5 th
Annual Topanga
Film Festival
AUGUST 6-9 2009 topangafilmfestival.com
WELCOME Welcome to Topanga Film Festival ‘09
Photo by Bill Bowling
To do a film festival in the face of these difficult times may be foolish but it has been extremely gratifying, despite the obvious obstacles. The record number of submissions, the enthusiasm in the community and the willingness of friends and volunteers to get behind the cause, have helped us persevere and believe. In fact, you showed us that in the end it’s all quite simple: That if you create the space, and light a fire, the storytellers will follow—and so will those who like to listen, and those who like to share. Welcome to the 5th Annual Topanga Film Festival.
TOPANGA FILM FESTIVAL
– Sara & Urs Baur
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thursday August 6
Opening Night Party / Action Sports + Other High Impact Shorts at Abuelita’s Mexican Restaurant
A night of harrowing action, not for the faint of heart. 7:00pm - Reception 8:30pm - Screening (approx. 120 minutes) with MC Billy Portman 10:30pm - People’s Choice Award for Best Film (approx. 15 minutes) 10:45pm - U nderworld Cinema: Life and Work of J.X. Williams (approx. 30 minutes) On the run (2:00) Directed by Stefan G. Bucher Music by Simone Giuliani A Daily Monster salute to the Topanga Film Festival. roland SUMILE (4:01) Directed & Produced by Bart Saric A Smell The ’Crete Production A 44 year old legend explains why he still charges on his skateboard at 50+ MPH.
cut chemist (5:15) Directed by Kyle Ruddick Produced by Kyle Ruddick & Cari Ann Shim Sham An Eyestorm Production A tripped out, 360 degree panoramic journey into the track ‘My 1st Big Break’ by renowned DJ, Cut Chemist. retrospective (Infinite) Directed & Produced by Bart Saric A Smell The ’Crete Production An inside look at the history of skateboarding.
ground pressure (9:04) Directed by Andrew Loos Produced by Michael Shaw Kelly Gneiting, a 430lb. rigdriving ‘Gentle Giant’ becomes the most respected heavy weight Sumo wrestler and takes on the LA Marathon. aesthetica (5:00) Directed by Travis Robb Produced by Waide Hoyt / Standard Films Mark Landvik meets up with some friends on the mountain. KLUNKERZ ON REPACK (13:00) Directed & Produced by Billy Savage A documentary on the first off-road downhill time trial bicycle race. windows vista: predator edition (4:00) Written & Directed by Paul Kamuf Produced by Michael Hastings Black Dial tones, war zones, and predator drones... intermission (15:00) aesthetica (3:00) Directed by Travis Robb Produced by Waide Hoyt / Standard Films For Xavier Delerue, what happens on the mountain doesn’t always stay on the mountain… killer (9:30) Directed by Adam Leon & Jack Pettibone Riccobono Produced by Kai Regan & Jack Pettibone Riccobono
TOPANGA FILM FESTIVAL
This short documentary set in 1989 NYC captures an urban rite of passage defined by all-night stakeouts, the rush of adrenaline, and the recklessness of adolescence. ‘MARK MAHONEY’ (3:20) Directed & Produced by Bart Saric A Skinned Alive Production The definition of ‘old school tatooing’, and a master of single needle art, this man and his art have become symbiotic with skateboard culture. stand (1:56) Directed & Produced by Chris Davison A woman takes a stand. the night life (5:00) Directed by Lee Arter After a one night stand a young man discovers he’s been transformed. Aesthetica (5:00) Directed by Travis Robb Produced by Waide Hoyt / Standard Films Torston Horgmo makes a scene. people’s choice award (15:00) underworld cinema: life and work of J.X. Williams (30:00) J.X. Williams was a legendary bottom-of-the-barrel director in the fifties and sixties. Tonight, film curator and archivist Noel Lawrence will share a few of the surviving artifacts of Williams’ tawdry career.
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PROUDLY SUPPORTING OUR FRIENDS AT THE TOPANGA FILM FESTIVAL
www.logitech.com
www.cutandrun.tv
Š 2009 Stefan G. Bucher. All rights reserved. For inquiries please contact stefan@344design.com
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FRIday August 7
Feature Showcase “What About Me?” Presented in conjunction with Project Butterfly at Trust Ranch on the Mesa
6:30pm - L ive Ambient Soundscapes by Deprogramming Division Spoken Word by Rich Ferguson Bollywood Dance Performance by Jaya Vaswani DJ Jun spinning an eclectic mix of funky worldly sounds Vegan Soul Food / Drinks available for purchase 8:30pm - Screening of LX Forty – a short film by Marc Forster (2:27) 8:35pm - Screening of What About Me? (approx. 90 minutes) THIS IS A NON-SMOKING / NO FIRE EVENT – STRICTLY ENFORCED
From the Creators of the Grammy-nominated film and album 1 Giant Leap, this visionary project took Jamie Catto and Duncan Bridgeman to over 50 locations. Through music, they explore the complexities of human nature on a global scale, and reveal how we are all connected through our creativity and beliefs, but most of all through our collective insanity. Featuring, Eckhart Tolle, Lila Downs, Michael Stipe, Carlos Santana, KD Lang, Baba Maal and so many more.
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HMThinklatino! Congratulates The Topanga Film Festival www.projectbutterfly.org
for its 5th Anniversary.
www.projectbutterfly.org www.thinklatino.net (818) 888-4001
Yoga is a catalyst for positive change. Realize your practice here in Topanga, a place long recognized for its cultivated spirit. Pine Tree Circle Center 120 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd. Topanga, CA 90290 310.455.9551
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Darr infilm, In c . \ Camera Logistics / PROUD SPONSOR AND PROVIDER OF THE GRAND PRIZE FOR THE 5TH ANNUAL TOPANGA FILM FESTIVAL 3 1 0. 8 49.1 7 7 1
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Canyon Design Group
E N T E R TA I N M E N T A DV E R T I S I N G
Issue Date: 2009 Key Art Award Book 6/12/09 Topagna Film Festival — J1961 Position: Poster Section Ad Size: Quarter Square Client: CDG
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Saturday August 8
The Big Night – International Short Film Competition at the Topanga Community House Ball Field
A selection of groundbreaking short films that explore the possibilities of storytelling at all levels—documentaries, animation, drama, comedy and experimental. 5:00pm - G ates Open 5:30pm - DJ Glenn Red (Afro Funke) / Food / Bar 8:30pm - Screening (approx. 120 minutes) with MC Billy Portman WRITERS MINI BOOTCAMP WORKSHOP 5:30-6:30pm at the Topanga Community House (Main Location) Hosted by Writers Bootcamp founder Jeffrey Gordon. Free career counseling with a WBC Coordinator is offered both before and after the event. Participants walk away from a Mini-Camp with tools they can immediately apply to their writing process.
READING: FIND YOUR STORY 6:45-7:45pm at the Topanga Community House (Main Location) The culmination of the two day workshop by Wendy Hammers where participants met to “steal from their life” and find a story. Tonight they’re ready to share.
The Big Night– Program Part 1 LX forty (2:27) A short film by Marc Forster presented by Swiss International Air Lines, an official sponsor of The Topanga Film Festival ‘09. THE making of the coveted COYOTE AWARD (5:00) A Farm Lab Collaboration by artist Zoe Hay, Lauren Bon, Lisa Marr, Paolo Davanzo & the Silver Flying Monkey Committee. GATES, DOORS (3:00) Directed & Produced by Christopher Caporlingua A nice opening…and closing.
SEBASTIAN’S VOODOO (5:00) Directed & Produced by Joaquin Baldwin Music by Nick Fevola A voodoo doll must find the courage to save his friends. THESE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR WALKEN (24:00) Directed by Jeremy Pack Produced by Christopher Gourlay Written by Jude Bass Jilted by love, Ronnie commits himself to a mental institution believing he is Christopher Walken. INTERMISSION (15:00)
DOWN IN NUMBER 5 (17:45) Directed by Kim Spurlock Written by Mai Spurlock & Kim Spurlock Produced by Dave Chan Based on a true story of a coal miner in Appalachia. BAGGAGE (14:49) Directed by Charlie Hofheimer Produced by Chris Beetem, Charlie Hofheimer & Shannon Lucio When dog sitting in New York, Gwendolyn attempts to hide her problems in a duffle bag.
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Saturday The Big Night– Program Part 2
On the run (2:00) Directed by Stefan G. Bucher Music by Simone Giuliani A Daily Monster salute to the Topanga Film Festival. IMMINENT (10:00) Directed by Randall Good Produced by Randall Good & Nathan Nadell Written by Randall Good Two friends shop. One stares at the other. RYAN STEINBERG (2:37) Created by Ryan Steinberg Post Dustin Hoffman (The Graduate), post Tom Cruise (Risky Business), Ryan Steinberg posts a video on Facebook for a friend. THE BALATON MONKS (13:00) Directed by Mark Edington Produced by Emöke Szalai On a summer day by the lake, in Hungary, three teen boys make a vow to abstain from girls.
THE STRANGE REBIRTH OF ANDRE WEIL (16:00) Directed & Written by Joel Garber Produced by Joel Garber, Milenkeo Skoknic & Summre Gaston Inspired by a true story of an average guy who meets the girl of his dreams but finds God. THEY CAME TO ATTACK US (4:00) Directed & Written by Kyle Rankin & Efram Potellee This could really happen folks! VAUDVILLIAN (16:00) Directed by Bryan Nest Produced by Amanda Ellis A performer’s conscience is tested by his own hunger during the Depression Era.
Ad_Topanga Film Festival 280709
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Mom, Dad and Me Singalong Guitar Classes Sounds Like Fun 818 434 0828 Animal Education Classes Mommy and Me Transitional Classes 818 434 0880 www.topangacoyoteclub.com
baurhouse Official Home of the Topanga Film Festival
branding • content • production tel: 310 455 4700 baurhouse.net
Sunday August 9
Youth Salon at Yoga Desa / Pine Tree Circle Budding filmmakers under the age of 17 screen their films. (Free - RSVP) 12:00pm - Screening (Approx. 90 minutes)
Awards Ceremony at Froggy’s Fishmarket Jury awards the Coveted Coyote Award handcrafted by local artist Zoe Hay. Presentation of $15,000 camera rental package donated by Darrinfilm, Inc. to the Grand Prize Winner, along with 2nd and 3rd place prizes. (Free - RSVP)
Best of Topanga
7:00pm - Awards Ceremony with MC Susan McMatus (Approx. 30 minutes)
at Froggy’s Fishmarket An eclectic evening of great short films by local Topanga talent. Dinner and short movies in a spectacular setting. (Free - RSVP) 8:00pm - Screening with MC Adam Silbar (Approx. 120 minutes)
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August 9 (continued)
Best of Topanga Line-up at Froggy’s Fishmarket
ON THE RUN (2:00) Directed by Stefan G. Bucher Music by Simone Giuliani A Daily Monster salute to the Topanga Film Festival. The last dragon kingdom (6:53) Directed by Aine Carey & David Emery Produced by Aine Carey & David Emery A visual journey through the ancient Kingdom of Bhutan. Neil heddings ‘sk8 junkee’ (6:07) Directed by Bart Saric A Skinned Alive Production Neil sheds light on the stigma of being a tattooed skateboarder and of the cross-over lifestyle, two days before going to prison for a crime he didn’t commit.
HACK ‘N SLASH (1:20) Created by Brendon O’Halloran & Cameron Walser A Furious 455 Production Topanga builders, Billy & Billy advertise their services. a pig’s ear (9:30) Directed by Grant Barbeito Produced by Connie Siu A social worker and her intern go on a house call in 1940’s Appalachia. 1000 words (or less) (5:00) Directed by Jesse Gordon Produced by Jesse Gordon, Cinemax/HBO A conversation with Brandon Johnson.
Sunday HACK ‘N SLASH: BILLYS GET BUSTED (2:20) Created by Brendon O’Halloran & Cameron Walser A Furious 455 Production
Turbo dates (2:00) Directed by Jocelyn Stamat Produced by Frank Chindamo “Orange”
dasvedanya (9:00) Directed by Anastasia Fite The filmmaker observes her grandparents, Russian immigrants in their nineties, as they reflect on their 70 years together.
THE kiss of the lark (11:00) Directed by Ishan Shapiro Produced by Mette Lilleby & Ishan Shapiro A boy is torn between following his father’s Hare Krishna practice and his mother’s Catholicism. In French with English subtitles.
HACK ‘N SLASH: BILLYS showdown (2:43) Created by Brendon O’Halloran & Cameron Walser Starring Billy Portman A Furious 455 Production intermission (15:00) The garden rose (5:04) Directed by Maximilla Lukacs Produced by Becky Stark, Maximilla Lukacs & Alia Pener Cinematography by Max Penner Becky and the Garden Rose Dancers gather in the woods of Topanga. An excerpt from the forthcoming movie “Imagine our Love.” INDIA: CHILDREN OF LIGHT (3:00) Directed by Julianne Reynolds The filmmaker travels through the holy city of Rishikesh searching for the meaning of yoga and spirituality.
TOPANGA FILM FESTIVAL
Turbo dates (2:00) Directed by Jocelyn Stamat Produced by Frank Chindamo “Potion” bare feet (8:00) Directed & Produced by Jesse Johnson “Drummer,” a musician in Topanga takes off his shoes. Turbo dates (2:00) Directed by Jocelyn Stamat Produced by Frank Chindamo “Mars” The winner of the coveted coyote award (TBD) Special screening of the Big Night Short Film Competition winning film
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TOPANGA FILM FESTIVAL
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jury hawk koch Hawk comes to the Topanga Film Festival with over four decades of professional experience. Some of his producer credits include Losing Isaiah, The Pope of Greenwich Village, Gorky Park, Wayne’s World, Primal Fear and Heaven Can Wait, for which he won a Golden Globe for Best Picture. When he’s not producing or accepting awards he’s probably relaxing at his beautiful home in Topanga. Patricia cardoso Topangan Patricia Cardoso came to the US from Bogata, Columbia as a Fulbright Scholar. She has worked for the Sundance Institute and has developed features for Universal, Disney, Ciby 2000 and Open City Films. She directed the HBO feature Real Women Have Curves, which won the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival and debuted America Ferrera. Her award-winning films have shown at festivals all over the world. dennis hAysbert This honorary Topangan is never afraid to take on a challenge. He showed his stuff as President David Palmer on 24, which earned him a Golden Globe nomination, and as the star in the hit show The Unit, which prepared him perfectly for his role as a judge tonight. Most recently he has been seen on the big screen in Breach opposite Ryan Phillppe, and in the Sam Mendes film Jarhead. His many film credits include, Far From Heaven, Love and Basketball, Waiting to Exhale and Suture. brendan o’brien Brendan is a screenwriter and producer and most recently co-produced Judd Apatow’s Funny People, starring Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann and Jonah Hill. His film American Storage won him the 2007 Coveted Coyote Award along with Andrew Jay Cohen. Brendan only comes to Topanga every other year. To judge, and be judged. Ronnie Yeskel As a leading casting agent in Hollywood, some of her favorite projects have included Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, L.A. Law and Curb Your Enthusiasm. She is currently working on Zen Dog with director Gillian Armstrong and W.H. Macy. Ronnie is a Topanga resident for all of a week.
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Proud supporters of The Topanga Film Festival
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FESTIVAL STAFF Anastasja Fite, Programmer
Urs Baur, Director & Co-Founder
Arin Bowling, VIP Liaison
Sara Baur-Harding, Programming & Co-Founder
Kim Franz, Producer Brendan Flynn, Public Relations
Karen Linderman, Executive Producer & Marketing Director
Nira Lichten, Graphic Designer Deanne Oi, Graphic Designer
Jennifer Gilbert, Producer Carey Campbell, Producer
Nicole Einhorn, Enabler
Bill Glasser, Volunteer Coordinator
A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS, ESPECIALLY: Billy Portman
Glenn Red
Adam Silbar
Nikki Patterson
Susan Matus
Narayan Palavur
Zoe Hay
Neil Shaw
Jen Weinstein
Bill Bowling
Kim Fanz
Cynthia Scott
Emily Portman
Tanya & Craig Farkas
Shawna Callahan
And special thanks to Patricia & Tom Harding
D Miller
Poster and program cover art by Canyon Design
thankS and thanks for the generous support from our friends: topanga chaBmer of commerce american cinematographer froggy’s topanga fish market restaurant abuelita’s mexican restaurant the cheese store of beverly hills chryssa lightheart, realtor - ineverquit.com zev yaroslAvsky, los angeles county supervisor, third district indie 103.1.com ribbit tree and plant Oasis imports belvedere vodka
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PRouD sPonsoR oF The 5Th annual ToPanGa Film FesTival
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Venue Addresses Abuelita’s Mexican Restaurant 137 S. Topanga Canyon Blvd. Topanga, CA 90290
Trust Ranch 1291 Will Geer Rd. Topanga, CA 90290
Topanga Community House (Ball Field) 1440 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd. Topanga, CA 90290
Froggy’s Fish Market Restaurant 1105 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd. Topanga, CA 90290
Yoga Desa 120 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd. Pine Tree Circle Topanga, CA 90290
Topanga Film Festival HQ / baurhouse 120 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd. #215 Pine Tree Circle Topanga, CA 90290 ph. 310 455 4700 f. 310 455 4702 info@topangafilmfestival.com
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