Film festival will feature more than movies

Mark Borchardt, director of the documentary, “American Movie.” “Living With Pride: Ruth Ellis @ 100,” the life and times of America’s oldest known “out” African-American lesbian as directed by Yvonne Welbon, was the best documentary winner at last year’s San Francisco Gay and Lesbian Film Fest. Robert Richard Jorge and Sherrie Beaupre are featured in “Coven,” directed by Mark Borchardt. A Wisconsin film that follows a substance-abusing writer examining his increasingly tormented existence, the film itself was the subject of a documentary, “American Movie.” Paul Pena, left, and Kongar-ol Ondar starred in “Genghis Blues,” nominated for an Oscar as best documentary. Related stories: Film retrospective to honor alum Mirisch Arts Institute to expand Wisconsin Film Festival

The Wisconsin Film Festival has more than doubled its offerings from last year.

But the event March 30- April 2, a program of the UW–Madison Arts Institute, features more than movies: Activities also include live performances; discussions of the art and craft of filmmaking; and presentations by nationally renowned filmmakers and critics.

For example:

• Filmmaker Yvonne Welbon is scheduled to speak on “Writing African-American Women into Film History.” 3:30 p.m. Thursday, March 30, 4070 Vilas Hall.
• Tino Balio, executive director, UW Arts Institute, explores the career of producer Walter Mirisch, a university alum who produced some of America’s most acclaimed and popular film classics. 4 p.m. Saturday, April 1, 160 Elvehjem Museum of Art.
• Chicago film critic Mike Wilmington plans to moderate a discussion with acclaimed writer/ director/producer Stuart Gordon (“Re-Animator,” “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids”). 2:30 p.m., Saturday, April 1, 160 Elvehjem Museum of Art.
• Screenwriters John Roach and Mary Sweeney, both Madison natives, will talk about “The Straight Story.” 1 p.m., Sunday, April 2, Orpheum Theatre.
• Wisconsin filmmakers plan to discuss “Making It Happen in Wisconsin” in a panel on producing a first feature. Scheduled participants: Dave Hansen of Greenfield, “Expecting Mercy”; Erik Gunneson of Madison, “Milk Punch”; and Stephen Burrows, Milwaukee native, “Chump Change.” 3 p.m. Sunday, April 2, Elvehjem Museum of Art.

In addition, writers and directors will tell the stories behind films shown at the festival. Filmmakers will participate in “coffeehouse discussions” hosted at Steep & Brew, 544 State St., which are open on a first-come, first served basis. The discussions are planned at 2 p.m. each day March 31-April 2.

A panel of screenwriters will hold a seminar on independent film writing Saturday, April 1 from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Pyle Center.

Then there are the movies. The festival, featuring independent and experimental film, world cinema, new media and Wisconsin filmmakers, offers an array of films not now playing in local theaters or video stores.

For a complete schedule and other details, visit: http://www.arts.wisc.edu/filmfestival/

Tickets and passes for programs at the Orpheum and Madison Art Center are on sale now at the Wisconsin Union Theater Box Office, 262-2201.

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Independent Film
Madison premieres include “Genghis Blues,” Oscar-nominated for Best Documentary and an award-winner on four continents, including the Sundance Audience Award, Rotterdam Best of Festival; “The Target Shoots First,” this year’s Slamdance documentary award-winner; and “Wisconsin Death Trip.”

Wisconsin’s own
The festival will showcase 25 films by Wisconsin filmmakers including “Well-Founded Fear,” which provides dramatic insight into the process of political asylum, giving equal focus to the deeply personal and political stories of both immigrants and officers; and “Re-Animator,” a classic neo-horror film in which a medical student develops a serum capable of restoring life to a human corpse. The festival features debuts from Milwaukee’s Stephen Burrows (“Chump Change”), Greenfield’s Dave Hansen (“Expecting Mercy”) and Madison’s Erik Gunneson (“Milk Punch”).

Cutting edge
Explore the boundaries of cinema and new media – from celluloid to the Internet – and the intersections of film, music and dance with innovative work by Madison jazz artist Joan Wildman; Web and new media artists Kevin and Jennifer McCoy; a multi-screen motion picture performance by Victor Faccinto; avant-garde film from filmmaker, collage artist and curator Bradley Eros; experimental music and film from legendary avant-garde artist Tony Conrad; and three filmmakers featured in the Museum of Modern Art Cineprobe series, Caspar Stracke, Jennifer Montgomery and Wisconsin’s Stephanie Barber.

Other highlights
The festival opens with a performance by Tom Verlaine, critically acclaimed composer, guitarist and guiding force behind the band Television. Verlaine will perform newly written scores in accompaniment to avant-garde films, including “Fall of The House of Usher” (James Sibley Watson and Melville Webber, 1928), Man Ray’s “Emak Bakia” (1926) and “L’etoile De Mer” (1928), and “They Caught The Ferry” (Carl Theodor Dreyer, 1943).