festival readiness

I thought Spring was here until I woke up this morning. I guess Phil really was right this year. We still have to wait a few more days. According to the weather forecast, by April 1 we should be able to retire our jackets until next Fall. Along with warm weather, flowers, pollen, weeding (ugh)....April also means the 12th annual RiverRun International Film Festival. An 11 day celebration of film right here in Winston-Salem. We've mentioned this before, I know, but we are so excited to be a venue for the fest this year. Obviously, since we have just opened, we've never done anything like this before and so we have no idea what to expect as far as logistics and operations are concerned. We do however, know what to expect as far as the film program is concerned. This year's lineup includes more than 120 films from 33 countries. RiverRun brings to town films that you may never have the opportunity to see again, yes, I mean even on Netflix.

So to help get everyone in the mood, a/perture is going to be screening four great films over the next few weeks. What do these films have in common? They are all small indy films, they are not "Made in the USA," and they are films that have all enjoyed great festival exposure around the world. These are some really great films that a/perture wants to be able to continue to bring to town...so come see some of them so that we CAN!

1.) Fish Tank (now playing until April 1)...there were several films about young girls coming of age that were released in 2009. Precious and An Education (one of our favs) may come to mind. Fish Tank falls in this category, but is in a league of its own. This little British indy is tough and dirty and the language may be offensive to some ears, but it is realistic and brilliant. It won the 2010 BAFTA award (which is Oscar's British cousin). The acting by newcomer Katie Jarvis will blow you away. If you need another opinion check out the review of this film in the LA Times...

2.) Terribly Happy (April 2-8)...is a Danish film, how many of those have you seen? In one line - it is a thriller about a Copenhagen cop who moves to a small town after suffering a nervous breakdown. If you like the Coen Brothers films this should be right up your alley. Other critics have seen a similarity to the classic Western genre. Check out the trailer.....

3.) North Face (April 2-8)... is a German film and about just what its title suggests...mountain climbing. Based on a true story about a competition to climb the most dangerous rock face in the Alps. Set in 1936, as Nazi propaganda urges the nation's Alpinists to conquer the unclimbed north face of the Swiss massif - the Eiger. It just sounds daunting and really dangerous...the Eiger...

4.) The Girl on the Train (April 9 - 13)... is a French film and c0-stars the legendary Catherine Deneuve (don't you just love how her name rolls off your tongue?). The film is centered on a young woman who claims she was the target of an anti-Semitic attack and the subsequent media sensation it creates. This film is inspired by a much-discussed real event that took place in Paris a few years ago....

Our next blog will feature info on a special event we are hosting at a/ptr on April 13...stay tuned.