OPERATION PACIFIC (1951)
Saturday, May 26 @ 1PM
Pollard Memorial Library
401 Merrimack Street, Lowell
Free admission! 

If your Saturday plans have you craving a classic film, head over to Lowell’s Pollard Memorial Library for their special FREE Memorial Day Weekend Matinee and film tribute to The Duke on his 105th birthday (hard to believe, right?) In today’s feature, all-American icon John Wayne (born Marion Robert Morrison) joins the beautiful Patricia Neal in the 1951 Operation Pacific, critically considered to be Wayne’s finest film.

The Pollard Memorial Library is most excellent at selecting great titles for all of us to enjoy during all occasions, and free admission to boot, courtesy of the Friends of the Pollard Library. Our big thanks to Lowell’s local treasure (and a Kerouac haunt) for bringing fabulous film to the Mill City. And by the way, be sure to mark your calendars for the 2nd Thursday of each month for the library’s monthly Independent Film Night … their next indie film date is Thursday, June 14!

Learn all the details on Altsie right here via their blog — we know you’ll be intrigued (and maybe just a little bit familiar, wink-wink) with their mission of bringing “Cinema Everywhere.” We’ll be keeping up with these guys for sure!

Dear Altsie: the Lowell Film Collaborative is right there with you!

AUGUST TO JUNE screens Monday, May 21 @ 6PM 
at Cape Ann Community Cinema in Gloucester, MA

Special Guests: Directors Amy & Tom Valens 
PLUS a school lunch-style dinner served! 

After 30 years of watching the public open classroom where his wife taught, and admiring at a distance the model for learning that evolved, Tom Valens couldn’t miss the opportunity to film her last class from beginning to end.  And so he was there the day school started and many days thereafter: one man with a camera and a tripod, trying to stay out of the way as kids skipped from one activity to another, listening on headphones for events in other parts of the building, and sometimes rushing, tripod in hand, only to arrive at the action just as it ended.

Slowly but surely kids came into focus.  Tom captured their relations with each other, with their teacher, with learning.  The film is not meant to suggest there is one right way to teach.  Instead, it shows how one unconventional classroom puts schoolwork inside a larger picture, bringing into focus a broader vision of what education should and can be.

So begins the breathtaking description of August to June, the compelling documentary by Amy & Tom Valens, that is winning the hearts of educators, parents, mentors, film enthusiasts and communities. We were thrilled to discover this film through the Cape Ann Community Cinema, which is hosting a very special screening this Monday, May 21 at 6PM with a guest appearance by both Amy & Tom Valens. Film screenings are a real treat when filmmakers or guests are present to share the love of their craft and enlighten us to their movie-making processes — this event is surely not to be missed!

If poignant cinema is your passion, we encourage you to make it to Gloucester this Monday and share in the communal film-watching experience. The Cape Ann Community Cinema is one of our most favorite movie haunts on the East Coast and their unique film programming is absolutely stellar! 

Join us for the regional premiere!

TOUGH LOVE: A MEDITATION ON DOMINANCE AND DOGS
Special Guests: Director Chad Montrie & Editor Nathan Hendrie
Tuesday, June 26 @ 7PM
Lowell, MA — Location TBA
Free admission! 

We’ve been anxiously awaiting the premiere of this very unique documentary by our friend, documentarian, and fellow cinephile Chad Montrie, a Lowell resident and professor of history at UMass Lowell. His newest work, Tough Love: A Meditation on Dominance and Dogs, will have its regional premiere right here in the Mill City on Tuesday, June 26 at 7PM (at a soon-to-be-disclosed location) and has a Boston premiere in the works. We’ll be sure to update everyone on the local venue for June 26 and on additional details as they arise.

Filmmaker and UMass Lowell Professor Chad Montrie.

We’ll be posting the official press release in the next couple of days, but for now, we invite you to learn more about Chad’s project by visiting Anchorholdfilms.com. We’re sure you’ll be amazed at the subject matter, which should be a very special treat for all you dog-lovers as well as anyone at all curious about the human condition.

More details to come, friends! For now, please SAVE THE DATE and help us spread the word about this highly anticipated film event.

BEFORE YOUR EYES (2010)
Thursday, May 10 @ 6:30PM
Pollard Memorial Library
401 Merrimack Street, Lowell
Free admission! 

Every second Thursday of the month is Independent Film Night at Pollard Memorial Library here in downtown Lowell, giving all us film lovers a great opportunity to stretch our indie film wings and enjoy great foreign fare and film fest titles. Indie Film Night comes to all of us FREE of charge, courtesy of the Friends of the Pollard Library, so mark your calendars for the second Thursday of every month for an indie film fix right here in the Mill City!

ABOUT THE FILM
Ten year old Gulistan and her brother Firat live in the heart of Turkish Kurdistan. Tragedy strikes when their parents are shot down by paramilitary gunmen before their very eyes. Traumatized and orphaned, Gulistan and Firat try to care for their infant sister, but their money soon runs out and they’re forced onto the street. It is there that Gulistan meets the part-time escort Dilara. Accompanying her on a hotel call one day, Gulistan is shocked to recognize Dilara’s client as the murderer of her parents, and she devises a method of revenge. Miraz Bezar’s award-winning film will be presented in Turkish & Kurdish with English subtitles.

Click here  to view the film trailer and to learn more about Bezar’s remarkable film.

]]> http://lowellfilmcollaborative.org/2012/05/07/before-your-eyes-screens-at-pollard-library-for-independent-film-night-may-10/feed/ 0 lowellfilm "Before Your Eyes" screens in Lowell, May 10! http://lowellfilmcollaborative.org/2012/05/05/weve-scheduled-a-last-minute-film-screening-join-us-today-for-the-economics-of-happiness-at-city-hall-in-lowell/ http://lowellfilmcollaborative.org/2012/05/05/weve-scheduled-a-last-minute-film-screening-join-us-today-for-the-economics-of-happiness-at-city-hall-in-lowell/#comments Sat, 05 May 2012 04:21:29 +0000 lowellfilm http://lowellfilmcollaborative.org/?p=5549 ]]>

THE ECONOMICS OF HAPPINESS (2011)
Saturday, May 5
10:30AM: Speaking Program, City Hall steps
11:30AM: Film Screening, Mayor’s Reception Room
Lowell City Hall, 375 Merrimack Street
Free event! 

Part of the Global Awareness for Climate Change event
“Connect the Dots”
taking place around the world on May 5! 

Today on May 5, 2012, people around the world are volunteering, documenting, educating and protesting to support communities on the front lines of climate change! Record-breaking heat waves in Russia, wildfires in Australia, floods in Thailand. Every time we pick up the newspaper and read about another record-breaking natural disaster, it becomes increasingly clear that climate change is not a future problem — it’s happening right now. “Connect the Dots” is a project of 350.org and partner organizations to shine a spotlight on the connections between extreme weather and climate change. We will use those connections to issue a wake-up call for our communities, the media, and our politicians. We’ll kick off the project with Climate Impacts Day on 5/5/12, when thousands of communities around the world come together to take action to Connect the Dots and call for urgent action to stop the climate crisis. 

Who: You, your neighbors, family, friends, and the rest of climate movement.
What: Actions – rallies, presentations, art projects, and more – that help your community connect the dots between extreme weather and climate change.
Where: All over the world.
When: May 5, 2012 (and beyond)
Why: Because climate change is not a future problem. It is happening right now, and it is devastating communities around the world. 

Join us for this FREE public event in Lowell and be one of thousands around the world participating in this “day of action” in support of climate change awareness! 

Visit ClimateDots.org to learn more! 

]]> http://lowellfilmcollaborative.org/2012/05/05/weve-scheduled-a-last-minute-film-screening-join-us-today-for-the-economics-of-happiness-at-city-hall-in-lowell/feed/ 0 lowellfilm "The Economics of Happiness" screens Saturday, May 5 in Lowell! http://lowellfilmcollaborative.org/2012/05/01/lowell-folklife-series-presents-indian-food-traditions-with-guest-speaker-film-screening-of-monsoon-wedding-may-4/ http://lowellfilmcollaborative.org/2012/05/01/lowell-folklife-series-presents-indian-food-traditions-with-guest-speaker-film-screening-of-monsoon-wedding-may-4/#comments Tue, 01 May 2012 04:30:05 +0000 lowellfilm http://lowellfilmcollaborative.org/?p=5522 ]]> TONIGHT!

Lowell National Historical Park presents

Sweet Happiness: Wedding Foods in India
with Guest Speaker Krina Patel PLUS a film screening of

MONSOON WEDDING (2001)

Friday, May 4 @ 7:30PM
Lowell National Historical Park Visitor Center
246 Market Street, Lowell
Free admission!

Come meet and be inspired by artist and educator Krina Patel as she shares her passion for Indian Food Traditions, most especially the traditional sweets that are central to a Hindu wedding in India. Please note that your tastebuds will ALSO be treated, as Ms. Patel will also bring luscious samples of typical Indian wedding foods for all to enjoy!

After Ms. Patel’s talk, we know you’ll be inspired to stay for a special screening of the breathtaking award-winning film Monsoon Wedding, which beautifully captures the sounds, smells, and sights of an Indian wedding ceremony while emotionally engaging you with a compelling storyline. We hope you’ll  join us for this next great event of the 2012 Lowell Folklife Series, presented by Lowell National Historical Park!

This great event is FREE and open to the public and proudly co-sponsored by the Lowell Film Collaborative.

Our much anticipated trip to Rockland’s Strand Theatre is finally here! Our ongoing research of area movie-houses continues as we seek a permanent home in Lowell to do what we love to do (show movies, of course!) If you haven’t been to The Strand, we hear it’s enchanting — we’ll be catching tonight’s screening of The Kid with a Bike and hope to be taken into movie heaven at this nostalgic, historic New England film venue.

We hope you’ll plan a visit to The Strand SOON — have a great movie-filled weekend and don’t forget to mark your calendars for Friday, May 4 @ 7:30PM for our screening of Monsoon Wedding. It’s going to be a remarkable event … details are below!

To Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union for opening their doors to us –
To Tony & Margaret for creating a remarkable film –
To Don for sharing his beautiful uke music collection –
To Dan for leading a fabulous strum-a-long –
To Caroline, Rita and Howl in Lowell for the great coverage – 
and finally
To all the UKERS & UKE-lovers who came out to celebrate music, film & community –

WE THANK YOU — last night was absolutely amazing!

The "Mighty Uke" crowd arrives!

Don Ouellette shares his uke memorabilia. Great stuff!

The "Mighty Uke" brought the folks out in droves!

The crowd is entranced ...

Dan Mathis preps the post-film strum-a-long. Thanks, Dan!

Fun strumming with Dan (for all ages!)

This young man DAZZLED us with his playing. Amazing!

We were THRILLED to bring The Mighty Uke to Lowell — thank you all once again for making what we do so much fun and fulfilling, and for allowing us to share the wonder of cinema! We hope to see you again SOON!

MISS REPRESENTATION
Thursday, April 12 @ 7:30PM
UMass Lowell South Campus
Weed Hall, 3 Solomont Way
Lecture Hall 1

Driving directions & parking information (PDF)

The Psychology Graduate Student Organization (PGSO) is hosting the ground-breaking film Miss Representation. This 90-minute documentary examines the influence of the media on women’s participation in leadership roles in the United States. This description, taken from the website, missrepresentation.org, explains:

“In a society where media is the most persuasive force shaping cultural norms, the collective message that our young women and men overwhelmingly receive is that a woman’s value and power lie in her youth, beauty, and sexuality, and not in her capacity as a leader. While women have made great strides in leadership over the past few decades, the United States is still 90th in the world for women in national legislatures, women hold only 3% of clout positions in mainstream media, and 65% of women and girls have disordered eating behaviors.

Stories from teenage girls and provocative interviews with politicians, journalists, entertainers, activists and academics, like Condoleezza Rice, Nancy Pelosi, Katie Couric, Rachel Maddow, Margaret Cho, Rosario Dawson and Gloria Steinem build momentum as “Miss Representation” accumulates startling facts and statistics that will leave the audience shaken and armed with a new perspective.”

PGSO will be screening the film on Thursday, April 12th, 2012 in Weed Hall, Lecture Hall 1, from 7:30-10:00 p.m. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided. A discussion will be held after the screening for those interested. If you will be part of a large group, we kindly request an RSVP with the number of people to pgso@uml.edu so space can be reserved.