Rockport Film Festival 2008

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Featured Films
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Documentary Feature
Mainstream America might regard the family group of buskers who called themselves 'The Flying Neutrinos' as homeless. But they thought of themselves as sans domicile fixe - homeless by CHOICE. For them, the term 'homelessness' means missing something. Anything but. Poppa Neutrino, the family patriarch, believes that 'rent is the thing that beats us.' His quest was about pure freedom for himself, wife Betsy, and the five children they raised on the road. His philosophy is based on the notion of nurturing a triad of heart's desires; if you dream them, you can have them. The family taught themselves how to play Dixieland jazz, and managed to eke out a living playing on the streets as they roamed the world from Mexico to Moscow. They slept in cars, old trucks, on empty beaches. Adventures included a stint with a Mexican circus, and with an ingenuity bordering on genius, building rafts from scraps of junk that they then would live aboard. At times, living conditions felt like boot camp for the children. Safety was always an issue. The basics of survival informed their everyday life, and the lessons were extreme. But as a result, the kids developed extraordinary self reliance. Poppa and Betsy's nomadic adventures included taking on the North Atlantic aboard one of their homemade vessels. Poppa continues to film his travels with a video camera, as he's done for a period of over twenty years.
Documentary Feature
When the towns of Worthington, Minnesota and Cuero, Texas meet each year for the Great Gobbler Gallop, bragging rights to be called 'Turkey Capital of the World' are on the line. The annual race rests the pride of both cities on the feathered wings of its competitors: Paycheck and Ruby Begonia.A history rooted in turkey farming for both towns have led the communities to find a natural bond over the some 1100 miles that separate them. But in Cuero, turkey production may not rule the roost anymore in this South-Central Texas town, but its lore and legend has incorporated itself into everything from the annual festival called Turkeyfest to its championship high school football team known as the Gobblers.'Ruby's Town' explores the current state of turkey affairs with the Race and goes back to the origins of it all with an event called the Turkey Trot where thousands of the Thanksgiving birds were herded to town every Fall for their travel all across America to the dinner tables of families everywhere.But it hasn't always been about racing turkeys. From hitchhiking to hunting, football playing to herding, turkeys have always played a part in the makeup of Cuero. And the noble bird is what gives the town its character today. Why should turkeys only be known for a holiday feast and a stiff drink?
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Best Documentary Feature:
CRAWFORD, Director David Modigliani

Best Documentary Short:
NAMING PLUTO, Director Ginita Jimenez

Best Fiction Short:
TRUE BEAUTY THIS NIGHT, Director Peter Besson

Best Animated Short:
SKYLIGHT, Director David Bass

Best Student Film:
THE BOOBY TRAP, Director Simon Pennekamp

People's Choice Award:
SLICE OF PIE, Tim Reischauer

Rotary International Humanitarian Award:
RIDE AROUND THE WORLD, Producer Brady Dial, Director Harry Lynch

Rockport Center for the Arts' Award:
YEARS IN THE MAKING, Director Martin West



The third annual Rockport Film Festival got off to a great start this year with a Red Carpet Reception and outdoor screening of CHOPS in Rockport Center for the Arts' Sculpture Garden on Thursday, November 5. Over 100 people enjoyed a high-tech silent auction, Shiner Beer (donated by Shiner and Andrews Distributing), live music by Jimmy Buck, free popcorn and perfect weather for an outdoor film.

On Friday, Texas Film Commission Director Bob Hudgins and Brady Dial, Producer of Friday evening's featured film RIDE AROUND THE WORLD, spoke about the film industry, Rockport's becoming a "film friendly" community, and the importance of small film festivals all over the state. 168 people showed up for the Friday evening screening, breaking an attendance record! Thanks to Artfluential gallery for throwing a nice party on Friday evening.






Directors Brad Kammlah (Purge) and Austin Wilkins (The Dream) were in attendance during Friday Late Night Shorts.

On Saturday, CRAWFORD was featured at the matinee, along with a great selection of short films, and Saturday evening rounded out another great festival year. Chad Matthews, director of CLONES GONE WILD, could not be here, but his parents happen to live in Victoria and drove down for the screening. A wrap party (once again with Shiner Beer) blended right in to the late night shorts... where Stephen Huff and supporting crew were in attendance for his short, LAMBS.



Sunday's Free Matinee at Rockport Center for the Arts had its biggest crowd to date, and YEARS IN THE MAKING received warm responses from all who attended.

Every year gets better, we learn something new, and wear ourselves out. Thanks to all the Rotary Volunteers (led by J.D. Debler) and Art Center Staff.. as well as our PR and Advertising goddesses, Debbie Perry and Yvonne Olvey for their help getting the word out.

The festival couldn't have run smoother thanks to a dedicated Film Festival Crew: Alicia Ross, Karen Ernst Mize, and Taylor and Marsha Hendrix. They were the first ones here when events began, and were the last ones to leave when it was all over!



Thanks to ATX Event Services and Reel Simple for their production support, and to our Producer Level Sponsors: First Victoria Bank, Reel Simple Productions, and the Texas Film Commission. We simply could not pull it off without you!

We look forward to the Fourth Rockport Film Festival in 2010. Keep in touch with us here and on Facebook for 2009 Awards, Photos, and updates throughout the year.

Click here for Photos on Rockport Center for the Arts' Flickr Stream.

Last but not least, great thanks to all of this year's festival attendees.. you are the ones who keep it alive!

-John Aasp, Festival Director
RFF Presents: Ride Around the World


Rockport Film Festival Presents RIDE AROUND THE WORLD

Ride Around the World explores a thriving global culture that has helped shape Western civilization for a thousand years. The film transports viewers to Morocco, Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Patagonia, Texas and Canada, to ride with exotic horse-and-cattle peoples in an active, educational experience they'll never forget.

Producer Brady Dial, a native of Austin, Texas, and with family ties to Rockport, will be in attendance to introduce this breathtaking story of the cowboy. Ride Around the World will screen Friday, November 6, during the evening block beginning at 7:30. A run of short films will precede the evening feature.

http://www.rockportfilmfest.com
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We are a Rockport, TX film festival that is within easy driving distance of San Antonio, Austin, Houston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Goliad, Refugio, Tivoli, Port Lavaca, Sinton, Beeville, Aransas Pass, Portland, Port Aransas, McAllen, South Texas, Hill Country and Coastal Bend. We encourage several aspects of the film community to join us for the 2008 Rockport Film Festival - amateur film, cinema, critic, director, and independent filmmakers. Whatever you call your films - flicks, indie, cinema, cine, theater, pictures - come visit our competition and festival. The 2008 Rockport Film Festival will provide a charming and relaxing venue for independent filmmakers to share their creative vision with an enthusiastic and welcoming audience of the Texas Coastal Bend.
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