The 14th annual deadCENTER Film Festival will take place Wednesday, June 11 through Sunday, June 15 at five locations in downtown Oklahoma City. For new festival goes and long time supporters, I’ve uncovered what you can expect at this year’s festival.
deadCENTER is Oklahoma’s largest film festival, recognized as one of the “Top 20 Coolest Film Festivals in the World” according to MovieMaker magazine. More than 15,000 people attended deadCENTER Film Festival screenings in 2013, generating an economic impact of approximately $1.14 million for Oklahoma City.
The official opening night film for the 14th annual deadCENTER Film Festival will be the improv comedy “The Trip to Italy,” screening at 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 12 at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Dr.
“The Trip to Italy” is a semi-fictional improvised tour of Italy from director Michael Winterbottom starring two of Britain’s best loved comedic actors: Oscar nominee Steve Coogan (Philomena) and Rob Brydon. In the long awaited follow-up to the smash hit comedy “The Trip,” Coogan and Brydon embark on a new culinary road trip around Italy in the summer, where they enjoy mouthwatering meals in the gorgeous surroundings of Liguria, Tuscany, Rome, Amalfi and Capri. They riff on subjects as varied as Batman’s vocal register, Pompeii, the artistic merits of Alanis Morissette’s “Jagged Little Pill,” and compete on who can do the best Michael Caine impersonation.
The film is rated PG-13. Running time is 1 hour, 55 minutes.
Approximately 90 independent films, including comedies, dramas, documentaries and short films will receive an official screening at the festival.
For the full selection, check out the interactive schedule for feature films, short movies, and discussion panels.
Oklahoma Made Feature Length Movies include:
– Army of Frankensteins
– Harmontown
– Sewing Hope
– The Quiet Philanthropist: The Edith Gaylord Story
– This Maybe the Last Time
– LaDonna Harris: Indian 101
– Light From the Darkroom
– Rough Cut
– The Posthuman Project
“Oklahoma filmmakers will be a force to be reckoned with at deadCENTER this year.”More than 1,000 films were submitted for the 2014 deadCENTER Film Festival, creating the most competitive field in the festival’s 14-year history. A growing number of films selected in the first round for official screening this year were created by Oklahoma filmmakers, indicating efforts to build the local industry are starting to pay off.
“Oklahoma filmmakers will be a force to be reckoned with at deadCENTER this year,” said Lance McDaniel, deadCENTER Film Festival executive director. “When the festival began, the majority of the films were by Oklahomans. As deadCENTER has grown from year-to-year with more and more quality submissions coming in from around the country and world, we’ve watched the number of Oklahoma films able to compete for a limited number of screenings start to decline. We are more than thrilled to see that trend shift some this year and hope it’s an indication that year-round efforts to promote, encourage and celebrate the independent film arts is having the intended impact.”
Uncovering Oklahoma will be posting interviews with filmmakers, which you can read here about current and past movies.
Opening night festivities, sponsored by The Chickasaw Nation, begin with a rooftop party, open to all pass holders, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art.
“The rooftop party at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art is always a highlight of the festival,” said Lance McDaniel, executive director for deadCENTER Film Festival. “It’s the perfect environment for our local and visiting filmmakers to meet deadCENTER supporters and festival goers, and toast the beginning of a crazy, beautiful week.”
At 8:30 p.m., “Frank,” directed by Lenny Abrahamson and starring Oscar nominees Maggie Gyllenhaal and Michael Fassbender, will receive its Oklahoma premiere screening in the Access Midstream Theater at Harkins Bricktown 16, 150 E. Reno Ave.
“Frank,” a quirky comedy that electrified audiences at its Sundance Film Festival debut, is the story of Jon, a young wannabe musician, who discovers he’s bitten off more than he can chew when he joins an eccentric pop band led by the mysterious and enigmatic Frank. Running time 95 min.
The official opening night after party will be from 10:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. at Iguana Mexican Grill, 9 N.W. 9th St.
All Access passes are available online for $125 ($75 for students), and gains the holder priority admission to every film, party, panel and special event. Individual tickets may be purchased for $10 at the door prior to each screening. Admission priority is given to pass holders.
deadCENTER is from Wednesday, June 11 through Sunday, June 15. For more information visit www.deadcenterfilm.org and be sure to visit here for filmmaker interviews.
