November 15, 2013 PRESS RELEASE:
Astoria International Film Festival 2013: IT'S A WRAP!
Record Attendance at AIFF 2013!
AIFF 2013 Awards Announced
Save the Date
8th annual 2014 AIFF -- October 17, 18 and 19, 2014
The 7th annual Astoria International Film Festival screened a very popular "marquee” of international and USA documentary, dramatic and short films, complemented by a refined offering of intellectual and social amenities, from workshops to cocktail receptions, making it the most attended AIFF ever.
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We are pleased to report that the 2013 AIFF was extremely well received by Festival goers and filmmakers; all the more rewarding given the late autumn weekend's unseasonably summerlike conditions (good for walks by the Columbia River not so good for movie attendance). We reached a record number of Festival attendees. Media coverage was statewide and very positive. Most importantly, audience and filmmaker feedback was encouragingly enthusiastic, both regarding the venue and the films.
We love that the dream of staging a world-class film festival in Astoria, drawing upon the outstanding talents of the northwest and the world, is further evolving and coming into its own. The Astoria International Film Festival, wrapping up its seventh year, is a tribute to Executive Director Ron Craig's belief, hard work and perseverance: "If you dream it, you can do it.” A great venue, great audiences, and great films, who could ask for anything more! Thank you!
Astoria International Film Festival's main venue, the 1925 vaudeville-style restored Liberty Theater in historic downtown Astoria, continues to dazzle audiences. Liberty Theater was recently named Best Historic Venue in Oregon by Northwest Meetings + Events. We are honored to have the Liberty Theater as our main venue. Thank you Liberty Theater and thank you Astoria.
"A VERY CLASSY FILM FESTIVAL." WE LIKE THAT!
Award-winning Portland filmmaker Dustin Morrow, whose film, Everything Went Down, screened at this year's Festival, called AIFF a "very classy film festival." We like that. We may not be nor ever will be the biggest film festival on the continent. We rather like the idea of being a classy film festival, a thoughtfully curated collection of films complemented by a refined offering of intellectual and social amenities. We like the idea of staying true to our mission and honoring the Smithsonian Magazine's "arts and smarts" moniker for Astoria, Oregon.
Craig is proud of what he has created and cherishes the idea that the Festival, an amazing venue for showcasing independent film from around the world, is also emerging, in collaboration with our sponsors, as an example of how the arts can boost tourism and support local businesses, as well as provide a cultural experience for residents.
Beyond the attendance numbers, touching people through the art of cinematic storytelling, and sharing stories that we perceive need to be told, will always be close to Craig's heart and mission for the Astoria International Film Festival. "That's why we're here," Craig said. "When somebody walks up to you after a film and shares how a specific film moved them or made them think differently, that's a real pleasure to me."
2013 AIFF FILM SCHEDULE RECAP
This year's film schedule of 11 films and the winners of 2 shorts competitions, included Oregon Filmmakers, Recent World Premieres, USA & International Film Festival Audience Award Winners, and Academy Award Winners.
It is also noteworthy that this year's Festival included two acknowledged huge coups, and with all due respect, we do mean huge, for a film festival of our intimate size.
Redwood Highway, 2013, a dramatic by Oregon filmmaker Gary Lundgren. Prior to our screening, this film had only been screened at a handful of film festivals and is not scheduled for theatrical release until Spring 2014.
The Moo Man, 2013, UK, World Documentary by Andy Heathcote and Heike Bachelier. Prior to our screening, this film has only been screened to date at the Sundance Film Festival (Park City, Utah), select U.S. film festivals, and has not yet been scheduled for U.S. cinemas.
2013 Astoria International Film Festival AWARD WINNERS
| Best Documentary |
The Moo Man |
| Best Dramatic |
Everything Went Down |
| Best Short |
Dawn of the Rainbow |
| Audience Award Dramatic |
Redwood Highway |
| Audience Award Documentary |
Searching for Sugar Man |
THE CHANCE TO INTERACT WITH THE FILMMAKERS
& Fellow Film-lovers Was Well Received
In keeping with it's mission, the Astoria International Film Festival, again this year provided unique opportunities to interact with the directors of select films, and to converse and socialize with other festival attendees; all in the beautiful setting of Astoria. "We do things that most film festivals don't do or perhaps can't do because of their larger size," said Craig.
This year's intellectual and social amenities included:
A "Meet & Greet" reception for Festival attendees and filmmakers at the Baked Alaska Restaurant, including an unannounced soft screening of Jiro Dreams of Sushi and complementary sushi.
The Romance of Film Editing, a free workshop by Oregon filmmaker Dustin Morrow at the Cannery Pier Hotel.
A limited seating screening of an Oregon filmmaker's film at our second venue, the Lightbox Photographic Gallery.
After-theater cocktails and jazz nightly at the Bridgewater Bistro.
Complimentary pre-theater croissants and coffee on Sunday morning from Blue Scorcher Bakery & Café and Columbia River Coffee Roaster.
We were honored that three Portland filmmakers, whose films were screened, were able to join us this year: Brian Lindstrom the director of Alien Boy: The Life and Death of James Chasse; Steven Doughton, the director of Buoy; and Dustin Morrow, the director of Everything Went Down.
THANKS TO ALL OF OUR SPONSORS
A sincere and heartfelt thank you to all of our sponsors. We are extremely grateful for your support, and look forward to working with you again next year.
If your business or organization is interested in becoming an Astoria International Film Festival sponsor, we would be honored to discuss. Please contact Executive Director Ron Craig @ ron.craig@gmail.com.
It is our aim to constantly improve the Festival and to keep ticket prices reasonable. We wish to be inclusive while keeping standards high. Our sponsors make this possible and allow us to bring the finest films and filmmakers to Astoria.
Astoria International Film Festival is a non-profit organization.
SAVE THE DATES
2014 AIFF Winter Festival -- January 5, 2014, and February 2, 2014
In what has become an annual winter tradition, we will be screening two classic films at the Liberty Theater, each on a Sunday afternoon.
Alfred Hitchcock's Notorious on January 5, 2014
1946 American spy thriller film directed and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman and Claude Rains as three people whose lives become intimately entangled during an espionage operation.
Ted Tetzlaff's inventive cinematography deserves star billing alongside Grant and Bergman.
To Kill a Mockingbird on February 2, 2014
1962 American drama adaptation of Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, directed by Robert Mulligan. It stars Mary Badham in the role of Scout and Gregory Peck in the role of Atticus Finch.
The film, widely considered to be one of the greatest ever made, earned an overwhelmingly positive response from critics, and was a box office success as well. In 1995, the film was listed in the National Film Registry. It also ranks twenty-fifth on the American Film Institute's 10th anniversary list of the greatest American movies of all time. In 2003, AFI named Atticus Finch the greatest movie hero of the 20th century.
2014 Astoria International Film Festival -- October 17, 18 and 19, 2014
The 8th annual Astoria International Film Festival will take place October 17, 18 and 19, 2014.
Explore the Astoria International Film Festival's website for complete details.
MEDIA CONTACT:
For additional information please contact:
Diane M. Naseth
dnaseth@comast.net
503.975.1253
October 23, 2013 Oregonian article: Bendfilm and the Astoria International Film Festival bring movies to the people (and vice versa)
October 15, 2013 Press Release: Farmer Hook's Story Traveled over 4,928 miles to Astoria to be at the Astoria International Film Festival
October 10, 2013 Press Release: Astoria International Film Festival "LIKES" Redwood Highway
October 4, 2013 Press Release: Astoria International Film Festival Announces Free Filmmaking Workshop
September 23, 2013 Press Release: Astoria International Film Festival Announces Film Schedule
August 26, 2013 Press Release: Oregon Filmmaker Brian Lindstrom's Film Alien Boy in Dispute
July 15, 2013 Press Release: Astoria International Film Festival, October 18-20
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