2012 Modern Film Fest schedule/movie line-up announced

Posted July 14, 2012 at 1:39pm

30th anniversary of Star Trek II:Wrath of Khan

Modern Film Fest tickets are $4 per movie screening at the 900 seat historic Gem Theatre, Kannapolis, N.C.

FRIDAY, OCT. 5, 2012

5 p.m. - The Gem Theatre box office opens.

Registration for Modern Film Fest costume contest opens. Come dressed as your favorite monster, fantasy, sci-fi or movie character. Registration $10. Costume contestants receive a ticket to, "Star Trek: Wrath of Khan.' This is a family event so please keep costumes PG-13.

6 p.m. - Free Live Performance: TBA

7 p.m. - Free live performance by Graveyard Boulevard outside of the Gem Theatre

7:45 p.m. - Costume winners announced

8 p.m. - "Star Trek: Wrath of Khan"

Directed by Nicholas Meyer who is scheduled to attend the festival and do a Q&A following the film.
Synopsis: With the aide of his Enterprise crew, Captain Kirk must stop an old nemesis, Khan, from using his son's life-generating device, Genesis, as the ultimate weapon.

SATURDAY, OCT. 6, 2012

Noon - "Colored Confederates" --- North Carolina-made documentary

Directed by Ken Wyatt who is scheduled for a Q&A after the screening
Synopsis: Did blacks actively 'fight' for the Old South during America's Civil War; and if so, why? Experts and historians hash out this 150-year-old debate. 

2 p.m. - North Carolina film industry discussion panel with extras from, "The Hunger Games"

3 p.m. -"Atlantic" --- NC-made documentary

Directed by Neal Hutcheson who is scheduled to do a Q&A following the screening
Synopsis: Along Core Sound lies a string of small fishing villages where many families have lived and worked for centuries, adapting to the harsh environment, unique ecosystem, and ever-changing geography of the Carolina tidal basin. Maintaining traditions based around this adaptation in the climate of a frontier culture, the original residents are now seeing their rich traditions eroded by an array of challenges, including water pollution, development and relocated outsiders. Atlantic depicts ancestral attitudes of interdependence between community and ecology being eroded by a rising tide of free market forces, and a ferociously independent people organizing to fight for their mutual interests.

5 p.m. - "Martin Hill: The Camera Man" --- Cabarrus County-made documentary

Directed by Joanne Hock who is scheduled to do a Q&A following the screening
Synopsis: In the small town of Midland, NC, Martin Hill has been collecting the artistic tools of master filmmakers. His story is one of passion and preservation, obsession and compulsion, expectation and disappointment. Hock takes a six year journey with Martin through his dilapidated bowling alley, where he buys, houses and hoards an array of historic film equipment. His priceless treasures include classic motion picture cameras that were used to create some of Hollywood’s most iconic movies including “Star Wars," "Gone with the Wind," "Lawrence of Arabia" and "The Ten Commandments."

7 p.m. - "Jimmy" --- Cabarrus County-made movie

Directed by Mark Freiburger. Crew from the movie scheduled to be attendance
Synopsis: A family drama with fantasy elements, this is the story of a mentally challenged teenager who interacts with supernatural beings he calls "Watchers". Featuring Kelly Carlson ("Nip/Tuck") Bob Gunton ("The Shawshank Redemption," "24") and Ted Levine ("Shutter Island," "Silence of the Lambs").

9 p.m. - "The Dead Matter"

Directed by: Edward Douglas
Synopsis: The the story of a vampire relic with occult powers that falls into the hands of a grief-stricken young woman who will do anything to contact her dead brother. Featuring stars: Andrew Divoff (the "Wishmaster" series); Jason Carter ("Babylon 5") and Tom Savini ("From Dusk Til Dawn" and "Machete")

SUNDAY, OCT. 7, 2012

1 p.m. "Beatles Stories"

Directed by: Seth Swirsky
Synopsis: A big fan of The Beatles growing up in the 60s, Seth Swirsky noticed that whenever he heard someone relating a story about themselves and The Beatles, he was "all ears". So, starting in 2005, he sought out and filmed those with never before heard, "Beatles Stories."

3 p.m. - "Stitched in Time" --- Cabarrus County-made documentary

Directed by Jonathan Greene who is scheduled for a Q&A following the screening 
Synopsis: This documentary tells the story of Cannon Mills and the City of Kannapolis. Using historical photos and interviews from former employees, this documentary shows the creation of a community that survived the closing of a textile giant.

5 p.m. "Andrew Bird: Fever Year"

Directed by Xan Aranda
Music Documentary
Synopsis: The acclaimed musician's rigorous touring year culminates in perpetual fever as he crosses the finish line on crutches from an onstage injury. Concert documentary features collaborators Martin Dosh, Annie Clark of St. Vincent, and others.