HARRY BELAFONTE
Little Rock connection: Was honored guest at Little Rock Film Festival’s Reel Civil Rights Film Festival in September 2012.
Tony Awards connection: Won the Featured Actor in a Musical Tony Award in 1954 for John Murray Anderson’s Almanac. He became first African American male to win a Tony Award. He has subsequently appeared as a presenter at Tony Awards ceremonies.
Following last night’s opening festivities, the 2014 Little Rock Film Festival gets down to business today with screenings from 5pm to 10:30pm.
First up is a grouping of the Arkansas Shorts. “Unbroken Spirits” features “A Broken Road to Hope” by Nathan Willis, “After the Tsunami,” “True Athlete” by Tyler West, and “Blowing Smoke” by Mike Holifield. These will screen at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre at 5pm.
At 6pm, Before I Disappear, an entry in the Golden Rock Narrative competition, will show at the Ron Robinson Theater. In Shawn Christensen’s film, Richie gets a call from his estranged sister, asking him to look after his eleven-year old niece, Sophia, for a few hours.
Another round of Arkansas Shorts (“Adventure Time”) will screen at Arkansas Rep at 7:15. “In Borrowed Time” by Dustin Barnes, “Stuck” by John Hockaday, “Spontaneous History Lesson by Evan” by Douglas Bankston, “Citizen Noir,” by Michael Ferrera, and “Undercover” by Marcel Guadron.
At 8:30, Kim Swink and Chris Spencer’s film Valley Inn will be featured at the Ron Robinson Theater. The film stars Jordan Scott, Arkansas’ own Joey Lauren Adams, and David Lansbury. In it, Emily Mason, a New Jersey college student, finds herself in a dusty dying small southern town, a thousand miles from home, selling Christian books door-to-door for the summer. Through a series of misadventures in “the Bookfield,” and her growing friendships with the endearing and often comical local residents, Emily begins to discover what is most valuable in life, at the Valley Inn.
The final round of Arkansas Shorts (“Lessons in Loss”) of the evening starts at 9:15pm at Arkansas Rep. This includes “The Shoes of Havim” by Kenn Woodard, “A Matter of Honor” by David Bogard, “Sidearoadia” by Bruce Hutchinson and “13 Pieces of the Universe” by Tara Sheffer.”
The evening concludes with the “Stickyz Valley Inn Post Party” at Stickys Rock ‘N ‘Roll Chicken Shack at 10:30pm.
For more information, visit www.littlerockfilmfestival.org. When attending events, be sure and use the hashtag #LRFF2014 on social media posts.
KATHARINE HEPBURN
Little Rock connection: Appeared at Robinson Auditorium in 1941.
Tony Awards connection: Received a Tony nomination for Actress in a Musical in 1970 for Coco and a Tony nomination for Actress in a Play in 1982 for The West Side Waltz. Hepburn famously eschewed awards programs, making only one Oscar appearance in her lifetime (not to accept an award, but to present the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award to Lawrence Weingarten). Not only did she not skip the Tony Awards, with the cast of Coco she performed on the 1970 Tony telecast. That segment ran for over 15 minutes and is the longest excerpt from a show to ever appear in a Tony ceremony.
Today marks the anniversary of her birth. She was born on May 12, 1907.
Happy Valley by Amir Bar-Lev (My Kid Could Paint That, The Fighter, The Tillman Story) will be the opening film for the 2014 Little Rock Film Festival.
The screening takes place tonight at 7:30 pm at the CALS Ron Robinson Theater. Filmmaker Amir Bar-Lev will be in attendance.
The town of State College, home to Penn State University, lies at the heart of an area known as Happy Valley. Its iconic figure for more than 40 years Joe Paterno, the head coach of the school’s football team, took on mythic national stature as ‘Saint Joe.’ But in November 2011, everything came crashing down when former Assistant Coach Jerry Sandusky was charged with child sex abuse. Filmed over the course of the year after Sandusky’s arrest, Amir Bar-Lev creates a parable of guilt, responsibility, and identity for a small town caught in the glare of the national spotlight.
Free to Gold Pass Holders. All other pass holders (Silver and Bronze) need a seperate ticket to this event. A limited number of individual tickets available.
Following the film, in and around the CALS Ron Robinson Theater, the Little Rock Film Festival 2014 Kickoff Party will take place. Gold, Sponsor and Filmmaker Passes will be admitted. Food by The Fold and music by Trey Johnson.
The Little Rock Film Festival runs through Sunday, May 18 in downtown Little Rock. For more information and tickets, visit their website.
LIZA MINNELLI
Little Rock connection: Appeared with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra in 2004. During that visit she was made an honorary Little Rock citizen.
Tony Awards connection: Won first Tony in 1965 for Flora, The Red Menace; received a Special Tony in 1974; and won a Tony in 1978 for The Act. She was also nominated in 1984 for The Rink. Her show Liza’s at the Palace… won the 2009 Tony for Special Theatrical Event. She has appeared as a presenter and performer for several Tony ceremonies. She hosted the 1993 ceremony.
Listen To Your Mother is a national series of live readings in celebration of Mother’s Day – quite literally giving motherhood a microphone. This year, LTYM shows will take place in 32 cities across the country, and appear in Little Rock for the very first time!
Local writers, bloggers, and storytellers will share their own original writing, showcasing motherhood in all its complexity, diversity, and humor. Listen To Your Mother is the perfect way to spend your Mother’s Day. Come with your family or a group of your friends, and get ready to be amazed at the stories Little Rock has to offer!
Featuring stories from:
Listen To Your Mother aims to support motherhood creatively through artistic expression, and also financially–through contributions to non-profit organizations supporting families in need. Each LTYM show donates a minimum of 10% of ticket proceeds to a local cause, as well as providing the cause awareness/fund-raising opportunities.
For tickets, call The Rep at (501) 378-0405.
CHRISTOPHER J. HANKE
Little Rock connection: A native of Central Arkansas, he starred in the Arkansas Rep production of Damn Yankees.
Tony Award connection: Performed on the Tony Awards ceremonies with casts of Cry-Baby and How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying. Currently he is starring Off Broadway in Buyer and Cellar playing a fictional employee of double Tony nominee Barbra Streisand.
Little Rock Culture Vulture 