The 2008 SNOB (Somewhat North of Boston) Film Festival will mark its seventh year with three days of independent film, discussions with filmmakers and a movie-making challenge at two Concord locations.
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Opening night will include a 7 p.m. screening of “Racing Daylight,” starring David Straithairn and Melissa Leo in a film that weaves together a ghost story, murder mystery and love story. The theme of possibilities is echoed by the financing of the film, event organizers said. “We financed it on good will, deferring most crew and our actors (to) accept the SAG (Screen Actors Guild) ultra-low budget contract, credit cards, loans and angels,” said Nicole Quinn, the film’s writer, producer and director.
Also screening Friday night will be “HellDrivers: The Original Crash Test Dummies,” centering on a traveling band of daredevils, including New England’s own Doug Danger and Crash Moreau. This Darren Garnick film features Danger’s longest motorcycle jump — a Loudon feat included in the Guinness Book of World Records, and his near-death crash in Hudson. The showing is set for 9 p.m.
Another highlight will be “Monster Road, an animated film of clay-mation,” at 7 p.m. Friday and 10:30 p.m. Saturday. This Brett Ingram film takes audiences into the fantastic world of clay animator Bruce Bickford. The film earned the title of best documentary in the 2004 Slamdance Film Festival.
Also on the agenda will be a screening of “Dean and Me: Roadshow of an American Primary,” a film by Heath Eiden’s film, Saturday at Red River Theater. The 88-minute feature film, about America’s primary process comes just four days after the presidential elections. “This is a rare chance to celebrate film and the greatest grassroots movement in American history together — just as the results of the election results start to sink in,” Eidon said. “I’m looking forward to celebrating in New Hampshire with the folks who made this dream a reality.”
Most of the film was shot in the Granite State and features many familiar faces and places as the filmmaker follows ean’s 2004 campaign and beyond. The documentary stars Martin Sheen, Al Franken, Sen. Hillary Clinton, Sen. Ted Kennedy, MSNBC’s Tucker Carlson and FOX’s Sean Hannity.
Saturday offers a full day of independent film appreciation. At New Hampshire Technical Institute the festival will celebrate student films and filmmakers. Beginning at 11 a.m. and running through 1 p.m., films to be screened will include “Shadows of Monadnock” and “Put Him In the Ground” as well as films from the NH Student Film Festival. This year’s filmmakers also were challenged to create a film no more than five minutes long based on any of the themes from the 2008 Olympics in the “Filmmakers Marathon Challenge.” Participants had five days (Nov. 2-today) to write the script, cast, shoot and edit the film.
“We’ve got some impressive films this year,” said Felicia Menard, co-chair of this year’s festival. “The committee works all year to find and showcase the best independent film available, and for SNOB 2008 we’ve put together a powerful program” she said.
Tickets are $5 for each film block, $20 for a day pass (Saturday and Sunday only) and $50 for a full festival pass. For more information, call 224-4697 or log onto snobfilmfestival.org.
