Presented by The Halifax Pop Explosion, The Halifax Film Explosion announces its 2009 schedule (click for full schedule and trailers). This is the Halifax Film Explosion's first year and coincides with the final two days of the Halifax Pop Explosion, taking place on Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24 at Empire 8 Park Lane. All screenings are $8. Tickets are available at the door. Halifax Pop Explosion festival and band passes are not valid for Halifax Film Explosion screenings, though VIP passes are.
Here's the press release:
"Starting on Friday, October 23, the festival will kick-off with revered director Penelope Spheeris’ (The Decline of Western Civilization, Wayne’s World) influential Suburbia (6:30pm), a tale of counter culture and rebellion set in the 80’s LA Punk scene. Following is Jay Buim’s directorial debut, Todd P Goes To Austin (8:30pm). The film shows legendary DIY promoter Todd Patrick as he ventures to South By Southwest and exposes what life is like for musicians living and touring at the indie level. It features music by Japanther and performances from Matt and Kim, Dan Deacon, Mika Miko, The Death Set and many more.
The Film Explosion will continue on Saturday, October 24 with a double bill of We’re All Dying to Live and RIP: A Remix Manifesto (6:30pm). We’re All Dying to Live is a composite of segments from over 50 public domain films edited into narrative form by Rich Aucoin and synchronized to his highly anticipated album, Public Publication. Directed by Brett Gaylor, RIP: A Remix Manifesto explores on the issues around music piracy by focusing its sites on controversial mash-up artist, Girl Talk. The night will continue with Bob Byington’s Harmony and Me (8:30pm). Starring Justin Rice of indie rock act Bishop Allen, the film is the tale of Harmony, a young Austin based lyricist that is unable to recover from a crushing break-up."
Super, super stoked for Suburbia and Todd P Goes to Austin. All these films are the perfect precursor to HPX shows following them, especially RIP: A Remix Manifesto before the Girl Talk show at St. Antonio's Hall that night. Organizer and filmmaker (and Coast employee) Tara Thorne loves the cozy relationship between music and movies; they truly are two great tastes that taste great together. "Music and movies are so inextricably linked now, to the point where having your song in a film isn't selling out, it's your biggest payday and no one begrudges you it," says Thorne. "I've always thought musicians make excellent actors—I try to cast my films with them—and I love musicals, so even though there isn't a technical musical in the festival, most movies are pseudo-musicals nowadays anyhow."
Out of the five films The Halifax Film Explosion is screening, three are premieres. Not too shabby! "It was so dope to be able to email the filmmakers all 'I want to show your movie at this festival' and them writing back to be all 'Word.' I believe this will be the Canadian premiere for both [Harmony and Me and Todd P Goes to Austin], and it's definitely the world premiere of Rich Aucoin's We're All Dying to Live, the companion piece to his new record," says Thorne. And don't worry your pretty little head about scheduling conflicts, it was kept in mind. "The screenings are scheduled at 6:30 and 8:30 so that you won't miss any of the bar shows at the festival," says Thorne. "Everyone can do everything!"
