Black Bear Film Festival announces lineup

By Charles Reynolds
MILFORD — Jerry Beaver watched 311 movies before narrowing his selections for the Black Bear Film Festival first to 30, then to 14 — including several that would have been denied in years past.

Beaver, owner of the Milford Theatre and president of the film festival, on Sept. 18 announced this year's lineup in the company of several volunteers — Adrienne Wendell, Preston Ehrler, Justin Riddle, and Shirley Masuo — that he said make the festival the success it has become.

The core group of about 10 volunteers do the work because they love Milford, Beaver said. At the height of the festival, around 130 people pitch in — working at the gala dinner, decorating, cleaning, running the tent offerings outside the theater, and the numerous other duties a festival this size entails.

This year's festival is set for Oct. 18 through 20. Beaver said he's happy it's getting some well-deserved recognition.

Erhler, a board member and in charge of the festival's presence on the internet, said the website (blackbearfilm.com) has been generating interest as far away as Philadelphia and New York City.

Dinner and 'Delicious' kick off weekend

The weekend's festivities kick off at the gala event at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 18, at the St. Patrick's Event Center at the corner of East High and 4 Streets. Dinner features food from The Water Wheel, the River Rock, the Fork at Twin Lakes, the Grotto and Fretta's.

After the meal, gala pass holders will then proceed to the Milford Theatre for the showing of “Isn't It Delicious,” winner of the Best Feature Film Award at the Rainier Independent Film Festival, as well as the Official Selection at the 2013 Manhattan Film Festival and the 2013 Connecticut Film Festival.

Gala passes are $60 and include the dinner and the first night movie. Gold passes are $150 and include the gala, all the movies, a Sunday brunch and a VIP gathering. Individual movie prices are $10, except for the children's movie, which is $5. This year it's the 1938 Errol Flynn classic “Adventures of Robin Hood."

Kathleen Chalfont, star of "Isn’t It Delicious," will be in attendance, as will the director and four of the actors, traditional stage actors who made their film debut in "Delicious."

Movies on the main stage range from “Somm," a humorous, emotional romp through the world of the competition to become master sommeliers, to “Ain't Them Bodies Saints,” a Bonny and Clyde style crime drama starring Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara that won the 2013 Sundance Film Festival Cinematography Award in the U.S. Dramatic Category.

Some other films:
“Blackfish” is a psychological thriller with a killer whale at the center of its story. At the Sept. 18 press conference, Beaver said a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Pike County Humane Society. Variety called the movie "captivating and entirely successful," while Rolling Stone magazine said it was “a gripping mindbender."

“Triple Divide,” being shown at the Salon, is a film narrated by actor Mark Ruffalo that attempts to answer the question of how state regulations and industry are handling the impact of hydrofracking. The director of the film plans to bring speakers to the showing.

“Good Ol' Freda” revolves around a young woman in England who answered an ad for a job that said simply “secretary needed.” and was hired. But for Freda Kelly, this was no ordinary job. She spent 11 years as the personal secretary to the Beatles, which started its rise to fame the year after she started working for them. Kelly tells her story for the first time in this documentary. The film has the support of the remaining living Beatles and, according to the website, “offers an insider perspective on the beloved band that changed the world of music.”

The Salon, to be held in the community room of the new library branch, will be showing films from 2:30 to 4 p.m. on Saturday and 12:30 to 2 p.m. on Sunday.

The Salon includes some of the best filmmakers to come out of New York University. Most of the filmmakers themselves will be on hand to answer questions.

See sidebar for the main stage schedule. For more information on the films, their directors and stars, visit blackbearfilm.Com. Tickets may be purchased through the website. Festival organizers may also be reached at 570-409-0909.