Central Michigan University (press release), MI
March 17 2005
CMU HOSTS THIRD ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
MEDIA CONTACT:
Mike Silverthorn, (989) 774-3197
PROGRAM CONTACTS:
Mark Poindexter, (989) 774-3713
Kathy Simon, (989) 774-3713
A critically engaging drama directed by Africa’s most highly
acclaimed director will highlight the third annual Central Michigan
International Film Festival March 31 through April 10.
`Moolaadé,’ directed by Ousmane Sembene from Senegal, tells the story
of the protection a woman gives to young girls who want to avoid the
painful, dangerous procedure of `female circumcision,’ commonly
practiced in Africa.
`Moolaadé is a complex drama that has been getting an enthusiastic
reception at the festivals where it has been shown,’ said Mark
Poindexter, broadcast and cinematic arts faculty member and director
of the festival. `If audiences see no other film at the festival this
year, they should see Moolaadé. Sembene is a brilliant storyteller,
social observer and satirist.’
The film festival will bring 30 films from 15 different countries to
the CMU campus and the Mount Pleasant community. More than 70
screenings will be shown at Celebration! Cinema in Mount Pleasant,
Broadway Theatre in Mount Pleasant and the Park Library Auditorium at
CMU.
Other highlighted films include `Baadasssss!’ a pseudo-documentary
about the making of Melvin Van Peebles’ Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss
song; `James Journey to Jerusalem,’ an Israeli film; and `Vodka
Lemon,’ a critically acclaimed Armenian comedy.
The film festival features documentaries, dramas, comedies and
thrillers from the United States, France, United Kingdom, Canada,
Afghanistan, Brazil, China, Cuba, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico and
Senegal. For a complete listing of films, show times and locations,
visit the Web site at
`The goal of the festival is to bring films that are artistically,
culturally and politically important to an area where people might
not otherwise get a chance to see,’ said Poindexter.
The festival also will include a screening of the CMU Film Society
short video competition winners on March 22. The screening will take
place at Park Library Auditorium at 7 p.m. and include a speech from
Richard Brauer, director of `Barn Red,’ one of the festival’s
featured films. A second screening of the winners will take place at
the Broadway Theatre at 7 p.m. April 2.
Tickets, which cost $4 per film per person or $20 per 10 ticket
books, are available at multiple locations:
– Central Michigan Life, Moore Hall 436, (989) 774-3493
– Celebration! Cinema, 4935 E. Pickard St., Mount Pleasant
– CMU broadcast and cinematic arts department, Moore Hall 340
– Art Reach of Mid-Michigan, 319 S. University, Mount Pleasant
– Art Reach Gift Shop and Gallery, 111 E. Broadway, Mount Pleasant
– Broadway Theatre, 216 E. Broadway, Mount Pleasant
– Java City, CMU Park Library
All shows are first come, first seated until capacity is reached.
Organizing sponsors are the College of Communication and Fine Arts,
CM Life and the Film Society.
Co-sponsors include Celebration! Cinema, Saginaw Chippewa Indian
Tribe, CMU Libraries, Kopy Korner, CMU Office for Institutional
Diversity, Art Reach of Mid-Michigan, Michigan Council for Arts and
Cultural Affairs, and the French cultural program `Tournees,’ which
was made possible with the support of the Cultural Services of the
French Embassy and the French Ministry of Culture (CNC).