CLARKSDALE: Clarksdale Film Festival w/blues films, blues music & more!

1/23-26 – CLARKSDALE FILM FESTIVAL
Clarksdale, MS
(venues: Delta Cinema — two theaters — PLUS Channel Ziltch)
4thannual fest! Thurs night plus Fri afternoon/evening, Sat all day intoevening and Sun afternoon. Blues, roots music, Mississippi-connected andSouthern films… documentaries, shorts and features. Live blues 5pmThurs/Fri/Sat in Delta Cinema lobby. (Plus, live blues in theclubs/jukes at night — see below.) $5 per day or $10 weekend pass. T-shirts & hats available at fest. More details soon at http://www.jukejointfestival.com/film_fest.php

DELTA CINEMA (11 Third St.):

THURSDAY, JAN. 23, 2014

4:30pm – Doors open: ticket/merchandise sales, $5 per day or $10 weekend pass

THEATER LOBBY:

5pm – Live Blues Music: Sean “Bad” Apple & Friends

5pm – Wine reception (while quantities last)

6pm – Festival welcome by Clarksdale Downtown Development Association

6:05pm – Introduction of feature film by special guests

DOWNSTAIRS THEATER:

6:15pm – NIGHTLY FEATURE – The Book of Manning(1:17 ESPN) – A father-and-son story written into the pages of footballfolklore, it can be argued that no family has had more influence on asport than the Mannings. Archie — the patriarch — a star quarterback atOle Miss and then with the New Orleans Saints, followed by oldest sonCooper, whose football dreams were cut short by a spinal condition, thensons Peyton and Eli — both of them quarterbacks. Director Rory Karpfexplores how a tragedy shaped the course of not only Archie’s life, buthis family’s as well. Narrated by actor John Goodman. SPECIAL INTRODUCTIONS by sports writer Larry Liddell and Ole Miss offensive guard Bill Coker.

– LARRY LIDDELL was onlymedia rep present when Archie Manning signed scholarship withUniversity of Mississippi; Liddell was Clarksdale Press Register sportseditor, 1964-68, following Manning’s career at Drew High School; later,Liddell was Ole Miss assistant sports information director; followingManning’s senior season at Ole Miss, Liddell became director of publicrelations with NFL’s New Orleans Saints.

– BILLY COKER playedfootball with Manning; as an Ole Miss offensive guard, Coker spent threeyears blocking for Manning; among other achievements, Coker played inthe Liberty Bowl (1968), Sugar Bowl (1969-70) and Gator Bowl (1970-71)

 

FRIDAY, JAN. 24, 2014

THEATER LOBBY:

5pm – Live Blues Music: Sean “Bad” Apple & Friends

5pm – Wine reception (while quantities last)

6pm – Festival welcome by Clarksdale Downtown Development Association

6:05pm – Introduction of feature film by special guests

UPSTAIRS THEATER:

2pm – Clarksdale: One Word (9:05) – Delta Bohemian’s love letter to our wild & wooly hometown of Clarksdale, Mississippi.

2:15pm – You See Me Laughing(77) – Documentary featuring Oxford, Mississippi-based Fat PossumRecords’ blues roster, featuring Junior Kimbrough, Asie Payton, JohnnyFarmer & more.

4:15pm – Hard Times(69) – The classic story of Delta blues gone North, told through theeyes of sharecropper, boxer, club owner & bluesman Big George Brock;by Damien Blaylock & Roger Stolle.

DOWNSTAIRS THEATER:

1pm – True Delta(36) – Award-winning blues film about the past, present and future ofthe Delta’s up-and-coming and recently-passed blues musicians; by

2pm – M for Mississippi (94)- Blues Music Award-winning 2008 Mississippi blues road-trip filmfollows Roger Stolle & Jeff Konkel as they visit T-Model Ford, BilboWalker, Duck Holmes & other bluesmen.

4pm – Moonshine & Mojo Hands preview trailer (2) – Preview for “world’s first blues music reality series” coming to www.moonshineandmojohands.com; by Roger Stolle, Jeff Konkel, Lou Bopp & Tangent Mind/Jon Michael Ryan.

4:05pm – Call Before Demo: Resurrecting a Legendary Blues Hall(25:45) – Acclaimed documentary about legendary Bay St. Louis,Mississippi’s 100 Man Hall blues venue; by Kerrie Loya, James K. Miller,Jesse Loya.

6:15pm – NIGHTLY FEATURE – Cheesehead Blues: Adventures of a Dutchman in the Mississippi Delta(65) – “Can a Dutchman have the blues?” A couple years back, Dutchfilmmaker Jan Doense traveled to Clarksdale to find out, spending timewith musician/museum director Theo Dasbach (Rock & Blues Museum) andhis blues friends — including Super Chikan, T-Model Ford, Frank “Rat”Ratliff, Watermelon Slim & others. INTRODUCTIONS/Q&A by director Jan Doense & his subject Theo Dasbach.

SATURDAY, JAN. 25, 2014

11am – Doors open: ticket/merchandise sales, $5 per day or $10 weekend pass

FRONT PORCH (bus stop):

Noon – Clarksdale History Bus Tour II with historian Robert Birdsong

1:30pm – Clarksdale History Bus Tour II with historian Robert Birdsong

THEATER LOBBY:

1pm – Film Workshop with film director/critic Coop Cooper — “How to make a short film for (almost) zero dollars”

5pm – Live Blues Music: Sean “Bad” Apple & Friends

5pm – Wine reception (while quantities last)

6pm – “Thanks” from organizers & introduction special guests

UPSTAIRS THEATER:

Noon – Barefoot Workshops Documentary Shorts (60) – Four short films documenting aspects of Mississippi Delta arts, culture and characters.

1:30pm – Bizarre Foods(25) – Food & travel expert Andrew Zimmern visits Clarksdale for aDelta blues at Red’s juke joint & hot tamales at Hick’s BBQ amongother stops in the critically-acclaimed TV show.

2:15pm – Jason McCoy Eats America(25) – Canadian country music star Jason McCoy visits Mississippi for adose of music & food at Delta Amusement Café, Po Monkey’s Loungeother Delta hotspots in this CMT TV show.

3pm – American Journey(25) – HLN TV star Ty Pennington journeys to Clarksdale to explore ourtown’s blues-fueled revitalization. (Note: Special thanks to HLNproducer Darian Billington for making this episode happen; he’s a proudClarksdale native and son of blues legend “Mr. Johnnie” Billington).

3:35pm – Respect the Kid (5:05) – A tribute to blues legend and music teacher “Mr. Johnnie” Billington; by Lee Quinby & Erickson Blakney.

4pm – The Carrington Event (48:30) – News of a massive solar flare goes viral, the power goes out and an epic fight for survival begins; by Rob Underhill.

DOWNSTAIRS THEATER:

Noon – Two short films by Nathan Willis:

   – Fox Pass (10:41) – A new short film about a Southern potter in Arkansas.

   – A Broken Road to Hope (7:57) – Compelling story of a teenager in the Arkansas foster care system.

12:30pm – Mile High Pie(4:00) – A look at famous mile high meringue at Ed & Kaye’s inBenton, Arkansas.; by Melanie Lynn Addington & Daniel Lee Perea

12:45pm – West of Elvis (7:35) – Filmmaker visits the Graceland Too and its amazing curator in Holly Springs, Mississippi; by Vox Press/Louis Bourgeois

1pm – Kane(26:00) – After losing what means most to him, a masked hero mustdecide the fate of his city; by Michael Willams & Josh White.

1:30pm – Three short films by Memphis’ Geoffrey Brent Shrewsbury:

   – From Cotton Fields to the Silver Screen (11:30) – Story of Deltan’s rise from sharecropper to LA costumer.

   – Historic Hospitality (6:30) – Story of blues-historic Riverside Hotel and proprietor “Rat” in Clarksdale, Mississippi.

   – Jimbo Mathus: Finding Your Roots (13:30) – Brief glimpse of Delta musician Mathus and his amazing career so far.

2:15pm – Baby Chicken (7:29) – A wooden man befriends his breakfast; then becomes a hero; by Mississippi-native Azod Abedikichi.

2:30pm – Timed Romance (7:00) – Romantic short that’s all about the timing; by Mississippi’s Rob Underhill.

2:45pm – Entertainer (13:00) – Prime-time interview with Bob about life & more; by Mississippi’s Rob Underhill.

3:15pm – Danny Tate Gets Chased by a Drone (1:45) – World-premiere of Clarksdale filmmaker and film critic Coop Cooper latest locally-produced short film.

3:55pm – Moonshine & Mojo Hands preview trailer (2) – Preview for “world’s first blues music reality series” coming to www.moonshineandmojohands.com; by Roger Stolle, Jeff Konkel, Lou Bopp & Tangent Mind/Jon Michael Ryan.

4pm – Rural Blues, Mississippi 1989 (51)– Blues performances by RL Burnside, Son Thomas, T-Model Ford, JessieMae Hemphill and more in Mississippi pilgrimage film by Dutch filmmakersKo de Korte & Tom Haarsma.

6:15pm – NIGHTLY FEATURE – Muscle Shoals(111) – New all-star documentary about the famed Southern recordingmecca of FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The home of Rick Halland the “Muscle Shoals sound,” musicians like Gregg Allman, Bono,Clarence Carter, Mick Jagger, Etta James, Alicia Keys, Keith Richards,Percy Sledge and others bear witness in the film to Muscle Shoals’magnetism, mystery and why it remains influential today. “Elegantdocumentary about a remarkable musical town.” – Chicago Sun-Times.”Music lovers will get plenty of thrills hearing first-hand accounts ofhow such classic tracks as Aretha’s ‘Respect’ and the Stones’ ‘BrownSugar’ were created.” – Dennis Harvey, Variety. SPECIAL GUESTS will be on-hand from the Americana Music Triangle project.

SUNDAY, JAN. 26, 2014:

UPSTAIRS THEATER:

1:30pm – Deep Blues(91) – Classic Robert Mugge film captures the Memphis/Mississippi bluesscene in 1990, including performances by Jessie Mae Hemphill, BoobaBarnes, Lonnie Pitchford, Big Jack Johnson & other blues heavies.

2:30pm – Rivergator(47) – 1,155-mile journey down the Mississippi River from St. Louis tothe Gulf of Mexico, featuring wild places, people and spaces; by QuapawCanoe Company’s John Ruskey..

DOWNSTAIRS THEATER:

1pm – Times Like Deese(87) – Dutch film goes in search of older blues performers and theirmodern successors, rappers, in the Mississippi Delta; with LC Ulmer,Super Chikan, Razorblade & more; by Maarten Schmidt and ThomasDoebele

3pm – Moonshine & Mojo Hands preview trailer (2) – Preview for “world’s first blues music reality series” coming to www.moonshineandmojohands.com; by Roger Stolle, Jeff Konkel, Lou Bopp & Tangent Mind/Jon Michael Ryan.

3:05pm – We Juke Up inHere (63) – Award-winning 2012 blues film follows Jeff Konkel &Roger Stolle as they visit Mississippi’s surviving juke joints;performances by Big A, Elmo Williams, Hezekiah Early & more.

CHANNEL ZILTCH (119 Third St.):

FRIDAY, JAN. 24, 2014

5pm – Shout Out to Australia (5:31) – By Clarksdale’s Delta Bohemian.

5:10pm – Clarksdale Welcomes Australians (11:39) – By Clarksdale’s Delta Bohemian.

5:25pm – Dresser Drawer (8:25) – Musically-rich, intriguing, symbolic study of a couple’s broken relationship; by Patrick Delhougne & PJ Tamayo.

5:35pm – Louisiana Blues(52) – Contemporary French-made documentary film capturing theLouisiana music and blues culture scene; by Jean-Pierre Bruneau &Jose Reynes.

6:35pm – Blues Bootleg Series A (1:11) – Vintage 1960s live performances, part 1, starring the biggest names in blues music!

8pm – Moonshine & Mojo Hands preview trailer (2) – Preview for “world’s first blues music reality series” coming to www.moonshineandmojohands.com; by Roger Stolle, Jeff Konkel, Lou Bopp & Tangent Mind/Jon Michael Ryan.

8:10pm – Homeplace: North Mississippi 1972 (:27) – Vintage documentary short capturing Mississippi Hill Country life & music; by Michael Ford.

8pm – Babe & Ricky’s Inn(90) – Chronicles the last days of one of the most unique and vibrantblues clubs in the world — Babe & Ricky’s in South Central LA; byRamin Niami

SATURDAY, JAN. 25, 2014

Noon – 26th Year of Best of the Biscuit (1:07) – Concert footage from Helena, Arkansas’ King Biscuit Blues Fest.

1:10pm – Down to Mississippi(1:13) – Twój Blues magazine editor Andrzej Matysik’s 2005 pilgrimagefrom Poland to Clarksdale & the Delta in search of blues.

2:30pm – Barefoot Workshops Photo Essays (60) – Sixteen Mississippi Delta photographic slide shows with music.

4pm – deepsouth(72) – Doc about rural South and the people who inhabit its most quietcorners. Beneath layers of history and poverty, four Americans createtheir own solutions to survive; by Lisa Biagiotti.

6pm – Blues Bootleg Series B (:59) – Vintage 1960s live performances, part 2, starring the biggest names in blues music!

7:25pm – Moonshine & Mojo Hands preview trailer (2) – Preview for “world’s first blues music reality series” coming to www.moonshineandmojohands.com; by Roger Stolle, Jeff Konkel, Lou Bopp & Tangent Mind/Jon Michael Ryan.

7:30pm – Will Goss Music Videos (12:09) – An assortment of music videos by Clarksdale-native producer Will Goss.

8pm – Clarksdale(1:10) – The latest feature film by Clarksdale-native Will Goss is “thestory of a father, a son and a bomb”; it features local actors andlocations.