International film festival comes to Athens

by Tiffany Royal
Staff Writer

Once again Athens and the rest of the world will collide through the creativity of international, national and local cinematography.

The 28th annual Athens International Film and Video Festival begins Friday, April 27 and runs through Saturday, May 5.

The film festival began in 1974 by a group of graduate students and professors, said Ruth Bradley, festival director. The group decided to make films and have a competition, as well as invite other films from around the world.

The judging process for this year's competition began in January, Bradley said. Beginning with this year's 350 videos, eight prescreening judges - student volunteers - watched each film. They chose 27 films based on the criteria of context, how the films stand up against each other, innovative uses of the medium and a personal involvement with the material.

"The number of votes determine the competition," Bradley said. "It's very tough, very competitive. (The films) usually have to get all seven or eight votes in order to get in."

The guest artists then watch the films and determine the recipients of the cash awards.

Guests this year include Oscar-nominated actor Ned Beatty; filmmakers Jay Rosenblatt, Kate Haug and Melinda Stone; members of Big Noise Films; youth media artists from Spicy Yam in Perry, Ohio; and actor/director/producer Tim Reid. All will be in town to screen their own films or to present a screening.

"The movie I want to see really is (Tim Reid's) Asunder," said Angela Davis, a volunteer with the festival. "He started his own movie production company (New Millennium Studios). This is the first all-black production company since Oscar Micheaux."

Micheaux was an African-American filmmaker who wrote, published, produced and directed films in the 1940s.

Asunder will have one screening only on Sunday at 7 p.m., with a reception following at Lindley Cultural Center.

"It's an overall good time. What's better than catching up with friends to go see an independent movie that's not in theaters?" said Eric Jones, a festival volunteer and co-creator of festival commercials.

Bradley is excited about the festival again this year.

"We are looking for personal, innovative and brand new (films)," Bradley said. "I call (competition films) one-of-a-kind movies. I love all the features, but I love the small ones - the competition films."

Tickets are $4 for all shows at The Ridges Auditorium and Athena Cinemas, 20 S. Court St. Attendees can buy a $20 pass for the whole week to see six films. Passes are available at the College of Fine Arts Ticket Office on the first floor of Kantner Hall. Free programs with show times, locations and descriptions are available all over Athens and Ohio University, as well as the festival Web site (http://www.athensfest.org.)