Did you know Bel Air has its very own Film Festival? The Town of Bel Air Film Festival kicks off its eighth year on October 13th. Each year, the film selection committee reviews films being shown on the film festival circuit and chooses the very best films for our community. Festival Director Rebecca Jessop says, “The Town of Bel Air Film Festival provides a unique opportunity for the community to gather together in a historic venue to view films that inspire and give a glimpse into the human experience. Whether they make you laugh, cry or motivate you to learn more, we hope the festival is enjoyed by all!”
Thursday, October 13th at 7:30 pm features Dark Horse. Set in a former mining village in Wales, this
charming film is the inspirational true story of a group of friends from a working men’s club who decide to take on the elite ‘sport of kings’ and breed a racehorse. Raised on a slag heap, their foal grows into an unlikely champion, beating the finest thoroughbreds in the land, before suffering a near fatal accident. Nursed back to health by the love of his owners – for whom he’s become a source of inspiration and hope – he makes a remarkable recovery, returning to the track for a heart-stopping comeback.
Sundance Film Festival Award winner. Doors Open at 7:00 pm.
Friday, October 14th at 8:00 pm features Landfill Harmonic, an inspiring film which follows the Recycled Orchestra of Cateura, a Paraguayan musical group that plays instruments made entirely out of garbage. When their story goes viral, the orchestra is catapulted into the global spotlight encountering the strange new world of arenas and sold-out concerts. However, when a natural disaster strikes their community, the group must find a way to stay intact and provide a source of hope for their town. The film is a testimony to the transformative power of music and resilience of the human spirit. (In Spanish with English Subtitles) SXSW Film Festival Award winner. Jack Gerbes, Director of the Maryland Film Office, and Susan Burdette, Town of Bel Air Mayor, will kick off the evening. Doors open at 7:30 pm.
Saturday, October 15th at 4:00 pm features Advanced Style. Street style photographer Ari Seth Cohen and director Lina Plioplyte dive into the personal lives of New York City’s most fashionable seniors. In an industry obsessed with youth, these older women dispel conventional ideas about beauty and aging and prove that with age comes grace, confidence, boldness, flair and new, unimagined opportunities for fame and fortune. Special Guest Host is Donna Beth Joy Shapiro, Artiste. Doors open at 3:30 pm.
Saturday’s lineup continues at 7:30 pm with the film Miss Sharon Jones! On the eve of the release of her new album, internationally recognized soul singer Sharon Jones is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Tour dates are cancelled, the album pushed back and Sharon enters into a fight for her life and career. Directed by Academy Award winning director Barbara Kopple, the inspiring film intimately follows this intense and courageous year in Sharon’s life. Official Selection at the SXSW and Toronto Film Festivals. 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 Town of Bel Air, Bel Air Cultural Arts Commission, Bel Air Economic & Community Development Commission, Maryland Film Office, Maryland State Arts Council through the Harford County Cultural Arts Board and Visit Harford! Co-sponsors include the Bel Air Downtown Alliance, Full House Marketing, and Sharon’s Hawaiian Shaved Ice of Bel Air. Honorary sponsor is the Maryland Film Festival.
Advance tickets are on sale beginning October 3rd, 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.
