First Berks Movie Madness Film Festival Screening

Reading, PA--The first Berks Movie Madness Film Festival (http://www.berksmoviemadness.com)/ from Oct. 4 through Oct. 12, 2006--presented by the Berks Arts Council--will screen more than 50 feature and independent films with a Reading connection, host numerous post-screening question and answer sessions, hold several workshops, help resurrect the Kutztown International Animated Film Festival, feature appearances by local actors and film personalities and include a short film/video competition.

The theme of the downtown Reading festival is a celebration of actors, actresses and other cinema luminaries born or living in Greater Reading and Berks County.

Among the highlights of this new initiative are showings of "Cutter's Way," starring Jeff Bridges, John Heard and Reading actress Lisa Eichhorn, who will appear at the festival; "My Life" starring veteran Reading actor Michael Constantine, also scheduled to appear; and "Rabbit Run," a film based on the novel by Shillington native John Updike.

Tickets for 16-ticketed events are now available at www.brownpapertickets.com/producer/2713 or by calling 800-838-3006.

"I think everyone will be amazed at the amount of talent we've uncovered in our own community," said Connie Leinbach, executive director of the Berks Arts Council. "Plus, we're excited to be able to offer the council's first major event dedicated to the movies. We hope this will become a tradition like the Berks Jazz Fest."

F. Alan Shirk, festival chairman, said he anticipates an excellent turnout. "We've gotten a lot of positive feedback about the festival which has taken about a year to put together. Venues and seating are limited, so we urge people to get their tickets early. "

Sponsors include the Pennsylvania Film Office, Leesport Bank, the Reading Musical Foundation, Comcast, Manderbach Ford, Bullfrog Films, HBO and Shirk Communications. More sponsors are being sought.

Here are some of the highlights of the nine-day festival (Complete details, including the schedule, film plots and personalities, are on the website.):

John Updike Night, featuring "Rabbit Run," the only major studio feature film ever made in Reading and not available on VHS or DVD. This will screen Sat., Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the Woman's Club of Reading, 140 N. 5th St., Reading, with other activities, including a panel discussion.

An 8-hour master acting class taught by Actress Lisa Eichhorn, born in Reading. This will be at the GoggleWorks on Sat., Oct. 7, and Sun., Oct. 8, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. both days. The cost is $50 and class size is limited to 20. Others may audit the class for $10. Her film, "Cutter's Way," screens Friday evening, Oct. 6 at the GoggleWorks.

An original score for the 1926 film "Don Juan," created by Reading composer David Himes. This film, the first non-silent film shown in Reading, will screen at the GoggleWorks on Thurs., Oct. 12, at 7 p.m.

An afternoon of children's programming on Sat., Oct. 7, at Trinity Lutheran Church beginning at 1 p.m. featuring "The Black Stallion" based on the book written by Walter Farley, who lived near Earlville.

An Afternoon with Ray Dennis Steckler, 1955 Reading High grad and Hollywood director, featuring his films, "Lemon Grove Kids Meet the Monsters" and "Rat Phink A Boo Boo." Steckler is planning to appear.

Resurrection of the Kutztown International Animated Film Festival, started in 1973 by the now retired Kutztown University Professor Dr. Thomas Schantz. The animated festival opens Berks Movie Madness on Oct. 4 at the Kutztown Strand, but actually runs from Oct. 1 through Oct. 8. It features works from the Academy Awards, the Ottawa International Animated Festival and by local animator Bob Cesca (Oct. 4 only for Cesca's work).

The Berks Movie Madness Short Film/Video Awards on Tues., Oct. 10, along with highlights of the first Haydenfilms Online Film Festival. This is at the GoggleWorks at 7 p.m.

Five free workshops at the Reading Area Community College (RACC) Schmidt Technology Center on Sat., Oct. 7, and Sun., Oct. 8, beginning at 9:30 a.m. and covering production, screenwriting, acting, making a movie and documentary making.

A night with Berks Filmmakers on Wed., Oct. 11, with the work of James Harrar, Albert Kilchesty, Elizabeth Knipe, Jerry and Ida Orr, Caleb Smith, Jerry Tartaglia and Gary Adlestein. This is also at the GoggleWorks at 7 p.m.

An appearance by celebrated comic and film artist Jim Steranko on Mon., Oct. 9, at 7 p.m. at the GoggleWorks. He'll discuss his work on Francis Ford Coppola's "Bram Stoker's Dracula," which screens that evening.

A lecture by Dr. Robert A. Metzger, retired director of the Reading Public Museum and Art Gallery and noted film historian. His free talk, "Jayne Mansfield, Ronald Reagan and Other Memories of A Devoted Film Historian," is set for Sat., Oct. 8 at 10 a.m. at the GoggleWorks.

A free night of Reading 8mm historic movies and the Jack Luden Western, "Rolling Caravans" at the Historical Society of Berks County, 940 Centre Ave., Reading, on Thurs., Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. hosted by George M.Meiser IX. (This also runs at 9 a.m. on Oct. 5 as a society First Thursday Program.)

Also scheduled to appear at the Berks Film Festival are Michael Constantine, Mayor Tom McMahon, Author Ed Taggert, John Zaring, Professor Richard Androne, Sister M. Pacelli, Victor Colicchio, Bob Cesca, Hayden Craddolph, Curt Crane, Paul Galan, David Grabias, George Hatza, Jim Hubbard, Letty Hummel, Conrad Karlson, David Kneeream, Costa Mantis, Neo-Pangea members, Zenta Thomas, Megan Ulrich, Jerry Walsh and Kate Williamson.

Among the other films to be shown are "My Life," "Pursuit of Happiness," "Street Fight," "The Black Stallion," "Sons of the Desert,' "Footlight Parade," "Earth vs. The Spider," "Sentenced home," "Centralia," "The Virgin President," "The War Effort," "Postcards from Paradise Park," "Mattie Fresno and the Holoflux Universe," "Time of Tears," Towards the Vanishing Point," and the documentaries, "Reading 1974" and "The Corrupt City (1969)."

Please visit the website for complete details: http://www.berksmoviemadness.com/