From April 11-14, live music, film screenings and special events will unite film and music fans
Several special guests are scheduled to appear at the 2nd Annual XPN Music Film Festival produced by the Philadelphia Film Society, which will run from Thursday, April 11 through Sunday, April 14. The first film festival in Philadelphia to be solely dedicated to films about music will feature rockumentaries, biopics about musicians, and movies that are defined by their music soundtracks, with screenings of 17 films spanning a variety of genres and many special film-related guests and events.
Singers Darlene Love and Lisa Fischer, who are both featured in the closing night film, Twenty Feet From Stardom, will participate in a post-screening Q&A at 7:30 pm on Sunday, April 14 at Drexel University’s Mandell Theater, 33rd and Chestnut Streets in Philadelphia. Twenty Feet From Stardom (USA, 2012, 90 minutes, directed by Morgan Neville) shines a light on the untold story of backup singers, the true heroes in creating a full musical sound, related by legends from Bruce Springsteen to Bette Midler. The film was a rousing crowd pleaser at the opening night of the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year.
Darlene Love is known for singing on hits of the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s with such luminaries as Sam Cooke and Elvis Presley, among many others, and her enduring version of "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).” She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011. Lisa Fischer is recognized as one of the most sought-after session and backup vocalists in music. She’s worked with a number of music stars since the 1980s, including Luther Vandross, Chaka Khan, Sting and Tina Turner, and is widely known for performing on tour with the Rolling Stones since 1989.
Well-known Philadelphia broadcaster and author Larry Kane will introduce and provide his unique perspective on the Festival’s opening film, Good Ol’ Freda (USA, 2013, 86 minutes, directed by Ryan White), an intimate look into the life of the woman who was secretary for The Beatles, complete with rare footage and untold stories of the band. As a reporter, Kane accompanied The Beatles on their 1964 and ’65 tours of the U.S., which is recounted in his books Ticket to Ride and Lennon Revealed. Good Ol’ Freda will be shown on Thursday, April 11 at 7:30 pm at the Annenberg Center’s Zellerbach Theater, 3680 Walnut Street in Philadelphia.
To ensure a fully freaky experience at the showing of Freak Night, which documents the Flaming Lips’ famous 2012 Halloween concert, A Year in The Life of Wayne’s Phone, compiled from video shot on Wayne Coyne (Flaming Lips singer)’s iPhone will be screened, and a makeup artist will provide attendees with free, freaky, five-minute makeovers. Freak Night (USA, 2012, 58 minutes) will be screened at 10 pm on Saturday, April 13 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia.
Other previously-announced special events taking place as part of this year’s Festival, along with full film descriptions, screenings schedule and trailers, can be found at http://xpn.org/events/music-filmfest/2013/film-screening.
The Festival is sponsored by the Wyncote Foundation, the University of Pennsylvania, UBS Financial Services, Showtime and Smithsonian Channel, with events taking place at the Annenberg Center, Mandell Theater and World Cafe Live in Philadelphia. Festival tickets are available online at http://xpn.org and at the Annenberg Center box office (3680 Walnut Street).
Four-day, all-access Festival badges are $100 for WXPN and Philadelphia Film Society members and students (in- person sales only on day of screening, or in advance with valid student ID), and $125 for non-members. Tickets for individual films are $8 for WXPN and Philadelphia Film Society members and students, and $12 for non-members. Event tickets are $14 for members and students and $18 for non-members. Tickets for official Festival parties are $20 for members and students, and $25 for non-members.
These links can be used to locate more information:
XPN MUSIC FILM FESTIVAL http://xpn.org/events/music-filmfest
PHILADELPHIA FILM SOCIETY http://www.filmadelphia.org