Film festival: ReelFest DC
After four years in Boston, ReelFest is setting up camp in the District with the express mission of creating “a seed-bed for films outside of the mainstream which personify innovation, individuality and daring strokes of bold new cinema.” That’s a tall order, but at least one ReelFest offering appears to fit the bill: “Inventory” is a feature-length look at the inner workings of a New England furniture store. Like the retail-class sagas it echoes, “Inventory” deals principally with the problems of smart people who feel overqualified for jobs they can barely handle.
Through Monday at 1055 Thomas Jefferson St. NW.
Web: www.reelfestdc.com.
NORTHERN COMFORT Somewhere between home and where the heart is, is the place that we’re all going. When confronted with our humanity and our mortality we are confronted with the questions: Who do I want to be, and where do I want to go? Join two lost souls as they take the journey in search of hope, in search of answers, in search of… Northern Comfort.
Northern Comfort
Directed by Rod Webber
Written by Rod Webber, Greta Gerwig, Joseph James Bellamy, Irina Peligrad, David T. Grophear.
Cast
Rod Webber ... Horace
Greta Gerwig ... Cassandra
Joseph James Bellamy ... Owen
Irina Peligrad ... Denise
Markus Nechay Lived Alone In The Woods
Matthew D. Ferrel Believed in Legislation
Jose Ramos Played A Good Game Of Chess
Robert Koch Tried To Catch The Big Fish
Crew
Directed by Rod Webber
Written by Rod Webber. Additional dialogue by Greta Gerwig, Joseph James Bellamy, Irina Peligrad, Markus Nechay, David T. Grophear
Camera: David T. Grophear, Tim Brenner
Sound: Mike Kovalko
Co-Producers: David T. Grophear, Ali Bell
Associate Producers: Joseph Poleman, Sam Moussavi
Northern Comfort,starring Rod Webber and Greta Gerwig, (who is now very well known for films such as Greenberg, No Strings Attached and the Russell Brand remake of Arthur) is the second of Webber’s experimental films shot primarily in three days. Webber's guide to shooting is based upon what frequent collaborator Joseph James Bellamy refers to as The Perpetual Motion Manifesto. The film is perhaps best described as an existentialist character-study, in which Webber and Gerwig encounter a slice of snowy, northern Americana as they walk, talk, and drive their way to Canada for employment and free health-care, respectively.
Synopsis: Guided only by a set of books-on-tape by Greek philosopher Socrates, Horace and Cassandra are a mismatched duo who must learn to work together or meander aimlessly throughout the frozen wilderness. The two strike up a friendship, but after a night of drinking and spitting-up blood in a hotel bathroom, Cassandra has second thoughts about the pairing, and leaves the next morning. Horace and Cassandra cross paths again, but after her car breaks down, they are forced to find shelter in the woods. They come across a cabin inhabited by a crazy old hermit (Markus Nechay) who let’s them get out from the cold, and spends the night telling stories and playing his violin while Cassandra tries to get some shut-eye.
When Cassandra is confronted with the reality that her sickness is worsening, she must decide whether to stick it out with Horace, or find her own way, knowing that her time is running out.
Northern Comfort premiered May 25th, 2010 and has upcoming screenings October 9th 2011, at Southern New England Indie Film Fest, and November 11th at ReelFest DC.
Note*: The website is somewhat in transition-- But a more detailed synopsis is to come, when we get some of our other web-related issues squared away. In the meantime, please check out the trailers!
Thursday, November 10, 2011 OPENING NIGHT BLOCK: ONE PRICE GETS YOU IN ALL NIGHT!!
TWO FEATURES, PLUS TONS OF SHORTS!! Buy Tickets!
7 PM – My America (80min) preceded by shorts
Opening statements by Joseph Polema Bag Tax by J.W. Crump (5min), Slanted by The Mataresse Brothers (5 min) OJ in Bishop Gardens by Otessa Ghadar (8min), Q & A with filmmakers My America Webpage Buy Tickets!
9 PM Amateur Hour by Sam Moussavi (94 min) Preceded by shorts: Planet Diva Trailer (Shot on Super-8 Film) by John Hartman Q & A with filmmakers Amateur Hour Webpage Buy Tickets!
***Preceding opening night there will be FREE screening ofNorthern Comfort (at 5PM) (78 min) Preceded by: Nobody is Somebody by Aaron Mullins/ Q & A 5PM BLOCK is a FREE Matinee warm-up event. Northern Comfort Webpage
Friday, November 11, 2011 3 PM BLOCK – Northern Comfort (starring Greta Gerwig) (78 min)
9 PM BLOCK - Amateur Hour by Sam Moussavi Preceded by shorts: Bag Tax by J.W. Crump, Slanted by the Mataresse Brothers Counting Sand by Robert Early (3 min), Q & A session with filmmakers. Amateur Hour Webpage Buy Tickets!
Saturday, November 12, 2011 11 AM BLOCK – Northern Comfort (starring Greta Gerwig) (78 min) Preceded by: selected shorts
7 PM BLOCK - Amateur Hour by Sam Moussavi Preceded by: The spoken word of Joseph James Bellamy of My America Counting Sand by Robert Early, Bag Tax by J.W. Crump Slanted by The Mataresse Brothers, Q & A session with filmmakers. Amateur Hour Webpage Buy Tickets!
9 PM BLOCK – My America Preceded by shorts: The Lake by Tara Garwood (12 min), Boys & Girls by Chris Tipton King (5 min) OJ in Bishop Gardens by Otessa Ghadar, Q & A session with filmmakers. My America Webpage Buy Tickets!
Sunday, November 13, 2011 11 AM BLOCK – Northern Comfort (starring Greta Gerwig) (78 min Preceded by: selected shorts Northern Comfort Webpage Buy Tickets!
1 PM BLOCK - I Help You Kill Yourself by Kian Amani (57 min)
Preceded by shorts :Loneliness by Farzan Farmazi (5 min), Metta by Kirthi Nath (10 min) Something Like Life by Ardavan Roozbeh (40 min) Q & A session with filmmakers. I Help You Kill Yourself Webpage Buy Tickets!
3 PM BLOCK - Return to El Salvador by Jaime Moffett (67 min
5 PM BLOCK - Amateur Hour by Sam Moussavi Preceded by: selected shorts Out for Good by Nico Colombant (21 min) Q & A session with filmmakers. Amateur Hour Webpage Buy Tickets!
7 PM BLOCK - My America Preceded by shorts: Take Off One Ear! by Sabine I. Golz, Q & A session with filmmakers Closing announcements My America Webpage Buy Tickets!
Monday, November 14, 2011
12 PM BLOCK – Northern Comfort (starring Greta Gerwig) (78 min Preceded by shorts: A short film by Joseph Poleman Northern Comfort Webpage Buy Tickets!
2 PM BLOCK - Amateur Hour by Sam Moussavi Preceded by: selected shorts: OJ in Bishop Gardens by Otessa Ghadar Slanted by The Mataresse Brothers, Bag Tax by J.W. Crump , Q&A Amateur Hour Webpage Buy Tickets!
