Jed Williams Gallery on First Fridays in Philly, Traveling Europe by Train and shnit Film Festival Picks

Made in Belgium, the shnit International Short Film Festival selection 'Drôle D'oiseau (Strange Bird)' is a portrait of a man with bipolar disorder, told through the eyes of his 11 year-old daughter. In keeping with Couch Fest’s long-standing tradition of bringing movie lovers together, I am proud to be presenting the 14^th Annual shnit Short Film Festival next weekend. It is an exceptional twelve-day event taking place simultaneously in eight cities across five continents worldwide. As part of the shnit family, I have the pleasure to give the Philadelphia community further access to a selection of award-nominated films in the shnit CINEMAS lineup.

The 2016 programming block showcases films from countries such as Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Russia, Belgium and the United States. Knowing the birthplace of America offers many fun activities to keep film fans occupied in the meantime, I welcomed several locals on the Philly arts scene to let you know what’s happening in and around town; while also sharing their transnational experiences, interests and…of course…most anticipated films playing at the shnit International Short Film Festival.

Damon McCloskey's work in the 'Here We Are Now' exhibition is on display at Jed Williams Gallery.Jed Williams Gallery (at 615 Bainbridge Street) is hosting a First Friday reception on October 7^th from 4pm-7pm for HERE WE ARE NOW, an exhibition exploring themes of contemporary abstraction through paintings by Damon McCloskey, TJ Walsh and Ethan Dahl. Philly locals and visitors alike are invited to come over and mingle with new friends over free wine and refreshments – right in time for the unveiling of an official, limited edition, HERE WE ARE NOW t-shirt.

Having attended grade school and high school in France (part of his family is French), Gallery owner and artist Jed Williams’ exploration of the world around him began early on.

Though Williams has since been to Israel, Italy, studied abroad in Germany and spent most of his time in Edinburgh -- a place he considers “a really cool city” -- during a visit to Scotland, he still “would like to travel somewhere, maybe in the East, like Russia.” Continuing below is a sneak peek into the shnit CINEMAS lineup during my Q&A with the man behind one of the top art galleries in Bella Vista.

Madlab Post: What kind of adventures did you experience during your time abroad?

Jed Williams: I was traveling around Europe by train, and, while going from Germany, there was a man sitting across from me who looked like a straight-laced businessman, but then somehow we started talking and had this incredible conversation about life in general, psychedelic drugs, our families, the important things in life and so on. It was really a great traveling encounter. All the more because I never saw him again.

MP: Is film a universal language?

JW: That is a really fascinating question, because it almost suggests another question -- that of whether or not there actually is a universal language at all. I would say film is a universal language in that people of all countries/cultures/spoken languages can enjoy it and be inspired by the dramatic conjunctions of moving images and sounds the best films offer; however I would also say that, one can go even further by thinking that when speech/spoken language is added to a movie, movies featuring particular languages become dialects of the universal language.

So film is such a powerful experience because there is so much being expressed, on so many levels simultaneously; and in ways that make us use different parts of our consciousness.

Made in Russia, the shnit International Short Film Festival selection 'The Very Lonely Cock' is about a charmingly stupid, very timid and very lonely rooster and his encounter with a rope.MP: Which film in the shnit Cinemas lineup for Philly interests you the most?

JW: It's a tie between ОЧЕНЬ ОДИНОКИЙ ПЕТУХ (Very Lonely Cock) and Drôle D'oiseau (Strange Bird). Very Lonely Cock has an interesting visual look and it deals with the theme of loneliness, to which I can relate.  

Drôle D'oiseau, on the other hand, seems like it would be a fascinating psychological dialogue/portrayal and the story line appeals to me; I used to be a counselor as well.

MP: How many languages do you speak?

JW: I speak 3 languages. English, fluent French and pretty good/intermediate German (I learned German all through high school and college, and I guess it stuck with me!). I would like to learn Russian. In fact, I'm trying to teach myself Russian right now, as a kind of hobby, with books, internet sites and a Russian-learning app!

MP:  What is one of your favorite foods from another country or culture?

JW: I like Chicken Biriani; it's Indian. I have no idea how to make it myself!

MP: Can you describe one of your favorite foreign movies?

JW: I loved Woman in the Dunes by Hiroshi Teshigahara. I liked the psychological depth with which it portrays the different characters, like the main character, a Butterfly catcher. The atmosphere of the film is very seductive, and particular, somewhat hushed and dream-like but at the same time dealing with intense, sometimes violent feelings. The black and white photography is also amazing.

MP: What can Jed Williams Gallery visitors expect during the Here We Are Now exhibition and t-shirt unveiling?

JW: The Here We Are Now t-shirt is a way to promote the show while also offering some cool merch for people. I am indebted to Brian Spies, the curator of Here We Are Now, for designing the t-shirt. I love the stark simplicity of it.

When visitors come to the show they can expect a wealth of different types of art, from TJ Walsh's colorful, complex abstract mixed media/oil paintings to Ethan Dahl's giclees (a type of printing process) mounted on panels that have a kind of brilliant, pop-like color and over-all design sensibility; and also not to forget Damon McCloskey's more tonal mixed media works on paper in which one can get lost in omni present, labyrinthine details and a rich color sense.

The First Friday reception for HERE WE ARE NOW at Jed Williams Gallery is October 7 from 4-7pm.I think it is an exceptional show and represents a collaboration between the gallery and Brian Spies, the curator, as well as the gallery reaching out beyond artists from Philadelphia (as 2 of the artists are from central PA.)

Much thanks to Jed Williams Gallery for spending time with me to discuss film, art and culture; all in preparation for when shnit International Short Film Festival hits Philly!

World cinema buffs can now GET MOVIE PASSES to see some of the world’s best films.

Things to Do in Philly Right Now: If you’re in town, be sure to visit First Fridays at Jed Williams Gallery’s reception for for HERE ARE WE NOW, October 7^th 4pm-6pm at 615 Bainbridge Street in Philadelphia, PA.

What is the last foreign film YOU watched?

How do YOU celebrate First Fridays?

From Kickstarter to the Cinema: Anatomy of a Crucial Scene in Latino Thriller

(l-r): DP Carolina Costa, Writer/Director Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer on set filming "Contrapelo."In less than two months, American Film Institute (AFI) fellow Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer and his team behind the crime thriller Contrapelo, successfully raised over $8,000 on crowdfunding platform Kickstarter. The finishing funds helped get this short film ready for its potential close-up at a theater near you.

“In the middle of a drug war that has taken the lives of more than 150,000 and ravaged a nation, we seek to ask questions about involvement and responsibility while telling a compelling and entertaining story,” mentioned Alcocer whose movie tells the story of a proud Mexican barber who is forced to shave the leader of a drug cartel. As he faces the man who is destroying his country, he is confronted by a difficult decision: to become a killer, or to let this man continue to kill.

By the end of the shave, the Barber will realize he and the crime boss are not so different. 2015 has been a good year so far for Contrapelo, which is making its way around the film festival circuit. I recently caught up with Carolina Costa, a Director of Photography who shot this movie in six days with an international crew and cast including Mexican actors Art Bonilla (Coneheads, Salvador), Eduardo Roman (21 Days, The Mask of Zorro) and Chilean actor Hugo Medina (Orange is the New Black, Sons of Anarchy). Costa shared her favorite shots from Contrapelo with me, including one where she describes how the composition and lighting are very important to understanding the drug lord character, played by Roman, whose performance is “spotless.”

Listen to the video below to find out more about the way they created certain distinctions about this character, during production.

Want to know more about how Contrapelo was filmed? Come see the movie this weekend at the shnit International Short Film Festival screening in Philly and get access to an exclusive clip with details from the production of one of the most powerful scenes from this movie!

The short film Contrapelo is playing during shnit CINEMAS Worldwide

3:00pm - Saturday, October 17, 2015

Roberto Hernandez Theater at Taller Puertorriqeño

2557 N. 5^th Street (5^th & Huntingdon, near Lehigh Avenue)

Philadelphia, PA 19133

Movie Tickets to this show are On Sale Now at http://gum.co/shnitPhilly

Skip the box office line and save on general admission when you pick up advance tickets from these satellite box office locations:

Galan’s Mini Market

2701 N. Fairhill St.

(on the corner of Fairhill & Lehigh Ave.)

Philadelphia, PA 19133

Gail’s Caribbean Cuisine

5555 N. 5^th Street

Philadelphia, PA 19120

Thank God Grocery Store

420 W. Olney Avenue

(between 5^th & Olney and 4^th & Olney)

Philadelphia, PA 19120

shnit Happening in Philadelphia: Advance Movie Tickets, Feria del Barrio and Global Expansion

Travel lover Lena visits my pop-pp shnit CINEMAS box office at 31st Annual Feria del Barrio.For several years, I’ve championed the community building endeavors of Couch Fest Films, an annual event where people meet to watch award-winning motion pictures in strangers’ houses, aboard their boats and inside other unconventional venues around the world -- all on one day. During that time I also became an official ambassador for this cozy “little festival that could,” hosting movie screenings in Philadelphia.

So when Couch Fest -- which was founded on the west coast -- became part of the shnit International Short Film Festival (juried in 2014 by Oscar winning screenwriter Paul Haggis of Crash, Million Dollar Baby, Casino Royale) based in Switzerland, I jumped at the chance to bring their 2015 shnit CINEMAS worldwide installment to the city known as the birthplace of America.

The British romantic comedy "Love is Blind," directed by Dan Hodgson is among several short films playing at shnit CINEMAS Philadelphia.shnit International Short Film Festival is the first global, multicultural event catering to motion pictures that are 40 minutes or less.

Hosted simultaneously in select cities across 5 continents, the festival unites filmmakers and movie lovers for an exceptional short film experience.

Now, film fans in Philly have an opportunity to watch a curated selection of 8 shorts from around the world that are nominated for the international competition of this festival. The Philadelphia audience will also operate as the jury by choosing the winner of THE FLAMING FAUN award, which includes prize money of $20,000 for the winning filmmaker.

On Saturday October 17^th, the shnit CINEMAS worldwide exhibition hits the big screen in the Roberto Hernandez Theater at Taller Puertorriqueño (2557 N. 5^th Street, Philadelphia, PA; map address here). Residents in the Greater Philadelphia area were able to score Early Bird tickets to this upcoming event during my pop-up shnit Cinemas box office launch at the Feria del Barrio arts celebration that took place in September. Advance Tickets to see this diverse collection of short films, including an Academy Award contender, two successfully backed Kickstarter projects, and a Palme d’Or nominee from Cannes, are ON SALE NOW!

Let’s come together to watch, discuss and vote on some of the world’s best films!