MIDDLETOWN — Coyote Film Festival, Lake County ”s own independent film festival, will open the 2010 season with a celebration of animals on Saturday at the Calpine Geothermal Visitors Center. There will be a 1:30 p.m. matinee and a 7:30 p.m. screening featuring a variety of animation, documentaries and short stories.
Laugh, cry, groan and moan with a selection of short films that feature sheep, dogs, rabbits, cats, frogs and assorted other animals. Highlights include Highlights include “Nutkin”s Last Stand” by filmmaker Nicholas Berger. A documentary about patriotism, an invasive species and England”s fight to save her beloved red squirrels.
The North American gray squirrel was introduced to England late in the 19th century and the larger, bolder American import has been spreading a deadly virus and claiming the red squirrel”s territory. At present, the red squirrels have been forced into the North and it is estimated that their numbers have dwindled to around 150,000 compared with around 2 million grays. Berger will be on hand for an audience Q&A at each screening.
“Key West Cock Tales” is a wacky portrayal of Key West, Fla., and its culture of feral chickens. It”s the story of a town divided by chicken-lovers and chicken-haters and the barber hired to rid the city of a pest in paradise.
“Whose Dog Is It Anyway?” marks “Sex and the City” writer/executive producer Cindy Chupack”s directorial debut. Emma, single, successful, and not a dog person, gets stuck with a dog because her younger married sister is pregnant with twins and moving into a dog-free apartment. Her sister insists the dog is a good luck charm: “He”ll help you find a man ? maybe?” Coyote will screen Scottish film “The Problem With Pets.” Monica is the princess of her picture-perfect world until her mom”s new boyfriend comes to stay for one disaster-filled weekend. and decides that the only way to keep her pets alive is to get rid of him. The film festival also has “Peter and Ben,” a short documentary by Pinny Grylls, of a man and the sheep he raised.
One Saturday a month, from April through October, Coyote Film Festival will present an array of films, occasional filmmakers and compelling subjects. In May, meet filmmaker Vanessa Gould and see her multi-award-winning documentary “Between the Folds,” which chronicles the stories of 10 fine artists and intrepid theoretical scientists who have abandoned careers and scoffed at hard-earned graduate degrees ? all to forge unconventional lives as modern-day paperfolders.
Calpine Geothermal Visitors Center is located at 15500 Central Park Road in Middletown. Tickets are $10 at the door and $5 for children 16 and younger (though parental discretion is advised). Fresh popcorn and concessions will also be available.
Coyote Film Festival is a fundraising arm of EcoArts of Lake County, a 501(c)3 non-profit arts organization dedicated to bringing visual art opportunities to the residents and visitors of Lake County. The EcoArts Web site has become viral and is being rebuilt. Organizers will announce when the site is back up and running. Please contact Coyote Film Festival through Karenturcotte@yahoo.com.
