Windrider “WinterFest” Debuts in December with Angelus Showcase 

“Webfest” film forum begins “Windy Wednesdays” December 9th

“to inspire conversation between filmmakers and film lovers.”

by John Priddy

Windrider “WinterFest” is offering Windy Wednesdays, a free online “webfest” film forum, created to showcase a number of compelling short films that inspire and engage through the power of story. Windy Wednesdays begin December 9th and will feature a new film every Wednesday through the month of March.  We are delighted to bring you this online viewing experience in collaboration with Windrider founding partner, Angelus Film Festival.

Each Windy Wednesday film has been a winner, finalist or semi-finalist at Angelus, and has been chosen for cinematic excellence and storytelling craft.  Many of them have never before been widely viewed, so we are excited to share them with you online.

We are thankful for Angelus Director Monika Moreno and Lance Spott, who have pre-screened each film and will introduce us to each filmmaker as part of the online forum, sharing the behind-the-scenes stories integral to these powerful films.  We know you will appreciate their diligence in making our inaugural WinterFest worthy of a standing ovation.

Each film has been generously provided by its filmmaker; each screening made possible through the contribution of our sponsors and patrons.  All are provided free to the Windrider online audience, which now includes more than 10,000 visitors per month.

WinterFest’s Windy Wednesdays will also help us count down to the kickoff of our 6th annual Windrider Forum at Sundance Film Festival (January 25-31, 2010), the launch of our first forum in Menlo Park, Calif. (April 9-10, 2010), and our third annual Windrider/Angelus Forum in Europe (April 14-18, 2010, in Milan and Tuscany, Italy).

We hope you’ll be joining us January 25-31, in beautiful Park City, Utah, where our global and on-site audiences will meet face to face.

Mark your calendar for Dec. 9, too — so you won’t miss the first of Windrider’s amazing WinterFest Windy Wednesdays.  We look forward to connecting online and sharing great films and scintillating conversations with friends old and new!

See this video to learn more about The Angelus Film Festival.  http://www.angelus.org/video2.html

We will use the following film content key to rate each film we screen:

Windrider Forum Film Content Key

(A/D)	Mild alcohol or drug use
(AT)	Contains adult themes, not of interest to young children
(L)	Some mild language
(SL)	Strong language
(V)	Implied violence and mild peril
(SV)	Strong violence
(S)	Some mild sexuality
(FF)	Family friendly means this program is suitable for all ages.

WinterFest Programming Schedule for December

December 9 : Abbie Down East

Director: Ellen-Alinda Verhoeff, Columbia University

Near and dear to our hearts, “Abbie” was the winner of the inaugural “Priddy Brothers Triumph Award,” back in 2002.  After several years, the film still holds up as a Windrider fave.

Genre: Family/Drama running time 26 minutes
Rating: FF  

Decmber 16: The Kiddush Man

Writer/Director: Yitz Brilliant, Columbia University School of the Arts – Film Division

Award winning, touching, coming-of-age drama set in Israel, about 10-year-old Yoni who each Sabbath attempts to sneak past curmudgeonly Mr. Katz into Kiddush before the end of services– but one day Mr. Katz is nowhere to be seen.

Genre: Drama running time 11 minutes
Rating: FF
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ft68MW_rQzs

December 23: Christmas Wish List

Director: Sean Overbeeke, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Christmas Wish List, is a tender and sentimental holiday tale about an arrogant businessman who tries to bully his way into the affections of a young physician while forced to spend Christmas Eve in a “podunk town.” While its true-meaning-of-Christmas theme is familiar, Overbeeke’s film never becomes cloying or sanctimonious, and he provides a genuinely pleasing resolution that shows a poker player’s gift for hiding a winning hand until the showdown.

Genre: Family/Drama
Rating: FF

December 30: She’s a Fox

Writer/Director: Cameron Sawyer

Infatuated with the hottest girl in school, fifth grader, Cameron Sawyer, puts everything on the line – including his mullet – to win the girl of his dreams.

Genre: Family/Drama
Rating: FF

  

And coming in January… 

January 6:  Topi

Director/Writer/Animator: Arjun Rihan (http://www.arjunrihan.com/)

Amid the turbulent partition of India, Circa 1947, a young Hindu boy has a chance encounter with a stranger.

January 13: Fan Mail

Director: Sean Christensen

A short comedy/documentary about the writing process of someone’s first fan letter to their favorite celebrity. Based on a true story.

January 20:  Weathered

Director: Matt Barber and Matt Webb

Weathered is the intimate portrait of Weather Wellington, who is caged in time by the loss of her fiancé. Retreating inside herself, Weather longs for human connection and reaches out the only way she knows how…by making doctors’ appointments.

January 27: The Little Gorilla

Director: Harry Kellerman Columbia University, New York

Priddy Bros. Triumph Award – A boy must find the courage to climb a frightening jungle gym. In the shadows of looming NYC skyscrapers, and an older brother who lacks faith, The Little Gorilla must unchain the King Kong within.