Voices in the doc: New film festival aims to build community
Friday, March 16, 2012
The Steinmenauts, one of the groups in the film "Louder Than a Bomb," perform “Counting Graves.” From left: Kevin Harris, Charles Smith, She’kira McNight and Jésus Lark.
Vox Docs Film Festival
Cost: $15 opening night, $10 per movie on Saturday, $30 weekend pass
Venue: Sleeping Lady Chapel Theater, Leavenworth
Friday, March 23
7:30 p.m. “Louder than a Bomb”
What it’s about: Two filmmakers chronicle the lives of three spoken-word artists and the defending champions, The Steinmenauts, as they prepare for the largest youth poetry slam in the world. One of the poets, Lamar Jorden, will perform a spoken-word piece and lead a Q&A after the film.
Informationwww.louderthanabombfilm.com
Beneficiary: Icicle Creek Youth Symphony, Icicle Creek Theatre Conservatory
Saturday, March 24
11:30 a.m. “Miss Representation”
What it’s about: The documentary challenges mainstream media’s portrayals of women and girls and its collective message — that a women’s power is in her youth, beauty and sexuality, not her ability to lead.
Information: http://www.missrepresentation.org/
Beneficiary: YWCA Wenatchee
2 p.m. “This Way of Life”
What it’s about: An intimate portrait of a Maori family filmed over four years in New Zealand. When their horses are stolen and their home is burned down, the family must live off the land.
Information: http://www.thiswayoflifemovie.com/
Beneficiary: Rebuilding Together Greater Wenatchee
4:30 p.m. “Waste Land”
What it’s about: New York artist Vik Muniz works with a band of landfill pickers to create photographic images of themselves out of recyclable materials. The images show their dignity and despair as they begin to realize a different life for themselves.
Information:http://www.wastelandmovie.com/
Beneficiary: Upper Valley MEND (Meeting Each Need with Dignity)
7 p.m. “Buck”
What it’s about: American cowboy Buck Brannaman travels the country transforming horses, and the people who own them, with compassion and respect. As Brannaman says, “Your horse is a mirror to your soul, and sometimes you may not like what you see. Sometimes, you will.”
Information: http://www.buckthefilm.com/
Beneficiary: Initiative for Rural Innovation and Stewardship (IRIS)
Chicago spoken-word artist Lamar Jorden writes in his notebook.
LEAVENWORTH — It takes more than five films and a screen to make a festival — an audience, for starters. But Rick Wray is working on it.
Through his connections with the Sundance Film Festival, Wray has lined up five social issue documentaries for the Vox Docs festival next weekend in hopes that they will spark a following.
“I’m new to the area and I just wanted to bring some great independent cinema that typically wouldn’t have the chance to play on the big screen here,” Wray said.
Wray moved to Leavenworth a year ago from Salt Lake City, an indie film mecca with an audience long established by years of weekly screenings and festivals.
For 12 years, Wray ran a media arts organization for youths called Spy Hop Productions, an outreach group that gives teens a forum through video game design, radio and film. The nonprofit was closely tied with Sundance’s youth program, The Reel Studio.
When his wife took a job at a fruit company in Wenatchee, he branched out and created a sister organization based in Leavenworth, the Spy Hop Institute For Teachers, which shows educators how to use media production as a teaching tool.
Wray created the film festival on the side with the Icicle Creek Center for the Arts. A grant from The Sleeping Lady Foundation, which will cover licensing fees, the venue and travel costs to fly in a star from the opening film, “Louder Than a Bomb.”
Wray chose the most audience-friendly films, nothing too controversial or arty, for Vox Docs’ inaugural year.
“I picked only the best-of-festival films,” he said. “These are all audience award winners from places like Sundance and the Seattle International Film Festival.”
Wray also chose the films based on their beneficiary. The ticket sales from each film will be donated to the local nonprofit it’s paired with.
Advance ticket sales have been slow so far, but Wray has heard that’s normal for the region. People tend to show up at the door, he said.
In the end, Wray’s biggest goal is to connect and inspire people in the community.
“They’re all really strong stories of triumph, and hopefully they will generate some great community dialogue,” Wray said. “It’s also a celebration of the art form, which I don’t see a lot of around here.”
Rachel Hansen: 664-7139
hansen@wenatcheeworld.com
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The Steinmenauts, one of the groups in the film "Louder Than a Bomb," perform “Counting Graves.” From left: Kevin Harris, Charles Smith, She’kira McNight and Jésus Lark.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Monday, May 27
Conquer Your Fear of Public Speaking - Toastmasters Meeting
First United Methodist Church, 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 28
Toastmasters
Chelan County PUD Auditorium, 327 N. Wenatchee Ave., 7 a.m.
Tuesday, May 28
Alzheimer's Association Caregiver Support Group
Lake Chelan Community Hospital, 1:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 28
Alzheimer's Association Caregiver Support Group
Lake Chelan Community Hospital, 1:30 p.m.
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