Silver Screen Film Festival
“To Kill A Mockingbird” child actress
Mary Badham, will be special guest
at inaugural Silver Screen Festival
A small group of silver screen enthusiasts, from left, Sophia Brenden, George Brock, John Foote, Pam Hollett and Val Van Camp (absent) have set the wheels in motion to launch the first ever “Port Perry Silver Screen Film Festival.” A series of movies over three days will be shown at Town Hall 1873. The group is excited about bringing this new cultural event to Scugog.
An off-handed comment, “Let’s put on a film festival in Port Perry,” earlier this year has morphed into the first ever Port Perry Silver Screen Film Festival.
The idea was born through the imagination of Georgia Brock and Valerie Van Camp, but it didn’t take long for them to realize they would need help, so Sophia Brenden and friend Pam Hollett came on board. Then, to round out the small enthusiastic group, they coaxed local film critic John Foote to join them as the artistic director.
Since their first meeting in August a lot has been accomplished and it now appears Hollywood will come to Port Perry next spring in the form of some of the greatest films ever made.
John explains that the Port Perry festival is not about premiering new films, but about celebrating films that theatre goers have come to cherish over many years.
The group feels they are about to embark on one of the most exciting cultural events to come to Port Perry in some time. The films being screened are aimed at both young and old film lovers – from silent classics to a film based on a local artist – they feel the movies chosen for their first film festival will reflect the personalities of most people in the community.
The organizers are extremely excited that they will have special guests attending some of the presentations.
Local artist and entrepreneur William (Bill) Lishman will be on hand for the screening of “Fly Away Home” (1996), which is based on his exploits and experiments in flying with migratory geese. Bill be answering questions following the film.
Special guest for this inaugural festival will be Academy Award nominee Mary Badham, who as a child made history with her portrayal of “Scout” the child through whose eyes the story “To Kill A Mockingbird” was seen. One of the most powerful films made in the 1960s, it is now a much loved classic.
Miss Badham, now 57 years old, speaks and gives lectures on her experiences making the film, and her long friendship with Gregory Peck, who won an Oscar for his performance as Atticus Finch.
The Silver Screen Festival will take place May 26-29, 2011. All films will be shown at Town Hall 1873 on a large cinema style screen. A gala opening will take place on Thursday, May 26.
Films slated for the three day festival include - The General (1927), Fly Away Home (1996), The Outsiders (1983), The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1987), Little Shop of Horrors (1986), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), Goin’ Down The Road (1970), The Godfather Part II (1974), The Searchers (1956) and Top Hat (1935).
Each of the films will be introduced by John H. Foote and following the screening, patrons will have an opportunity to present questions.
And so a dream, laughingly spawned in the minds of Georgia and Val one day last summer has come full circle. We are sure they’ll be found sitting in the front row opening night - of course without the popcorn.
By J. Peter Hvidsten
Focus on Scugog
