Tag Archives: Arkansas Times

LR Film Fest Awards: Arkansas Times Audience Choice

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bridegroomThe Little Rock Film Festival concluded on Sunday evening with the Arkansas Times Awards Gala.  There were thirteen awards presented that evening. A fourteenth award – the Diamond Award for Excellence in filmmaking – was presented earlier in the festival to Harry Thomason and Linda Bloodworth-Thomason.

The Arkansas Times Audience Award went to Bloodworth-Thomason’s Bridegroom.  This documentary had previously won an audience award at the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival where the film was introduced by President Bill Clinton.

Because the filmmakers were unavailable to attend on Sunday and accept the award, Shane Bitney Crone, one of the subjects of the documentary, accepted the award.

Final Day of 2013 Little Rock Film Festival

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IMG_5408The 2013 Little Rock Film Festival concludes today with the Arkansas Times Awards Gala and the showing of Don Jon (starring Joseph Gordon Levitt) as the final film.

Today’s screenings of films in contention for the Golden Rock Narrative Award are The Girl by David Riker; Junk by Kevin Hamedani and Burma by Carlos Puga.

Films screening today in contention for the Golden Rock Documentary Award are Bridegroom by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason; 12 O’Clock Boys by Lotfy Nathan; These Birds Walk by Omar Mullick and Bassam Tariq; Muscle Shoals by Greg “Freddy” Camalier and Pussy Riot-A Punk Prayer by Mike Lerner, Maxim Pozdorovkin.

Three film shown today are part of the Made in Arkansas competition: The Idenity Theft of Mitch Mustain by Matthew Wolfe; Up Among the Hills by Larry Foley and Last Summer by Mark Thiedeman.

Arkansas Shorts: “Consequences” including “Twinkletown” by Scott McEntire; “Soul Winner” by Jennifer Gerber; “Blood Brothers” by Jason Miller and Seth Savoy; and “Diamond John” by Travis Mosler.”

World Shorts: “The World Outside,” features “The Children Next Door,” “Eddie Adams: Saigon ’68,” “A Cidade,” and “Another Corner.” “The Beginning, The Middle, The End” consists of “Hatch,” “Un mundo para Raul,” “Sahasi Chori,” “Movies Made from Home #6 and #16,” “Divine Rite,” and “Passio.” “Some Times” featuring “When We Lived in Miami,” “Off Season,” “Black Metal,” “Ojala,” “Sleep” and “113 Degrees.”

Arkansas Literary Festival This Weekend!

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litfestlogoThe Arkansas Literary Festival, the premier gathering of readers and writers in Arkansas, has expanded to include over 90 authors in many locations on both sides of the river from April 18-21, 2013.

The Central Arkansas Library System’s Main Library campus, other venues in the River Markets and Argenta Arts districts are the sites for a stimulating mix of sessions, panels, special events, performances, workshops, presentations, opportunities to meet the authors, book sales, and book signings. Most events are free and open to the public.

Festival authors include:

Salma Abdelnour, David Abrams, Mary Stewart Atwell, Beth Ayer, Jenni B. Baker, Jan Barry, Carolyn Briggs, Kevin Brockmeier, Sam Calvin Brown, Oliver Burkeman, Mary Bucci Bush, Drew Cameron, Raquel Cepeda, Da Chen, Joseph Crespino, James Daily, Lela Davidson, Edmond Davis, Sylvia Day, James W. Erwin, Richard Ford, Ben Fountain, Tim Gallagher, Tim Gallagher, Paula J. Giddings, Kay Collett Goss, Jessica B. Harris, Ruth Hawkins, Roger D. Hodge, Ty Jaeger, Jay Jennings, Ben Katchor, Janis F. Kearney, Jeannette Keith, Brian and Terri Kinder, Steve Kistulentz, Christi Shannon Kline, Jon Krampner, Travis Langley, Carlotta Walls LaNier, Dorothy R. Leavell, Domingo Martinez, Ayana Mathis, Carla Killough McClafferty, Rosetta Miller-Perry, Lydia Millet, Pat Mora, Linda Murphy, Sara Nesson, Cynthia LeJeune Nobles, Harry Ostrer, Darcy Pattison, Lori Perkins, Leonard Pitts Jr., Garry Craig Powell, Padgett Powell, Joe Queenan, Karen Russell, Eric Rutkow, Courtney Miller Santo, Rosie Schaap, Martha Silano, Heather Sutherlin, Steve Teske, Chuck Thompson, Charles Todd, Caroline Todd, Duncan Tonatiuh, GB Tran, Dennis Vannatta, Frank X Walker, John Corey Whaley, Steve Wiegenstein, David Wesley Williams, Johnathon Williams, Rita Williams-Garcia, Christian Wiman, Jan Wolfe, Ron Wolfe, C.D. Wright, Steve Yates

This year’s Festival authors have won an impressive number and variety of distinguished awards, such as the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, Pulitzer Prize for Journalism, James Beard Foundation Award, PEN/Hemingway Award, Newbery Honor, National Book Critics Circle Award, a Coretta Scott King Honor, PEN/O.Henry Prize; Pushcart Prize; Barnes and Noble Discover Prize for Fiction, Roger Ebert’s Film Festival Thumbs Up Award, Pure Belpré Award, International Griffin Prize for Poetry, International Documentary Association Best Documentary Short, Gold Medal from the Society of Illustrators, and several National Book Award Finalists. Many of the presenters’ works have been translated into multiple languages and made into films.

Special events for adults during the Festival include a cocktail reception with the authors, food, wine, and spirits workshops, films, a play, and Spoken Word LIVE!, a city-wide poetry competition. Panels and workshops will feature topics such as fiction, memoir, screenwriting, super hero psychology & law, Warrior Writers Project, erotica, and more.

Children’s special events include a storytime on the lawn of the Governor’s Mansion, a book fiesta, the artmobile, plays, outdoor activities, and Super Hero Activity Afternoon. Festival sessions for children will take place at both the new Children’s Library, 4800 10th Street, and the Youth Services Department at the Main Library, 100 Rock Street.

At Level 4, the Main Library’s teen center, teens can meet authors and illustrators, participate in ComiCALS, activities and panels such as a cosplay contest, video game tournament, a writing workshop, and zombie survival activities.

Through the Writers In The Schools (WITS) initiative, the Festival will provide presentations by several authors for Pulaski county elementary, middle, and senior high schools and area colleges.

Support for the Literary Festival is provided by sponsors including Central Arkansas Library System; Friends of Central Arkansas Libraries (FOCAL); Department of Arkansas Heritage; Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau; Fred K. Darragh Jr. Foundation; Arkansas Democrat Gazette; Mosaic Templars Cultural Center; Regions; ProSmartPrinting; MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History; Historic Arkansas Museum; Clinton Presidential Center; Hendrix-Murphy Foundation; Wright, Lindsey & Jennings LLP, Arkansas Times; Christ Church, Little Rock’s Downtown Episcopal Church; Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center; Arkansas Library Association; Henderson State University; University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service; Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre; Arkansas Governor’s Mansion; Hendrix College Creative Writing and the Hendrix-Murphy Foundation Programs in Literature & Language; Hendrix College Project Pericles Program; Hendrix College; University of Arkansas at Little Rock, English Department; University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Department of Rhetoric and Writing; Pulaski Technical College; Jewish Federation of Arkansas; Arkansas Arts Center; Power 92 Jams; Central High School National Historic Site; National Park Service; Literacy Action of Central Arkansas; Capital Hotel; Little Rock Film Festival; and LuLav. The Arkansas Literary Festival is supported in part by funds from the Arkansas Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Author! Author!, a cocktail reception with the authors, will be Friday, April 19 at 8pm on the fifth floor of the CALS main library building.  Tickets are available at the door.

The Arkansas Literary Festival is a project of the Central Arkansas Library System. The Festival’s mission is to encourage the development of a more literate populace. A group of dedicated volunteers assists Festival Coordinator Brad Mooy with planning the Festival. Jay Jennings is the 2013 Festival Chair. Other committee chairs include Katherine Whitworth, Talent Committee; Lisa Donovan, Youth Programs; and Amy Bradley-Hole, Moderators.

Little Rock Film Fest Special Offer

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Little Rock Film FestivalThrough today (December 20), the Little Rock Film Festival is offering a special on passes for the 2013 festival.  The dates for the 7th LRFF are May 14-19, 2013.

The All Access or Gold Pass, normally $250, is available for $200.  It grants priority admission to all 2013 LRFF films and parties including the Opening Night Film Screening and after party, the Oxford American Party and the Arkansas Times Closing Night Gala Awards Ceremony. Your Gold Pass includes access to the Filmmakers Lounge where special panels are held, and free refreshments are available. There are also exclusive Gold Pass only after‐parties. Your Gold Pass gives you access to all of the festival’s year round events such as the monthly Argenta Film Series, the Little Rock Horror Picture Show and the Reel Civil Rights Film Festival. All of these events continue the expansion of the Little Rock Film Festival into one of the premiere year-round film advocacy organizations in the American South.

The Silver Party Pass is available for $90, normally $100.  It provides admission to 2013 LRFF Film Screenings, Panels, and legendary After-Parties. Silver Pass Holders receives second priority entrance to screenings, workshops, panels, and festival parties! The Party pass will grant the pass holder entry to most parties, many with complimentary food and drink.The Pass will allow entrance to the opening night film after Gold Pass holders are seated.

To purchase tickets, visit here.  The discount code for the Gold Pass is: MerryChristmas.  The discount code for the Silver Pass: is Happy Holidays.  (Please note there are no spaces between the words in either discount code.)

Legacies and Lunch: Deering Discusses Fisher and Political Cartoons

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John Deering, Chief Editorial Cartoonist for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, will discuss the history and importance of cartoons created by George Fisher.  The talk takes place today as part of the monthly “Legacies & Lunch” program.

Fisher was a political cartoonist for more than 50 years whose work influenced and helped define Arkansas politics and politicians for a generation.

Among his legacies were Orval Faubus and the Farkleberry Tree (pictured at right), Bill Clinton graduating from buggy to tricycle to bike to pickup, David Pryor and his coon dog, Frank White and his banana and the Old Guard Rest Home.

Legacies & Lunch is sponsored in part by the Arkansas Humanities Council. Bring a sack lunch; drinks and dessert are provided.

It will take place in the Darragh Center inside the main library building.  The program starts at 12noon and ends at 1pm.  The program is free.

Little Rock Film Fest – Final Day

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The final day of the 2012 Little Rock Film Fest starts with a flash back to the 80s as Some Kind of Wonderful is screened with actor Lea Thompson in the audience.  At 3:20 on Sunday afternoon Thompson will participate in a discussion of Women in Film.

The Closing Night Film is Stella Days which will be screened at 8:30pm at Riverdale Cinema.

Prior to Stella Days will be the Arkansas Times Closing Night Awards Gala at the Clinton Presidential Center.  After the closing film, a Wrap Party will be held at Crush Wine Bar.

Jeff Nichols, who will be one of the honorees at the gala will participate in a conversation earlier in the day.

Films screened on the sixth and final day of the LRFF with filmmakers present include A Sister’s Call; Eating Alabama; Leave Me Like You Found Me; The Gleaning; Tchoupitoulas; First Winter; Think of Me; Wolf; The List; Conlon Nancarrow: Virtuoso of the Player Piano; Running the Distance;  and Go the Distance: Helping End Homelessness. Other films screened include Town of Runners and The Dynamiter.

Several series of shorts will be shown.  Best of the Little Rock 48 Hour Film Project, and LRFFYOUTH! Shorts will both be screened with filmmakers present.

The Ark Shorts screened on the final day are (in the Road Most Traveled grouping) “Tree,” “John Wayne’s Bed,” “The Proposal,” and “StillLife.”  Filmmakers will be present for these as well.

The World Shorts which will be screened are (in the Let’s Talk About It grouping) “Crossing,” “Lost Night,” “Contra el Mar,” and “The Sea Is All I Know”; (in the Closing In grouping) “The Carnival Is on Fire,” “Infinity,” “Abigale,” “Homecoming,” “The Darkness Is Close Behind”. Filmmakers will be present at the screenings.

The Central Arkansas Library System is playing host to a Family Day of family friendly films on Sunday afternoon.