Bold Life magazine has a story out this month profiling Tom and Sandi Anton, an Asheville couple who have big plans for a new film festival called the Asheville Cinema Festival. The event will replace the defunct Asheville Film Festival, a city-run event that had an up-and-down track record since 2003 and was not held last year.
With the Asheville Cinema Festival, the Antons are demonstrating that a world-class film fest in Asheville benefits the entire community, both economically and culturally. By running November 3rd – 6th, the Festival plans to attract filmgoers during a traditionally slow month for tourism. “This will not just be a film festival,” says Tom. “It will be an experience that introduces this city to the world and says, ‘come see Asheville!'” With the support of the famed Stony Brook Film Festival, whose celebrity attendees over last years included Christopher Plummer, Tilda Swinton, Campbell Scott, Dana Delany, and Tim Blake Nelson, you can only guess at who may attend the Asheville Festival. “The track record of Stony Brook promises a great crowd,” says Tom, “and the possibility of well-known celebrities in attendance.”
There are not details yet posted at the Asheville Cinema Festival website. We’ll keep an eye out.
3 Comments
The festival is scheduled for November – roughly two months from now- and still doesn't have its films available. It is still seeking sponsors. Is this the way festivals are organized? Moogfest, while a different kind of event, is only slightly earlier, in late October, but has had its lineup ready for months.
Actionfest most certainly set the bar… mainly by focusing on the best films I've seen this year instead of celebrity guests.
Still, why not have another festival and to the organizers I say that we will support you however we can. PLEASE focus on the films instead of falling into the celebrity trap! And if you feel the need, focus on bringing filmmakers instead of actors.
Action Fest set the bar last spring and honestly no "film fest" can ever duplicate the badassery of Action Fest. Unless there are some really, really A list celebrities you won't see nearly the draw of Action Fest.