‘BEST YEAR YET’

36 countries to be represented at Film Festival

By Elizabeth Pannell

LITTLE ROCK — Organizers with the Hot Springs Documentary Film Institute are calling this year’s festival the “best one yet.” With 36 countries represented in 90 documentaries, the festival provides visitors with “a wide variety of films” festival director Michael Mueller said.

Mueller has been with the institute for six years, serving as the festival projectionist until this year. He said the year’s festival is the “most exciting” with the record number of films, celebrity guests and music events.

The festival begins Friday with a champagneand-popcorn reception and ends Sunday, Oct.

26, with the closing party at the Broadway entrance of the Malco Theater. All films will be shown in the two theaters of the Malco Theater.

Organizers said donations will be accepted to see films or passes may be purchased.

One highlight of the festival is the film Mary Pickford: The Muse At The Movies. According to the film’s synopsis, the one-hour and 44-minute documentary “illuminates the life of ‘America’s Sweetheart’ film pioneer, actor and keen businesswoman who co-created United Artists Studio. Through vintage audio recordings, Pickford narrates her own story along with actor Michael York, while revealing the larger tale of the birth of the movies themselves.” Mueller said York will be on hand for a question-and-answer session following the film’s 4:35 p.m. showing on Saturday, Oct. 25.

“York was a popular actor in the ’60s and ’70s, and he has narrated several documentaries,” Mueller said. “This film will be considered for next year’s Oscars.” York will also receive the inaugural Film Narration Award for his many vocal contributions to documentary films. York has worked on screen, stage and television for the past 44 years.

Mueller said another highlight of the festival is Throw Down Your Heart, one of the several music-themed films that will be presented.

“The film follows American banjo player Bela Fleck on his journey to Africa to explore the little known African roots of the banjo and record an album,” Mueller said. “He visits Uganda, Tanzania, Gambia and Mali.” Fleck will be available at the question-andanswer session following the show, and Mueller said Fleck “might do an impromptu show.” The film will be shown at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct.

24, and at 4:30 p.m on Sunday, Oct. 26.

Speed And Angels, which Mueller described as “Top Gun as a documentary,” runs one hour and 35 minutes and is the true story about two Navy officers.

“Meagan and Jay are two Navy cadets [who] become fighter pilots,” Mueller said. “It followsthem during the most dangerous parts of their training and as they go to war, where the realities of being a fighter pilot test their limits.”

Mueller said Meagan and Jay will be at the two shows at 8 p.m. Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Several Arkansas filmmakers will also have their work featured. This year seven Arkansas films will be shown, with several of them being shot in the state.

Turn The Machine On by Maumelle native Konnie Plumlee features interviews with Arkansas actors, directors, producers and film instructors to reveal that the reason films are not filmed in Arkansas is the lack of viable tax incentives. The 25-minute film will be shown at 5 p.m. on Sunday and at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday. There will be a question-and-answer session with Plumlee and the Arkansas Film Commission.

Executive Director Malinda Herr-Chamliss said this festival is different from others because it is known as the filmmakers’ festival.

“We are a noncompetitive festival,” Herr-Chambliss said. “We don’t give out prizes, so the filmmakers can just come and relax and enjoy themselves. There is no pressure. The prize is having your film picked for the festival.”

Admission to t he opening-night events are free and admission to the films are a suggested $5 donation. A daypass is a suggested $20 donation, three-day pass $50 and a festival pass, $150.

The Hot Springs Documentary Film Institute is a nonprofit organization that promotes the use of documentary film as a means of communication and education. Its depends on individuals, corporations and foundations for support. For more information, schedules and f ilm synopses visit the institute’s Web site at www.hsdfi.org.

- epannell@ arkansasonline.com

Tri-Lakes, Pages 61, 65 on 10/16/2008