From the Town of Bel Air Film Festival:
The Town of Bel Air, in conjunction with the Bel Air Cultural Arts Commission, announces the 7th Annual Town of Bel Air Film Festival to be held October 15-17, 2015 at the Bel Air Reckord Armory, 37 North Main Street in Bel Air. This year’s film lineup features inspiring and thought provoking films from around the country.
Thursday, October 15th at 7:30 pm features Taking Back the Airwaves: The Story of the Radio Pirates, directed by local filmmaker and Associate Professor at Harford Community College Wayne Hepler. What do frenzied female fans, a bomb, a murder, Elvis, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones have in common? They all formed Europe’s wild world of pirate radio in the ’60s, as amateur dj’s broadcast rock ’n ’roll from the North Sea when the government monopolies wouldn’t. Meet the men (and one woman) who took on hurricanes and the government. The film also presents the shadowy modern-day pirates of America still daring the law to catch them today. Special Guest Host is Director Wayne Hepler. Doors Open at 7:00 pm.
Friday, October 16th at 8:00 pm features Harry & Snowman, the remarkable life story of international show jumping legend Harry deLeyer, a Dutch immigrant whose career was launched by his famous show jumping horse Snowman. After rescuing an old Amish plow horse bound for the meat and glue factory for only $80, deLeyer rose to horse jumping glory in less than two years. Audience Award Winner for Best Documentary at the 2015 Nantucket Film Festival. Jack Gerbes, Director of the Maryland Film Office, and Susan Burdette, Town of Bel Air Commissioner, will kick off the evening. Special Guest Host is Cathy Schmidt, Executive Director of Chesapeake Therapeutic Riding. Doors open at 7:30 pm.
Saturday, October 17th at 4:00 pm features A Ballerina’s Tale, a fascinating look at the rise of African American ballet dancer Misty Copeland to the highest level of the dance world. Official Selection at the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival. Special Guest Host is Kristen Stevenson, award winning dancer, choreographer and instructor with the BalletNova Center for Dance. Doors open at 3:30 pm.
Saturday’s lineup continues at 7:30 pm with the film A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velasquez Story, the inspiring journey of Elizabeth “Lizzie” Velasquez , once labeled as “The World’s Ugliest Woman” on YouTube. Born with a rare syndrome that prevents her from gaining weight, follow this amazing woman as she grows from a bullied child in school to gaining fame in her TEDxtalk to traveling to Capitol Hill to fight for anti-bullying legislation. Official Selection at the SXSW 2015 Film Festival. Special Guest Host is Annemarie Drazenovich, Board Member of Girls on the Run of Harford and Cecil Counties. Doors open at 7:00 pm.
Tickets are $5 per person and include one complimentary soda and popcorn. A $10 All Access Pass is also available. Children under 10 years of age are free. Comfortable table seating is available and attendees can bring their own snacks and blankets too!
The Festival’s main sponsors include the Bel Air Cultural Arts Commission, Bel Air Economic & Community Development Commission, and Maryland Film Office. Co-sponsors include the Bel Air Downtown Alliance, Full House Marketing, Harford County Cultural Arts Board and Sharon’s Hawaiian Shaved Ice of Bel Air. Honorary sponsor is the Maryland Film Festival.
Advance tickets are on sale beginning October 5th, 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 N. Main Street. For more information, visit www.TownOfBelAirFilmFestival.com or call 410-838-0584 or send an e-mail to ssaunders@belairmd.org. Check us out on Facebook.
this is very likely the best line-up of films the town has ever offered. Its a great evening, in a most relaxed atmosphere…what ‘small town’ America is all about.
I agree Todd.The Film Festival folks have outdone themselves, again. The hardest part is figuring out which film to miss (if any). This is what its all about! Hats off to the whole team. See you there.