Tonight at 7:00pm the Bicycle Film Festival kicks of with three separate film programs that are sure to please film buffs and bike lovers alike.
To get things started, local cyclist Carl Larson is leading a ride to the opening program at Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave.). It will be a Trivia Ride with a chance to win free festival passes. Here are the details, followed by the full slate of tonight’s films…
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Trivia Ride to Opening Night of the Bicycle Film Festival
Meet at the Goose Hollow Inn
1927 SW Jefferson (by the Goose Hollow MAX stop)
meet at 5:30, ride at 6:00
Beer at Bud’s Bar, trivia, bikes, great films, and a chance to win FREE BFF TICKETS! The ride will be easy…the questions might not be. Bring a trivia buddy or be ready to meet someone new ’cause you’ll need to be in a team of two. And if you just want to come along for the ride…that’s okay too.
And here’s a rundown of what’s on tap tonight. *All films screen at Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Ave.)
Program 1 – 7:00pm
KIEST PARK
USA 2005 | 16mm 5min.
Dir. John Ayala
A seven year old leaves his parents and his block for the first time to explore, observe and destroy in a vast new world.
THERE IS A FLOWER IN MY PEDAL
CANADA 2004 | DV/16mm/Super8 4min.
Dir. Andrea Dorfman
A rhythm of mixed media reminds us to dust off the old bike and go for a ride.
DIVERSION IN BRAZIL
USA/BRAZIL 2002 | 16mm/DV 5min.
Dir. Bobby Carter
Take a journey to the neighborhoods of Sao Paulo and discover Brazil’s freestyle underground featuring: Balu, Daniel Molina, Leonardo Claro, and Marcos Paulo De Jesus.
MONSTER TRACK VI
USA 2005 | Video 7min.
Dir. Lucas Brunelle
This alleycat is fixed-gear only. It was set on one of the coldest days of the year in New York City. Catch the intensity of riding in New York with some of the world’s most-skilled city riders.
INES BRUNN – KUNSTRADSHOW
Germany 2000 | Video 5min.
Dir. Masc Coenen & Ines Brunn
Dance, acrobatics, gymnastics—all on a fixed gear. Ines Brunn introduces us to her style of riding called “Artistic Cycling”.
SKI BOYS
Canada 2006 | Super8 8 min.
Dir. Benny Zenga
The lost reels of the Ski Boys, which document their inventive exploits in rural Ontario during the early 70’s.
BIKING IN THE BIBLE BELT
USA 2005 | DV 12min.
Director: James Plumlee
There are many obstacles to riding a bicycle in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This short is a glimpse into their strong and varied riding scene.
ON TIME
USA 1985 | 16mm 7min.
Dir. Ari Taub
This comedy classic short, shown worldwide, marked the debut of director/screenwriter Ari Taub and captured the spirit of low budget filmmaking in New York City. Jimmy a bicycle messenger from the Albatross Courier Company, takes us through the streets and boroughs of New York to deliver a package “on time”. Braving the perilous city streets, there’s nothing Jimmy can’t handle, or is there?
SOME THINGS RIDE A BICYCLE
USA 2006 | Video 45sec.
Dir. Chris Jolly
This is a series of chalkboard animations of various funny objects riding bicycles.
LUCAS BRUNELLE VIDEO
USA 2006 | DV 12min.
Dir. Lucas Brunelle
Over one million people have downloaded his videos. Lucas takes a bike and a camera where no woman or man has biked before.
WARRIORS: THE BIKE RACE
USA 2004 | DV 20min.
DIRECTORS: Christopher Ryan, Michael Green, Jesse Epstein
In August of 2002, over 800 bicycle riders descended upon New York City in the form of 89 gangs. Their goal: to live out the epic gang warfare movie known as THE WARRIORS. During the all night race from the Bronx to Coney Island, riders got lost, blood was shed, police outwitted, and countless brain cells destroyed. Most of what took place that night was thankfully never to be discussed again until…WARRIORS: THE BIKE RACE
Program 2 – 9:00pm
TIME BIKE
USA 2007 | HD 8min.
Dir. John Breen
On a seemingly average day in Portland, Oregon, Anthony finds an old bike with extraordinary powers.
MONKEY WARFARE
Canada 2006 | DV 77 min.
Dir. Reginald Harkema
Many critics have selected this film as one of the best films without distribution of the year.
Dan and Linda are two ex-activists in Toronto who live a low-key lifestyle of selling junk online and riding their bicycles. After their pot dealer gets busted, they meet the young revolutionary Susan, forcing Dan and Linda to question their relationship and face their turbulent past. “Monkey Warfare” was well received at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival winning the Special Jury Award.
Program 3 – 11:00pm
MONSTER TRACK VI
USA/ 2005 | Video 7min.
Dir: Lucas Brunelle
This alleycat is fixed-gear only. It was set on one of the coldest days of the year in New York City. Catch the intensity of riding in New York with some of the world’s most-skilled city riders.
BIKE THIEF
USA 2004 | DV 4min.
Dir.: Neistat Brothers
A study of stealing bikes in New York City.
BIKE KILL
USA 2005 | DV 5min.
Dir: Rachel Meyrick
The Black Label Bicycle Club puts on the most amazing bicycle events—that is, if you live to tell.
PEDAL
USA 2001 | DV 52min.
Dir: Peter Sutherland
Acclaimed NYC filmmaker and photographer, Sutherland is known for his work as Director of Photography on the skateboarding film “Stoked: The Rise and Fall of Gator” which played to audiences nationwide, as well as the photography book AUTOGRAF. Pedal is a fast-paced documentary film about surviving in the streets of New York City as a bicycle messenger. It features messengers from all walks of life as they battle traffic in a race to make their next delivery on time. It premiered in 2001 at the South by Southwest film festival and in New York at the Bicycle Film Festival, and later was acquired by the Sundance channel, where it aired until 2004.
Check BicycleFilmFestival.com for ticket prices and all the info.
From talking to organizers Portland is #1 in having the lowest turnout. Though from talking to all that have attended… the films totally rock.
In no way am I criticize… but more understand why turn out is so low in the most bicycle friendly city in the US?
How can the organizers say that Portland has the lowest turnout when the festival only started last night?
The bike corral was packed last night at CINEMA21.
When I heard that the theatre was not full on a FRIDAY…I thought that it could be due to not being very well advertized…the posters were not released till very soon to the date (for a new event in town).
It did not seem to have the same awareness or buzz that the local Filmed By Bike show has had for the last 3 years.
The movies last night rocked. Just so much great work to see.
Though the debate on Thursday was lame…compared to the Car v. Bike debate put on by the Mercury & Sam Adams.