The second Festival of the Moving Image starts Sunday, showcasing local filmmakers, overlapping with the Bonk music festival.
By DENISE WATSON BATTS
Published March 12, 2004
Three years ago, David Audet received an assignment close to his artistic heart: create and organize an annual film event for Hillsborough Community College's Ybor campus where he worked as special projects manager.
To come up with ideas, Audet, a filmmaker and artist, visited festivals throughout the United States and Canada. He wanted to showcase Ybor City and local artists and their film work.
The inaugural Festival of the Moving Image opened last March. This year's kicks off Sunday and runs through March 21.
Audet, the festival's director, calls it cutting-edge art. Some filmmaking techniques will be unveiled for the first time.
"I'm an artist and it's part of your job description to take risk," he said. "I'm hoping this festival is a place for contemporary artists to display, try, risk."
This year's festival expanded from six days to eight and includes more than 60 documentaries, features, and experimental works at several venues, including the Tampa Theatre, Madstone Theaters and Centro Ybor.
Contemporary media artists and filmmakers from around the country will attend the festival to present their work and participate in workshops, lectures and group discussions. Audet invited about half of the participants, and the other half applied.
Local artists include Jeff Whipple and his comedy about obsession titled Chicken Feet, and Stewart Lippe, director of Intimacies and The Chatterbox Club.
The festival will feature the Tampa premiere of Ferdie Pacheco: The World of the Fight Doctor at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Tampa Theatre. Tampa's poet laureate James E. Tokley Sr. will begin the evening with a reading. Pacheco and the film's director, Daphne Wynn Boyd, will lead a question and answer session after the documentary.
Proceeds from the opening night will benefit the Police Athletic League and Hillsborough Community College scholarships.
Other features include Cremaster Cycle, a five-part movie project, in its entirety at 2 p.m. Sunday at Madstone Theaters in Old Hyde Park Village.
Another is the A-Roar-Yborealis: A Night of Stars on Mars, a theatrical performance with projections, dance and music at the Centro Ybor Plaza at 7 p.m. Thursday. Performance artist Pat Oleszko is creating the show with 40 other visiting filmmakers, HCC students and area performers. Oleszko is known for performances using inflatable costumes and props and films.
About 3,000 people attended last year's festival, and Audet is expecting 8,000 to 10,000 this year.
Also included will be an event from the 13th annual Bonk Festival of New Music. The computer-generated music and dance presentation will start at 9 p.m. Wednesday at HCC's Performing Arts Building.
The Bonk festival runs Sunday through March 20 and offers a variety of musical styles and performance types, including soloists, large and small ensembles, acoustic and electronic music, dance and video.
Bonk isn't an acronym. It refers to the "physical aspect of the music," said Bonk president Rob Constable. "Music that will bonk you over the head."
In addition to the HCC performance, the Bonk festival will have shows at Friday Morning Musicale, the University of South Florida and the Salvador Dali Museum. Tickets cost $10 or $8 for students and seniors. The Arts Council of Hillsborough County is among the sponsors.
The second annual Hillsborough County College Ybor Festival of the Moving Image will be Sunday through March 21 at venues in Ybor City, downtown and South Tampa. Some events are free. Others range from $5 to $100 for a festival pass. For a schedule and other information, call 253-7674 or visit www.yborfilmfestival.com The 13th annual Bonk Festival of New Music will be Sunday through March 20. Call 225-2594 or visit www.bonkmusicfest.com
