We’re falling back and hurtling through the heart of the late fall, early winter darkness, which is prime time to head out and check out films around our region.
Here’s a look at just a few of the indie and festival cinematic offerings in the region.
Moonage Daydream and More in Charleston
The Floralee Hank Cohen Cinema in Charleston is screening highly anticipated indie films during November weekends. Moonage Daydream is a documentary from director Brett Morgen exploring David Bowie’s creative, spiritual and musical journey during his 54-year-long career. The film taps never-before-seen footage and performances and includes 40 exclusively remastered Bowie songs and is the first film ever sanctioned by the Bowie Estate, with local access to the artists’ archives.
And Best Director winner at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, South Korean director Park Chan-wook (Oldboy, The Handmaiden) returns with a seductive romantic thriller Decision to Leave that takes his renowned stylistic flair to dizzying new heights. With nods toward classic Hollywood and Hitchcok’s Vertigo, Decision to Leave is being called an essential masterwork from the legendary Park Chan-wook, infused with elegance, ingenuity and a knife-edge precision that truly cannot be matched.
Explore more at http://www.wviff.org/floraleeharkcohen/
The Trailer for Moonage Daydream
Return of the Mothman Screening In Huntington
Just before Halloween, there were a number of screenings around the Mountain State of the West Virginia based film studio Vandalia FilmWorx Foundation production of “Return of the Mothman”, a feature film adaptation of the novel of the same name, written by Michael Knost, a WV native Bram Stoker Award-winning writer.
Foundry Theatre (in the Jean Carlo Stephenson Auditorium above Huntington City Hall) will also be hosting a couple of screenings, Admission is $5 to watch the new film at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 18 and at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25.Go online at https://www.foundrytheater.org/
Screen Your Film On the Big Screen
The Foundry Theatre, (in the Jean Carlo Stephenson Auditorium above Huntington City Hall), is also hosting monthly Open Screens for regional filmmakers to show their work. The November Open screen is set for Thursday, Nov. 17. Open Screen Night features 90 minutes of local films with the opportunity to chat and receive feedback from your fellow filmmakers in the area. Submit a downloadable link for up to 10 minutes of your work (you can submit clips/trailers for longer films, no limit on the number of clips you’d like to submit), first come first serve.
Send your work to [email protected] by Tuesday, Nov. 15. The Open Screen Night is free to submit and free to attend. Concessions will be available. Go online at https://www.foundrytheater.org/ for more info
Screening of Documentary – “Vietnam: West Virginians Remember”
The Huntington Museum of Art, 2033 McCoy Road, Huntington is hosting a free screening of the award-winning documentary “Vietnam: West Virginians Remember” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 22. Admission is free to this 4th Tuesday Tour event. The documentary shown with permission of West Virginia Public Broadcasting. The WVPBS film features the experiences of 5 West Virginia combat soldiers. Per capita, West Virginians served the most and died the most in Vietnam. It lives on as America’s most controversial war – with questions unanswered, lessons not learned, and for veterans who survive, including thousands of West Virginians, haunting memories remain.
The screening is done in conjunction with the photography exhibit, “Vietnam: The Real War, Photographs from The Associated Press” which is up through Feb. 12, 2023. That exhibit is organized by the Huntsville Museum of Art, Huntsville, Alabama, and The Associated Press, New York, New York. Many photographs in this exhibition are graphic, and parental discretion is strongly recommended. Explore more at https://tv.wvpublic.org/vietnamwv/
Christmas at The Greenbrier
The Greenbrier rolled out the red carpet recently for a premiere of the film Christmas at the Greenbrier, a film shot at the Greenbrier County resort in July. The film stars two-time Emmy nominee Alicia Leigh Willis (CSI: Miami, General Hospital, and 7th Heaven) and Josh Murray, (Wish You Well and Killing Lincoln). They play former lovers (Abby and Ben) who haven’t seen each other for years but reunite after finding themselves at the resort during the Holidays.
Daily through Nov. 23, The Greenbrier is offering pre-release viewings of the film for those staying at America
Christmas at The Greenbrier (which also marks the feature film debut of Babydog) premieres on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 24 when it airs on FOX News Media’s streaming service.The film was shot on location at The Greenbrier and features a grand Christmas Eve scene in the Cameo Ballroom.
Explore more at https://www.greenbrier.com/Holidays-Events/Christmas-at-The-Greenbrier.aspx
Challenged Athletes of WV Film Screening
Share the stoke for the beginning of the 2022/23 winter season of snow sports and support Challenged Athletes of WV as they host Matchstick Production’s 2022 “Anywhere From Here” ski film up at Snowshoe Mountain.
The Corduroy Inn, -Lodge 4th floor 5811 Snowshoe Drive Snowshoe, WV 26209, will be hosting the event on Saturday, Nov. 26 (opening weekend). Doors open at 6 p.m. with the film at 7. There will also be snacks, cash bar, silent auction and music from Bicycle at 8:30 p.m. following the film. A Silent Auction ends at 9:30 p.m. Proceeds benefit Challenged Athletes of WV’s Adaptive Sports Program at Snowshoe Mountain.
“Anywhere From Here” (2022) from Matchstick Productions is a ski film that explores this world of opportunities through the eyes of a12 year-old freestyle phenomenon. Through his voice, the audience hears the skiing aspirations of such a 12 year-old, a kid who just wants to play and doesn’t have to ponder “real life” quite yet. The core of this film is packed with a star studded cast of skiers shredding across the globe.
Find out more about the CAWV at http://www.cawvsports.org/
Banff Mountain Film Festival
At 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, The Banff Mountain Film Festival tour stops in to downtown Huntington’s majestic Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center for a screening as part of the 86th season of the Marshall Artists Series.
For the fourth year, MAS is hosting this adrenaline-packed cinema road show screening of curated adventure films from Banff Mountain, the world’s most prestigious mountain festival returns.
Every fall right after the festival is held in Banff, Alberta, Canada, the Banff Mountain Film Festival takes off on a world tour traveling to more than 450 communities in 40 countries sharing inspiring, mind-blowing and jaw-dropping adventure films that showcase the very best films shining a light on the world’s best mountain sports from heli-skiing and mountain climbing to kayaking, as well as films showcasing mountain culture and environmental films. Experience the thrills and challenges that inspire us all with a curated night of mostly short and action-packed films inside the majestic Keith Albee Performing Arts Center in Huntington. Join us for a one-day festival of award-winning adrenaline-packed short films.
Explore more at http://www.marshall.edu/muartistseries/#/ and https://www.banffcentre.ca/banffmountainfestival/tour
