Blog entries

Movie Mash-ups contest!

Steve — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 07:29:42 +0100

Here's how it works: on August 8th, you draw two famous movie titles from a hat, and then, over the course of two weeks, shoot a five minute (or fewer) short that combines them. You could mix lines, characters, plot points, props -- anything. Entries will be screened at a public wrap event on August 26th at the Akron Art Museum. The winnRead More...

July equipment rental orientation

Steve — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 08:20:18 +0100

Don't forget, we offer low cost equipment rental! The July orientation is coming up this Sunday the 11th at 1pm at the Akron Art Museum. It's free, and even if you don't plan on renting, you can learn a bit about cameras and sound. It takes about an hour. Registration IS required this time, but it's as simple as emailing info@akronfilm.com with your name and number.

Film Club: like a book club but faster

Steve — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 22:16:12 +0100

Tomorrow, Thursday the 10th, at 7pm, we hope to see you at the Akron Art Museum for the next edition of Film Club.

Unless you hear differently we're watching and discussing Eric Rohmer's short film "The Bakery Girl of Monceau." It's the first of his classic series Six Moral Tales. It's free thanks to the museum. Meta-discussion afterward at the Lockview.

How this works is:
1. We watch it straight through once. (It's 23 minutes.)
2. We watch it again with the Read More...

Get your film in now!

Steve — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 03:49:56 +0100

The early submission deadline for our September festival is coming up at the end of June and the late deadline is at the end of July. Submit your film on Withoutabox now, or go to our submission page if you want to know why you should send the Akron Film Festival your work.

The Heart of the World

Steve — Mon, 17 May 2010 03:48:34 +0100

Remember when we watched La Jetée and discussed it over a second viewing? This time we're watching Guy Maddin's short film The Heart of the World, made in 2000. It's a blistering six minutes. We'll also watch Georges Méliès' eleven minute early silent film A Trip to the Moon, to see some of the influence Maddin draws upon. It's happening on Thursday, May 20th at 7pm at the Akron Art Museum, and it's free to the public.

After the films, join us, or listen in, Read More...

Discussion with Marc Smolowitz

Steve — Mon, 10 May 2010 07:56:32 +0100

Earlier on the day of the presentation for The Power of Two (Saturday, May 15th), Akron Film will host a roundtable disucussion with Academy Award nominated producer Marc Smolowitz at the Akron Art Museum. He'll take your questions and tell you what you want to know about the art of documentary making. It's at 1 PM and it's free, bRead More...

The Power of Two

Steve — Mon, 10 May 2010 06:13:57 +0100

This Saturday, May 15th at 7 PM at Uncorked Wine Bar (22 N. High Street), there will be a presentation and fundraiser for the film The Power of Two, which is currently in production. Let me quote the Facebook event page at length:

Join Academy Award-nominated producer Marc Smolowitz ("TheRead More...

KSU Creative Arts Show

Steve — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 09:46:50 +0100

KSU's Creative Arts Show is including film for the first time this year, and Akron Film was invited to be the group bringing it.

This art and music event welcomes a variety of media so in that spirit we have a group of shorts that are not made like other shorts or each other. The trailer will give you an idea.Read More...

Get checked out

Steve — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 04:18:39 +0100

The Akron-Summit County Public Library is interested in purchasing at least one copy of all films and music created by local artists. It's for their Special Collections Division on the third floor of Main Library. Help them complete the archive! Email speccollections@akronlibrary.org if you have anythiRead More...

CIFF companion guide

Steve — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 07:39:12 +0100

Our friend Kim Ann Pfau, organizer of numerous film programs around Canton, compiles a companion guide (PDF) for CIFF each year. It's vital. What are you going to see? Don't forget the code AIFF for $2 off tickets.

CIFF starts Thursday

Steve — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:25:18 +0100

I heard it's good. Use code AIFF to get $2 off tickets by web, phone, or in person at Tower City. www.clevelandfilm.org

CIFF Akron Preview Party

Steve — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 09:58:18 +0100

This Thursday at 5:30 we'll be at the Akron Civic Theatre for the free preview party for the Cleveland International Film Festival. Come say hi and find out what CIFF has in store for March 18-28.

You'll probably want to be buying CIFF tickets now if you're a member with them, or on March 5th if you're not. And since you're reading this Read More...

Film Fest 2380 + Myra premiere

Steve — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 11:52:17 +0100

This weekend is FilmFest 2380, the festival organized by the University of Akron student filmmaking group the 2380 Project. Their goal is to make a feature every year. This year's project, Myra, directed by Mike Campanizzi, opens the fest on Friday night. It's a hot ticket, so alternately consider the encore Sunday at 7:15pm. It's all happening at thRead More...

The CIFF schedule is here!

Steve — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 08:22:14 +0100

No time to chat -- the schedule is online here.

Camille Utterback

Steve — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:21:11 +0100

The Myers School of Art's Collider 2 is here, and this time it's an exhibit of the work of interactive video artist Camille Utterback, who just received a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship (the "genius grant"). She's giving a free public lecture THIS evening, Tuesday, 1/26, at 6:30pm at UA's Folk Hall. I literally cleared Read More...

Spark Cameraless Filmmaking

Steve — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 11:26:41 +0100

On January 3rd, over sixty kids and parents drew and painted on strips of blank 16mm film as part of Kendra's cameraless filmmaking activitiy at the Akron Art Museum. She edited them all together, Joseph Minadeo provided sound and music, and we showed the results at Spark: Family Film Fest on January 16th. Now you can see them right here:

Spark Cameraless Filmmaking from Akron Film on Vimeo.

Reelate celebration + premiere

Steve — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 11:51:13 +0100

**Update: This event is now Friday, February 5th from 6-9 at the Cormony Development Space in Canton. The short films will be repeating throughout the evening. You'll probably want to check out these directions.**

Kim Ann Pfau made a short documentary about Cleveland Cinematheque director John Ewing as part of the previously written about Reelate program. It premieres soon! I'll let her give the details:

I can not believe my film has come to fruitioRead More...

Spark!

Steve — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 16:16:53 +0100

If you drop into Kendra's free cameraless filmmaking activity between 12 and 3 today (Sunday, January 3rd) at the Akron Art Museum, the film you draw on will be included in a collaborative piece to be screened as part of the upcoming Spark: Family Film Fest on Saturday, January 16th. Spark is a co-production of Akron Film and the Akron Art Museum, andRead More...

Still Bill screening

Steve — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:45:24 +0100

This Thursday, December 17th, at the Akron Main Library, check out the documentary Still Bill, "about the life and music of soul legend Bill Withers. writer of such songs as 'Lean On Me,' 'Just The Two Of Us,' 'Use Me,' and 'Ain't No Sunshine.'" It's being put on by Sixty Seconds of Heaven; go to the site for a trailer and ticket info. TiRead More...

NEW History winner

Steve — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:05:38 +0100

Congratulations to Todd V, Blue Green, Chris Miller, and the others who worked on Blimp: Our Blemished Past for winning both the audience choice and jury prizes tonight. The jurors were David Giffels (author of the book "All the Way Home"), Josh Gippin (director of the documentary "God as We Understand Him"), Vivian Goodman (WKRead More...