8th Annual Independent Film Festival Boston : April 21 - 28, 2010

Narrative Features

Bass Ackwards
Fri. 4/23 - 7:00pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
In this feature by Linas Phillips, a man fresh from a break-up with a married woman embarks on a road trip in a VW bus.
Cairo Time
Mon. 4/26 - 7:00pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 3
Patricia Clarkson stars in this romantic drama about a brief, unexpected love affair that catches two people completely off-guard.
Cell 211
Sat. 4/24 - 10:45pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 3
In this Goya Award-winning suspense thriller from Spain, a rookie guard is trapped inside a prison during a riot and must pretend he is a prisoner to survive.
Cracks
Thurs. 4/22 - 9:45pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 5
Sexual tension between a teacher and her students simmers to a boil in a 1930s female boarding school.
Cyrus
Thurs. 4/22 - 9:30pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 1
Mark and Jay Duplass’s hilarious new comedy about the battle for one woman’s affections, starring John C. Reilly, Jonah Hill, Catherine Keener and Marisa Tomei.
Le Donk & Scor-Zay-Zee
Thurs. 4/22 - 10:00pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 4
A former roadie, Le Donk, aspires to take a rapper from the Midlands to the heights of fame with the help of the Arctic Monkeys in this mockumentary by Shane Meadows (THIS IS ENGLAND).
Down Terrace
Fri. 4/23 - 9:45pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 5
Sat. 4/24 - 2:30pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 4
This genre-busting film depicts the members of a crime family as they attempt to restore their business dealings after time spent in jail.
Drones
Sat. 4/24 - 10:30pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 1
An unassuming guy is shocked out of his dull, everyday work routine when he discovers that his co-workers aren’t exactly from this planet in the latest film by Amber Benson and Adam Busch.
The Extra Man
Wed. 4/21 - 7:30pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 1
OPENING NIGHT FILM
In this urbane comedy, Paul Dano and Kevin Kline play writers who sideline as escorts for wealthy widowed socialites.
The Father of My Children
Sun. 4/25 - 12:00pm - Brattle Theatre
This French drama serves as an exploration of the hardships of filmmaking and a rumination on loss and hope.
The Freebie
Sat. 4/24 - 5:15pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 3
In Katie Aselton’s directorial debut, a young couple (Dax Shepard and Aselton) consents to permit each other one night of freedom from their monogamous relationship.
The Good, The Bad, The Weird
Sat. 4/24 - 11:15pm - Brattle Theatre
Mon. 4/26 - 9:30pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 5
In this frenetic, high-octane Korean Western, three outlaws in 1930s Manchuria attempt to recover a map to buried treasure.
Harmony and Me
Thurs. 4/22 - 7:00pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 5
Recently dumped, Harmony seeks solace through various encounters in this wry comedy.
Hipsters (Stilyagi)
Sun. 4/25 - 4:15pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 1
This Russian musical puts a bright new spin on a traditional film genre, throwing the viewer into a world that’s somehow both familiar and strange.
I Am Love
Sat. 4/24 - 7:30pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 3
The wife of an Italian industrial magnate (Tilda Swinton) embarks on a dangerous affair in this sumptuous film.
The Killer Inside Me
Sun. 4/25 - 7:00pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 1
Casey Affleck portrays a Texas deputy sheriff whose dormant violent tendencies resurface. Directed by Michael Winterbottom.
Life During Wartime
Sat. 4/24 - 9:30pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 5
Friends, family, and lovers struggle to find love, forgiveness, and meaning in Todd Solondz’s dark comedy starring Allison Janney, Ally Sheedy, and Paul Reubens.
Looking for Eric
Sun. 4/25 - 2:30pm - Brattle Theatre
A postman seeks the spiritual and philosophical advice of famous footballer Eric Cantona in this film by Ken Loach.
Lovers of Hate
Sat. 4/24 - 7:00pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 5
Dark comedy about two alienated brothers whose sibling rivalry extends to their relationship with the same woman.
Machotaildrop
Fri. 4/23 - Midnight - Brattle Theatre
Walter Rhum’s objective is to ride for the world’s greatest skateboard company, Machotaildrop, in this surreal, visually inventive film.
My Suicide
Sun. 4/25 - 2:30pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 5
Archibald Holden Buster Williams’s school project is to kill himself on camera.
NY Export: Opus Jazz
Sun. 4/25 - 2:45pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 3
In this vivid, gorgeously shot adaptation of a lesser-known ballet by Academy Award-winning choreographer Jerome Robbins (WEST SIDE STORY), New York City Ballet dancers take to the streets.
Perrier’s Bounty
Thurs. 4/22 - 7:30pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 1
This thriller set in Dublin stars Brendan Gleeson, Cillian Murphy and Jim Broadbent.
Phillip the Fossil
Sat. 4/24 - 9:00pm - Brattle Theatre
Garth Donovan’s gritty portrait of a small-town party animal on the brink of evolution or extinction.
Putty Hill
Sat. 4/24 - 4:30pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 4
Sun. 4/25 - 8:00pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 4
After a young man dies from a drug overdose, his friends gather to reflect on his life and loss.
Solitary Man
Sun. 4/25 - 7:45pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 5
Michael Douglas portrays a used-car magnate whose personal demons dismantle his life.
Soul Kitchen
Sat. 4/24 - 10:00pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 4
Zinos tirelessly attempts to save his Greek restaurant and relationship with his girlfriend while keeping his brother out of jail in this German comedy.
Tiny Furniture
Sat. 4/24 - 7:15pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 4
Mon. 4/26 - 7:00pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 4
The return home of newly graduated Aura causes family upheaval as she navigates her family’s expectations and warily chooses between two potential boyfriends.
Winter’s Bone
Fri. 4/23 - 7:00pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 5
Ree desperately searches for her father, whose disappearance after posting bail risks her losing their Ozark home. Stars Jennifer Lawrence and John Hawkes (Deadwood, Lost).

Documentary Features

8: The Mormon Proposition
Mon. 4/26 - 7:15pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 5
Investigates the Mormon Church’s role in passing California’s Proposition 8.
9500 Liberty
Sun. 4/25 - 1:45pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 1
A county in Virginia becomes a battleground for immigration policy in the U.S.
American: The Bill Hicks Story
Fri. 4/23 - 10:15pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 4
An oral history about the life of the late, influential comedian told in a revolutionary, animated style by the people who knew him best.
Anne Perry: Interiors
Sun. 4/25 - 12:00pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
Intimate portrait of the author who was the inspiration for HEAVENLY CREATURES.
Bananas!*
Sat. 4/24 - 12:15pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 3
Twelve Nicaraguan banana workers sue Dole Food over their use of a dangerous pesticide known to cause sterility.
Bear Nation
Mon. 4/26 - 9:45pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 4
From the director of SMALL TOWN GAY BAR comes a look at one of the lesser-known subcultures within the gay community. Includes interviews with Bob Mould and Kevin Smith.
Beijing Taxi
Sat. 4/24 - 2:15pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 5
The lives and struggles of three taxi drivers navigating their way through a rapidly changing city.
Casino Jack and the United States of Money
Fri. 4/23 - 7:00pm - Brattle Theatre
Alex Gibney (ENRON: THE SMARTEST GUYS IN THE ROOM) investigates lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his trail of lies and deceit.
Colony
Sat. 4/24 - 1:00pm - Brattle Theatre
This gorgeously shot film contemplates the tiny but powerful industry at the heart of modern farming, and how the unexplained collapse of beehives could change food production as we know it.
Convention
Sun. 4/25 - 5:00pm - Brattle Theatre
A fascinating glimpse at the turbulent machinery behind the 2008 Democratic Convention.
Dirty Pictures
Sat. 4/24 - 6:30pm - Brattle Theatre
The “father of Ecstacy” discusses how chemistry has led to enlightenment for him and his wife.
The Disappearance of McKinley Nolan
Sun. 4/25 - 7:30pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 3
SNEAK PREVIEW
Retired US Army Lt. Dan Smith, revisiting the battlefields of Vietnam in 2006, encounters McKinley, a private who disappeared 40 years earlier.
Do It Again
Sat. 4/24 - 8:00pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 1
Boston Globe writer Geoff Edgers fights an uphill battle to reunite the Kinks.
The Elephant in the Living Room
Sun. 4/25 - 4:45pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 4
Documentary about the dangers and responsibilities associated with keeping exotic animals as pets.
Erasing David
Sat. 4/24 - 4:45pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 5
Director David Bond attempts to disappear to find out just how much private companies and the government know about him.
Family Affair
Sat. 4/24 - 5:00pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 1
At age 10, Chico Colvard accidentally shot his sister in the leg, which inadvertently exposed a shocking, long-buried family secret.
His & Hers
Sun. 4/25 - 12:00pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 4
A 90 year-old love story told through the collective voice of 70 women and girls at different stages of their lives.
How to Fold a Flag
Sun. 4/25 - 5:15pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 5
Examines the difficulties facing returning veterans of the Iraqi War.
I’m Dangerous with Love
Fri. 4/23 - 9:30pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 3
Dimitri Mugianis, addicted to drugs and alcohol, is aided by an experimental treatment utilizing ibogaine, a hallucinogen used by African shaman for centuries.
Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child
Tue. 4/27 - 9:30pm - ICA
Portrait of the short life of the celebrated Neo-Expressionist artist.
Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work
Fri. 4/23 - 7:30pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 1
Captivating scars-and-all portrait of the iconic, hardworking Joan Rivers.
The Last Survivor
Sun. 4/25 - 2:15pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 4
Survivors struggle to understand the tragedy of genocide by educating others about the mass atrocities that they endured.
Lemmy
Fri. 4/23 - 10:00pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 1
Follows the legendary heart of Motörhead from his LA apartment to an arena in Russia and back.
Life 2.0
Fri. 4/23 - 10:00pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
Sun. 4/25 - 7:15pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
A filmmaker adopts an avatar to fully engage and explore the world of Second Life, an online community.
The Lottery
Sun. 4/25 - 11:45am - Somerville Theatre Screen 5
Examines the anxious months preceding the lottery for Harlem Success Academy, one of the most successful public charter schools in the country.
Marwencol
Tue. 4/27 - 7:00pm - ICA
A man deals with being savagely beaten by creating beautiful photographs of G.I. Joe and Barbie dolls to narrate his fantasy life.
The Oath
Sat. 4/24 - 3:30pm - Brattle Theatre
The story of two brothers-in-law, close to Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaeda, and their very different outcomes post-9/11.
October Country
Sat. 4/24 - 8:15pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
Intimately tracks a year in the life of four generations of a family trying to attain stability in an impoverished area of Upstate New York.
On the Other Side of Life
Thurs. 4/22 - 7:00pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
SNEAK PREVIEW
A gripping account of two brothers struggling to balance modernity and tradition in Cape Town.
Orgasm Inc.
Sun. 4/25 - 5:00pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 3
This hilarious and thought-provoking doc explores the world of pharmaceutical companies attempting to get FDA approval for the first Viagra-like product for women.
The Parking Lot Movie
Fri. 4/23 - 9:45pm - Brattle Theatre
Sun. 4/25 - 12:15pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 3
“It’s not just a parking lot. It’s a battle with humanity.” This doc explores the lessons learned by those who work in parking lots.
Pelada
Sat. 4/24 - 12:00pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 4
The transformative and influential power of soccer is explored in areas as far-flung as Bolivia, China, Kenya, Iraq and Brazil.
Saturday Night
Wed. 4/28 - 8:00pm - Coolidge Corner Theatre
CLOSING NIGHT FILM
James Franco (PINEAPPLE EXPRESS) makes his directorial debut with this behind-the-scenes look at the making of an episode of Saturday Night Live.
Searching for Elliott Smith
Mon. 4/26 - 7:30pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 1
Intimate portrait of lo-fi indie rock sensation Elliott Smith.
Secrets of the Tribe
Thurs. 4/22 - 9:15pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 3
Fascinating documentary about the effects of anthropologists on a remote tribe in the Amazon.
Strange Powers: Stephin Merritt and the Magnetic Fields
Sun. 4/25 - 7:30pm - Brattle Theatre
A rare opportunity to become acquainted with cantankerous musician and writer Stephin Merritt.
Taqwacore: The Birth of Punk Islam
Thurs. 4/22 - 7:15pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 4
Traces the origin of the Muslim punk scene from its conception in a novel by Michael Muhammad Knight to a fully realized movement.
Teenage Paparazzo
Sat. 4/24 - 2:00pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 1
In his latest documentary, Adrian Grenier (Entourage) depicts the rise to fame and success of the youngest member of Hollywood’s paparazzi.
War Don Don
Sat. 4/24 - 2:30pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
Thoughtful examination of the protracted, costly and questionable process by which war criminals were prosecuted in Sierra Leone.

Short Films

5 Variations on a Long String // Shorts 2
Fri. 4/23 - 7:15pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 3
Mon. 4/26 - 9:15pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
Explores composer/performer Ellen Fullman’s “long string instrument” that spans over sixty feet to create a dense sound to engulf the audience.
The Armoire // Shorts 4
Thurs. 4/22 - 9:30pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
Sat. 4/24 - 12:00pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
An unforgettably textured tale of childhood secrets that is both haunting and wickedly funny.
Athena // Shorts 5
Sat. 4/24 - 5:30pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
In an isolated convenience store in the middle of the desert, Chuck comes to realizations about himself and the course of his life. Featuring David Thewlis, Harry Dean Stanton and Fiona Dourif.
Blackhead // Shorts 4
Thurs. 4/22 - 9:30pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
Sat. 4/24 - 12:00pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
In this darkly comic short, a man with intimacy issues develops a grotesquely large blackhead in the middle of his back.
Born Sweet // Shorts 1
Thurs. 4/22 - 6:45pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 3
Mon. 4/26 - 6:45pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
A boy from a rural village in Cambodia pursues his dream of stardom despite suffering from arsenic poisoning from the local water supply.
Diplomacy // Shorts 6
Sun. 4/25 - 4:30pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
In politics, some things are lost and gained in translation.
The Fence // Shorts 1
Thurs. 4/22 - 6:45pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 3
Mon. 4/26 - 6:45pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
A short film about the construction of the fence on the border between the U.S. and Mexico.
Gayby // Shorts 4
Thurs. 4/22 - 9:30pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
Sat. 4/24 - 12:00pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
Longtime friends Matt and Jenn decide to reconnect by having a baby, despite the fact that he is gay and she is straight.
God of Love // Shorts 4
Thurs. 4/22 - 9:30pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
Sat. 4/24 - 12:00pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
A lovestruck, lounge-singing darts champion finds his prayers are answered—literally—when he mysteriously receives a box of love-inducing darts.
The Hirosaki Players // Shorts 6
Sun. 4/25 - 4:30pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
A Japanese playwright struggles with his aging, arrogant actor father for control of the play and their relationship.
Invisible Loneliness // Shorts 3
Sat. 4/24 - 2:45pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 3
Mon. 4/26 - 9:45pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 3
A young girl is left alone with only a key to remind her of her father. When that key is lost, she wonders if she will ever see her parents or experience home again.
Iowa Mixtape // Shorts 2
Fri. 4/23 - 7:15pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 3
Mon. 4/26 - 9:15pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
Iowa: home of cornfields, Grant Wood, and… hip-hop fans?
Junko’s Shamisen // Shorts 3
Sat. 4/24 - 2:45pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 3
Mon. 4/26 - 9:45pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 3
A young Japanese orphan and her mystical friend exact poetic justice on a malevolent samurai lord.
Keep Dancing // Shorts 2
Fri. 4/23 - 7:15pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 3
Mon. 4/26 - 9:15pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
Blending nine decades of archival film, photographs and present-day footage, the passing of time and the process of aging are expressed though dance.
Laredo, Texas // Shorts 6
Sun. 4/25 - 4:30pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
Sam suspects that Juan, whom he is training at his job to fix pay phones, may be an illegal immigrant.
Little Accidents // Shorts 6
Sun. 4/25 - 4:30pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
A desperate young factory worker recruits a mentally disabled ex-boyfriend to steal a pregnancy test for her.
Monkeywrench // Shorts 5
Sat. 4/24 - 5:30pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
A young environmental activist’s ideology is challenged when a forest is threatened with being clearcut.
New Media // Shorts 6
Sun. 4/25 - 4:30pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
Living in the lap of luxury through no achievement of his own, an out-of-touch middle-aged poseur tries to make good by getting in on the “viral video” craze.
One Last Cigarette // Shorts 5
Sat. 4/24 - 5:30pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
A brief encounter between two Parisian smokers leads to an unpredictable outcome.
One Square Mile of Earth // Shorts 3
Sat. 4/24 - 2:45pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 3
Mon. 4/26 - 9:45pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 3
A bunny, frog, goat, bear, hippopotamus and squirrel walk into a bar...
Out in That Deep Blue Sea // Shorts 5
Sat. 4/24 - 5:30pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
A middle-aged man goes door-to-door, attempting to draw clients to his real estate agency.
The Poodle Trainer // Shorts 2
Fri. 4/23 - 7:15pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 3
Mon. 4/26 - 9:15pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
A Russian circus-dog trainer rehearses, grooms, costumes, and performs with her purebred poodles.
Quadrangle // Shorts 1
Thurs. 4/22 - 6:45pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 3
Mon. 4/26 - 6:45pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
Focuses on two “conventional” couples who participated in group marriage in the early 1970s, eager to find an alternative to divorce.
The S From Hell // Shorts 2
Fri. 4/23 - 7:15pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 3
Mon. 4/26 - 9:15pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
Throughout the 1960s, a snaky symbol accompanied by a sinister tune appeared on television and terrorized a generation.
Sebastian’s Voodoo // Shorts 3
Sat. 4/24 - 2:45pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 3
Mon. 4/26 - 9:45pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 3
A voodoo doll must find the courage to save his friends from being pinned to death.
Seeds of the Fall // Shorts 4
Thurs. 4/22 - 9:30pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
Sat. 4/24 - 12:00pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
The director of the Academy Award-nominated INSTEAD OF ABRACADABRA (IFFBoston 2009) returns with this quirky comedy about trust and happenstance.
Snake Fever // Shorts 2
Fri. 4/23 - 7:15pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 3
Mon. 4/26 - 9:15pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
Short documentary about Waynoka, Oklahoma’s annual rattlesnake hunt.
Varmints // Shorts 3
Sat. 4/24 - 2:45pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 3
Mon. 4/26 - 9:45pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 3
Beautifully animated short film about an environmentally conscious creature.
Voice On The Line // Shorts 5
Sat. 4/24 - 5:30pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
The soothing voices of telephone operators tempt callers to share their secrets.
Wisdom Teeth // Shorts 3
Sat. 4/24 - 2:45pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 3
Mon. 4/26 - 9:45pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 3
Latest short from existential animator Don Hertzfeldt.

Shorts Packages

Shorts 1: Documentaries
Thurs. 4/22 - 6:45pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 3
Mon. 4/26 - 6:45pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
THE FENCE
QUADRANGLE
BORN SWEET
Shorts 2: Documentaries
Fri. 4/23 - 7:15pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 3
Mon. 4/26 - 9:15pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
THE S FROM HELL
IOWA MIXTAPE
THE POODLE TRAINER
SNAKE FEVER
5 VARIATIONS ON A LONG STRING KEEP DANCING
Shorts 3: Animation
Sat. 4/24 - 2:45pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 3
Mon. 4/26 - 9:45pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 3
ONE SQUARE MILE OF EARTH
INVISIBLE LONELINESS
SEBASTIAN’S VOODOO
JUNKO’S SHAMISEN
VARMINTS
WISDOM TEETH
Shorts 4: Comedic Narratives
Thurs. 4/22 - 9:30pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
Sat. 4/24 - 12:00pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
GOD OF LOVE
GAYBY
BLACKHEAD
THE ARMOIRE
SEEDS OF THE FALL
Shorts 5: Dramatic Narratives
Sat. 4/24 - 5:30pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
VOICE ON THE LINE
ONE LAST CIGARETTE
OUT IN THAT DEEP BLUE SEA
MONKEYWRENCH
ATHENA
Shorts 6: Dramatic Narratives
Sun. 4/25 - 4:30pm - Somerville Theatre Screen 2
LITTLE ACCIDENTS
LAREDO, TEXAS
THE HIROSAKI PLAYERS
DIPLOMACY
NEW MEDIA