From the Bel Air Cultural Arts Commission:
The Bel Air Cultural Arts Commission is pleased to announce that Fred Manfra, the Radio Voice of the Orioles, will be the Guest Host of the Opening Night film Knuckleball at the 4th Annual Town of Bel Air Film Festival on Friday, October 19th at the Bel Air Reckord Armory, 37-41 North Main Street in Bel Air.
Manfra, the award winning sportscaster who just finished his 20th season as the radio voice of the Orioles, will introduce Knuckleball, a classic sports story that recounts the 2011 journey of the last professional knuckleball pitchers: Tim Wakefield, a 17-year Red Sox veteran, and Mets up-and-comer R.A. Dickey. Together with just four other living knuckleballers, they shine a light on their remarkable brotherhood and the shared pursuit of honor and craftsmanship. Jack Gerbes, Director of the Maryland Film Office, and Susan Burdette, Town of Bel Air Commissioner, will also help open the festival. Doors open at 7:30 pm.
Saturday, October 20th at 4:00 pm features First Position with special guest Rebecca Houseknecht, cast member of the film. First Position chronicles the real-life stories of six aspiring dancers from around the world, aged 11 to 17, who in 2009 competed in the prestigious Youth America Grand Prix, the world’s largest student ballet scholarship competition. The film was named the audience choice’s 1st runner-up for Best Documentary at the Toronto International Film Festival; won the Jury Prize at the San Francisco Doc Fest and more.
Saturday’s lineup continues at 7:30 pm with the award winning film Queen of Versailles. Winner of the Best Director Award at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, Queen of Versailles follows billionaires Jackie and David Siegel’s rags-to-riches-to-rags story to uncover the innate virtues and flaws of the American dream. We open on the triumphant construction of the largest house in America, a sprawling, 90,000-square-foot mansion inspired by Versailles. Since a booming time-share business built on the real-estate bubble is financing it, the economic crisis brings progress to a halt and seals the fate of its owners. We witness the impact of this turn of fortune over the next two years in a riveting film fraught with delusion, denial, and self-effacing humor.
Sunday, October 23rd at 3:00 pm will feature the award winning film Brooklyn Castle. Audience Award Winner at the 2012 SXSW Film Festival, Brooklyn Castle is about I.S. 318, an inner-city public school that is home to the most winning junior high school chess team in the country. A series of deep public school budget cuts now threaten to undermine its hard-won success. Matt Allman, Certified Tournament Director and Chess Coach, will be the guest host.
Chess enthusiasts can now sign up for the Town of Bel Air Film Festival “Chess for Fun” Tournament beginning at 1pm prior to the screening of Brooklyn Castle. Entry into the tournament is included as part of the $5 ticket. For children under 10 years old, there is no charge however an adult needs to be present. Registration will close at 1:15pm. Any player that arrives after 1:15pm will not be permitted to participate due to time constraints. Once play begins, rounds will be paired as started as quickly as possible. As space is limited, the tournament is limited to 50 players. Participants may reserve a place in the tournament via email to rfechess@yahoo.com.
Tickets are $5 per person and include one complimentary soda and popcorn. A $10 All Access Pass is also available. Children 10 years of age and younger are free. Comfortable table seating is available and attendees can bring their own snacks and blankets too! Free snowballs will be available on Sunday, courtesy of Sharon’s Hawaiian Shaved Ice of Bel Air. The Festival’s main sponsors include the Bel Air Cultural Arts Commission, Bel Air Economic & Community Development Commission and the Maryland Film Office. Co-sponsors include Center for the Arts, Bel Air Downtown Alliance, and Harford County Cultural Arts Board. Honorary sponsors include the Maryland Film Festival.
Advance tickets are now on sale, Monday through Friday, 8:30 am-4:30 pm, at the Town of Bel Air Department of Economic Development located in the Bel Air Reckord Armory, 37-41 N. Main Street. For more information, visit www.TownOfBelAirFilmFestival.com or call 410-838-0584 and ask for Jeanne, or send an e-mail to JWhiskeyman@belairmd.org. You can also contact the Festival Director, Rebecca Jessop, at RJessop@HarfordCFA.org. Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
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