Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Chuck Norris is coming to Asheville next month for a new film festival called Actionfest. Love it!
From Asheville Citizen-Times entertainment editor Tony Kiss:
Actionfest, billed as the first festival devoted to nothing but action films, happens April 15-18 at the Carolina Asheville cinema. Norris, star of the long-running TV series “Walker, Texas Ranger” and many action films, will be given the first Lifetime Action Achievement Award.
Actionfest also includes such world premieres as “Centurion,” a warring Roman epic starring Michael Fassbender of “Inglourious Basterds” fame. And there’s a demonstration of a rocket belt flying device by veteran stuntman Kinnie Gibson. The festival was created by Aaron Norris (brother of Chuck Norris) and Bill Banowsky, owner of the Carolina Asheville cinemas.
“I think Asheville will accept something like this with open arms,” said Aaron Norris, who was executive producer and show runner for “Walker, Texas Ranger” during its eight-season run on CBS. “We want to recognize and honor the people who bring us action films.”
Follow Action Fest on Twitter.
Here’s the press release from Actionfest:
This April, Asheville, NC will be the home to the inaugural edition of ActionFest, the world’s first film festival devoted exclusively to action cinema, and to the people who make it possible, from filmmakers to stuntmen and fight choreographers. Created by Carolina Cinemas founder/Magnolia Pictures co-founder Bill Banowsky and famed action director and producer Aaron Norris (Missing in Action III, Walker, Texas Ranger), the festival will take place at The Carolina Asheville cinema from Thursday, April 15th to Sunday, April 18th. ActionFest opens with the world premiere of Neil Marshall’s bloody sword and sandal epic, Centurion, and is proud to announce that the recipient of its first annual Lifetime Action Achievement Award will be none other than legendary martial artist and action movie superstar Chuck Norris!
With an impressive roster encompassing the best contemporary action films from around the globe, including several world premieres, major studio previews and classics of the genre (including some of Norris’s most loved titles), ActionFest will be four days of heaven for fans of adrenaline fueled cinema, with a full list of films to be announced on Monday, March 22nd. There will be a competition section juried by genre experts from around the country, including award recipient Chuck Norris. Additionally, stuntman Kinnie Gibson will be on hand for a demonstration of his famous Flying Rocket Belt, a feat of bravery and technology that’s been featured at the Olympics, the Super Bowl and the Daytona 500! Magnolia Pictures/Magnet Releasing SVP Tom Quinn is head programmer for ActionFest, and Matt Kiernan is festival director.
Centurion, the latest genre masterpiece from cult favorite Neil Marshall (The Descent), will have its world premiere at ActionFest on Thursday, April 15th. Based on the legendary battle between Rome’s famed Ninth Legion and ferocious Picts of Northern England in 117 AD, Centurion stars Michael Fassbender (Inglourious Basterds, 300, Hunger), Dominic West (300; HBO’s The Wire) and gorgeous Bond-girl Olga Kurylenko (Quantum of Solace, Hitman). Recently acquired by Magnet Releasing, Centurion will open in theaters nationwide this summer.
Chuck Norris will receive the Lifetime Action Achievement Award in person on Sunday, April 18.
Chuck Norris was a Trending Topic on Twitter all day today. I talked about the funny tweets on my show http://bit.ly/a1TXze
Chick Norris is really coming to Asheville to provide sperm to our lesbian community. In 10 years Asheville will have an abundance ginger children who know how how to round house kick.