International Film Day!

Sister Cities Association and Cucalorus Film Festival Join Forces for an International Film Day!


Together, the Sister Cities Association of Wilmington and Cucalorus Film Festival created an International Film Day on September 26 at Wilmington’s micro-theater, Jengo’s Playhouse.

“The idea of working together to present an International Film Day stems from both organizations mission to create global awareness and understanding of different cultures through the arts,” said Marilyn Cantarella, board president of the association. “We are always looking for ways to bring attention to common themes of family, friendship, coming of age, history, political conflict and moral issues shared by communities around the world. And we have done that with the line-up of films Dan Brawley, Cucalorus director, helped us select for this first international film day.”

Line Up:
The Queen and I 1:00pm
A 90 minute documentary by Swedish filmmaker Nahid Persson Sarvestani.
Nahid is forced into exile after participating in the Communist faction of the Revolutionary Guard that put Khomeini in power. Iran’s deposed Queen Farah and Nahid’s sense of reality could not be more different and yet they come to like and respect one another through the making of the film. The documentary was selected for the 2009 Sundance Film Festival and premiered on HBO2 in June.


The Country Teacher 3:15pm
This feature narrative was nominated for several awards and a New York Times Critics’ pick. It tells the story of a young, homosexual teacher who forms a friendship with a woman and her 17-year-old son in a rural village. Written and directed by Bohdan Sláma, the film is about whether the three characters will find a path to each other. We see the complexity of basic human needs unfold as the story progresses. Sláma manages to portray the topic of sexuality in a quiet, dignified way.

The Beaches of Agnes 7:30pm
A magnificent new film from the great Agnes Varda (The Gleaners and I, Cleo from 5 to 7), a richly cinematic self-portrait that touches on everything from the feminist movement and the Black Panthers to the films of husband Jacques Demy and the birth of the French New Wave. This will be the last screening of the day.

Tickets for the September 26 International Film Day can be purchased in advance at www.etix.com or the day of the event at the Jengo’s Playhouse box office, 815 Princess Street. General admission is $7.00 and (students) $5.00. Day passes are $15.00 and (students) $12.00 for all three features. For more information, visit the Sister City Association website: www.scawilmington.org or www.cucalorus.org; or call 910-343-5995.



Don't forget to check out the Cucalorus Facebook Fan Page and our Twitter!

Call For Entries

The 15th Annual Cucalorus Film Festival seeks submissions from independent filmmakers and video artists. Cucalorus is a non-competitive showcase of features, shorts and documentaries from around the world. The festival blends together examples of dynamic story-telling and cutting edge production with a sampling of the finest international cinema. Known for its inclusive rock n' roll atmosphere, Cucalorus focuses on the filmmaker with a heavy dose of southern charm. In addition to seeking politically charged and technically groundbreaking works, the festival also appreciates films that highlight southern storytellers or experiences. Walkable and welcoming; Cucalorus invites you to join us for a progressive southern film festival. Attracting filmmakers and artists in large numbers, the festival "is a place where spectators and creators collide, leaving us all just a little more inspired and a lot more aware."

Formats: 35mm and various video formats. Cucaloriland accepts films from all genres. All entries on DVD must include entry form, an uncommon animal fact and/or portrait, and fee. The entry fee is $30 if postmarked by June 10, $40 if postmarked by July 10 and $50 if post marked after that. Download an entry form at www.cucalorus.org or submit online using withoutabox.com. And of course, feel free to call our office for more information.

Send stuff to:

Cucalorus, 815 Princess Street, Wilmington, NC 28401. (910)-343-5995

jobs, real jobs - paid in peanuts, real peanuts

The internationally acclaimed Cucalorus Film Festival seeks a Media Relations Manager and an Outreach Coordinator to join the staff in preparation for the upcoming 15th annual Cucalorus Film Festival taking place November 11-15, 2009 in Wilmington, North Carolina. Cucalorus has established itself as one of the nation’s finest regional festivals, attracting filmmakers from all over the world for a non-competitive festival.

Media Relations:
Responsibilities include: providing administrative support to the director; preparing and delivering press releases; maintaining the festival website; preparing advertisements for TV, radio and print; managing the festival’s facebook, myspace and twitter accounts; developing eBlasts; maintaining a database of media contacts; maintaining festival email lists; and providing clear information to the public about participation in the festival. The ideal candidate will have strong organizational skills, excellent computer skills and be a very enthusiastic and consistent communicator. Strong writing skills are required. Please submit one haiku, original or stolen, with each application. This is a seasonal, part-time position beginning on June 22, 2009.

Outreach Coordinator
Responsibilities include: providing administrative support to the director, facilitating the festivals outreach events, establishing relationships with community organizations for partnership and attendance, overseeing the Latino Lens program, managing the Racial Rewind program, contacting area school groups to attend outreach events, organizing the annual Cucalorus Kids! Film Festival, creating and selling group ticket packages, and providing accurate attendance records for outreach events for grant reports. The ideal candidate will have a broad knowledge of community groups, non-profits, area schools, after school programs and local churches. The ideal candidate will be self-motivated, outgoing and detail oriented. Event planning experience is required. Please submit a drawing of an exotic animal, real or imagined, with each application. This is a seasonal, part-time position beginning on June 22, 2009.

TO APPLY:
Please send cover letter, resume and three references by June 10, 2009 to:

Dan Brawley, Director
Cucalorus Film Foundation
815 Princess Street
Wilmington, NC 28401

The Atomic Scramble

It's Atomic!
No doubt, it's all about nuclear these days - from casseroles to cruise ships. So Cucalorus is proud to almost announce it's upcoming funraiser The Atomic Scramble. Mark your calendar, check your will and call your relatives. Five times more powerful than Big Bad Booty Jamz, this one night event promises food, tastie beverages, music, films, deviled egg racing and the slim possibility of another puppet show. Did someone say Def Leppard?

The Atomic Scramble will most likely go down on April 24 at Jengo's Playhouse.

BEST JOB EVER!

Cucalorus seeks Development Director

The internationally acclaimed Cucalorus Film Festival seeks a Development Director to join the staff in preparation for the upcoming 15th annual Cucalorus Film Festival taking place November 11-15, 2009 in Wilmington, North Carolina. Cucalorus has established itself as one of the nation’s finest regional festivals, attracting filmmakers from all over the world for a non-competitive festival.

The Cucalorus Film Festival seeks a Development Director to join the staff at the Foundation’s headquarters in Wilmington, North Carolina. This may be the most fun place in the world to work! Don't miss a chance to be on the creative team that builds Cucalorus. Responsibilities include providing administrative support to the Director, seeking corporate sponsors for the annual festival, writing and tracking grant funding, developing new sources of funding, managing the foundation membership program, securing private contributions, organizing trades for services and goods used during the annual festival, recruiting and managing volunteers to work at the festival in support of the development department, and maintain a working knowledge of the festival’s financial records. The ideal candidate will have strong organizational skills, excellent computer skills and be very enthusiastic and outgoing. This is a seasonal, part-time position beginning on March 10, 2009.

TO APPLY:
Please send cover letter, resume and three references by February 20, 2009 to:

Dan Brawley, Director
Cucalorus Film Foundation
815 Princess Street
Wilmington, NC 28401

All applicants will be notified by February 27 with an update on the status of their application.

State of the State: NC Film

Our annual update on the film industry in North Carolina "State of the State" was broadcast locally on the City of Wilmington's television station. You can now watch the one hour discussion with local leaders online - right here. Participants included moderator Peter Jurasik, Screen Gems Vice-President Bill Vassar, UNCW Film Chair Lou Buttino, actress and producer Hilarie Burton, NC State Senator Julia Boseman, Wilmington Film Commissioner Johnny Griffin, NC Film Commissioner Aaron Syrett and filmmaker Dale Williams.

Working Films: MASS MoCA

QUESTION:
What do you get when you combine amazing filmmakers, Working Films' experienced outreach staff, a supportive contemporary arts facility, and a shared desire to use film to create social change?

ANSWER:

The Content + Intent Documentary Institute, Working Films' Residency at MASS MoCA

For 5 days in March of 2009 Working Films will guide a select group of filmmakers as they create outreach plans for their film projects. Over the course of the workshop Working Films' staff together with invited experts in the field of community engagement will cover topics such as:

· Identifying and reaching out to community allies

· Developing support materials such as screening guides or activist toolkits

· Fundraising for outreach and community engagement

· Creating DVD extras as supplemental tools for social movements

· Using social networking and other online tools to increase the impact of films



The 2009 Content + Intent Documentary Institute will be held on the campus of the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) in North Adams, MA from March 11-15, 2009.

If you, or someone you know, would like to be one of the 8 participating filmmakers please check out all of the details in the attached press release, download our application, and return it to Anna Lee (alee [at] workingfilms.org) via email by January 28, 2009.

Interested in hearing what others have to say about the workshop? Filmmaker Sean Flynn shares his experience at last year’s residency on our blog.