Wednesday — Oct. 21, 2015 — is international Back to the Future Day, celebrating the exact date Marty McFly travels to in “Back to the Future Part II.”
And it’s no coincidence it’s also the opening night for the sixth annual Loft FilmFest, which will screen 44 films — ranging from premieres to classics, documentaries to short film programs and features with guest appearances from Oscar-nominated actors, writers and directors — through Sunday, Oct. 25.
“We’ve been anticipating this for quite awhile,” said Jeff Yanc, the Loft’s programming director, who admits to owning both “Back to the Future” films in VHS, DVD and laser disc. “I was a big fan when they were originally out” in theaters.
The festival’s opening night celebrates the 30th anniversary of the 1985 comedy “Back to the Future” in a double screening with “Back to the Future, Part II,” live ’50s music, themed-snacks and a photo op with an actual DeLorean.
There’s also an Enchantment under the Sea Party — that’s the high school dance where Marty hooks his mother up with his dad, Yanc explained. “We’re trying to recreate that.”
The nonprofit theater, which hosts sing-a-longs and All-Nite-Scream-o-Ramas, is no stranger to campy fun.
The Loft found a soul mate in its opening night sponsor, Buffalo Exchange.
Kirsten Block, founder of the national, Tucson-based chain, is a regular supporter of Tucson arts. This year she focused on the Artifact Dance Project Studios and the Loft Theatre.
Buffalo Exchange had sponsored the Loft a couple of years ago, said Stephanie Lew, Buffalo Exchange’s marketing director. She noted the local nonprofit theater is a favorite among a number of the store’s employees, as well as Block herself.
The Loft was already planning a “Back to the Future” opening night, but festival organizers pointed out that if anyone could provide fashions from 1955, 1985 and 2015 it was the Buffalo Exchange, Lew said.
“It was kind of the perfect storm with the right event with the right partner,” Yanc said.
This week the Buffalo Exchange store at 2001 E. Speedway will feature clothing for sale identified for the opening night event — as well as for the Star’s photo shoot last week. The ’80s outfits were the easiest to pull together, she said, noting that some of those styles are making a comeback.
There will also be a pop-up store at the Loft on opening night that will sell vintage wear along with T-shirts. “We’re really excited to be part of opening night,” Lew said.
This year’s festival also has one of the best lineups of guests to date, along with the highest diversity of films, Yanc said.
While looking forward to all of the films, Yanc pointed out a few in particular that he didn’t want to get overlooked.
“I’m really excited about ‘In Transit,’” he said. Legendary documentary filmmaker Albert Maysles (“Grey Gardens”) captured a journey aboard the Empire Builder, America’s busiest long distance train route. Maysles’ last film before his death, it screens Friday at 4 p.m.
“Fiddlesticks,” a colorful kids’ film from Germany “is almost like a ‘Little Rascals’ movie and it’s really funny,” Yanc said. “It’s great for kids and great for adults.” It screens Saturday at noon.
“Finders Keepers,” which screens at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, is about a man who discovers a severed human foot in a used grill he bought at auction, then refuses to return it to the struggling addict and amputee it belonged to. “It’s one of those too-crazy-to-be-true stories, but it is true,” Yanc said.
Loft Film Fest highlights
Here are some of the filmmakers, writers and performers who will appear in person to discuss their films at post-screening Q&A sessions.
“Daughter of Dawn”
4:45 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22
Co-presented by Arizona State Museum’s Native Eyes Film Showcase, this 80-minute, six-reel silent film was shot over three months in 1920 in the Wichita Mountains of southwest Oklahoma. The story, played by a cast of 300 Kiowas and Comanches, includes a four-way love story and two buffalo hunt scenes along with battle and village scenes. The lead actor is White Parker, the son of the Comanche leader Quanah Parker. Thought lost for years, the film was recently restored and given its first score by David A. Yeagley, a University of Arizona alum. The screening features a post film Q&A.
“Florence, Arizona”
7:30 p.m. Thursday
Director Andrea B. Scott’s documentary makes it’s premiere in the western states with this screening. In the film, Florence is described as a cowboy town with a prison problem with 8,500 civilian residents and 17,000 inmates spread over nine prisons. Scott weaves together the stories of four Florence residents.
“Double Digits: The Story of a Neighborhood Movie Star”
Noon Friday, Oct. 23.
Director Justin Johnson attends this screening of his documentary, which explores a YouTube sensation — UltraDIY filmmaker Richard “R.G.” Miller, a 50-year-old man who churns out three to four original feature-length films a year and aside from his action figures, plays virtually every part.
”West Side Story” and
Lofty Lifetime Achievement Award presentation
6 p.m. Friday
Oscar-winning actress Rita Moreno appears for a special screening of the classic 1961 musical and will be presented with the Lofty Lifetime Achievement Award. There will also be a pre-show conversation and a career highlight reel. The screening starts at 7. (A reception starts at 4 p.m.; tickets are $60).
“Hand Gestures”
11:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24.
Director Francesco Clerici is coming from Italy to attend the U.S. premiere screening of his documentary, which follows the process of creating one of Velasco Vitali’s famous dog sculptures, from wax to glazed bronze, at the Battaglia Artistic Foundry in Milan. The work done in this 100-year-old foundry reveals traditions of bronze sculpture making unchanged since the sixth century B.C.
“Call Me Lucky”
1:45 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24.
Filmmaker Bobcat Goldthwait receives the Loft Film Fest’s 2015 Lee Marvin Maverick Award, presented to artists whose work embodies a spirit of originality and independence. There will also be a career highlight reel and an onstage conversation with Goldthwait. His documentary is a portrait of Barry Crimmins and his story of transformation from a rage-fueled funnyman into a political satirist and writer.
“Janis: Little Girl Blue”
4 p.m. Saturday
Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Amy Berg (“Deliver Us from Evil)” delves into the life of rock legend Janis Joplin in this new documentary. Berg excavates unseen material, interviews Joplin’s confidants and uncovers personal letters, resulting in a portrait that offers insight into the singer, who died from a heroin overdose in 1970 at the age of 27. The screening is followed with a Q&A with Michael Joplin, Janis’ younger brother.
“Brokeback Mountain”
10th anniversary screening in 35 mm print
7 p.m. Saturday
The film’s Oscar-winning screenwriters/producers Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana will introduce the film and answer questions. Oscar-winning Director Ang Lee’s epic American love story, adapted from an Annie Proulx short story by McMurtry and Ossana, made cinematic history in 2005 as the first gay romance to cross over into the mainstream, eventually grossing $178 million worldwide.
“The Three Amigos”
8 p.m. Saturday
The Loft will present a free outdoor screening ($5 suggested donation) of the 1986 made-in-Tucson comedy. The film will be introduced by Alfonso Arau, who starred in the film as El Guapo. Bring your own seating.
“Right Footed”
1:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25
Director/producer Nick Spark and Jessica Cox attend the screening of this documentary about Cox, who was born without arms. An expert martial artist, college graduate and motivational speaker, the Sierra Vista resident is also the world’s only armless airplane pilot.
“Like Water for Chocolate”
4 p.m. Sunday
Arau receives the Lofty Lifetime Achievement Award at this screening, which starts with a career highlight reel and concludes with a post-film Q&A. The director will be joined by one of the film’s stars, Yareli Arizmendi, and his son, Sergio Arau, who is an actor, artist and filmmaker. Chocolate will be served after the film.
