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 winner will get $250, plus other prizes, and another screening as part of the 2010 Akron Film Festival in September.

Get the details on the registration form, and get ready to join us at the kickoff on August 8th at 1pm at the Akron Art Museum.

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.

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 volume low so everyone in attendance can discuss it and stop it at points of interest.
3. Insight is shared and built upon!

Criterion's description of the film:
"Simple, delicate, and jazzy, the first of the “Moral Tales” shows the stirrings of what would become the Eric Rohmer style: unfussy naturalistic shooting, ironic first-person voice-over, and the image of the “unknowable” woman. A law student (played by producer and future director Barbet Schroeder) with a roving eye and a large appetite stuffs himself full of sugar cookies and pastries daily in order to garner the attentions of the pretty brunette who works in a quaint Paris bakery. But is he truly interested, or is she just a sweet diversion?"

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.

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, as we explore The Heart of the World using the "shot at a time" method of group film analysis advocated by Roger Ebert.

If you've seen The Heart of the World, you know it moves too fast for us to be able to freeze it on any given frame, but we'll try anyway, or just let it run through a few times while we discuss it together. There's plenty to talk about.

Recommended for adults.

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, but please let us know you're coming by sending us an email with your name and phone number.

Thanks to Dan Roth and Josh Gippin for facilitating this opportunity!

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 ("The Weather Underground," "Trembling Before G-d") and San Francisco-based Akronite Dan Roth for an inside look into the ongoing production of the feature-length documentary, "The Power Of Two," the amazing story of identical twin sisters Anabel Stenzel & Isabel Stenzel Byrnes. Diagnosed in their infancy with the fatal genetic disease Cystic Fibrosis (CF), Ana & Isa have persevered through lifelong medical treatments including miraculous double lung transplants, defying the odds to become international advocates for organ donation, CF awareness, and related health causes.

Marc & Dan will share their experiences working on "The Power Of Two" and screen the latest portions of the film, which is slated to be completed later this year in anticipation of an early-2011 release.

Admissions/tax-deductable donations of $15, $50, or $100 will be accepted by cash or check. See you there?

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.

It's free and happening this Saturday, April 24th from 12-3pm at the KSU Museum at the corner of Lincoln and State Route 59 in Kent. The films start at 1pm.

You'll also get live music by Randy Horvath and Abby Kondas! All in one afternoon?!

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.