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With the 32nd ANNUAL WORLD FILM WEEKS

Sep 17, 2021 - Sep 30, 2021

With the 32nd ANNUAL WORLD FILM WEEK(s), AIFF presents two weeks of international films online in September, including an outdoor screening in Lithia Park

The Ashland Independent Film Festival is pleased to announce an exciting selection of international films for the 32nd annual World Film Week(s). The event will run virtually September 17-30, with a special outdoor screening of the documentary TORN at Lithia Park on September 18. Most features are geo restricted to viewers in Oregon, and can be screencast to televisions from computers and mobile devices or via Eventive’s Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, or Android TV apps.

With the theme “See The World From Where You Are,” AIFF presents 14 films from 15 countries, including the USA, United Kingdom, Malawi, Ethiopia, Israel, Kosovo, France, Malta, Belgium, Norway, France, and Dominican Republic. There are seven narrative features and seven documentaries, with half of the films directed by women.

“Since the pandemic has thrown a wrench in many people’s travel plans,” said Richard Herskowitz, the organization’s Artistic Director, “we’re happy to provide these captivating cinematic voyages to many foreign lands.”

World Film Week(s) opens September 17 with an urgent story from Malawi. Focusing on two Malawi women who come to meet with American farmers, THE ANTS AND THE GRASSHOPPER is a powerful film about climate change and its impact on Africa and the US.

“In order to protect the health and comfort of our patrons, we made the decision to present this years’ films virtually,” said Executive Director Phil Busse. “We are excited to be able to screen one film, TORN, live and outdoors, providing attendees a collective viewing experience.”

On Saturday, September 18, TORN will screen outdoors in Lithia Park, Ashland. Addressing, like last year’s FREE SOLO, the risks and rewards of extreme climbing, TORN tells a true story about love emerging from tragedy. In 1999, legendary mountain climber Alex Lowe and his close friend and climbing partner, Conrad Anker, were trapped in an avalanche in Tibet. Lowe was killed. Anker survived, and returned to take care of Lowe’s family. A year after the tragedy, Anker married Lowe’s widow and raised his three boys. The story is directed by Lowe’s son Max, and delves into family dynamics as treacherous as a sheer rock face ascent.

Several of the films are well-known on the festival circuit: HIVE was a Sundance triple-award winner, and the meticulously choreographed ROARING 20’S, shot in one unbroken 90-minute take in the streets of Paris, won best cinematography at the Tribeca Film Festival.

“The program is filled with festival favorites like MOGUL MOWGLI,” added Herskowitz, “which stars and is co-written by the sensational, Academy Award-nominated actor Riz Ahmed, and NINJABABY, a subversive, laugh-out-loud funny film about a young cartoonist’s unexpected pregnancy that weaves an ominous animated character into the story.”

Tickets for Virtual World Film Weeks may be purchased at ashlandfilm.org beginning August 25. Each film will be available on the festival’s Eventive film channel for periods ranging from one day to one week, and several will be accompanied by filmmaker Q&As.

Individual tickets are $10 each, and discounted for members, seniors, and students to $8 per film. A seven-film VWFW Passport is available for $60, discounted to $49 for eligible viewers. All proceeds from these events benefit the non-profit Ashland Independent Film Festival and Coming Attractions Theatres.

Synopses of the World Film Week(s) films, along with trailers, and the film schedule can be found at ashlandfilm.org. World Film Week sponsors and community partners include: Coming Attractions Theatres, Ashland Food Co-Op, Ashland Home Net, studio a.b., Southern Oregon PBS, Jefferson Public Radio, The Earth and Humanity Foundation, and Project A.

Event:   Ashland Independent Film Festival
Location:   Various locations
Website:   http://www.ashlandfilm.org
With the 32nd ANNUAL WORLD FILM WEEK(s), AIFF presents two weeks of international films online in September, including an outdoor screening in Lithia Park The Ashland Independent Film Festival is pleased to announce an exciting selection of international films for the 32nd annual World Film Week(s). The event will run virtually September 17-30, with a special outdoor screening of the documentary TORN ...
Various locations
Various locations
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