• Scott Walker: 30 Century Man

• Hell on Wheels

• Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore

• Horrible Flowers

• Compañeras
• El Mechanico Loco
• Get Thrashed: The Story Of Thrash Metal
• I Love Hip Hop In Morocco
• The Last Western
• Rock and Roll Gearhead: Four Days With Billy F. Gibbons
• Rural Rock & Roll
• Samba!
• Sleepwalking Through The Mekong
• We Like To Drink, We Like To Play Rock‘n’Roll

• Cold, Cold Night
• The Cole Nobody Knows
• De Lo Imperdonable
• Laberinto Infernal
  
• Masters of Fantasy
• Move Me
• The Runners
• Summer of Youth
• Thelonious and Theodore
• Who’s That Stranger?

• Banjim Banjam: “Vlad Tepes”
• The Be Good Tanyas: "Human Thing"
• Brad Brooks: “Hit Me Like A Smile”
• Bright Eyes: "Devil Town"
• The Dusty Buskers: “Sail Away Ladies”
• Bill Madden: “Gone”
• Love Mound: “She Won’t Believe”
• Sonic Youth: “Do You Believe In Rapture?”

Scott Walker: 30 Century Man (Arizona Premiere)
Dir. Stephen Kijak
Moviehouse Entertainment
UK/USA/2006/95 min
www.scottwalkerfilm.com

In an extraordinary career that spans over 40 years, American-born Scott Walker has been both the most famous pop singer in the UK and one of its most enigmatic and reclusive artists.  Emerging from a decade-long silence, the mysterious former teen idol has, at age 63, recently released the most audacious and shocking album of his career, "The Drift." This film celebrates the artistic journey (and amazing voice) of one of the most uncompromising and respected figures in music today and presents a rare look inside the most bizarre recording session ever captured on film.

Featuring interviews with friends, collaborators, and fans including David Bowie (the film's Executive Producer), members of Radiohead, Jarvis Cocker, Brian Eno, Damon Albarn, Marc Almond, Sting, Johnny Marr, Ute Lemper  and others.

Hell On Wheels (Arizona Premiere) (Closing Night Film)
Dir. Bob Ray
CrashCam Films
USA/2007/89 min
www.hellonwheelsthemovie.com
Featuring music by …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead

Hell on Wheels takes a from-the-trenches look at the dizzying clash of athleticism, exhibitionism, egos, politics and business that is modern-era roller derby. A group of hard-hitting Texas women overcome myriad obstacles in resurrecting and revamping the sport, only to find internal strife ripping the fledgling organization apart. Two leagues emerge from the clash, and what follows ignites an international roller derby revival.

Horrible Flowers (Southwest Regional Premiere)
Dir. Eric Tretbar
Flowers Films
USA/2006/83 min
www.myspace.com/thehorribleflowersmovie

The leader of a threadbare garage band nearly destroys herself on the eve of her success when she returns to the life and love she left behind. With hypnotic performances by Emily Cline (IN THE COMPANY OF MEN) and Rena Owen (ONCE WERE WARRIORS, STAR WARS).

Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore
Dir. Martin Scorsese
Warner Bros.
USA/1974/112 min

A picture for anyone who has ever dreamed of a second chance!

After stunning audiences with his ferociously personal, gritty depictions of masculinity in WHO'S THAT KNOCKING AT MY DOOR? (1968) and MEAN STREETS (1973), Martin Scorsese bade farewell to his native New York City in order to direct this delightfully bittersweet portrait of an unflappable single mother. The Oscar-winning Ellen Burstyn is flat-out marvelous as Alice Hyatt, a newly widowed woman who hopes to fulfill a lifelong dream of becoming a singer. Fleeing her small New Mexico town with her 11-year-old son, Tommy (the hilariously spunky Alfred Lutter), Alice promises not to stop until they reach her hometown of Monterey, California. But after a near disaster in Phoenix (compliments of the fiery Harvey Keitel), the pair settles in Tucson, where Alice grudgingly takes a job as a waitress. It's there where she meets the irresistible David (Kris Kristofferson), a warmhearted customer who won't take no for an answer. At the same time, Tommy befriends Audrey (Jodie Foster), a young tomboy with a mischievous streak.

Scorsese's realistic modern fairytale (as evidenced by the film's opening ode to THE WIZARD OF OZ) breathes with a hard-edged tenderness that is a wonder to behold. Robert Getchell's script deftly balances comedy and drama, as well as reality and fantasy, creating a distinctive tone that has inspired numerous imitators (TUMBLEWEEDS, ANYWHERE BUT HERE). ALICE DOESN'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE is that rare gift, a film that reflects the era in which it was shot but never feels dated.

Compañeras (Arizona Premiere)
Dir. Elizabeth Massie, Matthew Buzzell
CHC Productions
USA/2006/60 min
www.companeras.net

COMPAÑERAS is an intimate profile of America’s first all-female mariachi band - Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles. Taking on a male-dominated culture and musical tradition, this 12-member group shatters stereotypes about Latina women while expanding the popularity of mariachi music. Combining stunning performances with behind-the-scenes drama, Companeras reveals the intense, passionate world of female mariachi.

El Mechanico Loco (Arizona Premiere)
Dir. Chad Jackson
WORK HORSE Story and Image
USA/2006/94 min
www.elmechanicoloco.com

The story of a punk and the American dream. Jeff Milburn is a tattooed up punk rock guy who builds hot rods, runs his own race team, idolizes General Patton and used to race motocross... until he broke his back in a crash and was told he'd never walk again. There's nothing he'd rather do than prove the world wrong. Watch him and the people he loves refuse to quit on their dreams. Tattoos, cars and rock & roll. Featuring Oliver Peck and Kat Von D of Elm Street Tattoos and Jim 'The Reverend Horton Heat' Heath.

Get Thrashed: The Story Of Thrash Metal (Arizona Premiere)
USA/2006/99 min
Director: Rick Ernst
Associate Producer: Rat Skates
Saigon 1515 Productions/Kundrat Productions
www.getthrashed.com

Get Thrashed traces the influence and evolution of thrash metal, an extreme form of heavy metal popularized in the early 1980s by bands like Metallica, Slayer, Exodus, Megadeth, Anthrax etc. The film shows how these bands helped create a worldwide scene and style of music that influenced bands that followed like Pantera, Slipknot, System of a Down and many more.

I Love Hip Hop In Morocco (Arizona Premiere)
Dir. Jennifer Needleman, Josh Asen
Rizz Productions
USA/2007/80 min
www.ilovehiphopinmorocco.com
Featuring music by DJ Key, Fatima Medaoui, H-Kayne, and Brown Fingaz

A group of Moroccan Hip Hop artists share a single dream: to organize a professional concert for a hometown crowd. Facing resistance in their community and a lack of resources, the group utilizes the help of the filmmaker and appeal to the American Embassy for funding to begin the journey that will lead to the 'I Love Hip Hop in Morocco' festival. This film reflects the thoughts and dreams of the true future of the Arab world. These are not the images portrayed by the media; these are the real people. And their views on America, Islam, and the world in general, might surprise a few people around the globe-none more, perhaps, than right here at home.

The Last Western (Arizona Premiere)
Dir. Chris Deaux
DeauxBoy Productions, LLC.
USA/2005/65 min
www.thelastwestern.com

THE LAST WESTERN is the story of the old west town Hollywood built and then forgot. Welcome to Pioneertown, California – a dusty outpost perched on the edge of the Mojave Desert in the shadow of Los Angeles. Built in 1946 by Gene Autry and Roy Rogers, the town would go on to serve as the backdrop for some of Hollywood’s last b-westerns and television serials, including The Cisco Kid, Buffalo Bill Jr. and Gene Autry’s final film, The Last of the Pony Riders. The town’s time in the spotlight would be short lived, however, and by the mid-1950’s Pioneertown sat forgotten and decaying in the desert sun. A virtual ghost town, Pioneertown became a hangout for motorcycle gangs, dope dealers and desert rats. A few of the hearty drifters stayed on and moved into the decaying old west storefronts, creating a surreal 21st Century version of Hollywood’s 1950’s version of the wild west: real cowboys, outlaws and desert drifters surviving in the crumbling film sets of near forgotten b-western movies. THE LAST WESTERN chronicles the bygone era of the b-western and the colorful citizens of Pioneertown who thrive on the town’s wild west past and celebrate the remarkable freedom afforded by living life outside the lines in Hollywood’s version of America’s last, great, western town.

Rock and Roll Gearhead: Four Days With Billy F. Gibbons (Arizona Premiere)
Dir. Jamie Burton Chamberlin
Rooster Films
USA/2007/56 min
www.myspace.com/goatfilm
Featuring music by ZZ Top

Rock and Roll Gearhead is a rare and intimate behind the scenes look at legendary Texas guitarist Billy F Gibbons of ZZ Top. For the first time history Billy allowed a camera to follow him after the conclusion of his 2005 North American. Billy, whose recording career spans over 37 years was said to be one of Jimi Hendrix’s favorite guitar players. His personal life has remained an enigma to many who have known him for decades. Rock and Roll Gearhead is the ultimate backstage ticket that documents the release of Billy’s first book, rare studio and radio appearances, his diverse fan base, and the people that surround him. This is unprecedented access to one of the most dynamic artists of his time.

Rural Rock & Roll (Arizona Premiere)
Dir. Jensen Rufe
Renderville Productions
USA/2006/60 min
www.myspace.com/rural_rock_and_roll
Featuring music by: Lowlights, The Ian Fays, Buffy Swayze

Every day, all over America, fantastic small town bands create amazingly-catchy, original songs, with an untarnished rock perspective that comes from living out in the sticks. Between day jobs, they make brilliant music for themselves, for their friends, and for the love of rock and roll. (Meanwhile, the music community-at-large evolves, oblivious to the existence of these isolated down-to-Earth geniuses.) The bands of Humboldt County are proof that the frontier of rock and roll is in the garages of the rural punk rockers. And if it isn’t, it ought to be.

Samba! (North American Premiere)
Dir. Adam Stepan
NLP Media Inc.
USA/2006/95 min
www.nlpmedia.net

Imagine if New York’s Thanksgiving Day parade was organized by a black Baptist church, run by the mafia, broadcast in a competition that rivals the Super Bowl in size and scope...and powered by a hip shaking samba beat! If you can imagine this, you are close to understanding the forces that drive Brazil’s most famous event, the Carnaval.

The feature documentary “Samba!” follows the lives of four very different people as they prepare for Carnaval -- a cool and calculating businessman who runs his champion samba school with iron fist; a wealthy socialite who wants to parade as the “Queen of the Poor;” an aging former Carnaval champion; and the founder of one of Rio’s first samba schools -- battle for their moment in the limelight, and for the right to define what the world’s biggest party is really all about.

Sleepwalking Through The Mekong (Southwest Premiere)
Dir. John Pirozzi
Perryscope Pictures / Film 101 Productions
USA/2006/70 min
www.myspace.com/denguefevermusic

Take a rock band from Los Angeles who are obsessed with the little known, yet vibrant Cambodian psychedelic music scene of the 60s and 70s. Add one beautiful Cambodian vocalist whose haunting voice soars above their swirling array of saxophone, farfisa organ, guitar, drums and bass. Bring them together on a journey to Cambodia, and you have the makings of the film ‘Sleepwalking Through the Mekong’. The band Dengue Fever bring their own unique interpretation of this hypnotic music back to the land were it was created and to an audience who has never seen anything quite like this before.

We Like To Drink, We Like To Play Rock‘n’Roll (Arizona Premiere)
Dir. Lexie Shabel
Gringa Productions
USA/2006/75 min
www.gringaproductions.com
Featuring music by The Unband

The Unband made every beautiful mistake a power trio can before imploding under the weight of their success and the fallout from a variety of celebratory pastimes. What made them THE Unband? Was it the partying until all the _________(insert drug or alcohol type) was gone, rocking so hard with elements of Spinal Tap simpering in, or the three of them on the floor, weeping with uncontrollable giggles about something they made up in high school when they first became friends. WE LIKE TO DRINK: We Like to Play Rock’n’Roll showcases the boys in all their anthemic rock dumbness, contrasted by just how likable and smart they actually are, as individuals and as the teaming, seething, frothing, Unband.

Cold, Cold Night (World Premiere)
Dir. Michael Stanmore
OTT Films
USA/2007/03:45 min

It is the anniversary of John’s wife’s death. A long time smoker, finally fate cancerous hand took her. John heads out to her grave, and relives her decline. Back home he realizes that even in the middle of mourning his wife, his first instinct is to light a cigarette. Angry at himself he launches into a concerted and passionate effort to quit smoking forever. He does everything, even starts jogging again. It works wonderfully. But, one night, lying alone in his room, he cannot take the loneliness any longer and snaps. He storms out of the house and straight to the convenience mart to buy smokes. He rounds the corner to the nearest alleyway and lets his addiction engulf him.

The Cole Nobody Knows (Arizona Premiere)
Dir. Clay Walker
Plan B Productions
USA/2006/21:15 min
www.planbproductions.com
Featuring music by Freddy Cole

“The Cole Nobody Knows” is a documentary on Chicago-native Freddy Cole, the lesser-known, yet equally talented younger brother of Nat “King” Cole. At age 75, Freddy Cole is, at last, being widely recognized for his amazing musical talent. The film examines the complicated journey of creating a career in the shadow of a famous sibling. Mr. Cole’s story is told through interviews with Mr. Cole, Monty Alexander, Nancy Wilson, David “Fathead” Newman, John di Martino, H Johnson, Carl Anthony and many others.  Photographed in Atlanta, New York City, New Jersey, Los Angeles, Switzerland & France, “The Cole Nobody Knows” also offers a reinvigorating journey through the “Great American Songbook” by offering extraordinary, live performance material with Freddy Cole and his quartet.

De Lo Imperdonable (World Premiere)
Dir. Jorge Y. Leyva Robles
Fiebre Films
MEXICO/2007/4 min
films@latuerca.tv

A rainy afternoon Ernesto realized that the rain doesn't fall over his body. It could be a fantastic anecdote for that day, just like Martha and her UFO's. Except that for Ernesto, this would become a secret kept for years. Just like a secret kept by those who understand that only inside yourself hides the truth.

Laberinto Infernal (North American Premiere)
Dir. Sixto Melendez
Rock Soup LLC
USA/2007/7 min
www.rocksoupllc.com

To men, lost in the desert no man's land between the Mexico and US border struggle to make their way through the hostile environment while preserving their meager yet precious remaining ration of water. When they come upon a woman barely alive, they must choose between self-preservation and human compassion.

Masters Of Fantasy (World Premiere)
Dir. Megan Dragony
USA/2007/7:45 min

“Masters Of Fantasy” is an introduction to the heroes and villains that make up Tucson’s underground tabletop gaming community. Featuring a diverse array of characters, the film explores the strategy and mechanics of games such as Dungeons and Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, and Warhammer 40,000, in order to discover what drives players to invest hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars in the gamer lifestyle.

Move Me (Arizona Premiere)
Dir. Jonathan Pulley
Jonny Highland Productions
USA/2006/17 min
www.myspace.com/movemefilm

It's the holiday season, a time when families come together. During his last evening in town, a young man must find a way to say goodbye to his distant father, learning that what isn't said can be more powerful than what is.

The Runners (World Premiere)
Dir. JorDan Fuller, Justin Mashouf
USA/2007/19 min
therunnersmovie.blogspot.com

After entering the U.S. illegally, Jesus marries a young activist to gain citizenship. Once financial problems arise they make a run to the border to transport undocumented Mexicans. The Runners is a comedy/drama that looks at U.S./Mexico border issues through the lens of a struggling relationship.

Summer of Youth (Southwest Premiere)
Dir. Will O'Loughlen
Fine Grind Films
USA/2006/30 min
www.finegrindfilms.com

A fan’s journal of life on the road chasing the legendary NYC art rock combo Sonic Youth and their loyal following. Featuring live performances in clubs and theaters around the country.

Thelonious and Theodore (North American Premiere)
Dir. Bret Primack
Oleo Productions
USA/2007/13 min
bretprimack@gmail.com
Featuring music by Thelonious Monk and Sonny Rollins

In the pantheon of 20th century music, Thelonious Monk and Sonny Rollins are the Greek Gods of Jazz, two particularly distinctive iconoclastic artists whose creations continue to amaze and inspire. Using interviews and performance footage, "Thelonious and Theodore" tells the story of these two giants, and their unique relationship.

Who’s That Stranger? (Southwest Regional Premiere)
Dir. George King
USA/2007/29 min
Featuring music by Kasper ‘Stranger’ Malone
www.georgeking-assoc.com

Kasper 'Stranger' Malone holds the Guinness World Record for the longest recording career in history—including a nine-year stint with the Tucson Symphony in the 1960s.  At 95 he is still going strong, playing 3-4 gigs a week, often traveling alone by Greyhound with all his instruments. The film presents an inspiring picture of vitality from someone who is still working, 30 years beyond retirement.  

MUSIC VIDEOS:

Banjim Banjam: “Vlad Tepes” (Arizona Premiere)
Dir. Bàrbara Rof
Ha Caracois
SPAIN/2007/3:30 min
www.ha-caracois.com

A tricky little dracula enjoys scaring and annoying the musicians of a fanfarria band.

The Be Good Tanyas: "Human Thing" (World Premiere)
Dir. Kate Brown
Fundamentalist Flowerchild Productions
CANADA/USA/2007/03:40 min
www.begoodtanyas.com

An animated video commissioned by the Be Good Tanyas. This is a hand-made cottage industry animation using the technique of rotoscopy and experiments in animation with beads. Each frame is digitally photographed with back light allowing many layers for each frame.

Brad Brooks: “Hit Me Like A Smile” (World Premiere)
Dir. Bian Zalewski
USA/2007/05:11 min
www.brad-brooks.com

Former Tucsonan Brad Brooks first music video, "Hit Me Like A Smile" from his new album "Spill Collateral Love".

Bright Eyes: "Devil Town" (Arizona Premiere)
Dir. Erika Houle
USA/2006/03:18 min
www.thisisbrighteyes.com

The raw music of Daniel Johnston polished by Bright Eyes is now put into the visual.

The Dusty Buskers: “Sail Away Ladies” (Festival Premiere)
Dir. Stuart Oliver, Phoenix Michael
Shade Videography
USA/2007/03:52 min
www.thedustybuskers.com

‘Sail Away Ladies' features old-timey bluegrass troubadours The Dusty Buskers ('the band that fits on a bike') as they perform their updated rendition of a classic folk tune. Fiddlin' Uncle Phoenix and Dusty Squirrelfisher pedal and sing their way around their beloved Tucson, illustrating the life of the street musician.

Bill Madden: “Gone” (Arizona Premiere)
Dir. Andrew Watson
USA/2006/3 min
www.billmadden.com

Film and music fused in a metaphorical environmental warning alert, questioning the consequences of assault on our planet.

Sonic Youth: “Do You Believe In Rapture?” (Arizona Premiere)
Dir. Braden King
TRUCKSTOP Media
USA/2006/4 min
www.truckstopmedia.com

Both a document of the thrill of live performance and a poetic elegy to a recently departed punk landmark, the legendary CBGBs, SONIC YOUTH: 'DO YOU BELIEVE IN RAPTURE?' is an impressionistic tribute to the memory of all the great shows we've all been to.