Second Ivy Film Festival to feature Tim Robbins, original films

The festival will again present the best of new films from student filmmakers across the country. This year’s festival, sponsored by the Brown Film Society, will feature a series of screenings, lectures and panel discussions.

by Mary Jo Curtis

Critically acclaimed actor and director Tim Robbins will share his cinematic expertise with budding filmmakers when Brown hosts the second annual Ivy Film Festival April 4-6.

Founded in 2001 by David Peck ’03, the festival will again present the best of new films from student filmmakers across the country. This year’s festival, sponsored by the Brown Film Society, will feature a series of screenings, lectures and panel discussions with representatives from the film industry, in addition to the keynote address by Robbins on April 4 at 8 p.m. in Salomon Center.

“The Ivy Film Festival has become a medium of exposure for undergraduate film work on par with professional film festivals,” said Peck. “It’s unique in its emphasis on artistic integrity and its exclusivity to student filmmaking.”

“I’m excited to be a part of this year’s festival,” said Robbins, who earned an Academy Award nomination in 1995 for his direction of “Dead Man Walking” and is best known for performances in movies such as “The Shawshank Redemption” and “Bull Durham.” “This is a great venue for these students to showcase their talents and get some positive feedback.”

Last year’s successful inaugural festival featured lectures and panel discussions by Academy Award winner Oliver Stone and accomplished screenwriter Henry Bean, in addition to offering the national premier “Harvard Man,” a film by Oscar-nominated screenwriter James Toback. Some 150 original films were submitted for consideration in the competition portion of that festival.

“This year’s festival promises to be even larger in scale,” said Peck. “Our presence is definitely being felt. The competition this year is outstanding, making for an exciting and creative festival. This is the perfect opportunity for students to showcase what film is really about – raw and emotional talent.”

In addition to the film competition, this year’s festival features a screenplay contest. Three winners will be chosen to work with three top-tier Hollywood literary agencies and management companies in developing their scripts. Winners of the film competition will have their films presented in a special showcase at www.IFILMS.com. Seven films were honored in last year’s festival.

Film screenings will be scheduled throughout the weekend in MacMillan Hall and in Smith-Buonanno. Dylan Kidd’s “Roger Dodger,” named best feature film at the Tribeca Film Festival, will be shown on April 5 at 7:15 p.m. in the MacMillan Auditorium. (For a full schedule of film screenings, visit www.ivyfilmfestival.com.) An awards ceremony is scheduled for April 6 at 2 p.m. in Salomon Center, after which the winning films will be shown in MacMillan Hall.

Although the Robbins lecture is open only to Brown students and festival participants, the remainder of the festival’s events are open to the public. Passes to attend the film screenings are $20 for the full festival; passes for individual screenings are $5. Tickets should be reserved in advance by e-mail.