Spud Fest brings 3 days of film, TV to Driggs, Idaho

Wednesday, August 01, 2007

By Ben Cannon

The fourth annual Spud Fest Family Film & Television Festival, presented by the Idaho Film and Television Institute, kicks off Thursday with a day of short films, a poignant documentary and a lighthearted selection of animated shorts.
 
“Peter the Mormon Filmmaker,” a short film about a man who gets a small town to back his aspirations to follow in the footsteps of Steven Spielberg, will open the three-day festival at 10 a.m. in the IFTI building at 160 N. Highway 33 in Driggs. The documentary “Living with Lew,” about a young filmmaker who uses humor to face his inevitable physical decay and impending death from Lou Gehrig’s disease, starts at 1 p.m. (for a complete schedule, go to www.spudfest.org).

Thursday night brings the party to Driggs. The festival’s opening night gala is called “Levis and Lace” and takes place 6-8:30 p.m. at the Institute’s building. Idaho Governor Butch Otter will be on hand to receive an Idaho Film Visionary Award, and the Idaho Potato Commission will celebrate its 70th anniversary, in part by recognizing five YouTube website users who submitted video shorts online incorporating potatoes. Desserts, champagne and gourmet coffee concoctions will be served. Tickets for the night are $75 apiece or $125 per couple.

Opening night will culminate with the showing of two features at the Spud Drive-In in Driggs. “The Real Dirt on Farmer John,” a documentary about an eccentric agrarian, will be followed by the recently released “Nancy Drew” movie. Tickets are $6 a head.
For those with a couch potato history dating back a few decades, Friday is “Classic TV Day.” For a mere $15, early risers can start the day with “Breakfast with Mary Ann,” featuring Spud Fest founder Dawn Wells, at 9 a.m. or “Breakfast with the Hulk,” featuring Lou “You Won’t Like Me When I’m Angry” Ferrigno at 10:15 a.m.  An autograph and merchandise opportunity with the pair will follow.

The afternoon will see a game show symposium paneled by “The Price is Right” announcer Rich Fields and game show expert and author Fred Westbrook at 1:15 p.m. followed by a meet and greet. The two also will figure into Friday night’s “Prize is Right” game show party, featuring food and family entertainment with a chance to win prizes. Ticket prices vary.

Friday night’s drive-in screenings begin with Bernie Mac in “Pride,” followed by the hotly anticipated “Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix,” released in the U.S. July 11.
Saturday will feature film screenings all day at the IFTI building in Driggs. Highlights should include “Mr. Dungbeetle,” about a troubled psychiatrist who goes in search of five schizophrenic patients who have escaped the care of a mental ward, beginning at 10 a.m.

Moviegoers interested in quirky films about eccentric people should check out “Darkon,” a documentary that follows a group of fantasy role players who take to the parks and fields of Baltimore twice a month to inhabit a fictional world of battle with foam weaponry. The 2006 winner of the Audience Award-Best Documentary at Austin’s prestigious South By Southwest will screen at 4:15 p.m. at IFTI. Saturday’s drive-in double feature will begin with “Our Very Own,” about young people dreaming of fleeing their oppressively quiet town, followed by “Harry Potter.”

A number of filmmakers, actors and editors will be on hand throughout the festival to field questions after their films have screened.

There are too many worthwhile films playing to detail in this preview, so visit the Spud Fest website (www.SpudFest.org) or call (208) 354-3221 for a complete listing of films and ticket prices.

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Spud Fest brings 3 days of film, TV to Driggs, Idaho | Planet JH News Article: Victor/Driggs, ID

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