Film festivals gravitate to
not just urban locations and college towns that are
by their very nature open to fresh ideas, but also
out of the fray places like mountaintops and islands.
Hence, it is not surprising the Provincetown International
Film Festival is kicking off this year with more ambitious
offerings thanks to the impressive support from corporations
and all factions of its motley population.
P-Town is about as far out
as one can go in Massachusetts. A community that supports
diversity, tolerance is built into the site, as is
a respect for artists, creative expression, and style,
all of which invites interesting provocative films
and filmmakers. Now trumpeting its third year, the
festival promises fifty films and videos over five
days, beginning Wednesday, June 13th through Sunday,
June 17th, 2001.
Festival director, P.J. Layng,
who with her partner, Maryanne McCarthy, runs the
Roots Home and Garden Store in Provincetown, known
for their eclectic taste in home furnishings from
around the world, came up with the idea to draw patrons
to P-Town before the summer congestion clogs the roads
and walkways. Layng wanted to create an event that
was rainproof and would jumpstart business for the
locals.
For most of the year, Provincetown
is dominated by its fishing industry, comprised of
a large population of Portuguese. Back in the 1930s,
the location gained fame as an incubator for great
actors from The Provincetown Players like James Stewart
and Henry Fonda, and writers like Eugene O'Neill and
Norman Mailer who still owns a home on Commercial
Street. P-town is also a year-round haven for painters
drawn to the extraordinary light that emanates from
the beaches. Art collectors flock from all over the
world to forage its galleries. And its vibrant gay
population is reflected in the funky shops, chic clubs
and great food.
Provincetown pined for a film
festival for ten years before Layng took the plunge.
Evidently, in the past two festivals she has proved
herself, because she has secured powerful sponsors
like Amtrak, Sundance Channel and AT&T Broadband along
with previous stalwarts like the Boston Phoenix and
the Provincetown Banner.
"Our office has worked with
the folks at the festival since its inception." says
Tim Grafft, deputy director of the Mass Film Office,
" and we are proud to continue to offer our full support.
They are extremely well-organized and I love their
programming."
This year, the festival will
honor the Maysels brothers. Anyone who was at the
BFVF State House dinner for Al Maysels will vouch
for how fascinating he is. Four of his films, classics
in the documentary canon, will play during the festival:
GRAY GARDENS, GIMME SHELTER, MEET MARLON BRANDO, and
WITH LOVE, TRUMAN (Capote).
Each year, Provincetown selects
candidates for its Filmmaker On The Edge Award. This
year's award will be given to James Schamus and Ted
Hope of the New York based company, Good Machine.
Schamus was also the co-writer of director Ang Lee's
films, THE WEDDING BANQUET, EAT DRINK MAN WOMAN, SENSE
AND SENSIBILITY, THE ICE STORM, RIDE WITH THE DEVIL
and the highest box-office grossing film of all time
and 2001 Academy Award winner, CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN
DRAGON. Good Machine, along with nurturing new talent
and making great films, has been credited with cleaning
up the wilderness of foreign film sales. Schamus and
Hope embody that rare combination of business acumen
and creative integrity.
Don't miss the symposium with
Schamus and Hope on Friday moderated by New York Times
critic Steve Holden. The panel will also feature previous
Filmmaker On The Edge recipients John Waters and Christine
Vachon, as well as German director Tom Twyler and
actress Franca Potente, flaming red-haired star of
his film, RUN LOLA RUN.
Other visiting filmmakers
accompanying films include Dan Minahan, director of
the recent release SERIES 7 (which debuted at Sundance
2001) with his new film DESI LOOKING FOR A NEW GIRL.
Steve Trask of HEDWIG ND THE ANGRY INCH and Emily
Hubley (daughter of renowned animator Faith Hubley)
who did the animation for the film. HEDWIG was the
audience favorite of Sundance this year due to the
tour-de-force performance of star John Cameron Mitchell.
Alan Cumming will sneak preview
his film ANNIVERSARY PARTY with Jennifer Jason Leigh
who also co-directed. "This film is one of the highlights,"
assures Marianne Lampke of Beacon Cinema Group, whose
partner, Connie White, co-produces the festival. Brookline
resident, Lisa Viola, the programming consultant who
also helps program Sundance in Park City, Utah and
Boston's International Women's Film Festival, was
not as involved this year, having had her first child
nine months ago. Viola thinks the demographics of
Provincetown are a big draw, and she praises Waters
and Vachon for staying so involved. "It's because
of them that we get such good people to participate,"
agrees Layng.
On any given day, one can
catch John Waters riding his bicycle down Commercial
Street. Last year, Lily Tomlin, Kimberly Peirce (BOYS
DON'T CRY), Guinevere Turner (AMERICAN PSYCHO) and
Nisha Ganatra (CHUTNEY POPCORN) made the scene. This
year, two renowned programmers from Sundance, Trevor
Groth and John Cooper, will hang out and enjoy the
fun.
Zack Stratis, who has traveled
with his film, COULD BE WORSE!, to over 30 festivals
including Sundance, fondly remembers his P-town experience
last year, "Two sold out screenings, an appreciative
audience representing a diverse range of filmmakers
coupled with a location that you never want to leave
makes Provincetown a real treat." Other past participants
praise the ambience of Provincetown: "It's a very
warm and welcoming place with smart people, tons of
art, sophisticated chic and kitsch."
New this year is a youth program
to encourage acceptance for individual differences.
Tom Shepard will show his documentary SCOUT'S HONOR,
which explores the ousting of a gay Boy Scout troop
leader. Carolyn Goodman, mother of Andrew Goodman,
one of three youths killed in the civil rights incident
depicted in MISSISSIPPI BURNING, will speak after
screening her documentary, HIDDEN HEROES. Youth center
leaders from around Cape Cod have been recruited to
assist with a consciousness-raising discussion about
diversity.
Says P.J. Layng, "I hope the
youth program will grow and become a festival within
the festival." Kids are being brought in from around
Massachusetts to participate. Fleet Bank deserves
credit for their progressive initiatives to financially
and philosophically support the gay community. The
GALE fund is also an underwriter with the Andrew Goodman
Foundation.
Crown & Anchor, a cornerstone
of the community eager to show off its new renovations,
is rolling out the red carpet. Its Wave Bar will display
martini sculptures and its two cabarets will cater
to the crowd. FYI, Tuesday is drag bingo night.) Speaking
of cabarets, the local drag performers are buzzing
about organizing a staged reading of Provincetown
writer Steve Lyons's script, WHO KILLED MUSTY CHIFFON?
Musty, a semi-regular on E!, has broken out of the
pack by spending the winter in Los Angeles and purchasing
his own club in Hudson, New York. Crown & Anchor owners
are considering investing in the film, which would
utilize their establishment as a primary location.
The story revolves around the father of a young boy
who steals the show when he performs in drag to pay
the steep monthly fee for his summer rental. The script,
to be shot on digital video, is Massachusetts' answer
to Australia's hit, PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT.
The Saturday night Gala at
the Brass Key Guesthouse, a deluxe hotel, features
Connie Francis, arriving from Ft. Lauderdale. This
event is tres exclusive, only for patrons, limited
to 100 attendees. Your $500 ticket will ensure you
a poolside seat from which to watch Ms. Francis on
the piano sing her legendary theme song from the 1960
hit, WHERE THE BOYS ARE, the film that triggered the
mass exodus of college students to Ft. Lauderdale
each spring break. Champagne will flow and there will
be sumptuous seafood galore. To sign up, e-mail Thom
Egan at TEGLO@aol.com.
The Boat Slip Resort, on the
water, has new owners from Atlantic Shores in Key
West. They agreed to put on the closing night event,
THE SING-A-LONG WITH THE SOUND OF MUSIC. Plenty of
Austrian Beer will be served and a Joan Rivers look-a-like
will be your master of ceremonies. What could be a
more fitting location in which to enjoy this international
happening? The gay atmosphere in Provincetown welcomes
flamboyance. There will be a costume contest for all
those who are inspired to dress up as their favorite
lyric or character from the Trapp family. Anything
goes. This is one festival that doesn't shy away from
political, social and educational issues. But it's
also a place where you can relax, let your hair down,
have fun.
For
more information, go to the website, www.ptownfilmfest.com
or call 508-487-FILM.
