Calendar of Films
2008 BFF Film Lineup
2008 BFF Film Lineup
Below are descriptions of the 2008 BFF films. For more scheduling information, please click here.
Features
“The Hammer”
(Feature/Comedy)
88 min., Rated R for Language
Director: Charles Herman-Wurmfeld
Starring: Adam Carolla
Jerry Ferro's 40th birthday has brought his life into sharp relief and it's not a pretty picture. A once-promising amateur boxer -- who quit so he wouldn't risk his perfect record of underachievement -- Jerry has been knocking around from one construction job to another and spinning his wheels in an unsatisfying relationship, all the while with an eye toward eventually getting his shit together. His last connection to the fight game is the evening boxing class he teaches to middle-aged, middle class, middle management types at a gym in Pasadena, where he also works as a handyman. When venerable boxing coach Eddie Bell asks Jerry if he'd like to spar a couple of rounds with Malice Blake, an up-and-coming pro, Jerry reluctantly steps into the ring. Despite the ass-kicking Jerry otherwise receives, a one-punch knockdown of Blake convinces Jerry that it’s time to make his return to competitive boxing. Thus ends a 20-year layoff and begins a hilarious fish-out-water quest for Olympic gold.
“The Thing”
(Feature/Horror/Sci-Fi)
Rated R for Violence
Director: John Carpenter
Starring: Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley
An American scientific expedition to the frozen wastes of the Antarctic is interrupted by a group of seemingly mad Norwegians pursuing and shooting a dog. The helicopter pursuing the dog crashes leaving no explanation for the chase. The team soon realizes that an alien life-form with the ability to imitate anything it touches is loose in their facility. Who is infected already, and who can be trusted?
The film stars Maine natives Kurt Russell and Richard Dysart and propelled Russell as one of the leading men in Hollywood. Roger Ebert called the films special effects "among the most elaborate, nauseating, and horrifying sights yet achieved by Hollywood's new generation of visual magicians", and called the film itself "a great barf-bag movie". Russell eventually starred in a total of 4 of Carpenter's movies, often playing the rough and tumble anti-hero, but "The Thing" remains one of the most respected of their collaborations together.
Shorts
“A Call To Action”
(Documentary)
40 min.
Director: Chris Gaspar
Maine Connection: Director Chris Gaspar and Producer Kaleem Clarkson grew up in Bangor, ME.
A Call To Action, a documentary that captures the story of how a motivated group of musicians and fans created HeadCount, a grassroots non-partisan, not-for-profit voter registration organization. It features appearances by a dozen musicians and longtime supporters, including superstar Dave Matthews, Bob Weir of The Grateful Dead, Trey Anastasio of Phish, Marc Brownstein of The Disco Biscuits and Grammy-winner Bela Fleck. A Call to Action mixes music, interviews and concert footage to tell an inspirational story about culture and political organizing.
PLEASE NOTE: There will be a special question and answer session with Director Chris Gaspar immediately following the screening.
“Why I’m Moving to Maine”
(Short/Animation)
4 min.
Director: Eric Erbes
A chilling glimpse into the not-to-distant future. The California Energy crisis has gotten out of control and its ramifications are quickly spreading throughout the US. What's a person to do? Where are they to go? Pack your bags everyone, its time to head to Maine!
'Why I'm Moving to Maine' was completed in just under three weeks at Cogswell Polytechnical College in Sunnyvale, California. The short was created by Eric Erbes with help from animators Matt Graham and Richard Saum. Only the plugs were drawn by hand, all other aspects of the film were created and animated in the computer using Adobe Photoshop, After Effects, and Premiere.
For additional info on the creator visit http://www.ericerbes.com
“21st Century LP”
(Documentary)
20 min.
Director: Kate Kaminski & Betsy Carson
Maine Connection: Filmed in Maine, filmmakers live and work in Maine.
In a digital world, there are some places where vinyl still rules. “21st Century LP” is the inspiring story of Bob Wirtz and Enterprise Records, where the LP’s spin and characters congregate to dig for musical gold.
“Greetings from Havre de Grace”
(Documentary)
25 min.
Director: Mark Scalese
Havre de Grace is an historic town in Maryland at the confluence of the Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay. Through interviews with local residents, this lighthearted and lyrical film examines the origin and meaning of the town's name, the concept of grace and one's need for it, and whether or not any location truly can be considered a "harbor of grace."
“Nonstop Transcontinental Journey Across the United States”
(Short/Comedy)
15 min.
Director: Sherman Kew
Maine Connection: Director Sherman Kew grew up in Southern Maine.
Five guys attempt to cross the United States without their car ever coming to a complete stop.
“I Just Want to Eat My Sandwich”
(Short/Comedy)
7 min.
Director: Julia Radochia
Susan tries to eat lunch at her desk, but keeps getting interrupted by her pesky co-workers. What’s a girl to do when she can’t get a bite in edgewise?!
“Fathers”
(Short, Drama)
18 min.
Director: Bridget Lake
Maine Connection: Shot in Maine. Filmmaker is a Maine native.
Mike, a middle-aged factory foreman with a wife and teenage daughter, loses his job when the local town mill closes. When his unemployment threatens to unhinge his family, Mike realizes he must act before everything falls apart.
