Indie Memphis 2008

The countdown to this October’s 12th annual Indie Memphis Film Festival begins with a special screening of the last year’s Grand Jury Award-winner for Best Feature, Tom Quinn’s acclaimed THE NEW YEAR PARADE.

What: THE NEW YEAR PARADE
When: 7:30 pm, Wednesday, July 22nd
Where: Malco’s Studio on the Square
Admission: $5 / FREE for Indie Memphis members

THE NEW YEAR PARADE follows Jack and Kat McMonagle over the course of a year as their parents separate, struggle with their decisions, and eventually divorce. As past indiscretions are exposed, Jack and Kat question their own identities while struggling to build meaningful relationships. The family breakdown is set against the backdrop of Philadelphia’s Mummery, one of the oldest American folk traditions.

Since pre-revolutionary times, the working-class of South Philadelphia have paraded on New Year’s Day. In 1901, the merriment was organized into a city-sponsored event: The first annual Mummer’s Parade. Today, nearly 15,000 members, many third and fourth generation, work 364 days a year and spend up to 100,000 dollars for a chance at bragging rights in the neighborhood and a continuing sense of tradition.

“Truly unforgettable.”
~Variety

“A stunning debut… Altman-esque!”
~IndieWire

“Magnificent!”
~Filmmaker Magazine

Thanks to the public-private partnership of the Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commission, MemphisED and Malco Theatres, producer Mike Ryan (FAY GRIM / JUNEBUG / CHOKE / FORTY SHADES OF BLUE) and Indie Memphis ‘08 alum Barry Jenkins (MEDICINE FOR MELANCHOLY) are coming to Memphis for for two days of ”Indie Heaven.”

On Saturday, July 18th at 10 am, writer/director Barry Jenkins be on hand to screen MEDICINE FOR MELANCHOLY. On Sunday, July 19th at 10 am, Mike Ryan will present Hal Hartley’s FAY GRIM. Both screenings will take place at the Malco Paradiso (584 S. Mendenhall Road), with Q&A sessions session following each.

Saturday and Sunday, afternoon workshops — beginning at 2:30 pm each day — will offer the rare opportunity for aspiring screenwriters to have their script treatments reviewed by Jenkins and Ryan. Treatments must be submitted in advance. Due to time constraints, not all treatments submitted will able to be discussed.

The screenings and workshops are free — but pre-registration is required for admission to all of the weekend events and registration is open only to Memphis or Shelby County residents.

Visit the Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commission’s website at www.memphisfilmcomm.org for complete details, to download a registration form and for samples of the requested treatment format.

Click here to read John Beifuss’ writeup in Go Memphis.

MEDICINE FOR MELANCHOLY trailer

FAY GRIM trailer

On Thursday, July 16th, Indie Memphis and The Brooks continue their year-round collaboration with the Memphis premiere of VISIONEERS, a quirky black comedy set in the near-future concerning a curious spike in cases of spontaneous human combustion.

What: VISIONEERS
When: 7:30 pm, Thursday, July 16th
Where: Brooks Museum of Art
Admission: $5 / FREE for Indie Memphis members and members of The Brooks.

The Brushmark Restaurant will be open for dinner. Please call 901-544-6225 for reservations

The Jeffers Corporation is the largest business in the history of mankind, and they got that way thanks to their strict philosophy of happiness through mindless productivity. But when people begin literally exploding due, Jeffers Corporation Level Three TUNT George Washington Winsterhammerman (Zach Galifianakis) begins to fear that his time will come sooner rather than later.

”This tender Orwellian satire proves unexpectedly moving”
~Hollywood Reporter

”insightful, intelligent, and melancholically funny”
~Cinematical