Photos
The 10-day festival also is adding a closing gala to the traditional opening-night party. And this year it includes a visit from noted music documentarian Les Blank, 10 Northwest premieres and a screening of most of a long-lost film by Alfred Hitchcock.
“We’ve definitely packed everything we possibly could into the 10 days,” said festival programmer Joel Minkin. The result: 56 events, compared to a typical number in the mid-40s.
“I definitely intentionally was trying to get the jump on SIFF (Seattle International Film Festival) a little bit, to get some big-deal movies that are starting to make their way into festivals but haven’t quite gotten widespread distribution,” he said. SIFF presents films year round, although the main festival happens in the summer.
The biggest news at the Olympia festival this year, though, is not in the program. It’s a mystery screening at 10:30 tonight.
“We’re not allowed to tell anybody what the title is or what the subject is,” Minkin said. “All we can tell you is it’s a lost film by a master filmmaker. Legally, he’s only allowed to show it if he’s in the room. We’ll have him here and he’s going to be presenting it.
“What I can tell you is the Washington Post once called it the best film ever made about rock and roll.”
The mystery film — which has never been released due to legal restrictions — will cap off tonight’s gold-themed opening gala, featuring entertainment, food and a screening of the Busy Berkeley musical “Gold Diggers of 1933,” screening at 7 p.m.
“The film is a lot of fun,” said festival director J.R. Baker. “It takes place during the Great Depression, so it’s very relevant today. It’s also a feel-good movie.”
“It’s incredible to see a light-entertainment kind of movie that is also so completely frank about economic realities,” Minkin said. “It’s a lavish song-and-dance movie, and the characters are all living out the Great Depression while they are putting all of these musical numbers together.”
Gala attendees are encouraged to get a little lavish themselves, said Baker, who directed the festival 20 years ago and is back at the helm this year.
“We’re saying that people should come in their finest attire,” he said. “I have a gold vest for my tuxedo and a gold tie.”
A few more highlights
“Peter Pan,” 4:15 p.m. Saturday: What makes this screening of an archival print of the 1924 silent film so special is the musical accompaniment, by ragtime pianist Bob Milne. Milne — recently named a national treasure by the Library of Congress — composed the original score specifically for this screening.
Three Films by Les Blank, 7 p.m. Saturday: The legendary documentary filmmaker will be in attendance to answer questions. The films: “The Blues Accordin’ to Lightnin’ Hopkins,” about the great Texas bluesman; “Always for Pleasure,” about street celebrations in New Orleans; and “Sprout Wings and Fly,” about Appalachian fiddler Tommy Jarrell.
“J’ai ete au bal” and works in progress by Les Blank, 2:30 p.m. Sunday: The documentary about Cajun culture will be followed by a glimpse of his works in progress and another Q&A.
“We Need to Talk About Kevin,” 8:45 p.m. Tuesday: This is the Northwest premiere of Lynne Ramsay’s film about a Columbine-style massacre. The film arrives straight from screenings at Cannes, Telluride, and Toronto, where it has earned rave reviews. The movie will be released nationally in December, and the distributor will allow only 250 people to be admitted to this screening.
“The White Shadow,” 5:45 p.m. Nov. 19: The first three reels of this long-lost Hitchcock silent film about twin sisters — one good, one evil — were rediscovered in New Zealand in August. This is only the fourth screening since the discovery. Accompanying the film will be a small orchestra playing an original score composed for the occasion by Michaud Savage of Seattle.
