Focus on Alum Allison Vanore

School of Media Arts alumna Allison Vanore (BFA MAR 2004) will be returning to Tucson to present the short film “Junkyard” which she produced. “Junkyard” has its focus on a young boy standing up to a tyrannical and abusive junkyard owner.

The ‘no dialogue’ short was directed by another alum, Michael Skvarla.

Allison said, “It was a reunion shoot, where nine School of Media Arts alumni worked together.”

“Junkyard” will be screening as a part of the shorts section at the Crossroads Cinema on Swan and Grant, on Saturday, October 10th at 1:30pm.

Purchase tickets online at:

http://www.tucsonfilmandmusicfestival.com/

The School of Media Arts is proud to support the 5th Annual Tucson Film & Music Festival and we would like to applaud the successful completion and screening of “Junkyard.” Congratulations Allison.

The World Premiere of “Nightingale”

University of Arizona alumnus Stephanie Lucas will present her short film “Nightingale” during the 5th Annual Tucson Film & Music Festival. Stephanie graduated in 1996 with a BA in English and served as the Director of Photography on the short.

“Nightingale,” an impressionistic portrait, explores the distant relationship between a man and his wife as things come to a surreal boiling point.

“Nightingale” has its world premiere on Saturday, October 10th, at 1:30pm, at the Crossroads Cinema on Grant and Swan.

You can purchase tickets online at:

http://www.tucsonfilmandmusicfestival.com/

The School of Media Arts is a proud sponsor of the Tucson Film & Music Festival.

Alumni Reception

On Thursday, September 24th, the College of Fine Arts and School of Media Arts hosted a reception in Los Angeles for UA Alumni in the Entertainment Industry. Former students and faculty reconnected, networked, and enjoyed luscious “Oak Fire” Pizza. The event was generously co-sponsored by the Hanson Film Institute, the Tucson Film Office, and the UA Alumni Association.

Media Arts Alum Mae Nekoba

"Lost Dream" star Michael Welch

Mae Nekoba will be premiering her film, “Lost Dream” at the Tucson Film & Music Festival on Sunday, October 11 at 9:30pm at the historic Rialto Theatre. “Lost Dream” stars “Twilight’s” Michael Welch and “Melrose Place's” Shaun Sipos. Mae Nekoba is a School of Media Arts Alumna and graduated in 2000.

We are excited to announce that Mae will be presenting her film together with (teens and “Twilight” fans purchase your tickets now!) “Twilight” star Michael Welch. Both Mae and Michael will be present for the Q & A following the screening.

Congratulations to Mae and welcome back to Tucson!

http://www.tucsonfilmandmusicfestival.com/

School of Media Arts Sponsors TFMF

The School of Media Arts is delighted to be a sponsor of the 5th Annual Tucson Film & Music Festival. The Director of the TFMF is a School of Media Arts Alumnus, Michael Toubassi (BA 95) who returns every October to bring music, films, and performance art to the Old Pueblo.

“Largo” will be the festival’s Opening Night film, and “The Sweet Lady With the Nasty Voice” will be the Centerpiece selection for the 5th annual event taking place October 8-12, 2009. The festival, known for bringing compelling cinema and music to Tucson, boasts a line-up of all Arizona film premieres at this year’s event. Wanda Jackson will also treat festival-goers to an exclusive live concert at PLUSH.

Largo
Directed by Mark Flanagan & Andrew Van Baal, and executive produced by Paul Thomas Anderson, “Largo” is a performance-driven look at the storied Hollywood nightclub that has showcased the many talented performers that appear in the film, including Aimee Mann, Michael Penn, Zach Galifianakis, Flight of the Conchords, Jon Brion, Andrew Bird, Grant-Lee Philips and many others.

Largo
Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 7PM
The Loft Cinema, 3233 E Speedway Blvd. www.loftcinema.com
Tickets $5, $1 off for Loft members and students.

The Sweet Lady With The Nasty Voice
In the 1950s, Wanda Jackson kicked open the door for women in rock and roll, and empowered female rockers to be in control, to be sexy, and to write their own songs. The film takes you from the beginning of Jackson’s legendary career at age 16 to the present day, where Jackson still tours nightly. Featuring never-before-seen footage of Jackson’s concerts with rock icons Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis. Directed by Vinnie Kralyevich.
*Special guest appearance by Wanda Jackson for a Q&A following the screening.

The Sweet Lady With The Nasty Voice
Saturday October 10, 2009 5:30pm
Crossroads Cinema, 4811 E. Grant Rd.
Tickets $5

Wanda Jackson will also perform Saturday night live in concert at PLUSH, 340 E. 6th Street on 4th Avenue. Tickets for the show are included with the purchase of the all-access festival badge ($40), or are $15 at the door. This is a rare and exciting opportunity to see the “Queen of Rockabilly” live on stage!

The all-access TFMF badge is $40 and available now at:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/producer/10008

Badge holders will have free entry to all film and music events at TFMF. Individual tickets for the screenings and music events will be available at the venues on the day of the show.

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

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/

Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards Scholarship

Broadcast Film Critics Association awards scholarship to University of Arizona Media Arts Student.

The Broadcast Film Critics Association has established a scholarship to promote the art and practice of broadcast film criticism. The BFCA is the largest film critics organization in the United States and Canada, representing 199 television, radio and online critics and was founded in 1995. They present the Critics’ Choice award annually to honor the finest in cinematic achievement.

University of Arizona Media Arts Student Shawn Florchak is the first recipient of the Jim Ferguson Broadcast Film Critics Association scholarship and has been awarded $3,000.

Jim Ferguson is an alumnus of the University of Arizona with a Masters degree in Education. Ferguson is currently a film critic for KGUN and is one of five board members of the national and prestigious Broadcast Film Critics Association, consisting of over 250 members.

Ferguson will serve as a mentor and arrange for Florchak to attend advanced screenings with press and film critics, a week and half before films are released to the general public.

“Due to my Media Arts training, I have a keen eye for what I am watching.” Florchak said. “Writing about film is a natural step.”

Florchak will be reviewing movies to air on the University of Arizonas’ Channel (Cox Channel 16 and Comcast Channel 76) and KAMP Student Radio (1570 AM).

“This is a little known scholarship opportunity,” said Florchak. “I would encourage students to apply in the springtime.”

The Jim Ferguson Broadcast Film Critics Association Scholarship application will be listed on the University of Arizona School of Media Arts website in time for fall 2010 deadlines:

http://web.cfa.arizona.edu/mediaarts/

Lesbian Looks Film Series

LESBIAN LOOKS LAUNCHES 17TH ANNUAL FILM SERIES FRI OCT 9



Straightlaced: How Gender’s got us all Tied Up (Debra Chasnoff, 2009)
Pariah (Dee Rees and Nekisa Cooper, 2007)
Gallagher Theater, UA Student Union
7:30pm
FREE

Lesbian Looks opens its 17th season with the Arizona premiere of STRAIGHTLACED: HOW GENDER’S GOT US ALL TIED UP, by Academy Award-winning director Debra Chasnoff.

From girls confronting popular messages about culture and body image to boys who are sexually active just to prove they aren't gay, the students in STRAIGHTLACED illustrate the toll that deeply held stereotypes and rigid gender policing have on all of our lives.

" A rare gem that provides a forum for young people to speak eloquently about the courage it takes to break out of the box, live authentic lives, and stand up for justice."
—Bruce Cohen, Oscar-winning Producer of MILK

"As in Chasnoff's previous recent works, the film is remarkable for the candor with which its subjects speak - in this case, teens discussing their frustrations with gender roles and stereotypes."
—The San Francisco Chronicle

“ It lifts kids up to make them realize that it's okay to be who you want to be."
—Carlos Garcia, Superintendent of San Francisco Unified School District

" ...a work of huge importance, that is both challenging and accessible."
—London Gay and Lesbian Film Festival

Also screening: PARIAH, a beautifully shot, award-winning coming-of-age drama about a lesbian teenager unsuccessfully juggling multiple identities to avoid rejection from her friends and family.

"Rees' jaw-droppingly good PARIAH continues to reel in awards. Rees shows stellar talent in both writing and directing with her story of a Bronx high school girl uncertainly trying to explore multiple identities."
—Charlie Olsky, Indiewire

Lesbian Looks is presented by the UA Institute for LGBT Studies, and co-sponsored by the School of Media Arts, the Hanson Film Institute, the McLelland Institute for Children, Youth and Families, the School of Anthropology, the Department of Gender & Women’s Studies, the Department of English, the Center for Student Involvement in Leadership, and Men Against Violence

http://lgbcom.web.arizona.edu/lesbianlooks/lobbydoor.html

New Issue of Canted is Up!

A group of our brilliant students have created and maintained "Canted Magazine" online for about a year now.

Check out their newest issue!

2nd Annual School of Media Arts Cocktail Reception

Thursday, Sep 24th, the College of Fine Arts and School of Media Arts will host a reception in Los Angeles for UA Alumni in the Entertainment Industry. The event, hosted by UA Media Arts Alumni/William Morris Endeavor agents Michael Cooper, Brad Slater and Troy Zien, is co-sponsored by the Hanson Film Institute, the Tucson Film Office, and the UA Alumni Association.

Email Enedina for more information and to be added to our invitation list.

Join our Facebook Group to find out more!