1st Maine International Film Festival Program Guide by watervillecreates

MAINE INTERNATIONAL

STATE OFFICE

OF MAINE

OF THE

1 STATE

GOVERNOR

HOUSE

AUGUSTA

STAT I ON

, MAINE

04333-0001 ANG US S. KING, J R. GOVERNOR

June 5, 1998

It is our pleasure to welcome you to the first annual Maine International Film Festival. This is an exciting new event for our state, and we are proud to host film fans from Maine, New England, and beyond.

The festival is a unique opportunity for Mainers and visitors alike - a chance to experience the best of American independent and international film, right here in Maine. In years to come, we hope to see the Maine International Film Festival grow and enjoy continued success. We've always known that Maine is the best place to be in the summer. The Maine International Film Festival is an important addition to the list of reasons why.

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TABLE

Opening Night............. .. . . .... .. ...... .4 Closing Night. . .............. . . . . . ....... . .. 5 Tributeto Costa -Gavras ...... ... .............. 6 Spotlight onGoodMachine ............ .. ...... 8 Tribute to Michele Ray-Gavras .... . .. . .... . .... 10 Feature Films.... . ........ .. . . . .. . . . .. . .... 11 MIFF ata Glance.. . .. ... . .. .... .. . . . . . . .... 20

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CONTENTS Semin ars ........... . ..................... 28 Special Events ... . . . ...... . ...... . ... ...... 28 Festi valGuests......... .. . . . .. .. ........... 29 Festival Personnel ....... .. ... ... ...... ... ..30 Festival Sponsors .... .. ............ . ....... .31 PrintSources ....... .. . . . .. ............. .. .39 Index................................... .41

MAINE INTERNATIONAL

Friends of Art & Film in Central Maine

Maine International Film Festival IO Railroad Square, Waterville, Maine 0490 I Phone: (207) 861-8138 • Fax: (207) 872-5502 Email:rniff@rnint.net Website: http:/ /www.rnint.nethnovies/rniff FILM

FESTIVAL

July I 0, 1998 The first annual Maine International Film Festival is the culmination of months of preparation, and the fulfillment of an idea that began with members of the steering committee more than ten years ago. It has been a truly gratifying experience to see this idea taking shape over the past several months, and to work with such a talented and creative group of people. On behalf of Friends of Art & Film, the festival steering committee , staff, and volunteers, I am delighted to welcome you. Maine and the movies were made for each other. Our state has done brisk business as a location for film, television, and commercial productions. Furthermore , Maine has produced a steadily-growing number of independent artists and filmmakers who are making important contributions to the wor ld of film, both in-state and elsewhere. We are pleased to be able to feature several films with Maine connections, including our opening and closing films. It is my hope that MIFF will become a gathering place for Maine's film community, helping filmmakers and audiences connect in ways they never have before. The festival is also a means for film lovers to meet nationally and internationally known filmmakers , and to see movies they would otherwise never get a chance to see. No screen is big enough to hold the "thank you" I extend to Friends of Art & Film, my administrative assistant and the festival staff, and everyone else who volunteered countless hours to make this event possible. I am especially grateful to the steering committee for entrusting their dream to me and for working so hard to help it become reality. Thanks also to our lead sponsor , State Cable, and all our other supporters and advertisers whose faith in our vision helped make this possible. In addition, I note with gratitude and affection the contribution of the late Joe Ezhaya , whose untimely death this winter robbed our community of its most vital civic booster. Joe's early support and unfailing optimism about this project has been a source of persona l strength for me in the midst of all the hard work . Finally, thanks to all who have bought tickets to this new venture: I believe you will be rewarded with a most enjoyable experience . To those of you who are visitors to Maine, I hope you will enjoy your time with us, and that you will join us again next summer . To the people of Maine , I hope you will be very proud of your festival and that you will want to be part of the next one . MIFF promises to bring the best of independent and international film to Maine, and to do so year after year . The Maine International Film Festival is going to be one of our state ' s most exciting annual events, and I am happy to be a part of it. Sincerely,

2~~ 71~-/1-a/s;;~~ Joan Phillips-Sandy Festival Director

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CITY OF WATERVILLE Rut/, Josepl,

Mayor

June 5, 1998

Welcome to Waterville for the First Annual Maine lnt ernat ional Film Festival. On behalfofthe City of Waterville, I hope that you will take advantage of all that Waterville has to offer---fine restaurants, shops, museums, a beautiful outdoo rs and friendly community! It is with pleasure I welcome you and hope that visitor s and Waterville area residents alike will enjoy the First Annual International Film Festival. We hope that you will return next summer for the Second Annua l International Film Festival.

RuthJoseph MayorofWaterville

Enjoy!

RJ/ls

OLYMPIA

.J.

SN0WE

UNITED

ST~TES

WASHINGTON,

MAINE

SENATE

D. C. 20510

June 10, 1998 Dear Friends: Pleaseacceptll!Ybest wishesfor thefirst annual Maine InternationalFilm Festival. This is a wonderfulway to see the worldwithouteverleaving the state. Throughthe differentperspectives offeredbyfilm makers whootherwiseltl'-!J'not enjoyexposure,we can learnmoreabout the dreamsand aspirations,hopesandfears ofculturesacrosstheglobe -- includingour own. Thisfestival is alsoa reajfinnationofthe vibran01of the arts in Maine, and our commitmentto inspiringthe creativespirit in all of us.

I hopethat thisfestival will proveto be a successfuland enjoyableonefor all involved. So sit back,grab a bagof popcorn and enjoy the show! With best wishes,

Olympia J. Snowe United States Senator

HOUSE

REPRESENTAT

WASHINGTON

IV ES 15

H . ALL E N

THOMAS FIRS

, 0 . C . 205

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July 10, 1998 Dear Friends: Welcome to the Maine International Film Festival, a wonderful addition to summer events in Maine. I am grateful to the Friends of Art and Film in Central Maine for working so hard to make this fest ival a reality. The members of this organization are dedicated to enriching the artistic climate in central Maine. We owe them a debt of gratitude. You will have an opportunity to enjoy films both new and old -the work of new filmmakers and films of historical significance. You may see films being shown for the first time and unique films that you may never see again.

Thomas H.Allen Member ofCongress

I am certain you will enjoy the festival, and I hope you will take time to enjoy all that the region has to offer. Sincerely, ----

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July I 0, 1998

Dear Friends: As the first Maine International Film Festival gets underway , I want to offer my best wishes for a most enjoyab le event. I laving followed the planning and preparations for this exciting venture, I know that an enormousamount of time nnd resourceshave been investedto

ensure its success. TI1ose who have given of themselves to make this Film Festival a reality deserve our recognition and gratitude. Everyone attendi ng this inaugural event will be treated to a number of unique and intriguing independent and foreign films. There is something for vinually every film-goer here in Waterville, and I am hopeful that large crowds will sample from the featured selections. The State of Maine will also benefit from this endeavor. By contributin g to the cultural offerings and economy of our state, the Maine International Film Festival should have a significant impacteven after the last credits fade from the screens. For those who have traveled to Maine "from away," let me also take this opportunity to welcome you. There is no better place on earth to enjoy the summer, and the Maine International Film Festival will make it even better. I lave a great visit to our state, and please return often to experience the beauty and wonder of Maine. Again. congratulations and best wishes for a memorable event.

JohnE.Baldacci Member of Congress

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OPENING 1 9 9 8

M A I N E

NIGHT F I L M

INTERNATIONAL

TheForgotten Maine USA , 59min.,in English Director: Bill Chinnock Cinematography: BillChinnock Executive Produce r: Michae l J. Fiori Music:Bill Chinnock J. Fioriandthe Printcourtesy Michael E.Y.E. Foundation

FESTIVAL

Shown in itsworldpremier, THEFORGOTTEN MAINE isa unique andgalvan izinglookat Maine-bothasit is, andasit soonmight notbe. Based onthevisionof Executive Producer Michael J. Fiori, THEFORGOTTEN MAINE findsdirector (andMainemusiclegend) Bill Chinnock visitingwithfamilies wholobster in Stonington and farmpotatoes inAroostook . Wespend timewith Earland and Freida Rowell attheirgeneral storeinAthens , andwithJohnand GregIngraham andMikePhilbrick , whorunaThorndike dairy farm.Weseea lifewemaybetakingforgranted, a bountiful life of closecommunity andwarmgenerosity. Butthatwayof lifeis nowthreatened asa stateof smalltownsandcaringneighbor s becomes partofthemoreimpersonal corporate worldvillage. Botha celebration of Maine atits bestanda callto takeaction to keepit thatway, THEFORGOTTEN MAINE features a stunning soundtrack byChinnock withadditional songsbyDaveMallett andDickCurless. Theopening nightcelebration willinclude a live perfo rmance ofthefilm'sgorgeous acoustic musicbyChinnock andthemusicians whoperform it. Friday , July10 7:00PMOpera House - Opening Night Saturday , July18 12:30PM Railroad Square Cinema 1

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CLOSING 1 9 9 8

M A I N E

- NIGHT INTERNATIONAL

Pants onFire USA,107min.,in English Director/Screenplay: RockyCollins Cinematography: RufusStandefer Principal Cast:Christy Baron, Neil Maffin, HarryO'Re illy, ArijaBareikis, EileenBrennan, Karen Young Printcourtesy Elevator Pictures

F I L M

FESTIVAL

MainenativeRockyCollins' feature debutis a blackcomed y about Julie,a woman witha problem: she'ssimplytooniceto toomany people. Forinstance , should shebreaktheheartof theelementary schoolteacher she'shavinganaffairwith,or shou ld sheleave her husband justashispolitica l career istakingoff?Real ly - she couldn't doeither. Julie,her husband, her lover , andherlover 's wifesoonfindthemselves in adomestic tornado that is at once hilariousandtragic.Theextraord inarilytalented castincludes Oscar nominee Eileen Brennan andBroadway veteran Christy Baron. PANTS ONFIRE garnered theBes t WriterAwardatthe LosAngeles Independent FilmFestival ; it'struly oneofthemost original indep endentfilmsto hitthescreen in recentyears . Sunday , July19 2:30PM Railroad Square Cinema 1 Sunday, July19 7:30PM Opera House - Closing Night

TRIBUTE

COSTA-GAVRAS

TO "Every filmis political," director Costa-Gavras hassaid,andfewfilmsin recentmemory areasprovocative - andascarefully crafted - ashis.A nativeof Greece , Costa-Gavras studied filmmaking in ParisattheInstitute deHautes Etudes Cinematographiques, laterworking with renowned French directors ReneClairandJacques Demy . Hislistof international awards and nominations is mostimpressive , andincludes thePalme d'OrattheCannes FilmFes tivalfor MISSING , the1969Cannes JuryPrizeforZ,theBerlin International FilmFestival Golden Bearfor MUSIC BOX , andanOscar for adapting the screenplay of MISSING. Inaninterview withfilmmake r/author George Hickenlooper, Costa-Gavras summed uptherelationship between political actionandhisart:"Somepeople makebombs. I'magainst bombs because theykillpeople. I preferto makemovies. "

z France/Greece , 127min.,in French withEnglish subtitles Director: Costa-Gavras Screenplay: JorgeSemprun and Costa-Gavras , basedonthenovelby Vassili Vassilikos Music:MikisTheodorakis Principal Cast:YvesMontand, Jean-Lou is Trintign ant, IrenePapas, Charles Denner, Jacques Perrin Printcourtesy FoxLorberAssociates

"Oneofthegrea test politicalactionfilmsevermade"(N.Y.Post)-and oneof themostinfluen tial- Costa-Gavras' legendary classic was nominated for 5 Oscars, includ ingBestFilm,andwonBestFilm ofthe Yearawar ds fromtheNewYorkCriticsCircleandtheNational Society of FilmCritics.Show ingin a newlyrestored print,Zfeatures edge-ofthe-sea t actionin closely paralleling thereallifeassassination of Gregarious Lambrakis , a doctorandhumanist whosemurder in 1963 ledto nothing lessthantheeventual downfall ofthebrutalGreek militarydictatorship. Friday, July17 7:30PM Opera House

LaPetite Apocalypse France, 110 min.,in French withEnglish Subtitles Director : Costa-Gavras Screenplay: Jean-Claude Grumberg andCosta-Gavras, dialogue by Jean-Claude Grumberg Based onthenovelbyTadeusz Konwicki Cinematography: PatrickBlossier Music:Philipe Sarde Principal Cast:JiriMenze l, AndreDussollier , PierreArditi,AnnaRomantowska Printcourtesy KGProductions Adrollcomedy thatsatirizes-and anticipates!-recent headline news , LAPETITE APOCALYPSE startsata Parisian dinnerparty.There, aforlornPolish emigrant named Stannearlyhangs himself-accidently. Butwhenthedinnerguests seehisactions asa politicalstatement, a heroicgesture of defiance, Stanbecomes aninternational cause asa media feeding frenzybegins. Friday, July17 4:45PM Railroad Square Cinema 1

MadCity USA, 114min.,in English Director: Costa-Gavras Screenplay: TomWilliams; storybyTomWilliams andEricWilliams Cinematography: Patrick Blossier Music: Thomas Newman, Philippe Sarde Principal Cast:DustinHoffman, JohnTravolta, AlanAlda,MiaKirshner, Robert Prosky, Blythe Danner Printcourtesy Warner Brothers Dustin Hoffman andJohnTravolta givesuperbperformances inCosta-Gavras' mostrecent film,a blackcomedy setinverycontemporary America. Sam Bailey (Travolta), upsetoverlosinghissecurity guardjobata natural historymuseum, takesa groupof hostages-who hehasnointention of hurting-inthe blindhopethatsomehow thatwill helphim. Newsman MaxBrackett (Hoffman ) scoops thestory,whichturnsintoa hugenational circus.Butwhathappens to Samandtherealpeople involved inthestory? Saturday, July18 5:00 PM Railroad Square Cinema 1

Music Box USA , 126min.,in English Director : Costa-Gavras Screenplay: JoeEszterhas Cinematograph y: Patrick Blossier Music:Philippe Sarde Principal Cast:Jessica Lange, Frederic Forrest, ArminMueller-Stahl, LukasHaas Printcourtesy SonyPictures Jessica Lange gained a BestActress Oscar nomination for herremarkable portraya l ofanattorney whodefends herfatheragainst charges thathewasa Naziwarcriminal.Asthecourtroom struggle unfolds, it becomes increasingly apparent to herthattheaccusations may,in fact,betrue.A shattering drama, MUSIC BOXalso features ArminMueller-Stahl's powerf ul performance asthefatherwhomightor mightnotbethegentle , caring manheseems.

Sunday, July19 5:00PMRailroad Square Cinema 1

SPOTLIGHT

GOOD MACHINE GoodMachine is anindependent production company founded in 1991byTedHopeandJames Schamus. Since itsinception , GoodMachine hasproduced over20feature films,including THEWEDDING BANQ UE T, AMATEUR , THEBROTHERS McMULLEN , SHE'S THEONE , THEMYTH OFFINGERPRINTS, andTHEICESTOR M.Good Machine filmshavereceived nominations forAcademy Awards , Golden Globes , andIndependent Spiritawards, andhavebeenfeatured attheSundance FilmFestival andtheCannes Film Fest ival.In 1994 , theIFP -West awarded TedHopeandJames Schamus theBrianGreenbaum Award forOutstand ing Achievement in Produc ing.

TedHope

Arresting Gena USA,90min.,in English Director /Screenplay: Hannah Weyer Principal Cast:Aesha Waks,Summer Phoenix, J. Smith-Cameron, SamRock well Printcourtesy GoodMachine 16-year-old Gena 's lifeis sentreeling whenhermother fallsintoa comaandheruncleJohn becomes herguardian. Shellshocked , shespends thesummer before hersenioryearof high schooldriftingbetween herpart-time jobandhergroupof aimless friends. Thena newgirl arrivesintown:Janeistough,brazen, andontherunfroma halfway house. Before long,Gena is drawnintoJane 'sworld.ARRESTING GENA , by award-winning filmmaker Hannah Weyer , is anintimate portra yal ofthewaysin whichinnocence is lostandknowledge andunderstanding aregained. Monday, July13 9:15PM Railroad Square Cinema 2

Flirt USA/German y/Japa n, 85min. in English , German , andJapanese withEng lishsubtitles Director /Screenp lay:HalHartley Cinematography: Michael Spiller Music:HalHartley, Jeffrey Tay lor Principal Cast:Parker Posey , BillSage , GenoLechner , MihoNika idoh Printcourtesy GoodMachine/Lion's GateReleasing InFLIRT, cutting-edge director HalHartley (TRUST, HENRY FOOL) takesa simplestoryandtransforms it inthetelling.Thestoryis basicenough: a lover mustchoose between tworelationships. It istoldthreetimes , eachtimeina different country. Eachepisode's characters aremilesawayfromtheothers , buttheyareallconnected bythesimilarities oftheirsituations . It is afascinating experiment in filmmaking , anda tributeto Hartley's skill andinventive ness asa storyteller. "Hartley keeps pushing theedges oftheenvelope " -Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times . Sunday, July12 9:15PM Railroad Square Cinema 2

Safe USA , 118min., inEnglish Director /Screenpla y: ToddHaynes Cinematograph y: Alex Nepomniasch y Music:EdTomney Principal Cast:Julianne Moore , Xander Berkele y, PeterFriedman Printcourtes y GoodMachi ne/SonyPictures Classics SAFE hasbeenaptlydescribed asa "horrormovieof thesoul."Onthesurface , CarolWhite's life seems ideal : shehasa lovelyCalifornia homeanda wealthy husband . Butthenshebecomes sickwith unexplained headaches , coughs, noseb leeds , and seizures . Doctors canfindnothing wrongwithher,untilanallergist diagnoses herwithEnvironmental Illness , caused by continual exposure to chemic als inair, food,andwater.Inshort,CarolWhiteis allergic tothetwentieth century. Desperate , shefleesto Wrenwood , a new-age retreat run bya suspi cious,self-s tyled guru.Deeply unsett ling, dark,andthought-provoking , SAFE leadsusthrough theterrorsof modern livingandphonysalvation. Tuesday, July14 4:30PM Railroad Square Cinema 2

Director HilaryBrougher introduces

TheSticky Fingers ofTime USA,90min.,in English Director/Screenplay: HilaryBroughe r Music : MikiNavazio Principal Cast:Terumi Matthews , JamesUrbaniak, Nico leZara y Printcourtesy GoodMachine/St randReleasing Detective novelist Tucker Harding stepsoutto buycoffeeonedayin 1953andsuddenl y findsherself transported to 1997.Wandering dazed through NewYorkCity , shemeetsDrew , a desperately depressed woman to whomTucker becomes deeply attracted. Soontheylearntheyarebothtimefreaks , a condition caused bythepostH-bomb mutation oftheirsouls, causing themto travelspontaneously through time.Andthereareothers likethem... others whoaredangerous. Driven bystyleandsuperb characters ratherthanspecial effects , THESTICKY FINGERS OFTIMEisa mind, time-,andgender-bending filmthatoffersa glimpse ofwhatcouldhavebeen- andwhatyetmightbe. Saturday, July11 2:00PM Opera House

Pushing Hands (ToiShoo) Taiwan , 107min.,in English andMandarin withEnglish subtitles Director: AngLee Screenplay: AngLee , James Schamus Cinematography : JongLin Music:Xiao-Song Ou Principal Cast:BoZ.Wang , DebSnyder, Sihung Lung Printcourtesy GoodMachine /Lion'sGateReleasing TUISHOU isthefirstfilmbyfameddirector AngLee,whowentonto makeEATDRINK MANWOMAN , THEWEDDING BANQUET, SENSE ANDSENSIBILITY, and,mostrecently , THEICESTORM. Lee 's debutfeature tellsthestoryof Master Chu , a retiredChinese tai-chimaster , whomoves to NewYorkto livewith hisson,Alex,andhisAmerican daughter-in-law, Martha. Known for hisadeptexplorations offamilyrelationships , Leeprobes thetensions thatarisebetween cultures andgenerations. Sunday , July12 12:30PM Railroad Square Cinema 1

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TRIBUTE

MICHELE RAY-GAVRAS Michele Ray-Gavras isa woman of manytalents: aformerChanel model, freelance journalist , and political militant , shehasalsopublished a bookaboutherexperience asa VietCongprisoner duringthe Vietnam war.Nowherpassion liesinfilm,assheheads K.G.Productions withherhusband, director Costa-Gavras. Michele hasproduced or co-produced overa dozen films,including LAPETITE APOCALYPSE, LATCHO DROM, MONDO, STATE OFSIEGE, andRAINBOW POUR RIMBAUD . In1995, sheserved asa member oftheCannes FilmFestival Jury.Michele continues to bea powerful supporter of political cinema in Cuba, Mexico, Eastern Europe, andtheMiddleEast. Costa-Gavras andMichele Ray-Gavras

Latcho Drom France , 103min.,NoDialogue /Songsin Romany Dialects withEngl ish subtitles Director/Screenplay: TonyGatlif Producer: Michele Ray-Gavras Cinematography: EricGuichard Cast/Music: TheGypsymusicians of India, Egypt, Turkey , Romania, Hungary , France andSpain Printcourtesy Shadow Distribution Toldentirely in stunningly gorgeous images andevenmorefabulous music,LATCHO DROM is "a mesmer izingvoyage through Gypsy territory fromIndiato Spain, withstopsin Egypt , Turkey, Romania, Hungary , Slovakia andFrance" (Thelma Adams, N.Y.Post).Winner of a special award fromtheNational Society of FilmCritics, LATCHO DROM isa movieexperience unlikeanyother.AsDavidByrneputit,"I thoughtI wasgoingto seeatypicalmusical documentary , but boy,wasI wrong.""It's profound, it's inspiring,it'sdeeply touching because it travelsontwopassports thatarerecognized byeveryhuman heart-thejoyof musicandtheinevitabi lityof suffering"-Toronto Globe andMail. Saturday , July18 3:00PMOpera House

Mondo France , 80min.,in French withEnglish subtitles Director /Screenplay: TonyGatlif Cinematography: EricGuichard Music:AlainWebber Principal Cast:OvidiuBalan, PhilippePetit,Pierette Fesch, Schahla Aalam Printcourtesy Shadow Distribution Though notanofficialpartofTonyGatlif's "Gypsy trilogy " (whichdoesinclude bothGADJO DILOandLATCHO DROM, showing atthisyear's festival), MONDO is a beautiful andunique filmthatdrawsontheGypsy experience to forma unive rsalfable.Agypsyboyofabout10, Mondo appears onedayon thestreets of Nice,France. Ina paradisiacal worldof sunandsea,hehidesfromthepoliceandintroduces himself to complete strangers withanirresist ible smile.Mondomakes manyfriends, including theMagician whomakes himhisassistant, andThi-Ch in,theVietnamese-Jewish woman whooffershim shelter.Although hardships existfor him,Mondorevels in thesheerbeauty of lifeonthisearth,a beauty hebringsto thosehemeets aswell...untiloneday hedisappears again."Adelight. Masterfully transforms itsquietveneer andchildlike pointofviewintocaptivating comedy anddrama" (Boston Globe). Sunday, July19 3:25PMRailroad Square Cinema 2

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FEATURE 1 9 9 8

M A I N E

FILMS INTERNATIONAL

F I L M

FESTIVAL

L'Arche duDesert(Desert's Ark)

LesBoys

Algeria, 90min.,in French andArabicwith English subtitles Director/Screenplay: Mohamed Chouikh Cinematography: Mustapha Belmihoub Music:Philippe Arthuys Principal Cast:Myriam Aouffen, Messaouda Adami, Hacen Avdou Printcourtesy K.films

Canada, 107 min.in FrenchwithEnglish subtitles Director:LouisSaia. Screenplay: Christian Fournier; Original Story:RichardGoudreau Cinemato graphy:Sylvain Brault Music: Normand Corbeil Cast:MarcMessier, RemyGirard , Patrick Hua rd, Serge Theriault, MichelBarrette Printcourtesy Lion'sGateReleasing - Canada

Ontheseaof sandcalledthedesert floatsanarkcalledanoasis.There,a loveaffairbetween AminandMyriamsuddenly disrupts theage-old order of theoasis's ethnicgroups. Convention is broken, aninvisible boundary destroyed. Still,oneelement of liferemains unchanged - theneedfor water. Thisneedmakes allpeople oftheoasisequal,andit is this intolerable equality thatpushes theinhabitants to theedgesof madness. Director Mohamed Chouikh traveled to a remote desertvillagein southern Algeria to makethisfilm;theresultis a stunning, passionate journey througha landscape of exoticbeauty.

THEmostsuccessful French-Canadian filmof alltime,LESBOYS is a raucouscomedysetin Montreal. EveryMonday , eleven extreme ly diverse menbecome LesBoys-a "garage league " hockey team , who relishhanging outafterthegameatChez Stan-thepubownedbytheir coach-perhaps evenmorethanthegames themselves, whichthey generally lose.ButwhenStanbets thebar ontheoutcome oftheirnext game,LesBoysmustpulltogether astheyneverhavebefore.

Saturday , July11 3:15PM Railroad Square Cinema 2 Monday, July13 7:15PM Railroad Square Cinema 2 Sunday, July19 5:15PM Railroad Square Cinema 2

Monday, July13 7:30PM Opera House Wednesday , July15 5:00PM Railroad Square Cinema 1 Thursday, July16 9:30PM Railroad Square Cinema 2

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Director Meema Spada/a introduces

Filmmakers Richard Searls andStuSilverstein introduce

Breasts

DeadRiver Rough Cut1 & 2

USA, 60min., in English Director/Producer: Meema Spadola Executive Producer: RockyCollins Cinematography: Eileen Schreiber Printcourtesy Elevator Pictures

USA , 60min.,in English Directors/Cinematography: Richard Searls , StuSilverste in Printcourtesy StuSilverstein BobWaggandWalterLaneliveinatarpaper shack , hunting , fishing, trapping, andlogging withoxen.Theyprefer thesounds of birdsto the roarof highway traffic,andscornthemoney-chasing syndrome of city life.Covering fourseasons inthebackwoods of Maine , DEAD RIVER ROUGH CUTpresents a revealing lookata decidedly independent way of life.WaggandLaneearna livingandaccept theirisolation for the freedom it allowsthem- butthen,noteveryone wouldwantto draw waterfroma holeintheice.Ove r thecourse of ayear,WaggandLane reflectonwomen, politics , taxes , thelonelife, anddeath. A unique project fromMaine filmmakers RichardSearls andStuSilverstein, DEAD RIVER ROUGH CUTwasa RedRibbon Winner attheAmerican FilmFest ival.DEAD RIVER ROUGH CUT2 isawork-in-progress ; an excerpt will beshown. Twenty yearsafter DEAD RIVER ROUGH CUT , Richard Searls andStuSilverstein catchupwithoneoftheir subjects , nowoutofthewoods.

Twenty-two women, ranging inagefrom6 to 84,reveal wit,candor, and moreastheydiscuss theroleof breasts inpuberty, motherhood, health, andaging.Between interviews, weseearchival footage ofa racy1920s animated cartoon, a 1950sbeauty pageant, anda bracommercial fromthe1970s.Participants inthefilm include a breast-feeding mother, awoman whohashada mastectomy , a beautiful transsexual , anda woman worried aboutthehealth hazards of hersilicone implants. Premiere magazine calls BREASTS "funnyandprofound, notto mention mesmerizing." Director Meema Spadola, a native of Searsmont, Maine , haswrittena bookasa compa nionto herfilm.Breasts: OurMostPublic Private Parts, fromWildcat Canyon Press , willappear in late1998. Meema will beonhandto introduce herfilmandanswer quest ions. Sunday, July12 7:00PM Railroad Square Cinema 1

Sunday, July12 1:30PM Opera House

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Fallen Angels

Fishing withJohn-Episodes 2and4

HongKong , 96min.,in Cantonese withEngl ishsubtitles Director/Screenplay: WongKar-Wei Cinematography: Chris tophe r Doyle Music: Frankie Chan, Roe l A.Garc ia Cast:LeonLai, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Charlie Young, Michele Reis , KarenMok Printcourtesy KinoInternational

USA/Japan, 49min., in English Director /Screenplay /Music: JohnLurie Cinematography: MichaelSpiller Principal Cast:JohnLurie,WillemDafoe , TomWaits Printscourtesy LagartoProductions, Inc. In northern Maine(Patten , to beexact) , musician (TheLoungeLizards) andactor(DOWN BYLAWandSTRANGER THAN PARADISE) John Luriegoesicefishinginthedeadofwinterwith WillemDafoe (thegreat actorwhostarsinTHEENGLISH PATIEN T andTHELAST TEMPTAT ION OFCHRIST ). Offthecoastof Jama ica,Lurie goesfishingwithmusician andall-around eccentric Tom Waits . Intwohilariously deadpan episodes ofa seriesof six shotfor Japanese TV,Lurieandhiscompanions explore thelureoftheline,of exotic(or, to someof us,notsoexotic) locations andof raucous ly offbeat humor.

"EachnewfilmfromWongKar-Wai (CHUNGKING EXPRESS, ASHES OFTIME,HAPPY TOGETHER) isanimportant eventin international cinema"-David Overbey , Toronto Film Festival. Therearemanywho thinktheyoungHongKongdirectoristhemostexcitingandinventive talentin thefilmworldtoday.FALLEN ANGELS intertwines twowildly exhilarating storiesof loveandbetrayal intheneon-washed underworld of present-day HongKong."Themostexciting filmof theyear . Takes everyriskknowntofilmmak ingandsucceeds triumphant ly"-Tony Rayns , SightandSound . "WongKar-Wai lovesoutlaws,romantics in despair , dangerous menwithchildlike hearts andsadwomen with breathtaking legs. Thequite lovable FALLENANGE LS bringsthem together in anorgyof ecstatic style"-Stephan Talty,TimeOutNewYork.

Saturday, July11 7:30PM Railroad Square Cinema1 Sunday, July12 5:30PM Railroad Square Cinema 1 Wednesday, July15 9:30PM Railroad Square Cinema 1

Saturday, July11 9:15PM Railroad Square Cinema 1 Sunday, July12 3:15PM Railroad Square Cinema 1 Tuesday, July14 9:45PMRailroad Square Cinema2

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FiveWives, Three Secretaries, andMe

Frogs ForSnakes

USA , 80min.,inEnglish Director : Tessa Blake Producer: JasonLyon Printcourtesy AssetPictures

USA , 120min.,in English Director /Screenplay: AmosPoe Principal Cast:Barbara Hershey , Robbie Coltrane, LisaMarie Printcourtesy TheShooting Gallery

In May1994,filmmaker Tessa Blake flewto Houston to receive a million-dollar trustfundfromherfather.Sixmonths latershewent back to makea movieabouthim. FIVE WIVES , THREE SECRETARIES AND MEis herportraitofTomm y Blake , Houston oil man,Hollywoodplayboy, hotshot lawyer , andserialmonogamist. Setagainst theextravagance of Houston society, FIVE WIVES examines a microcosm in whichwives OneandFivelunchtogether , wifeThree comes fortheholidays, andthe currentsecretary hasbeenaroundlonger thanallofthem. Amazingly , allthefactions seemto getalong,andatfamilygatherings themain topicof conversation revolves around figuringouthow individualsare related.Onewomanis introduced as"myex-half-sister-in-law." Injected intothistight-knit circleisTes sa,filmcrewintow,asking questions noonehasdaredposeuntilnow.Alongwithsearching out thetruthoffamilymyth,FIVE WIVES explores themadcap comedy of Texana , thatoddcultural crossroads of DeepSouthandOldWest. Fromfive-story statues offounding fathers to five-story hairdos of determined debutantes, thefilmcaptures theoutrageous excesses of theLoneStarstate.

Thisneo-noir comicthrillercenters onthehopes anddreams of a motley ensemble of NewYorkers. Actorsbydayandillegalmoney collectors by night,thegrouphastheirownwaysof mak ingpeople payup.Eva (Academy Awardnominee Barbara Hershey) hashadenough ofthis life, butshe's stuckin a racket involv ingherseedy ex-husband , Al. Al is in themidstofstaging a production of DavidMamet's American Buffalo, buthefindstimeto hirea fellowactorto killEva's new boyfriend and kidnap theirkids.Evaandherbestfriend , Myrna , setoutto settlethe score. Thusthestageis setfora maze of murde r,mayhem , andmono logues , astheactors'livescareen between performance andviolence.

Friday, July10 7:30PM Railroad Square Cinema 2 Saturday , July11 3:00PM Railroad Square Cinema 2 Wednesday , July15 5:15PM Railroad Square Cinema 2

IBI

Sunday, July12 7:30PM Opera House Monday, July13 9:30PM Railroad Square Cinema 1

Gadjo Dilo France/Romania , 97min., in French andRomany Dialects with English subtitles Director/Screenplay: TonyGatlif Music:TonyGatlif andthemusicians of Rumania Cinematography: EricGuichard Cast:Romain Duris , RonaHartner , IsidorSerban, OvidiuBalan Printcourtesy Lion'sGateReleasing

Habit USA , 112min.,in English Director/Screenplay: LarryFessenden Music:Geoffrey Kidd,TomLaverack, Michae l Rohatyn Cinematography: Frank DeMarco Cast:LarryFessenden, Meredith Snaider , Heather Woodbury, AaronBeall Printcourtesy GlassEyePix

Thedirector of LATCHO DROM andMONDO , TonyGatlif , returns withhis mostseductive andexuberant taleof gypsylifeyet. Stephane, a young Parisian, journeys to thesnow -sweptplainsof Romania, seeking a gypsy singerwhosevoicehecarries withhimona tinycassette recorder. Instead , hefindsa gypsycommunity andculturebrimming withlifemusic,dancing, joy, sorrow.Taken underthewingofanelderly fiddler, Stephane findshimself fallingin lovewithSabina, a vibrantdancer.In surrendering hisstatusof "gadjodilo" (crazy outsider), Stephane embraces thejoysandpainsofa newwayof life.

"If it hadbeenmadein Hollywood for$25million , pundits wouldbe toutingtheurbane ly macabre HABIT astheWellesiantourdeforceofthe '90s.Given thatit wasmadein NewYorkfor lessthan$200,000, inlittle morethana month,we'll justhaveto callit amazing. Eroticallycharged andinfused withdread, HABIT is setin NewYork's version of Transylvania (theEastVillage), where Sam,a part-time barmanage r and full-time alcoholic, isontheexpress trainto oblivion.It'sata Halloween partythathemeets Anna.Slyandphysica llysuggestive , shemakes an unqualified sexual overture andtheyhitthestreets , whereshepromptly disappears. Butshe'll beback , withincreasing frequency. Andappetite. InlinkingSamandAnna's furioussexual coupling withAnna 's needto tapSam 's corpusc les, director /starLarryFessenden isfollowing a bloody tradition thatdrawsoutofthevampire legend notjust itsmetaphorical conten t butitsveinof profoundly predatory sexua lity"-JohnAnderson , Newsday. Thisremarkable movieisdrawingsomeremarkab leattention: the1998lndieSpiritnominations for BestDirector this yearincluded the little-know n Fessenden alongwithsuchheavy weightsasRobert Duva ll forTHEAPOSTLE, VictorNunez for ULEE 'SGOLD, PaulSchraderfor TOUCH andWimWenders forTHEENDOFVIOLENCE.

Friday, July10 7:15PM Railroad Square Cinema 1 Saturday , July11 1:00PM Railroad Square Cinema 1 Sunday, July12 5:00PM Railroad Square Cinema 2

Friday , July10 9:30PM Railroad Square Cinema 2 Friday, July10 11:30PM Railroad Square Cinema 2 Saturday , July11 11:15PM Railroad Square Cinema 1 Wednesday, July15 9:15PM Railroad Square Cinema 2

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SPECIAL EVENT!

Kristin Lavransdatter

Half-Cocked

Norway, 145min.,in Norweg ianwithEng lishsubtitles Director: LivUllmann Screenplay: LivUllmann , base d onthenovelKransen bySigrid Undset Cinematography: SvenNykv ist Princ ipalCast:Elisabeth Matheson, BjornSkagestad , Erla ndJosephson Printcourtesy KitParker Films

Withliveperformance byDropCeiling USA , 80min., in English Director: SukiHawley Screenplay: SukiHawley , Michael Galinsky Cinematography: Michael Galinsky Music:Polvo,Rodan , RubyFalls,Sleepyhead Principal Cast:JonCook , JeffMueller , TaraO'Nei l, Cynthia Nelson , JasonNoble Printcourtesy BullHorn Inc. If you'veeverwondered whatthelifeof an independent rockmusician is like,HALF-COCKED istheanswer. Members of real-life indiebands Rodan , Nation of Ulysses,theGritters , andRubyFalls starasfivefriends stuckin rutsin Louisville,Kentucky. Whentheystea l a vanfullof music equipment andhittheroad , theyrealize a)theydon't knowhowto play, butb)theyneedto eat,andgettinga gigseems likethe bestwayto earn somemoney. Filmed ona shoestring budget bySukiHawley andMichael Galinsky , HALF COCKED isa sly, dead-on portrayal ofthe'90sindie-rock scene. "Haw leyandGalinsky knowhow to makepictures shudderwith feeling. " -Manoh la Dargis, LAWeekly. Thefilm willbefollowed, appropriatelyenough, by livemusicfromDropCeiling , thefilmma kers'band.

A monumental 14th century epicabouta woman whomarries theman shelovesratherthanthemanherfatherhaschosen for her,KRISTI N LAVRANSDATTER combines therealism of a historical drama withthe splendor of a roman ticfable . LivUllmann's adaptation of SigridUndset's Nobe l Prize-winni ngbookthatsomeconsider theoutstand ingnovelof the20th century , is beautifullyshot byIngma r Bergm an'sfavorite cinematographer , SvenNykvist."Veryfewfilmshavethecapacity , the courage, to telluswhatlifeis about.Thisisoneofthem"-Jeffrey Gantz , Boston Phoenix . Tuesday , July14 7:30 PM Opera House Thursday , July16 6:45 PM RailroadSquare Cinema 1 Saturday,July18 12:15PM Railroad Square Cinema2

Saturday, July11 7:30PM Opera House

111111

the

MAINE

~TUDEN FILM & VIDEO Larga Distancia

FE~TIVA

USA,111min., in English andSpanish withEnglish subtitles Director/Prod ucer:GregSmith Screenplay/Pro ducer:Dak otaGlenn Cinematogra phy: Joach im Han wright Principal CastRioGlenn , GregSmith,JadeBerreau , ScottGlenn, LuisMdahuar, Consue lo Sandoval, Rodolfo Vargas Printcourtesy Vagabo ndFilms,Ltd.

The21stMaine Student FilmandVideo Festival PUBLIC SCREENING FestivalDirector: Huey

RayGoodley is realizing his dreamof sailingdownthecoastof Bajawith hisgirlfriend andhisdog.Thenhisgirlfriendleaves him, hisdogruns away, andhelandsin a Mexican jail- wherehediscovers that hisdogis inthehandsof shadylocalauthorities. Theyblackmail himintoa resc ue mission , leading RayonatripthroughBaja,drivinga usedambulance, accompa niedbyanaspiringstarletnamed Crystal anda stowaway named Sage.Corrupt police(andSage's angryboyfriend) are closebehind. Funny andinsightful , LARGA DISTANCIA is a neo-western roadmovie abouttheperils of life,travel , andlove.It wasfilmedonlocatio n in Baja byColb y College graduates GregSmithandDakota Glenn. Thursday, July16 9:30PM RailroadSquare Cinema 1 Friday, July17 9:15PM RailroadSquare Cinema 2

lldl

Nowin itstwenty-first year , theMSFV Fisanannual, judged competit ion opento all Maineresidents 19andyounger . ThePublicScreening is a fun-filled even t featuring examples ofthebestvideosmadebyMaine's youngestmoviemakers. These rangefromjoyfulanimations to documentariesto wildlyimag inativecomedies, dramas, andadventures. Saturday , July11 10:00AM Railroad Square Cinema 1

MIFF

AT Friday7/10 RR1

RR2

Saturday7/11

O.H.

RR1

RR2

GLANCE

Sunday7/12

O.H.

RR1

O.H. Other

RR2

Tuesday 7/14

Monday 7/13 RR1

RR2

RR1

O.H.

RR2

O.H .

Noon films 10A.M .

12:30 PM

1-- -------"'-----1

1:00PM

Pushing My Hands Gadjo Unholy Name Is Dilo Ivan Sticky - Tara__ Dead humara Fingers River of Time Rough Cut

1:30PM 2:00 PM 2:30 PM 3:00PM

5 Wives 3 Secre taries L'Arche andMe Du Desert

3:30PM 4:00PM

Steam Fallen Angels

....:;...._---1

TheMaineInternational Film Festival hasmadeeveryeffortto maketheschedule andinformation in thisprogram asaccurate aspossible,andto insurethatall screeningsandperformances takeplace asplanned.However, wecannotbe responsible forinadvertent errors andchanges in theschedule that arebeyond ourcontrol.

SEMINAR: lndepen-

dent American Filmmaking

4:30PM 5:00PM 5:30PM

Unholy Port Tara- Djema humara

6:00PM

Gadjo Fishing Dilo With John

Strangerin Tasteof the Cherry Kingdom

Safe Unho ly Tarahumara

6:30PM 7:00PM 7:30PM 8:00PM 8:30 PM

Opening

., ' 5 Wives Cere- Fishing Steam I ' 3 Secremonies With taries Forgot- John andMe ten Maine

Half· Cocked

9:00PM

Taste Fallen of Angels Cherry

9:30PM 10:00PM

Habit 10:30PM 11:00PM 11:30PM

Midnight

Habit 12:30AM

Habit

Breasts Tasteof Cherry Frogs For Snakes

Reindeer - Games Flirt

L'Arche TBA Du #1 Desert Les Boys

Roja

Public Housing

Arresting Frogs Gena For Snakes

I Fallen Angels

Kristin Lavrans datter

MIFF

Wednesday 7/15

Thursday 7/16

A 7/17

GLANCE Saturday 7/18

Forgot•Kristin ten Lavrans Maine datter --- -

Sunday 7/19

THE SeminarMOVIE with QUEEN Costa• Resur• ---<Gavras

rection

Man

SEMINAR LHe Boats of Wo rld

Pants OnFire Wind· horse. Port Latcho Drom Djema

Fllmmaking

w;nd-~ Les 3 Secre Boys taries andMe

Strangerin TBA #2 the WindKinghorse dom

Fishing With Habit John

horse Tietaof Agreste t--

La Petite Roja --

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Kristin Stran• Port Djema Lavransgerin Sale datter the Men King• No bod• dom y's Foo l

Larga Les Distan- Boys cia

MAD CITY

Larga Distan• SeeThe cia Sea

Tieta of Agreste

THE MOVIE -TBA QUEEN See The #3 Sea plus Sem inar

Resu rSale rection Men Man

TBA

16111

Music Box

My Name Is TBA Ivan #4

EVENING

WITH

FREDERICKWISEMAN

Filmmakers EframPote/le andKyleRankin introduce

Reindeer Games USA,113min.,in Eng lish Director:Shayne Worcester Screenplay: Shayne Worceste r,EframPotelle, Kyle Rankin Cinematography : Laela Kilbou rn Principa l Cast:Kyle Rankin , MarySkinner, PaulDrinan Printcourtesy Newborn Pictures

Public Housing USA,195min.,in English Director /Producer/Editor: Frederick Wiseman Cinematography: JohnDavey Printcourtesy Zipporah Films Frederick Wiseman hasearned a reputation forunflinching ly honest films,includingHIGHSCHOOL andTITICUT FOLLIES.Perhaps the mostrenowned documentary filmmaker intheworld,Wiseman will hostanevening featuring a screening of PUBLIC HOUSING, hislatest work. In PUBLIC HOUSING , Wiseman visitstheIdaB.Wellspublic housing deve lopment in Chicago. While political maneuverings of publichousing reformgoonaroundthem,Wiseman's subjects go abouttheirdailylives.PUBLIC HOUSING documents theissues and livesof publichousing residents, theirisolation andtheircommunity, theirsqualor andtheirmoments of hope.Therearenoeasyanswers to thedilemma of publichous ing, andWiseman doesn't pretendto provide them.Hesimplyprovides a powerful , difficultexamination of thequestions. "Years fromnow,whenthelatestscience-fiction flickis ancienthistory, wewillbethanking ourluckystarsthatFredWiseman hasgivenusdown-to -earthhistory " -Michael Blowen, TheBoston Globe. Tuesday, July14 7:15PM Railroad Square Cinema 1

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Thispsychologica l thrillerfollowsAlecClark, a socialoutcast whose torturedpasttriggers a deadly gameof bondage, action, andsuspense. In a sudden lapseof reason, heattacks a co-worker andtiesherupin his basement. Asshestruggles to escape withherlife,hebegins a downwardspiraltowarda startling conclusion.Edgyandintense, REINDEER GAMES delivers a violent shotof sexual tension andintrigue.Filmed entirely onlocation in Portland,Maine."Themenacing menintheSanta suitsaloneareenough to makethisfilma cultclass ic"-PortlandPress Herald . Theshowing willbeintroduced byMaine filmmakers Kyle Rank in andEframPotelle . Sunday, July12 9:00PM Railroad Square Cinema 1

Resurrection Man

Roja

USA,102min.,in English Director: MarcEvans Screenplay: EoinMcNamee Cinematography: PierreAim Music:DavidHolmes, GaryBurns , KeithTenniswood Princ ipalCast:Brenda Fricker,JohnHannah, Geraldine O'Rawe Printcourtesy Grammercy Pictures

lndia,137min., inHindiwithEnglish subtitles Director: ManiRathnam Screenplay: ManiRathnam ; Dialogue: Umesh Sharma Cinematography: Santosh i Sivam Music:A.R.Rahman Principal Cast:ArvindSwamy, Madhu , Pankaj Kapoor , Nasser Printcourtesy Phaedra Cinema

Northern Ireland, 1975.Victor,a ruthless youngsociopath, reigns the streets astheringleader of a gangofthrill-killers. Victoriswanted bythe police,fearedbyothercriminals , beloved byhismum,andisthelead storyforajournalist whoseeks to infiltrate theinnercircleof the 'resurrection man.'Thistaut,nervythrillercaused a stirwhenit opened in Ireland thisspring , leading onenewspaper to callit "themostcontroversialfilmeverreleased in Ireland. " Somecitiesbanned it entirely, but uponitsdebutin Belfast, it outgrossed themega-hit TITAN IC. Based on thecritically -acclaimednove l byIrishauthorEoinMcNamee , andinspired bypolitical thrillersandAmerican filmnoir,RESURRECTION MANisan unforgettable andpowerful experience.

Youmightthinkthat"Bollywood" movies- theextravagant epics featuring songanddance thatcomefromIndia's hugepopular film industry-migh t be, at best , anacquired tastefor users.ButI fellin lovewithBollywood whenI sawmyfirstBolly woodfilm, Mani Rathnam 's BOMBAY. NotsincemyfirstbrushwithHongKongfilms or SergioLeone 's ONCE UPON ATIMEINTHEWEST hadI beenso surprised, soexhilarated , soenthralled byafilm. ROJA is Man i Rathnam's greatest success, afilmthatsweptthrough Indiaasif it A.R. wereTITANIC, itshopping soundtrack (by22-year-o ld phenom Rahman) asgroundbreakingly successful asthefilmitself.Rojaisan 18-year-old country girlfromtheTamilregion.Heridyllicmarriage to Rishi-celebrated in awedding song-and-dance that'soneofthefilm's mostspectacular highlights-is abrupt ly shattered whenhe'skidnapped byKashmiri terrorists.Myguessisthatyou'regoingto findROJA not only oneof thehighlights ofthisyear's festival butmaybe evenofyour movie-going life-KenEisen,MaineInternationa l FilmFes tival Programmer.

Saturday, July18 9:45PM Railroad Square Cinema 1 Sunday , July19 1:15PM Railroad Square Cinema 2

Tuesday, July14 7:00PM Railroad Square Cinema 2 Friday, July17 4:30PM Railroad Square Cinema 2

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SafeMen

SeetheSea

USA,99min.,in English Director/Screenwriter: JohnHamburg Cinematography: Michael Barrett Music:Theodore Shapiro Principal Cast:SamRockwe ll, Steve Zahn , PaulGiamatti, Harvey Fierstein, Michael Lerner Printcourtesy October Films

France , 52min.,in French withEnglish subtitles Director/Screenplay: Francois Ozan Music:Eric Nev eux Cinemato graphy:YorickleSaux Principal Cast:Sasha Hails,Marina deVan Printcourtesy Zeitgeist Films

Inthis hilariously hipfarce , SamandEddie aretwountalented singers whoaremistaken forthebestsafecrackers in Providence , Rhode Island. Thecaseof mistaken ident ity leadsthemintothedepths of thecity's Jewishmafia,whichis divided betweenheadhoncho Big FatBernie Gay le andhisarchrival, GoodStuffLeo.Forced intoa seriesof heistsfor whichtheyarewoefully unprepared, theduocatches upwithtwoactual safecrackers. Adventure, love,anda hair-raising BarMitzvah areonly partof what'sin storefor SamandEddie. Peppered withpopculture, repletewithcracklingwordplay, SAFE MENputsafreshtwistontheclassicgenres of crimefilmandbuddymovies.

"Youarea youngmomvaca tioningalonewith yourbabyin a pretty, isolatedbeachhouseinthenorthof France. Ateenage backpacker asks to camponyourproperty. Yoususpect she'sa homicidal maniac, but you letherstaybecause youdon't wantto appear paranoid andyou're alsostarved forcompany. Deft ly structured andoozing psychosexual fearandguilt,Francois Ozon 's minimalist horrorflickwillkeepyou checking thelocks "- Amy Taub in, VillageVoice. Francois Ozanis considered by manybethemostexciting youngFrench filmmaker. SEETHESEAwasoneofthebiggest hitsinthisyear'sNewDirectors /New FilmsFestiva l in NewYork.

Shown with

Mocking theCosmos

ASummer Dress

USA,20min., in English Director /Scree nplay:JeffStanzler Cinematography: DarkoSuvak Music:Tomandandy LineProducer : CJ Nagem PrincipalCast:TimRoth , Kelly Rowan, BruceMcG ill Printcourtesy DogWhistle Pictures

France ,15 min., in FrenchwithEng lishsubtitles Director /Screenplay: Francois Ozan Cinematography: Yorickle Saux Principal Cast:Frede ric Mangenot, LuciaSanch ez,Sebastien Char les Print courtesy Zeitge ist Films A SUMMER DRESS , a shortfilmbyFranco is Ozan, is a provocative andsunny evocat ion of ambivalen t teenage sexual ity.

Feature filmmaker JeffStanzler explores theworld of theshortfilm with this offbeat sci-fifantasy. TimRothstarsasthefatherof ayoungboy whoseworld includes hisbitterly-d ivorced parents anda paralle l universe populated byaliens. Inno vativeandsurprising,MOCK INGTHECOSMOS proves thatthingsarenever quitewhattheyseem- unle ss,of course , theyare.

Friday,July17 9:30PM Railroad Square Cinema 1 Saturday , July18 7:30PM Railroad Square Cinema 2

Friday,July 17 7:15PM Railroad Square Cinema 1 Saturday, July18 9:30PM Railroad Square Cinema 2

Steam: TheTurkish Bath (aka"Hamam-the Turkish Bath ") Italy/Turkey , 96min., inTurkish andItalian withEnglish subtitles Director : Ferzan Ozpetek Screenplay: Ferzan Ozpetek andStefano Tummolini; StorybyFerzan Ozpetek Cinematography: Pasquale Mari Music:Pivio,AldodeScalzi Principal Cast:Alessandro Gassman , Francesco d'Aloja , CarloCecchi , HalilErgun , SerifSezer Printcourtesy Strand Releasing Italy's 1998Golden Globe nominee for BestForeign Language Filmisa sensual andsurprising voyage of discovery . Francesco andMarta ,a youngcouple fromRome , runa successful interiordesign firm.While theirbusiness-to whichtheydevote theirenergies-isthriving , their marriage is not. Buttheirharried lifechanges whenFrancesco's forgottenauntdiesandheinherits a hamam-atraditional Turkish bath. Traveling to Istanbul to dispose of hisinheritance, Francesco instead findshimself changed bythetimeless rhythms ofthehamam , andthe warmthof thebathkeeper Osman, hisexuberant wife,Perran , andespecially , theirhandsome grownson,Mehmet. Friday , July10 9:15PM Railroad Square Cinema 1 Saturday, July11 7:00PM Railroad Square Cinema 2 Sunday, July12 2:45PM Railroad Square Cinema 2

AStranger intheKingdom USA , 112min., in English Director : JayCraven Screenplay : JayCraven , DonBredes Based onthenovelbyHoward Frank Mosher Cinematography: PhilipHolohan Music:TheHorseFlies Principal Cast:TomAldredge , JordanBayne , BillRaymond Printcourtesy Kingdom County Productions Director JayCraven haswonnumerous awards forhisfilms,including his1994feature WHERE THERIVERS FLOW NORTH . SetinVermont's Northeast Kingdom , A STRANGER INTHEKINGDOM isthestoryof a smalltownwhose tranquillifeisshattered whena newminister arrives. Heis black , andis soonthefocusof a murder investigation . Don't be misled, however: thisis nota conven tionalracialdrama. Muchofthe film'scharmliesin itsportrayal ofthequirkycharacters andsingul ar socialcustoms of Northern Vermont's isolated residents andthe irrational twistsofthealleged crimes. Still,thereis anundercurrent of tension asracism , narrow-mindedness , andmadness arebrought to lightduringtheminister 's trial.Partcomedy , partcourtroom drama , partmurder mystery , A STRANGER INTHEKINGDOM hasbeencalled "alovelyfilmthathaseverything" -Beverly Jacobson , Shelburne News. Monday, July13 4:45PM Railroad Square Cinema 2 Wednesday , July15 7:15PM Railroad Square Cinema 1 Thursday, July16 7:15PM Railroad Square Cinema 2

Taste ofCherry

TietaOfAgreste

Iran,95min.,in FarsiwithEnglish subtitles Director/Screenplay: AbbasKiarostami Cinematography: Homayoun Payvar Principal Cast:Homayoun Ershadi, Abdolhossein Bagheri, AfshinBakhtiari, AliMoradi Printcourtesy Zeitgeist Films

Brazil , 115min.,in Portugese withEnglish subtitles Director: Carlos Diegues Screenplay: JoaoUbaldo Ribeiro andCarlos Diegues, Based onthenovel byJorgeAmado Cinematography: Edgar Moura Music : Caetano Veloso Principal Cast:SoniaBraga , MariliaPera , Chico Anysio , ZezeMotta Printcourtesy FoxLorberFilms

TimeMagazine's International editionnamed TASTE OFCHERRY "thebest filmoftheyear . Afellowtakesa drivein hisRange Rover, stopping to talkto threemen.Willtheydoa jobfor him?Payswell;won'ttakemuch time.Ohyes,thejobisto burythefellowafterhecommits suicide. AbbasKiarostami , doyenof thevitalIranian cinema , wontheCannes Film Festival's Palme D'Orwiththisspareparable of lifeanddeath-aman 's conversation withhismaker.Thefilm'sartfulsimplicity, its respect for eachspeaker's beliefs, its refusa l to sentimentalize allunder linethe director's strategy of art. Lettherestofthefilmworldridea rocket to excess ; Kiarostami willfinda quietplaceto listento a man'sheart,right upuntilit stopsbeating. Andthenhewilllistensomemore ."

Based onthenovelbyJorgeAmado, TIETA OFAGRESTE isa celebration invibrantcolor,infectious musicandcomicdrama, setonthenorthern coastof Brazil 's Bahia region.Brazil's biggest star,SoniaBraga , returns to hernative cinema forthefirsttimein 12yearsinthenewfilmfrom Carlos Diegues (BYEBYEBRAZIL , XICA).Braga playsTieta, a self-made woman whoherself returns to hernative village26yearsafter herfather kickedheroutofthehouse for hersexual indiscretions. It doesnottake longforherpresence to inspire change ina village cutoffintimeand space.Setto theliltingstrainsof Caetano Veloso 's wonderful sambas , TIETA OFAGRESTE isfilledwithearthy humor , richcharacters , anderotic andromantic encounters.

Saturday, July11 9:00PM Railroad Square Cinema 2 Sunday, July12 7:15PM Railroad Square Cinema 2 Monday, July13 5:00PM Railroad Square Cinema 1

Thursday , July16 4:45PM Railroad Square Cinema 2 Saturday, July18 5:15PM Railroad Square Cinema 2 Sunday, July19 1:30PM Opera House

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TheUnholy Tarahumara

Windhorse

Mexico/USA, 57min.,in English andinTarahumara language with English subtitles Director: Kathryn Ferguson Printcourtesy Kathryn Ferguson

USA/T ibet, 97min.,inTibetan andChinese withEng lishsubtitles andin English Director: Pau l Wagner Screenplay: Thupten Tsering , JuliaElliott , Pau l Wagner Cinematography: Steven Schecter PrincipalCast:Dadon, Jampa Kelsang, AnActress Whose Name MustBe Witheld forSecurity Reasons Printcourtesy PaulWagner Productions

InMexico's vastandastonishingCopper Canyon, isolated fromtherestof theworld,livetheTarahumara Indians.Descendents oftheAztecs, they livewithoutelectricity onspectacularly beautiful butrockyland,beside a dried-up riverbed wherefarmingisdifficultandwildgameisscarce. Filmmaker Kathryn Ferguson entered theworldoftheTarahumara Indians , whoarenowconfronted forthefirsttimewiththepossibility ofentering the"modern world." Ferguson findssomeTarahumara whowantto maintaintheirtradition-and justasmanywholongforaTVset. Ferguson mixesherfootage oftheTarahumara's literalworldwith the imagined voicesof Storytellers, Descendents andotherfiguresof Tarahumara mythology to makea beautiful, unique , andtellingfilm. Shown with

TheLanguage YouCryIn Spain/USA/Sierra Leone, 52min.,in English andin Mende withEnglish subtitles Directors: Alvaro Toepke andAngelSerrano PrintCourtesy lnkoProducciones MaryMoranfromtheSeaIslands of Georgia knewhersongwasspecial , evenif sheneverunderstood thewords.Morethan4,000milesacross theocea n, in WestAfrica,awoman named Baindu Jabaliwassinging thesamewordstothe samesonginthesamelanguage. A linguistlinkedthetwoversions ofthisfuner alsong,brought to America bysomeMende people whowerecaptured andsold into slavery almost200yearsago.InTHELANGUAGE YOUCRYIN, MaryMoran meetsBaindu JabaliinAfrica.Thesongisthelinkthatconnec ts,forthefirst time,thedescendents ofslaves withthehomeland oftheirancestors. Saturday, July11 5:00PM Railroad Square Cinema 1 Sunday, July12 1:00PM Railroad Square Cinema 1 Tuesday, July14 5:00PM Railroad Square Cinema 1

Secretly filmedinsideTibet,aswellasin Kathmandu andin remote locations 12,500 feetupintheHimalayas , WINDHORSE is a remarkable dramainwhichthreeyoungTibetans search for freedom andfulfillment amidsttheclashing cultures of Chinese -occupied Tibet... andconfront thepoweroftheruthless Chinese regime.Infact,theChinese governmenthasbeensoupsetbyWINDHORSE , they'recurrently attempting to haltU.S.showings of it. Manyof theTibetan castandcrewhavehadto havetheirnames witheldfromthefilm's credits forfearof reprisals. WINDHORSE is a beautiful andpowerful film,full ofthecolorandsound ofTibet , andfullof itslonging for freedom. Wednesday, July15 7:30PM Opera House Thursday, July16 4:45PM Railroad Square Cinema 1 Saturday, July18 3:00PM Railroad Square Cinema 1

SPECIAL E V E

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Friday, July10 Following THEFORGOTTEN MAINE , Opening Night Opera House

Sunday, July12 3:00PMTheCenter

Independent Filmmaking - HowandWhy Witha panelincluding producers TedHopeandPhyllisKaufman and directors RockyCollins andEstep Nagy Soyouwantto· makea picture? Ourdistinguished paneladdresses making andfinancing independent filmsintheUnited States today- yes,mostofthe timeit doescomedownto money. Perhaps moreimportantly , theydiscuss whyanyone wouldwantto gothrough allth~t.

Music fromTHEFORGOTTEN MAINE - LivePerformance Acoustic selections fromthefilm'sscore , performed bycomposer / filmmake r BillChinnock andthesoundtrack musicians. Saturday , July11 10:00AM Railroad Square Cinema

The21stMaineStudent FilmandVideo Festival

Wednesday, July15 3:00PMTheCenter

Lifeboats ofWorld FilmintheWakeofTITANIC WithMaineTimes filmcriticandRailroad Square Cinema co-director KenEisen AsHollywood's megapictures achieve globaldomination , themedium of film is indanger of becoming homogenized. Moreandmorepeople around the world areseeing thesamefewmovies , manyof whicharemadewithtired formulas inorderto appeal to massaudiences. Insucha climate, can persona l, national, andregiona l filmmaking flourish- or evensurvive? KenEisen checks thevitalsignsoftheanti-blockbuster filmworld. Saturday, July18 1:00PMTheCenter

Political Cinema Withdirector Costa-Gavras Aseminar withCosta-Gavras , legendary director of suchintensely political filmsasZ, LAPETITE APOCALYPSE, MUSIC BOX , andMADCITY , allof whichareshow ingduringthefestival. Howisfilmusedasa medium for political change? Howdoesfilmbothreflect andinfluence politics? Whatare thecommercial ramifications ofstrongpolitical themes infilms?Thisis a rareopportunity to discuss a cutting-edge topicwithoneoftheworld's most respected filmmakers.

Anannual tradition for Maine's youngfilmmakers, presented thisyear inconjunction withtheMaineInternational FilmFestival. Thepublic screening will feature excerpts fromthisyear 's entries. Saturday, July11 Following HALF-COCKED at7:30PM Opera House

DropCeiling - LivePerformance Theshowing oftheindie-rock roadmovieHALF-COCKED willbefollowed bya performance byDropCeiling.Thebandis madeupof HALF-COC KED filmmakers SukiHawley andMichael Galins ky(whoalsoplaysin Sleepyhead andLaptop) , plusfriends. Stickaround aftertheshowfora special sneak previe w of Hawley andGalins ky'scurre ntwork-in -progress, entitled RADIATION, andofferyourfeedback. Saturday, July18 Following THEFORGOTTEN MAINE at12:30PM Railroad Square Cinema

TheForgotten Maine- Discussion Ouropening nightfilm'ssecond showing will befollowed byanopen forumto address issues raisedinthefilm.IsMaine's wayof life really beingthreatened? If so,whatcanwedoaboutit? Please bringyour opinions andanopenmind,andprepare forsomelivelydiscussion.

Saturday, July18 7:30PMWaterville Opera House WithTHEMOVIE QUEEN(S)

Historical Filmmaking inMaine WithKaren Sheldon, co-director ofNortheast Historic Film A discussion offilmashistoricrecordof lifeintwoMaine townsinthe 1930s.Heldinconjunction withshowings ofTHEMOVIE OUEEN(S), accompanied bylivepianomusicforthatsilentfilm-veriteexperience.

Seminars andSpecial Events arefunded inpartbygrantsfromtheMaine Arts Commission , theMaineCommunity Foundation, andtheMaineHumanities Council.

Ell

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Filmmakers andother folksfromthefilmindustry, heretointroduce theirworks, answer questions, andleadseminars. Note:Filmmakers maynotbepresent atallshowings oftheirfilms.Scheduled guests aresubject tochange. Unscheduled guest appearances arepossible.

HilaryBrougher (director/screenwriter, THESTICKY FINGERS OFTIME) BillChinnock (director/cinema tographer/composer, THEFORGOTTEN MAINE) Rocky Collins(director /screenwriter , PANTS ONFIRE) Costa-Gavras (direc tor, LAPETITE APOCALYPSE , MADCITY,MUSIC BOX , Z) *JayCraven (director , A STRANGER INTHEKINGDOM) *LarryFessenden (direc torandleadactor,HABIT) Michael Fiori(execu tiveproduce r,THEFORGOTTEN MAINE) Michael Galinsky andSukiHawley (filmmakers /musicians , HALF-COCKED ) *RobertGardner (director , PASSENGER) Dakota GlennandGregSmith(filmmake rs,LARGA DISTANCIA) TedHope(producer andco-director, GoodMach ineProductions: ARRESTING GENA , FLIRT , PUSHING HANDS , SAFE , THESTICKY FINGERS OFTIME) PhyllisKaufman (producer, FROGS FORSNAKES) *JohnLurie(FISH INGWITHJOHN) JasonLyon(producer, FIVE WIVES, THREE SECRETARIES , ANDME) C.J.Nagem (lineproducer, MOCK INGTHECOSMOS) EstepNagy(filmmaker, BROKEN GIANT) EframPotelle andKyle Rankin (filmmakers, REINDEER GAMES) Michele Ray-Gavras (producer , MONDO andLATCHO DROM) Richard Russo(screenwr iterandauthor, NOBODY'S FOOL) Steven Schecter (cinematographer, WINDHORSE) Karen Sheldon (Northeast Historic Films/THE MOVIE QUEEN(S)) StuSilverstein andRichard Searls(filmmakers, DEAD RIVER ROUGH CUT) Meema Spadola (filmmaker, BREASTS) JeffStanzler (director /screenwr iter,MOCKING THECOSMOS) Steve Vanderheide (accompanist, THEMOVIE QUEEN(S)) BobWagg(subject, DEAD RIVER ROUGH CUT) Frederick Wiseman (filmmaker, PUBLIC HOUSING) *tentat ive

THANKS TOALLFESTIVAL GUESTS FORTHEIR PARTICIPATION!

Ell

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PERSONNEL INTERNATIONAL

FESTIVAL STEERING COMMITTEE GailChase AlanSanborn KenEisen Sandra "Sam"Sanborn LeaGirardin StuSilverstein FESTIVAL STAFF JoanPhillips-Sandy, Festival Director KenEisen andAlanSanborn , FilmSelection andProgramming Committee Chairs AlanSanborn , Festival Treasurer MaryPhillips-Sandy, Administrative Assistant WillBackman, Chameleon Productions, Video Coordinator Christian Kuhlthau andDawnThistle,Volunteer Coordinators SamSanborn andMelissa Norton , Marketing Coordinators Melissa Dugal, Hospitality andSpecial Events Coordinator Joanna Linden andGene Frey , Travel Arrangements CarolGodfrey, FilmTransport Logistics JohnPhillips-Sandy, Technical Assistant Program Guide andBrochure: LisaWheeler Designs, Waterville Poster andLogoDesign: ChrisHadden , Portland Printing: AtkinsPrinting, Waterville Festival Passes andPhotographic Services: ElmCityPhoto, Waterville Tickets: NCC Tickets, Dublin,Ohio Additional Graphics Services: DougThornsjo , DuckSoupGraphic Designs BatWrangler: MaryPhillips-Sandy RAILROAD SQUARE STAFF Cheryl Gariepy , BethAnnHutchinson, BriaSanborn, Phoebe Sanborn , Serena Sanborn, AaronSilverstein, Richie Tory WATERVILLE OPERA HOUSE STAFF TomMisner, Executive Director CarlMorrison , Technical Director MelissaHurley, Administrative Assistant Thanks to allourvolunteers fortheirhelpandhardwork.

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FRIENDS OFART& FILMINCENTRAL MAINE is a non-profit organizat iondedicatedto supporting thearts in Maine. Friends hasdepended ongrantsandcontributions to helpunderwrite start-up costsforthefirstannual MaineInternationa l FilmFestival. Joanna Linden , President Gene Frey , Vice-President CRLawn, Treasurer If youwouldliketo makeatax-deductib ledonation towardnextyear's festival , please contact Joanna Linden or CRLawn attheirbusiness phone , 873-7333 or mailto: P.O . Box520,Waterville , ME04903. Please makechecks payable to Friends of Art& Film in Central Maine. Thank youverymuchforyoursupport! Friends of Art& Filmin Central Maine gratefully acknowledges thefollowing donors whose contributions helped makethisfestival possible: Susan AlleinandRichard Flanagan BillArnold Phyllis andGeorge Dami RussDeJongandJaret haBenson Eileen B.Fairburn RickFoster AliceandJoelJohnson Sharon Marden Johnson Rosemarie Kenney-Lavin andBillLavin AnnandDonMarden Laurel andPerr in Radley JuneandTomYork

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