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Film

[click "Play", Susan and Nick Sherman are NOT silent]



Mountainfilm in Telluride waxes eloquent on the subject of silence with the inclusion of  "Soundtracker" in this year's lineup. The documentary, the intersection of science and poetry, was written and directed by Nick Sherman.

The Sounds of Silence were first immortalized in lyrics that propelled folk duo Simon and Garfunckel to fame back in 1964. Forty-six years later the sounds of silence are celebrated once again in "Soundtracker," as Sherman pursues sound recordist Gordon Hempton pursuing the few remaining quiet corners of the Earth, where deer cross a quiet country road and tall grass waves in the wind. In a way, the two media events are related: both the hit single and the documentary are responses to an assault, the first on an American president; the second, on our senses. Both tributes argue for an awakening.
22 May, 2010 /
[click "Play" to listen to Joel Sartore's conversation with Susan]

Rare_500px It's been a long and winding road from the Wichita Eagle to Mountainfilm in Telluride, where photographer Joel Sartore is a guest presenter at the opening Moving Mountains Symposium. He is also scheduled to give a talk about  the findings in his latest book. Both events focus on the crisis of extinction.

“We are living in the sixth major extinction on this planet and the first one to be caused by humans,” says Festival Director David Holbrooke. “The statistics are staggering. We’re currently experiencing the worst spate of species die-off since the loss of dinosaurs 65 million years ago. It’s estimated that a species dies off every 20 minutes. Some scientists predict that between 30 and 50 percent of all species will be extinct by mid-century. E.O. Wilson says that biodiversity is the key to life on this planet and that its collapse is the biggest threat we are facing.”

21 May, 2010 /
[Elisabeth Gick speaks to Jamyang Yeshi about "Shining Spirit", click "Play"]

Jamyang_Yeshi (editor's note: After publishing it was pointed out that this post was written by Elisabeth Gick. My apologies.)

Telluride and Tibet have more in common than alliteration. Mountain cultures nurture individuals unafraid to reach for the sky. They support shining spirits such as Jamyang Yeshi, the subject of a celluloid study, "Shining Spirit" by filmmaker Karen McDiarmid.

"Shining Spirit" is featured at the 32nd annual Mountainfilm in Telluride Festival. Jamyang is also scheduled to perform his music throughout the long weekend, May 28 – May 31, chock full of lectures (the all-day Moving Mountains Symposium on extinction is Friday), breakfast talks, art, music – and film – in support of endangered species, cultures, and ideas.

21 May, 2010 /

Image-2 Dragontattoo Telluride's Nugget Theatre is screening four films for the week of Friday, May 21-Thursday, May 27, including a Telluride Film Festival presentation of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo."

In "Furry Vengeance" we learn that nature may fight back against real estate developers. It may help to remember that this movie is aimed at kids, and the humor may not be too sophisticated, but it's had decent box-office. (Rated PG)

20 May, 2010 /

37th_TFF_poster_final 2 The Telluride Film Festival (September 3-6, 2010), presented by National Film Preserve LTD., is pleased to announce Pixar Animation Studios’ Ralph Eggleston as the 37th Telluride Film Festival poster artist. Eggleston will lend his talent to create the Festival’s official poster. He will also create a second special edition poster to be unveiled closer to the big weekend.

Eggleston plans to attend the 37th Telluride Film Festival to present his poster designs to the public and hold a poster signing for Telluride Festival guests. The UCLA School of Theatre, Film and Television plans a special reception to honor Eggleston at that time.

14 May, 2010 /

Therunaways_smallteaser Diaryofawimpykid_smallteaser Telluride's Nugget Theatre is showing three movies the week of Friday, May 14-Thursday, May 20. Must be the mountain is officially closed.

First up is "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" (rated PG), another story about a smart kid who gets no respect. The subject has been done many times, but the audience reviews for this one have been positive, and Roger Ebert gives it a thumbs-up. Could be fun.

"The Runaways" tells the story of the all-girl 1970s rock band. It's rated R for language and sexual situations. Expect plenty of rock 'n' roll.

Thelosers_smallposter "The Losers" (PG-13) is an action flick. A special forces team is sent into the Bolivian jungle, there is an insider villain bent on world turmoil, and the group has to stay invisible and stick together to survive.

See below for showtimes, and the Nugget website for trailers and reviews.

13 May, 2010 /
[click "Play" to hear Erika Gordon speak about Sunday at the Palm]

3rd.childrens.fest.11x17 Telluride Film Festival’s “Sunday at the Palm” presents 3rd Annual Children’s Film Fest: "Best of the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival." The celluloid celebration takes place at Telluride's Palm Theatre on Sunday, May 10, 4 p.m. The  program is FREE and the running time is just over an hour.

The SHOW is a compilation of shorts from the Chicago event, also referred to as the “Cannes for kids.”  Roger Ebert of The Chicago Sun Times described the collection as “one of the greatest movie treasures.”  Titles include CONFECTION (USA, 4 min), DOMO-KUN AND THE EGG (Japan, 5 min), LUKA (Ireland, 3 min), THE MANTIS PARABLE (USA, 8 min), THE MAGIC LION (Canada, 7 min) plus other magical shorts. The films are appropriate for all ages.

13 May, 2010 /
5-10 TFF poster Telluride Film Festival Cinematheque, a collaboration between the internationally renowned Telluride Film Festival and the five-star Wilkinson Public Library, is a vehicle for film lovers in the greater Telluride community to watch and discuss great films year 'round. Thanks to programming genius of Festival co-director Gary Meyer, the grand finale of the winter season in the "All About Food" series is the critically acclaimed "Big Night," (1996, 107 minutes). The event takes place Monday, May 10, 5:30 p.m. for the pre-show reception and 6 p.m. for the screening.

"Big Night" is a delicious tale of mouthwatering food and boiling passions. The story is built around a belt-popping pig-out at a Jersey trattoria which can't get no respect. The engaging dramedy revolves around two brothers in the pursuit of the American Dream.

09 May, 2010 /

Datenight_smallteaser "Date Night" (PG-13) is the movie at Telluride's Nugget Theatre the week of Friday, May 7-Thursday, May 13. Say your marriage is a little bland, a lot tied up with kids and jobs. How about a special night out to liven things up? No reservations at the fancy new Manhattan restaurant? No worries, just be proactive, so that when the couple who DID have a reservation don't show up, you are ready. Would some mob-controlled cops and self-inflicted mistaken identity spice things up? Well then, hang on. 'Cause that's the maguffin in "Date Night."

See below for showtimes and the Nugget website for reviews and trailers.

06 May, 2010 /
The 32nd annual Mountainfilm Festival will be the biggest ever with more venues in operation, more special guests and more programming. Festival Director David Holbrooke describes Mountainfilm as thriving.
 
“We are particularly excited about the festival this year,” he says. “We have a very strong and varied lineup of films, speakers and artists. We have accomplished mountaineers like Ed Viesturs and Conrad Anker, but we also have artists like Maya Lin and Chris Jordan. We have environmental activists like Dave Foreman and Tim DeChristopher but we also have civil rights activists with two Freedom Riders coming to town.”
 
Among the films to screen in Telluride at the end of May, Holbrooke highlighted the following as examples of Mountainfilm’s depth and diversity:
02 May, 2010 /