Eighty films, 16 musical acts on tap Sept. 8-12
Greetings From the Shore.
Joe Fedison was the visionary who decided that a film festival could work in Atlantic City, even though the town no longer even had a movie theater. He started the ball rolling in 1997 with the first Atlantic City Film Festival and kept it going through 2005.
Now his idea has been taken up by two different organizations that will bring films from around the globe to Atlantic City. The third presentation by the Downbeach Film Festival, the 2010 Atlantic City Cinefest takes place Oct. 15-17.
First up, however is the inaugural Atlantic City International Film & Music Festival which brings musical talent into the mix and takes place Sept. 8-12, with the support of Harrah’s Entertainment properties, Bally’s Atlantic City, Caesars Atlantic City, Harrah’s Resort and the Showboat Casino-Hotel.
The festival features more than 80 movies and 16 music acts. Among the films is Ice Grill, USA, a movie made by former Brigantine residents Mark Bernardi and Greg Santarsiero. The movie was shot in spring 2008 in Atlantic City including Resorts and Tony’s Baltimore Grill, and was screened last year at the Atlantic City Cinefest where this Atlantic City take on Mean Streets won several awards including the Audience Award for “Best of the Fest.”
The Atlantic City International Film & Music Festival will present 20 full-length independent films and 60 short features. The films will be presented Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 9-11 at the Claridge Theater and Lucky’s Lounge, and Caesars Apollo/Zeus and Mars/Venus Ballrooms.
One of the more intriguing titles scheduled is Greetings From The Shore, a drama set in the North Jersey shore. The cast includes celebrated character actor Paul Sorvino (Goodfellas, Nixon) and film veteran Jay O. Saunders (Glory, The Day After Tomorrow). According to the plot synopsis, “Still reeling from the death of her father, a young girl spends one last summer at the Jersey shore before heading off to college. But when her plans fall apart, the girl stumbles into a mysterious world of Russian sailors, high-stakes gambling, and unexpected love.”
The musical acts include Philadelphia-based sonic auteur Lushlife; New Jersey based band Bender and the high-energy dance band Belikos. The music is presented Thursday and Friday, Sept. 9-10 in the House of Blues, and Saturday, Sept. 11 at Caesars Circus Maximus.
Information on nightlife events and VIP panel discussions will be announced at a later date.
The Atlantic City International Film and Music Festival
Sept. 8 to 12 at Bally’s, Caesars, Harrah’s Resort and the Showboat.
Cost: Passes are $40, $70, $145, $225, $350, $475 and $1,000.
Tickets for individual screenings of full-length features or blocks of short films are $12 each. Web site:
Filmmaker Jeff Reichert, who grew up in Northfield, will be sweating a little bit this Friday, Oct. 15. Not because he is on his way home to bring his documentary, Gerrymandering, to the Atlantic City Cinefest film festival this weekend, Sunday, Oct. 17, 6pm, but because his film will be opening in several major cities including New York and Los Angeles on Friday.
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