Media Arts Alumni Present Work

We are happy to announce the return of six University of Arizona School of Media Arts Alumni as they present their work at the upcoming Tucson Film & Music Festival.

Michael Skvarla, Writer/Director, Junkyard (Short), Allison Vanore, Producer, Junkyard (Short), Chelsea Coles, Director, Bipolar Bear Mania by Holy Rolling Empire (MV), Mae Nekoba, Producer, Lost Dream (feature), Dirk Van Fleet, Producer/Editor, Dig Comics! (Short), and Michael Toubassi, Producer/Editor, Saint Conformity by Giant Sand (MV) will all be participating in Q & A’s following the screening of their films at the upcoming Tucson Film & Music Festival. The School of Media Arts is also a supporter of the festival.

The 5th annual event will take place October 8-12, 2009 at various venues throughout Tucson, AZ.

Among the selection of World, U.S. and regional premieres, this year’s film highlights include Director Jim Granato’s “D tour,” documenting the poignant story of indie rock band Rogue Wave and its drummer’s quest for a new kidney; the North American Premiere of “Berlin Playground” by award-winning filmmaker Claudia Lehmann; and Closing Night Film “Rock Prophecies,” featuring rock photography guru Robert M. Knight, directed by John Chester. These films join the previously announced Opening Night Film “Largo,” and the Centerpiece feature “The Sweet Lady with the Nasty Voice,” featuring rockabilly legend Wanda Jackson, who will also perform live on Saturday, October 10th at PLUSH.

Music festivities kick off Friday, October 9th at Hotel Congress with the TFMF Opening Night Party Extravaganza. Art collective Parasol Project will transform the hotel into “Pueblo Noir,” a cinematically themed installation and vaudeville spectacular, featuring live music by Le Chat Lunatique and MarchFourth Marching Band.

This year, TFMF will continue its tradition of delivering exclusive live performances from the musicians featured in the festival’s film and music video programs. Seattle’s These Arms are Snakes (“Red Line Season” Music Video-rama) will perform Friday, October 9th at PLUSH; and Ghiant, from the World Premiere comedy “Bicycle Lane,” will take the stage at PLUSH on Sunday evening. Local music highlights include Juarez and The El Camino Royales. For set times and venues, please refer to the attached concert schedule or go to: http://www.tucsonfilmandmusicfestival.com/

TFMF badge holders will have access to all film and music events. Individual tickets range from $5 to $15 and will be available at the venues on the day of the show. The all-access TFMF badge is $40 and available now at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/producer/10008

The comprehensive film lineup follows below. For more detailed info on this year’s films, please visit the Official TFMF website or contact Mark Tillman @ Hype (mark@hypeworld.com) or TFMF @ Tucson Film & Music Fest

2009 Tucson Film & Music Festival Selected Films:

*All films are Arizona Premieres unless otherwise noted

A Detroit Thing West Coast Premiere (Q&A with filmmakers)
Featuring Kid Rock, Howling Diablos and more!
Berlin Playground (Hans Im Glück) US Premiere
Bicycle Lane World Premiere (Q&A with filmmakers)
Cruzando *Spanish subtitles (Q&A with filmmakers)
D tour (Q&A with Director Jim Granato)
Featuring Rogue Wave, Nada Surf, Ben Gibbard and more!
I Need That Record! Southwest Premiere
Largo Opening Night Film

Featuring performances by Aimee Mann, Grant-Lee Philips, Zach Galfianakis, Flight of the Conchords, Andrew Bird and more!

Lost Dream Southwest Premiere (Q&A with filmmakers)
Starring Michael Welch (Twilight) and Shaun Sipos (Melrose Place ‘09)
Mellodrama Southwest Premiere (Q&A with Director Diana Dilworth)
No Good Reason Southwest Premiere
One Man In The Band West Coast Premiere
Featuring Thomas Traux, Duracell, Ninki V and Dennis Hopper Choppers
Pocket Full of Soul
Back to the Basics: The Story of Luckenbach, TX SW Premiere
(Q&A with Back to the Basics director David Elkins)
Rock Prophecies Closing Night Film
Story of legendary rock photographer Robert M. Knight
Such Hawks Such Hounds
Featuring High on Fire, Dead Meadow, Earthless, Sleep and more
The Heart is a Drum Machine (Q&A with filmmakers)
Featuring Elijah Wood, MGMT, Penelope Spheeris, Jason Schwartzman, John Doe, Isaac Brock (Modest Mouse), Juliette Lewis and more!
The Sweet Lady With The Nasty Voice Centerpiece Film
(Q&A with the film’s star, rockabilly music legend Wanda Jackson!)
This Is Spinal Tap! Late Night Cult Classics!
Till You’re Told To Stop Southwest Premiere
Starring James Blunt (Q&A with filmmakers)
Art Imitates Life - Shorts Program (Q&A with filmmakers)

• Arc of a Bird Tucson Premiere
• Junkyard Regional Premiere
• Magellan Regional Premiere
• Nightingale World Premiere
• Old Grace Southwest Premiere
• Pigeon: Impossible
• The Cello
• Worth Tucson Premiere

Music Video-rama
Featuring videos for Fleet Foxes, Holy Rolling Empire, These Arms Are Snakes, Oren Lavie, The Bird and The Bee and more!

About TFMF:
The Tucson Film & Music Festival (TFMF) celebrates the past, present and future of the Tucson, Arizona music and filmmaking scene, showcasing music-related content, International music artists, and films and filmmakers with a connection to the Southwest. TFMF has screened over 100 films since its inception in 2005. Now in its fifth year, TFMF boasts an attendance of over 3,000 filmgoers and has screened several Arizona and World premieres including Anvil! The Story of Anvil by Sacha Gervasi, “The Criterion Collection” Border Radio by Allison Anders, Adventures of Power by Ari Gold, Hell on Wheels by Bob Ray, and Scott Walker: 30 Century Man by Stephan Kijak. The music festival has featured over 120 bands including Calexico, MC Lars, Fishbone, Doo Rag, Friends of Dean Martinez, John Doe, The Supersuckers, Kirsten Hersh, Giant Sand and more! Last year’s musical highlights included smash performances by Margot & The Nuclear So and So’s, The Sibleys, Gram Rabbit, Tom Walbank, Marianne Dissard, ytcracker, and The Gold Brothers.


For more on the festival, please visit: http://www.tucsonfilmandmusicfestival.com/