How does two more weeks of darkness sound? Before spring truly kicks into gear, you can happily fritter away a few wet and chilly days in a theater, catching some of M-SPIFF’S 160 films from fifty countries, which constitute the largest film event in the Upper Midwest. The festival opens in appropriately grand style at the State Theatre and continues at venues across the Twin Cities. Highlights include a tribute to French filmmaker Benoit Jacquot, who will make an appearance; “New Visions of Europe,” a collection of films about life in the twelve-year-old European Union; and several contributions (short films, features, and documentaries) by Minnesotan filmmakers. Anytown, USA stars Doug Friedline, Jesse Ventura’s former campaign manager, as himself in a film about a small-town New Jersey mayoral race. The Wild Condition, an “experimental nature film” about an elderly woman who befriends a wolf, has us intrigued, as well (any small, tasty children in the cast?). See the full lineup and descriptions of films and events at www.mnfilmarts.org/m-spiff/2005
Leave a Reply