The verdict is in! VISIONFEST 15: THE OTHER FESTIVAL has unveiled the complete line-up for its fifteenth anniversary run. Among some of the highlights of things happening this year are:
- The Return of
FKBK - For Kids By Kids, a special sidebar initiative showcasing films by filmmakers under 18 years of age (more on this when you scroll way down)
- MUSICAL VISIONS, a photo exhibit by Mark Doyle, which will be unveiling at
Tribeca Cinemas throughout the VF15 run. The premiere showcase features a series of photographs of popular music artists
performing live and some portraits, which will be exhibited in the
theater's bar/lounge, THE VARICK ROOM. The exhibit, which will be
viewable throughout the entire film festival with the exception of
Saturday, May 16, is free and open to the public and Mark Doyle is
scheduled to be on hand for the opening and closing nights.
Take a peek!
- And of course: THE FILMS!
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| Still from BIRTHDAY |
The competition just got fierce! After months of Selection Committee
screenings and deliberations, which saw the VF team plow through tons of shorts, experimental entries, animated films, and over 90
narrative features and 75 documentaries submitted for
consideration, the festival chose 35 films for its Independent Vision Showcase and 6 for the FKBK Section.
The "Official Opening Night Selection"
slot this year is held by the riveting mystery, DESERT CATHEDRAL, by
Travis Gutiérrez Senger, making its New York Premiere on Wednesday, May
13, 2015.
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| Still from DESERT CATHEDRAL |
Preceding the feature presentation are two shorts, as is
customary for all VF programs, which strive to provide a rich two-hour
ride for each of their program block audiences. The first short is a
deep, and somewhat quirky experimental titled THE TULIP CHAIR by Courtney Marsh, who also
happens to be the only filmmaker with two films in this year's
Independent Vision line-up - this short and the haunting cautionary tale
ZARI. The second, SINA FORMA, by Garette Henson, is an emotionally
charged dramatic piece making its World Premiere at VF15.
On
Thursday, May 14, the evening ignites with an eclectic collection of films that are part of a program known as A POTPOURRI OF VISIONS in TC 1. The 8pm show in TC 2 will feature the narrative shorts block VISIONS OF CINEMATIC SYNERGY.
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| Still from WENDELL AND THE LEMON |
And for the evening's last program: WENDELL AND THE LEMON, a Slamdance alum, comes to VF.
Directed by Lawrence Krauser, the film is a a comic exploration of
jerry-rigged sanity based on his book, "Lemon". Opening the program
will be T.J. Misny's acclaimed short, THE CRUMB OF IT.
On Friday,
May 15th, VF presents its first LGBT themed program block ever - and
this will be a special section the festival intends to expand upon in
the imminent future.
This "Official Centerpiece Selection" screening will be headlined by
the New York Premiere of ALTO, written and directed by Mikki Del Monico,
with the sweet short, MOON PEOPLE by Alexandra Grace, paving the way at
7 p.m.
<--- Promotional still from ALTO
VISIONS OF THE TAUT AND FANTASTIC is the 9:30 pm block that offers a perfect blend of sci-fi, romance, horror, and psychological mind games - a great way to spend a Frightday Night.
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| Still from LORDS OF BSV |
Saturday evening, May 16, VF pumps up the volume and
breaks out some new moves with the feature-length documentary, LORDS OF
BSV, by Maria Soccor. The doc will be preceded by the poignant and edgy
American Film Institute short, PINKY, by Dylan Paffe.
The exciting VF sidebar initiative "FKBK - For Kids By Kids" returns to
VF with a special Sunday semi-matinee program slated for May 17 at 4:30
pm. The program consists of films created by filmmakers under the age of
18 and is set up as a special "out of competition" screening, which
will unveil six new films that will reignite the flame of a VF project
that the festival hopes to enhance and continue for years to come.
Sunday's
"Closing Night Selection" brings one of the most celebrated features on
the festival circuit today to VF.
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| Still from FRANK VS. GOD |
Stewart Schill's FRANK VS. GOD,
starring the talented Henry Ian Cusick (
Lost, Girl on the Train), will kick off at 6:30 p.m., preceded by the New York Premiere of DOUBLE NEGATIVE, by Brian Dilg.
TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE AT:
WWW.VISIONFEST.COM
