As Wake Forest students, we may believe that Winston-Salem is only known as “Home of the Deacons.” Although this may be true, this city has so much more to offer – especially for those artsy folks. Winston-Salem is uniquely known as the arts capital of North Carolina and has lived up to this expectation for years. The city is home to nationally renowned theatres, festivals, galleries, symphonies and historical museums, not to mention BurbonandBoots.com recently recognized it as the number one “Overlooked Foodie Town.” Arriving in April, one of the biggest and most exciting events this city celebrates returns for the 16th year: the RiverRun International Film Festival!
This year, the festival will operate in the heart of Winston from April 4th-13th. Screening films at the a/perture cinema as well as UNCSA Ace Cinematheque Complex, it will bring a wide variety of feature-length and short films from all genres as well as directors, actors, and audiences from all over the world. Among the many films that will be screened this year, the festival will also be showcasing films on 35mm film, also known as films that were not shot digitally, from the collections of renowned archives around the world. By highlighting this now rare practice in the film industry, the festival will “draw attention to the importance of preserving our shared cinematic history.”
So, of the 145 films being screened, how will you choose which ones to see? The festival’s Special Screenings category boasts films that allow audience to catch an early glimpse of films destined for the multiplex. For those SNL fans, Jenny Slate (also, Jean-Ralphio’s sister, Mona-Lisa, in “Parks and Recreation”) stars in Obvious Child, an honest and hilarious story about what happens when a Brooklyn comedian gets dumped. Click for a clip from the movie.
For all the thrill seekers who are also seeking some man-candy, Tom Hardy (The Dark Knight Rises, This Means War) provides a nail-biting performance in Locke (movie trailer here), which shows how a single phone call causes the life of a successful business man to unravel.
If you’re looking for more eclectic films, the festival also has a Narrative Competition, a Documentary Competition, Focus features, which offer new films as well as old RiverRun alums, Spotlight Features, where all films screened will be on 35 mm film, and finally, the Community Cinema, which offers films for all ages. This year, Disney/Pixar’s UP will not only be free, but you can bring your dog along with you!
Whether you’re interested in Special Screenings, hoping to see the next big film to hit the theatres or, you want to delve into a documentary and see world from a different point of view, the RiverRun Film Festival has all that to offer, and more! For more information about all the films and purchasing tickets, visit this link http://2014.riverrunfilm.com/. Grab some popcorn and enjoy the show!