Once again Adam’s passing off his Programmer’s Pick to a fellow staff member.  It’s not that he doesn’t love this film, it’s that he knows I lurve this film.

Lee Toland Kreiger’s THE VICIOUS KIND is reminiscent of the independent films I fell in love with in the early/mid-90’s.  I’m talking Hal Hartley, Whit Stillman, Noah Baumbach and Neil LaBute kinda goody-goodness.

It’s got sharp-biting dialogue, dark dark humor, incredible acting and it’s set during one of my favorite times… Thanksgiving!  Who doesn’t love a super dysfunctional holiday story? (it’s not a holiday film though so…)

While you might want to see the film for the always cramazing J.K. Simmons, the real reason to see this film is Adam Scott!

I’ve been an Adam Scott fan from the minute he stepped onto “Party of Five” 11 years ago and over the years whenever he would pop up in a film or a TV appearance, I would scream out his name.  Most people would just look at me and wonder if I had Tourette’s but I’m just representin’ for the character actors y’all.  Remember him as one of Dexter David Fisher’s lovers on “Six Feet Under”?  Well you should - he’s awesome.

In THE VICIOUS KIND, you’ll have very strong opinions of his character Caleb but love him or hate him, this time you’ll be ready to shout his name from the rooftops with me - he’s that damn good in this movie.

To read the synopsis, watch the trailer and buy tickets, click here.

Adam asked me to write about his pick today because he knew how strongly I felt about it – especially as someone who just got a dog from a local shelter last week.  She hasn’t been mine for more than 4 days and I can’t imagine someone trying to take her away.

The reason I love this movie is for its unbiased view of the situation that surrounded the animals affected by Hurricane Katrina.  It tells the story of many different owners, rescue workers, and shelters and the conflicts they have with each other but the filmmaker isn’t picking sides or asking you to.

Geralyn Pezanoski gives an honest depiction of people all trying to do what’s right for these animals while raising issues that a catastrophe like Katrina can create.

Will this movie make you cry?  Maybe, but there will be many tears of joy.  There are some really wonderful reunions.  Should you see this movie? Yes, absolutely – unless you’re a heartless bastard.  Then go see something else.  I’m sure we are screening something you’ll like.

To read the synopsis, watch the trailer, and buy tickets, click here.

Today’s Programmer’s Pick is Olaf De Fleur Johannesson’s sometimes thrilling and always hilarious Icelandic gangster comedy THE HIGHER FORCE. After successful screenings at the Toronto and Rotterdam Film Festivals, be among the first U.S. audiences to see this great film in what may be your only chance to see it on the big screen in the Boston area. Rumors are flying of an American remake possibly being in the works, so be sure to see the original! There will only be one screening and it’s Sunday April 26th at the Brattle Theatre.

To read the synopsis, watch the trailer, and buy tickets, click here.

See you at the Brattle!

Hi everyone,

Today’s Programmer’s Pick is Peter Esmonde’s TRIMPIN: THE SOUND OF INVENTION. This fantastic documentary wowed people last month at the SXSW (South By Southwest) Film Festival last month in Austin, Texas, and rightfully so. The film follows the man who simply goes by the name Trimpin, a Seattle-based eccentric and loveable “mad” inventor who is able to design and build some of the most creative musical devices ever seen. This is a perfectly crafted documentary that takes you right into the process as Trimpin creates some pretty amazing contraptions.

Both director Peter Esmonde and Trimpin himself are flying in from Seattle for both screenings of the film. Meet the man himself and discuss his inventions with him. I met Trimpin in Austin last month and I can tell you he is someone you will be glad you met, and this is a film you won’t forget anytime soon.

Watch the trailer, read the synopsis, and buy tickets here. It screens on Thursday April 23rd and Sunday April 26th at the Somerville Theatre. Look forward to seeing you there.

Adam Roffman
Program Director
IFFBoston

One of the most unique films in our lineup this year is Ben Steinbauer’s WINNEBAGO MAN. I don’t want to say too much about the film because I would like as many people as possible to walk into this blind the way that I did. What I can tell you is that you will find it hysterically funny and it will also move you. It comes to us fresh off a Grand Jury Prize win for Best Documentary at the prestigious Sarasota Film Festival and was one of the big hits at last month’s SXSW Film Festival in Austin.

Don’t miss your chance to see it on the big screen in Boston with a Q&A with director Ben Steinbauer.

Get your tickets now before they’re all gone. You can buy them here.

Attending the Independent Film Festival of Boston from out of town? The place to stay during the festival is The Liberty Hotel, the Official Hotel of IFFBoston! Just check out the website and you’ll want to book your room in an instant. In addition to this being the coolest hotel in Boston, it is also where the majority of IFFBoston’s guest filmmakers will be staying and will be host to 2 of IFFBoston’s parties and the awards ceremony.

All you have to do to get the discounted rate is either:

A: Call the Liberty Hotel at 617-224-4000 and tell them you’re coming for the Independent Film Festival of Boston and ask for the festival rate.

OR
B: Book your room online with the discount by clicking http://www.libertyhotel.com/ and using the IFFBoston discount code of 7042US.

We look forward to seeing you at the festival and at The Liberty Hotel. Book your room today!

Today’s Programmer’s Pick is Jody Lambert’s OF ALL THE THINGS. If you like a fun, funny, uplifting story with lots of surprises then this is a perfect film for you. This film has been winning awards all over the country and it is finally making its Boston debut. It’s an unbelievable but true story filled with engaging characters and great music. If you want to have a good time, you should get tickets now for OF ALL THE THINGS. Read the synopsis, watch the trailer, and buy tickets here.

Also, check out this interview from yesterday’s Boston Herald:
http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/news/working_stiff/index.php/2009/04/15/how-many-billboard-100-hit-songs-does-your-real-estate-agent-have/

And this review from today’s Boston Phoenix:
http://thephoenix.com/Boston/Movies/80799-OF-ALL-THE-THINGS/

See you at OF ALL THE THINGS!

Each day from now until the end of the festival I will be picking one film that is one of our favorites at the festival that you should not miss if you love great films.

The first selection in the Programmer’s Picks is Marco Bechis’s BIRDWATCHERS. This is truly one of the better narrative films to come out in the last 3 years and I liked it so much I watched it 3 times. It is beautifully shot, edited, and acted. I have trouble finding a flaw with this film and I may sneak into the theater during its IFFBoston screening because this is one film that will be great to see on the big screen.

You can look at images, watch the trailer, read the synopsis, and buy tickets here. The trailer doesn’t have subtitles, but don’t worry, the film does. At least in this one instance, you won’t have to worry about a trailer giving too much away!

I hope you take these words to heart and get your tickets now. This is one not to miss. BIRDWATCHERS screens Sunday April 26th at 12:30pm at the Somerville Theatre.

Adam Roffman
Program Director
Independent Film Festival of Boston

Whether you’re looking to laugh, be frightened, or just to have your mind totally blown, IFFBoston 2009 has got the films for you.

You can start your late night fun at the Somerville Theatre on Thursday April 23rd with the unbelievable BRONSON. Based on the real-life Charlie Bronson, the UK’s most notorious prisoner, the film is a beautifully made opera of violence, A Clockwork Orange for a new generation. Watch the trailer and get your tickets here. The film will also have an encore screening at the Somerville Theatre on Saturday April 25th.

On Friday April 24th you have your pick of late-night fare.

Your first option is MAKE-OUT WITH VIOLENCE, directed by the young and talented Deagol Brothers. This film has been winning awards at festival around the country and I like to describe it as John Hughes meets Wes Anderson meets George Romero. The film plays at the Somerville Theatre at 10pm. Watch the trailer and buy tickets here.

Your next option is to hit the TWISTED SHORTS package at the Somerville Theatre at 11:30pm. This package runs the gamut from twisted to shocking to hilarious, many of the shorts within being all three. After watching this shorts package we guarantee you will be thinking about them for many days and nights. Get your tickets here.

Your latest option on Friday night is to head over to the Brattle to see one of the best “zombie” films in years. Bruce McDonald (THE TRACEY FRAGMENTS) gives the zombie flick a Canadian twist in the inventive and frightening thriller PONTYPOOL. Watch the trailer and get tickets here.

Wrap up your late night fix with a double-header at the Brattle Theatre in Harvard Square. At 9:30 go see BEST WORST MOVIE, the hilarious documentary that delves into the phenomenon of the unexpected cult following of the “worst film of all time”, TROLL 2. Director Michael Stephenson (who was also one of the stars of TROLL 2) will be in attendance. Watch the trailer and get tickets here.

The second part of the double-header is Paul Solet’s terrifying horror film GRACE. You may have heard of this film as “that movie that had people fainting at Sundance”. Can you take it? Get your ticket here and find out! Director and Boston native Paul Solet will be in attendance to answer questions from those that are not hiding behind their seats.

This is your first and possibly only chance to catch some of these great new films on the big screen in the Boston area, so don’t miss out! Get your tickets now.

One lucky attendee at the IFFBoston Opening Night screening of THE BROTHERS BLOOM will walk away with two roundtrip tickets from JetBlue Airways. Tickets are selling fast for this and many other screenings so don’t wait. You can get your tickets for opening night by clicking here. A great movie, a Q&A with the director, and the chance to win a pair of free flights on JetBlue all for $10? You don’t want to miss this!