Looking for an exciting weekend of entertainment right in Bel Air? The Town of Bel Air Film Festival is an affordable event filled with great movies and special guest speakers.
The Town of Bel Air Film Festival kicks off its seventh year on October 15th. Each year, the film selection committee reviews a plethora of films being shown on the film festival circuit and chooses the very best films for our community. The selection process is a long one but the results are worth it on festival weekend.
The Town of Bel Air, in conjunction with the Bel Air Cultural Arts Commission, will hold its 7th Annual Town of Bel Air Film Festival on October 15-17, 2015 at the Bel Air Reckord Armory, 37 North Main Street in Bel Air. This year’s film lineup features inspiring and thought provoking films from around the country.
Thursday, October 15th at 7:30 pm features Taking Back the Airwaves written and directed by Harford County’s Wayne Hepler. The film introduces Europe’s wild world of pirate radio in the ’60s, as amateur dj’s broadcast rock ’n ’roll from the North Sea when the government monopolies wouldn’t. Taking Back the Airwaves: The Story of the Radio Pirates not only introduces you to the men, and one woman, who took on hurricanes and the government…but also presents the shadowy modern-day pirates of America still daring the law to catch them today. Special guest speaker is Wayne Hepler. Doors Open at 7:00 pm.
Friday, October 16th at 8:00 pm features Harry and Snowman. Dutch immigrant, Harry deLeyer, journeyed to the United States after World War II and developed a transformative relationship with a broken down Amish plow horse he rescued off a slaughter truck. In less than two years, Harry & Snowman went on to win the triple crown of show jumping, beating the nation’s blue bloods. Special guest speaker is Cathy Schmidt, Executive Director of Chesapeake Therapeutic Riding. Doors open at 7:30 pm.
Saturday, October 17th at 4:00 pm features A Ballerina’s Tale. Misty Copeland has pulled herself up the ladder at American Ballet Theater (ABT) from the studio company to the corps de ballet to soloist. The only rung in the ladder left to climb is principal dancer aka prima ballerina. Misty Copeland’s career shines a light on several challenges within the world of classical ballet: the absence of women of color at major companies despite so many gifted black women ready to make the leap; the emphasis on skinny bodies for ballerinas impacts the health of professional dancers and sends a negative message to young fans around the world. Misty, because of her race and her curves, is central to both issues in the classical dance world. Special guest speaker is Kristen Stevenson, award winning dancer, choreographer and instructor with the BalletNova Center for Dance. Doors open at 3:30 pm.
Saturday’s lineup continues at 7:30 pm with the film A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velasquez Story which follows the inspiring journey of 26-year-old, 58-pound Lizzie from cyber-bullying victim to anti-bullying activist. Born with a rare syndrome that prevents her from gaining weight, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Velasquez was first bullied as a child in school for looking different and, later online, as a teenager when she discovered a YouTube video labeling her “The World’s Ugliest Woman.” The film chronicles unheard stories and details of Lizzie’s physical and emotional journey up to her multi-million-viewed TEDx talk, and follows her pursuit from a motivational speaker to Capitol Hill as she lobbies for the first federal anti-bullying bill. Special guest speaker Katie Wirth, Executive Director of Girls on the Run of Harford and Cecil Counties. Doors open at 7:00 pm.
Tickets are $5 per person and include one complimentary soda and popcorn. A $10 All Access Pass is also available. Children under 10 years of age are free. Comfortable table seating is available and attendees can bring their own snacks and blankets too!
The Festival’s main sponsors include the Bel Air Cultural Arts Commission, Bel Air Economic & Community Development Commission and the Maryland Film Office. Co-sponsors include the Bel Air Downtown Alliance, Full House Marketing, Harford County Cultural Arts Board and Sharon’s Hawaiian Shaved Ice of Bel Air. Honorary sponsor is the Maryland Film Festival.
Advance tickets are on sale beginning October 1st, Monday through Friday, 8:30 am-4:30 pm, at the Town of Bel Air Department of Economic Development located in the Bel Air Reckord Armory, 37 N. Main Street. For more information, visit www.TownOfBelAirFilmFestival.com or call 410-838-0584 or send an e-mail to ssaunders@belairmd.org. Check us out on Facebook!
