ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
PAGE 14
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014
OUT & ABOUT
FirstGlance Film Festival celebrates 17th year The FirstGlance Film Festival held an event at The Franklin Theater this past weekend. JEANIE DAVEY The Temple News It’s uncommon to find a person who has watched more than 6,000 films, but Bill Ostroff considers it part of his job description. Ostroff is the director of FirstGlance Film Festival, an independent festival that celebrated its 17th year, at the Franklin Theater in Philadelphia this past weekend. The three-day event hosted many varieties of films: feature films, short films, web-series, animated and other types by independent filmmakers. Ostroff, a 1993 graduate from Temple’s School of Media and Communication, traces his passion for the festival to his love of film. “My goal in going into college was to learn about filmmaking. I enjoyed the courses on film theory,” Ostroff said. “It was what I wanted to do – and still what I want to do.” As the first person in his family to graduate college, Ostroff spent a lot of extra time working on projects to make sure he knew how to be well-rounded in the real world. He began working for local production companies, filming industrial projects and shooting events like weddings and Bat Mitzvahs, which Ostroff said gave him the opportunity to learn the essentials of filmmaking. At Temple, he teamed up with a few other students, Penn State filmmakers and “theater folks” to create a small group called Independent Film and Theater. The group put on theatrical plays and musicals at small venues. However, after realizing there was a lack of film involved, Ostroff suggested creating a film festival. He secured space in the basement of the Philadelphia Bourse Building by borrowing money. Ostroff said the first festival of 30 shows was fairly successful.
“At that point, I didn’t think any more of it,” Ostroff said. “Then, I started getting phone calls and people were asking me at school when the next one would be, and at that point I realized that I should do another.” Seventeen years later, FirstGlance has become a bicoastal festival, with events taking place in Philadelphia and Los Angeles. Since its start, the festival has grown to showcase its talent in state-of-the-art theaters that show digital screenings in 3D. While it has gained a strong following, the festival strives to provide a more personal setting for filmmakers and attendees. “We don’t sugar-coat or make [the festival] seem bigger than it is,” Ostroff said. “It is a festival that is only possible due to the filmmakers that are involved in it. I create the space, and they fill it up with great projects.” Andrea DiFabio, who has worked with the festival for 15 years, deals with the relationships between the festival and the filmmakers. She takes time to personally call filmmakers, congratulate them on their work and see if they have any questions. “It’s so nice to talk to them and hear the excitement in their voice about being in the festival and talking to them about their individual projects,” DiFabio said. “They work very hard and look forward to letting their stories be seen and heard by people.” The festival’s goal is to help young and student filmmakers network with other professional filmmakers. Some well-known directors and actors have come through FirstGlance festival, like “Kick Ass 2” director Jeff Wadlow and “Twilight” stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart. This year, FirstGlance tried something completely new. It has been running online contests for more than eight years, but this year it will give out a cash award, which will allow filmmakers to make money while their films are competing online.
CENTURY 21 ARRIVES AT GALLERY Century 21 will be opening its first Philadelphia store on Oct. 28 in The Gallery at Jefferson Station (formerly Market East Station). The high-end discount store is part of a larger plan to redevelop The Gallery’s stores and clientele. More retailers are expected to join The Gallery by Center City developers in the coming years, with the aspiration to bring more revenue to the area. The Philadelphia store will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony on 11 a.m. on Oct. 28, and the first 300 guests are set to receive gifts. -Paige Gross
DILWORTH PARK TO CELEBRATE OCTOBERFEST Center City will continue to celebrate OctoberFest at Dilworth Park this weekend with a cash-only beer garden hosted by Rosa Blanca Cafe. The park will also have vendors, live music, and family oriented activities. On Oct. 25, the park will host DJ Statik and Matthew Law of the Illvibe Collective and Son Little in front of City Hall and the Franklin Institute will also have hands-on science demonstrations. Face painting will be provided by Zipcar and Mural Arts Program will have pumpkin painting and button-making. -Paige Gross
RUNWAY OF LOVE TO CLOSE
AARON WINDHORST TTN
Temple alumni William Ostroff and Andrea DiFabio curated and organized the 17th annual FirstGlance Film Festival.
During a 30-day period, films that cannot make the festival will be online for fans to watch and vote. Watching and voting comes with a two dollar fee – a dollar of which goes to the winning filmmaker. The winning filmmaker keeps the voting money and prizes, and their film will be shown at the next festival. “We really try to be a big supporter of short films because there aren’t a lot of places that people can go see short films or get their short films screened,” DiFabio said. This process is the first of its kind for the filmmakers. Ostroff is working with a technology company, “It’s A Short” in hopes that the contest can be done for any indepen-
dent film festival in the country. Ostroff hopes to give light to eager filmmakers. “If you really want to be a filmmaker, start making films,” Ostroff said. “Don’t wait. Don’t hope. Write something that you think is good. Find good collaborators, editors, actors and put something together because you never know if you’re a filmmaker unless you make a film.” * jeanie.davey@temple.edu
Runway of Love, an attraction by Patrick Kelly at the Art Museum will close Nov. 30. The late designer was known for dressing many prominent people in the 1980s, like Bette Davis and Vanessa Williams. The exhibitions also included a range of programs like a fashion film series and a conversation about Patrick Kelly and his fashion designs and experience in his career with supermodel Pat Cleveland, writer Michael Gross and fashion journalist Carol Mongo. -Paige Gross
WXPN’S ‘FREE AT NOON’ EVENT SET FOR THIS FRIDAY Guests of all ages are invited to WXPN’s “Free At Noon” sessions. Every Friday at noon WXPN and World Cafe Live hosts free concerts. Past acts include Derek Trucks Band, Peter Bjorn & John, Marianne Faithfull, Indigo Girls & Shemekia Copeland, Dr. Dog, Adele and John Legend. Seats are limited, but guests can RSVP. This week, World Cafe Live is hosting a double header, featuring Sylvan Esso and Kindness. Both bands are electro-pop groups and will perform until 1 p.m. Sylan Esso will also perform at the local venue, Union Transfer, on Oct. 24. The show opens with Psychic Twin, doors open at 8 p.m. and the show starts at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $15-17. The show is open to fans of all ages. -Emily Rolen
FOOD TRUCKS AT FILM FESTIVAL Food trucks will take over Sansom Street on Oct. 23 as a part of the Philadelphia Film Festival. The 10-day film festival teamed up with The Food Trust’s Night Market Philadelphia to hold the event at PFS Roxy Theater on 2023 Sansom St., where an American Independent film directed by Lawrence Michael Levine will play. “Wild Canaries,” follows a Brooklyn couple’s “harebrained investigation” of the mysterious death of their neighbor. -Brianna Spause
FirstGlance Film Festival, a three day event, took place Oct. 17-19. It is the longest-running independent film festival in Philadelphia.
AARON WINDHORST TTN
TRENDING IN PHILLY What’s happening this week in Philly – from news and event coverage, to shows and restaurant openings. Based on Philly area: food, music, stores, etc. For breaking news and daily updates, follow The Temple News on Twitter @TheTempleNews.
SKATING RINK AT DILWORTH PARK TO OPEN
FALL EVENTS FOR MAN’S BEST FRIEND
@MetroPhilly tweeted on Oct. 16 that Dilworth Park will open a skating rink to the public on Nov. 14. Admission will be $4 and skate rentals will be $8.
@ThingsToDoPHL tweeted on Oct. 19 a guide to dogcentered fall events held throughout the city. Many of the events are costume-themed for dogs and people alike.
30 UNDER 30 CONFERENCE BEGAN IN PHILLY THIS PAST WEEKEND @Phillydotcom tweeted on Oct. 19 that the 30 Under 30 conference has “proved everybody has figured out Philly is a cool place to live.” The summit invites influential business leaders and mentors in the tech industry to Philadelphia from Oct. 19-22 to, “create partnerships that will change the world over the next 50 years.”
NEW EXHIBITION OPENED TO BENEFIT CANCER CENTER @PaperClips215 tweeted on Oct. 18 that the ARTnude exhibition opened on Oct. 18 and will run until Oct. 31 to benefit the Abramson Cancer Center.