Olympia Film Festival: An Overview

filmfestNovember 3-13, 2016

The Olympia Film Festival is one of the longest-running film festivals in the nation and Olympia Film Society’s (OFS) biggest event of the year. This 10-day festival is packed with exciting movie premieres, celebrity guests, live music and educational workshops, hosted in the Capitol Theater in the heart of Olympia’s historic theater district.

OPENING-NIGHT GALA
The always-popular opening-night gala will feature a dazzling live stage show and the Northwest premiere of Contemporary Color. The evening kicks off with a collaboration between local choreographers and filmmakers, a synthesis of dance and film that will dazzle the senses. Then OFS will screen a new movie, Contemporary Color. Produced by David Byrne of The Talking Heads, Contemporary Color features stunning visuals and incredible music throughout. It’s touching, inspirational and highly entertaining, one of the best-reviewed movies coming out of this year’s film festivals. Join OFS as it celebrates the launch of its 33rd-annual Olympia Film Festival with art, cinema and music.

In Contemporary Color, 10 of the country’s elite color guard teams–the flag-flipping, sequin-studded crème de la crème of the “sport of the arts”—synchronize steps with musical luminaries for a bacchanalia of beats, sabre-spinning and glitter cannons. The film includes performances by David Byrne, Nelly Furtado, How to Dress Well, Devonté Hynes, Money Mark + Ad-Rock, Zola Jesus, Lucius, Nico Muhly + Ira Glass, St. Vincent and tUnE-yArDs.

BUILT TO SPILL
Legendary Northwest indie band Built to Spill will rock the Capitol Theater. This is Built to Spill’s first Oly show in six years. Presented by The Brotherhood Tavern, this event will sell out.

CASPAR BABYPANTS
This is a live music show aimed at kids but entertaining for all ages! Casper Babypants is the stage name of Chris Ballew of the legendary Seattle band The Presidents of the United States of America (“Lump,” “Peaches”). The Presidents’ debut album went triple-platinum.

BREAKIN’ with guest SHABBA DOO
In celebration of Hip-Hop History Month, OFF33 presents the classic 1984 film Breakin’ with the legendary Shabba Doo (“Ozone”) in attendance. The screening will be followed by a DJ dance party. This event is presented by Old School Pizzeria.

DAN SAVAGE’S HUMP! TOUR
HUMP! is a very popular annual event for the Olympia Film Festival. It’s amateur porn with a sex-positive, queer-friendly, artsy, humorous perspective. Be warned, however: This event is not family-friendly!

SUSPIRIA on 35mm
This classic 1977 horror film was directed by Dario Argento. Its influential score was composed by prog-rock legends Goblin. Known for its vivid, primary colors (especially red), Suspiria possesses a deliberately unrealistic, nightmarish quality. AllMovie called it “one of the most striking assaults on the senses ever to be committed to celluloid…This unrelenting tale of the supernatural was–and likely still is–the closest a filmmaker has come to capturing a nightmare on film.” OFS will be showing a rare, archival 35mm print in pristine condition. Despite its huge cult following, Suspiria isn’t shown in theaters very often. This is your chance to see it as it was meant to be seen.

SUPER DUPER VIDEO SHOW
Buddy & Friday Hangs host this psychedelic, one-of-a-kind, not-for-kids evening of all-out puppet mania. It features live performances mixed with a selection of rare puppet television shows, films and specials from around the world. As a bonus, there’ll be a Skyped question-and-answer period with the legendary Sid Krofft, co-creator of H. R. Pufnstuf, Land of the Lost and many other classic, puppet-centric shows. Brace yourself for an unforgettable evening of live puppetry, music, prizes and special guests.

KUNG-FU THEATER on 35mm
A kung-fu teacher sets out to prove he’s the greatest fighter by finding and defeating the 7
Grandmasters
(1978). One by one, he fights their wide variety of animal styles: leopard, mantis, monkey, tiger and so on. He puts a young student through elaborate training, and he’s trailed by a mysterious villain in a weird hat. Let’s be honest, though: How important is the plot when a jaw-dropping kung-fu fight breaks out every few minutes? This movie features multiple silver-haired villains with huge sideburns and maniacal laughter, plus the best monkey-style kung-fu fight ever captured on film! This is the only known 35mm print of one of the greatest kung-fu movies of all time.

WORLD’S GREATEST DAD with guest of honor BOBCAT GOLDTHWAIT
World’s Greatest Dad, directed by Robert “Bobcat” Goldthwait, features one of Robin Williams’ finest performances. This is a dark, twisted, smart comedy. Goldthwait will be on hand for a post-film question-and-answer session. OFS will also present him with an Outstanding Achievement in Directing Award. Expect the unexpected!

ALL FREAKIN’ NIGHT featuring HAXAN and live musical accompaniment
Eight straight hours of wall-to-wall horror–What’s not to love? All Freakin’ Night is a proud Olympia tradition and one of the most popular festival mainstays. This year is extra demented because it kicks off with the silent film Haxan, featuring live musical accompaniment by The Birch Graft Ensemble. Grave-robbing, torture, possessed nuns, and a satanic sabbath: Benjamin Christensen’s legendary film uses a series of dramatic vignettes to explore the scientific hypothesis that the witches of the Middle Ages suffered the same “hysteria” as turn-of-the-century psychiatric patients. The film itself, however, is far from serious. Rather, it’s a witches’ cauldron of the scary, gross, and darkly humorous. This event will be hosted by local filmmakers Ian and Tori Bracken.

CLOSING NIGHT STAND-UP COMEDY SHOW
After 10 hectic days, the Olympia Film Society likes to end its amazing festival with laughter. Celebrate the closing night of OFF33 with a concentrated dose of local stand-up comedy featuring Sam Miller, Emmett Montgomery and Morgan Picton. Montgomery is a local star on the rise, having been featured on Last Comic Standing and voted Seattle Weekly’s “Best Comic of 2015.” He’s performed at festivals across the country, including Bridgetown Comedy Festival and Sasquatch Music Festival, and worked with Maria Bamford and Dave Chappelle.

Lights…camera…action! Make plans now to attend Olympia Film Festival 33!


 

What: Olympia Film Festival

Where: Capitol Theater (map)

When: November 3-13, 2016

How much: $40-$100

Learn more: 360.754.6670 | Olympia Film Society

Get tickets here: Film Festival Passes

 

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