank you for visiting this website. We do our very best to juggle our passion for film and community with our “day jobs” and are so glad you find the time to visit lowellfilmcollaborative.org.

Monday night’s screening of Enlighten Up! brought out many new faces, and we have our friends at Life Alive Cafe and BromYoga to thank, especially the entire Life Alive team and Jon Brandi, founder of BromYoga here in Lowell. It was standing room only for the film, and everyone had a wonderful time, especially US!

We’re working hard on securing some summer films as well as an Arts Film Series in September in collaboration with Lowell Open Studios and Arts Month. Please stay tuned! If you aren’t on our e-news list, please email us and let us know that you’d like to receive our updates via email.

Thank you again for all your support and ideas — we’ll see you real soon AT THE MOVIES!

Just a reminder that the LFC’s next screening will take place next Monday, May 24, at 7:30 PM at Life Alive in downtown Lowell. Enlighten Up is a documentary that follows yoga skeptic Nick Rosen in his global quest to discover whether or not yoga can truly transform anyone if practiced in its truest form. His journey takes him to various corners of the world, where he meets celebrity yogis, renowned gurus, and people most would consider ‘yoga freaks.’ We hope you can join us for this wonderful event that is being brought to you in partnership between Life Alive, the LFC, and Jon Brandi, who offers Brom Yoga classes at the Space, 122 Western Avenue.

In the meantime, if you’re itching for more film, please pay a visit to our friends at the Chelmsford Public Library tomorrow night, May 20, as they host a free screening of the 2009 indie hit (500) Days of Summer, beginning at 6:30 PM in the McCarthy Meeting Room. Recently viewed by the LFC and given a unanimous thumbs up, this quirky romantic comedy follows a young greeting card writer (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who is hopelessly, helplessly searching for the girl of his dreams…only to discover that his new co-worker, Summer Finn (Zooey Deschanel), may just be the one. But the 500 days of their offbeat relationship reveal (in no particular order) that the road to happiness can be unpredictable, uncontrollable and unbelievably funny! Don’t miss this fresh take on love and loss in Chelmsford tomorrow.

Coming soon: The Walpole HS Film Festival!

We at the LFC try to keep our fingers on the pulse of Great New England film news. Here are some juicy nuggets, courtesy of one of our favorite online resources, NewEnglandFilm.com. It’s worth the time to sign up for their e-mail notifications, especially if you’re a local film festival buff — there are film fests aplenty in the New England area!

Keep up to date with industry news at NewEnglandFilm.com, and please share with us any news YOU might hear throughout the spring.

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LOCAL MAY FILM FESTIVALS

Boston’s 26th Annual LGBT Film Festival, May 6 – 16: The Fest kicks off with an opening night screening of Bob Christie’s documentary Beyond Gay: The Politics of Pride. Other films include Is It Just Me?, Play in the Gray, Wild About Harry, and 8: The Mormon Proposition. Several filmmakers will be in attendance at their screenings. Advance tickets are available through the MFA and Brattle Theatre for films showing at those locations; tickets for screenings at Fenway Health can be purchased at the door with cash only. Passes are also available through the MFA Box Office. Visit http://bostonlgbtfilmfest.org/ for the full festival schedule and more ticket information.

23rd Connecticut Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, May 27 – June 5, Hartford, CT: Keep up to date with this Fest at http://www.outfilmct.org/ for updates and volunteer opportunities.

8th Annual Walpole High Film Festival May 16, 18, and 20, Walpole, MA:  The fabulous Fest features student work and finishes with a red carpet event on May 20th. Visit http://www.whsfilmfestival.com/Walpole_High_School_Film_Festival/Welcome.html for more details and contact information.

New Hampshire High School Short Film Festival, May 15, New Hampshire Technical Institute, Concord, NH: This event is free and open to the public, with an awards ceremony to follow! Visit http://www.nh.gov/film/hsfest/index.htm for the full list of films.

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INDUSTRY BUZZ

State budget cuts pose a serious threat to the Vermont Film Commission, reports the Burlington Free Press (http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20100415/ENT02/100414017). The commission’s budget has been reduced by approximately $70,000, and the commission must eventually find new ways of funding itself. The article quotes executive director Joe Bookchin, who says, “If the state stops funding us, I think that would be the end of the film commission.”

The Massachusetts state House of Representatives rejected amendments to prevent another proposed cut to arts and cultural funding through the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC). The final House budget plan calls for $9.1 million the MCC, or roughly $600,000 less than the agency’s current allocation. For more information, visit http://www.massculturalcouncil.org/.

Emmy-award winning Friends producer Kevin Bright is currently working with students at the Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, Massachusetts. Bright, who is also an executive artist in residence at Emerson College, is teaching a filmmaking course to the students, who recently completed their first short film. Read the full story in the Boston Globe: (http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/articles/2010/04/21/blindness_is_no_barrier_in_filmmaking_class/).

Principle Pictures of Plymouth, Massachusetts, has been awarded a Cinereach grant for Beth Murphy’s upcoming documentary What Tomorrow Brings. The film follows a year at a girls’ school in Afghanistan. Principle Pictures is currently in production on the documentary The Promise of Freedom. Visit http://www.cinereach.org/grants/grants-recipients/what-tomorrow-brings for more details.

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FILMMAKER OPPORTUNITIES!

The Camden International Film Festival is currently accepting submissions for their June 15 deadline ($45 fee for feature films, $35 short); Late deadline is July 15 ($55 feature, $40 short); Extended deadline is August 1 ($60 feature, $45 short.) Visit http://www.camdenfilmfest.org/submissions.php for submission form and updates.

Start preparing your submissions for this year’s Boston Film Festival, September 17 – 23. Deadline for submissions is June 11. Visit http://www.bostonfilmfestival.org/ for more details and to complete an application.

 Submissions are currently being accepted for the 12th Annual Williamstown Film Festival, October 15–24. Visit http://www.williamstownfilmfest.com/ for further details!