As TIFF is underway in Toronto starting yesterday, I’ve been anticipating our own Twin Cities Film Fest (TCFF) that’ll be starting in two weeks starting Tuesday, Sept. 20. A couple of days ago the full lineup is finally announced, yippeee!! I am truly excited for this, I think the organizers did a great job getting a great mix of studio features, documentaries, independent movies, and locally-produced films.
|
Download the full lineup list (PDF) |
I’ve previously reported the films that will open and close the event, which are The Bully Project & Like Crazy, scheduled for Tuesday and Saturday, respectively. Now below is a list of other lineup highlights with info about which filmmakers/actors will be attending:
Wednesday 9/21
Summit Entertainment will present 50/50, a film formerly called I’m With Cancer that’s been catching a lot of buzz around film festivals. Inspired by personal experiences, it’s an original story about friendship, love, survival and finding humor in unlikely places. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen star as best friends whose lives are changed by a cancer diagnosis in this new comedy directed by Jonathan Levine from a script by Will Reiser. Star Anna Kendrick will be conducting a Q&A following the film.
Looks like I’ll be packing lots of tissues to see this one. Even from the trailer, it looks like it’ll be an emotional and heart-wrenching movie about how a 27-year-old man deals with his diagnosis. Levitt consistently turns in a good performance but looks like he ups the ante in this one. Check out the trailer below:
…
Thursday 9/22
White Knight is also another unlikely comedy that deals with a hot-button subject matter. It tells the story of the Leroy Lowe, a Grand dragon of the Texas Ku Klux Klan who confronts everything he’s been taught to hate when a Hispanic field worker becomes his cellmate. There’s also has an unconventional love story between Leroy and Madalena, a beautiful Mexican maid hired to clean the warden’s office.
The main cast from the film, Tom Sizemore, Hector Jimenez, and Olga Segura will also host a Q&A after the film.
…
Friday 9/23
Wahooooooo!!! [doing a little dance with both hands in the air]… ok, now that I’ve got that out of the way…
Y’all already knows how much I’ve been anticipating this, so imagine my delight when I heard Machine Gun Preacher is going to be shown at TCFF!! It’s scheduled for limited release on Sept. 23 but it might be another couple of months before it arrives in Minnesota.
In case this is the first time you heard it, this film by Relativity is based on a true story staring Gerard Butler as Sam Childers, a former drug dealing biker who found God and becomes a crusader for hundreds of Sudanese children who have been forced to become soldiers.
I’ve posted the trailer, poster and one of the clipsfrom the movie, but in the last couple of days, I found more stills and clips.
Vodpod videos no longer available.
Build It Again, posted with vodpod
…
Vodpod videos no longer available.
…
Sunday, 9/25
Now this is a must-see for any comic fans or anyone who enjoys watching any Marvel superhero movies. With Great Power: The Stan Lee Story is a feature length documentary on the life and creations of Stan Lee.
Here’s the full description from TCFF official site:
With Great Power: The Stan Lee Story explores the vivid life and imagination of Stan Lee from the early days of his Great Depression era upbringing through the Marvel age of comics and beyond. The film uncovers original transcripts, illustrations, photographs and stories of Lee’s fascinating journey from his early years at Timely Comics.
Told through the words of Stan himself, as well as numerous interviews with comic book creators, actors, film producers, family and friends, “With Great Power” paints a portrait of a man whose creativity knows no bounds and whose characters have grown from humble beginnings in the pages of Marvel Comics in the early 1960’s to power house properties in all media – including film, television, video games, toys, merchandising, and beyond.
I definitely will be seeing this one. Stan Lee is such a hugely charismatic guy and his legacy is nothing short of amazing!
–––
Other studio films include the horror comedy Tucker and Dale vs. Evil, Undefeated, which chronicles the Manassas Tigers’ 2009 football season, and Thunder Soul, a story of extraordinary alumni from Houston’s storied Kashmere High School Stage Band, who return home after 35 years to play a tribute concert for the 92-year-old “Prof.”
In addition, Twin Cities Film Fest is excited about the other programming and events for 2011, which will again feature Minnesota films, including different Minnesota Shorts Series, some Women in Film programming, India Independent programming, panels, and a special screening of Fargo.
…
| Tickets will be available Friday, September 9th on fandango.com. Please visit www.twincitiesfilmfest.org or www.showplaceicon.com for more information. |
…
Minnesota film fans, I hope you can set aside some time to support this wonderful event! As for the rest of you, are you interested in any of these fims?
FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG 
I want to see all the movies you posted here.
JEALOUS!!!!!!
I really, really, really, really wanna see 50/50 and MACHINE GUN PREACHER. Didn’t know about this STAN LEE documentary, but now I am highly intrigued.
So flippin’ cool. Yippie, Minnesota rocks! Have fun, lady dude!
Hey Andy, can’t you make a trek up to Mpls for that weekend? Mankato isn’t that far away, I’d love to see you here. Yeah those two are the movies I’m looking forward to the most, and also Like Crazy on Saturday, did you see the trailer for that yet?
I am SO looking forward to TCFF this year, mainly for MGP. We are so fortunate to be able to see it long before many of the rest of the country, wahooo! See you at the volunteer meeting on Sunday, Flixy!
Yeah, I’m so stoked when I heard from Ted MGP is gonna be playing at TCFF, glad it’s for real! Otherwise we’d have to wait like 3 months for it, boo!
That’s a nice list of films. I’m starting to come around on 50/50, and the Stan Lee doc looks fun. I’m having a hard time getting over the Gerard Butler part of Machine Gun Preacher, but it looks interesting.
I can’t wait for the St. Louis Film Fest in November. It can’t get here soon enough.
Yeah initially I wasn’t into 50/50 because I just don’t think cancer is funny y’know, but after reading more about it I’m a bit more intrigued.
What’s to get over about Butler playing MGP?? I think it’s tailor made for him as he can handle both the action stuff as well as the emotional part.
Hey, are you gonna be bloggin’ about the St Louis Film Fest? Would love to hear about it.
That’s the plan. I’m hoping it will inspire me to see more films, as in past years I’ve meant to see a lot and don’t always make it to many. We do have a two-year-old at home, so I’ll probably be hitting a lot of the 9:00 and later screenings. it’s usually nearly two weeks, so I’m hoping to cover as many as I can.
Yeah I know what you mean Dan, life often gets in the way of watching movies, ahah. Wow, you have a baby at home, so you’ve got an excuse 😀 Well I’ll be sure to check out your coverage, man. We gotta support local events like this.
Pretty solid lineup. I just shot them an email to see if there is some kind of press accreditation process.
Hope to see you around TCFF, Castor!
I’m still waiting for someone to do a dramatic movie about Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and the early days of Marvel – though given Stan’s hyperbolic writing style, maybe it could be a comedy? I’m sure this new doc will be fine, but it just seems like one more way for Stan to promote Stan.
I think it’d work well as a comedy. Ha..ha.. Stan does like to promote himself, doesn’t he? But it doesn’t turn me off for some reason due to his congenial demeanor.
Machine Gun Preacher ought to be an interesting screening. I look forward to your take on it.
I’ll give it my honest review, Fitz 😀
Most excited to see your thoughts on 50/50, MGP, and Like Crazy! I hope you get to see them all!
The Stan Lee doc seems pretty cool too! It’d be cool if he was there!
Super-stoked for you! I’ll be glued to your page!
I think I should be able to see at least one film a day so yeah I plan on seeing all of those you mention. I’ve been curious about the Stan Lee doc, unfortunately Stan the Man won’t be there though.
Pretty much sounds like they set the programme out just for you Ruth!!
LOL
I know you will have a great time and I can’t wait to find out what you think of MGP!!
Have a great weekend
Ahah, if it were, GB himself would’ve been scheduled to have a Q&A after the movie 😀
I am thrilled for this, matey, looks like with the London BFI event, lots of us will be bloggin’ about our own film fest. It’s definitely a good time for movie lovers. Enjoy your weekend!
Those movies sounds really really interesting especially 50/50!
and With Great Power: The Stan Lee Story absolutely a must-see for any Marvel comic fans.
Hi Jaccstev, yeah I’m so glad TCFF gets that Stan Lee doc, should be an interesting and fun one.
Hi, Ruth and company:
Looks like you have a full play bill!
Big fan of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, so I’m anxious to read your thoughts on ’50/50′. Also have my fingers crossed that ‘Machine Gun Preacher’ will be every bit as good as it looks in its trailers.
Stan Lee is this generation’s Bob Kane (Batman) and has been around longer than the first Marvel Comics in the mid 1960s. Would have loved to seen the same treatment given to Jack Kirby (Fantastic 4, Thor, Sgt. Fury, Captain America, etc) or DC Comics’ Joe Kubert (Sgt. Rock and East Company).
I’ll try to get at least a mini review of the movies I see, Jack. I think MGP will deliver, I just have strong vibe about it 😀
What a great list of films…I have been waiting for 50/50 and Machine Gun Preacher for a while. Hadn’t heard about the Stan Lee doc, but I’m crazy excited for it as well. Wish I were around to catch the films!
Hey Sammy, how’re you? I haven’t seen you on Twitter in a while, hope all is well. Are you in MN too? Glad to hear you’re anticipating MGP too, can’t wait to see that in a week’s time. Thanks for your comment.