This is your last weekend to plan ahead for MFF 2009, and, as you may’ve already heard, we’ve made a major increase in our foreign-film offerings this year! To help you travel the world through film, here’s a quick primer in the world cinema in our 2009 line-up. Follow the links to see more information, showtimes, and tickets.
Agnès Varda’s Beaches of Agnès (France): the latest work from the legendary “Mother of the French New Wave,” a playful documentary looking back on her work — and life and times with Jacques Demy, Jane Birkin, Jean-Luc Godard, Harrison Ford, Robert DeNiro, Alexander Calder, Gerard Depardieu, and others!
http://www.md-filmfest.com/films.cfm?id=227
Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo (US/Japan): A documentary looking at the fascinating world of Japanese insect collectors, and the rich history Japan has of appreciating these tiniest of creatures. Director Jessica Oreck will be in attendance!
http://www.md-filmfest.com/films.cfm?id=202
Blind Loves (Slovakia): A “hybrid” documentary made in close collaboration with its subjects, blind couples in love — capturing not just their reality, but also their histories, hopes, and dreams through reenactments, animated adventure sequences, and more!
http://www.md-filmfest.com/films.cfm?id=170
Daytime Drinking (South Korea): An uproarious, hip comedy about a just-dumped twentysomething who tries to escape his problems by vacationing at a resort during the off-season, only to encounter a new, alcohol-soaked set of problems.
http://www.md-filmfest.com/films.cfm?id=165
Eat, For This Is My Body (Haiti/France): Eye-popping experimental work shot in Haiti, with surreal nods to such world-cinema masters as Claire Denis, Luis Bunuel, and Marco Ferreri.
http://www.md-filmfest.com/films.cfm?id=168
Five Miles Out (UK): A sumptuous, artful short from Andrew Haigh, whose feature Greek Pete (see below) is also showing within MFF ’09.
http://www.md-filmfest.com/films.cfm?id=178
Funny Bones (US/UK): Jerry Lewis and Oliver Platt star in this vaudeville-themed 1995 film, selected by guest-host Laura Lippman.
http://www.md-filmfest.com/films.cfm?id=219
Garbage Dreams (US/Egypt): This documentary looks at Cairo-based Zaballeen teenagers, whose people for generations have made their living collecting the city’s garbage, using recycyling measures that put Western countries to shame. But now their way of life is threatened by multinational corporations. Director Mai Iskander will be in attendance!
http://www.md-filmfest.com/films.cfm?id=207
Greek Pete (UK): This fictional, often graphic film draws on the actual life experiences of its cast, men who work within and around the world of London-based gay escorts, or “rentboys.” Director Andrew Haigh will be in attendance!
http://www.md-filmfest.com/films.cfm?id=195
Hobby (Spain/Japan): This featurette documentary follows a Spanish video-game enthusiast as he takes a pilgrimage to Japan, dipping into the history of Nintendo in the process.
http://www.md-filmfest.com/films.cfm?id=177
It was great, but I was ready to come home. (US/Costa Rica): Two young American women travel together in Costa Rica, sharing new experiences as they deal with romantic regrets. Director/star Kris Swanberg will be in attendance!
http://www.md-filmfest.com/films.cfm?id=187
Lake Tahoe (Mexico): A deadpan comedy in the tradition of Jim Jarmusch about a young Mexican man who crashes his car on the outskirts of town, encountering a colorful cast of oddballs who want to do everything except help him fix his car.
http://www.md-filmfest.com/films.cfm?id=196
Love Songs (France): John Waters’ 2009 pick, a (bi-)sexually charged musical romp from internationally acclaimed director Christophe Honoré and stars Chiara Mastroianni, Louis Garrel, Ludivine Sagnier, Clotilde Hesme. Did we mention it’s hosted by John Waters?
http://www.md-filmfest.com/films.cfm?id=214
Man With a Movie Camera (USSR): This hypnotic 1929 classic still wows audiences 80 years later with its amazing cinematography and editing. Presented with live original music from Alloy Orchestra!
http://www.md-filmfest.com/films.cfm?id=221
Munyurangabo (Rwanda): Beautifully shot, this poetic drama looks head-on at the legacy of the Rwandan genocide. Director Lee Isaac Chung will be in attendance!
http://www.md-filmfest.com/films.cfm?id=167
Nollywood Babylon (Nigeria/Canadian): From the directors of Bombay Calling comes this documentary about the world’s third-largest film industry, Nigeria’s high-octane, straight-to-disc “Nollywood” scene. Directors Ben Addelman and Samir Mallal will be in attendance!
http://www.md-filmfest.com/films.cfm?id=169
Not Quite Hollywood (Australia): A look back at the decidely un-PC world of “Ozploitation” — ”70s and ’80s Australian cult films that brought the world not just Mad Max, but hundreds of over-the top action, sci-fi, comedy, and exploitation films.
http://www.md-filmfest.com/films.cfm?id=173
The Paranoids (Argentina): Buenos Aires comes to vibrant life in this indie dark comedy from Argentina about a paranoid young man who suspects his childhood friend has stolen his life story and turned it into a hit sitcom abroad.
http://www.md-filmfest.com/films.cfm?id=211
Seventh Moon (US/China): From Blair Witch Project’s Eduardo Sánchez comes this riveting ghost story shot in China. Director Eduardo Sánchez will be in attendance!
http://www.md-filmfest.com/films.cfm?id=191
Somers Town (UK): The new film from Shane Meadows, director of the art-house hit This Is England. This much-gentler film tells the story of two young outcasts who find friendship and mischief on the streets of London — channeling the lighter side of Truffaut”s Jules and Jim in the process.
http://www.md-filmfest.com/films.cfm?id=197
Treeless Mountain (South Korea): One of the best-reviewed films of 2009, this drama shows us the world through the eyes of children — specifically, two young sisters who have been passed from irresponsible adult to adult, learning in the process to fend for themselves and create their own imaginative reality.
http://www.md-filmfest.com/films.cfm?id=166
Youssou Ndour: I Bring What I Love (US/Senegal): A documentary following the titular international pop star as he releases a controversial new album dealing with his Islamic faith.
http://www.md-filmfest.com/films.cfm?id=172
Advance tickets are recommended for all MFF ’09 titles, foreign or otherwise.
Oscar, Emmy, Peabody, and Grammy award winning producer/director/writer Alex Gibney was recently described by Esquire Magazine as “becoming the most important documentarian of our time.” Gibney came to prominence with his highly acclaimed 2005 feature ENRON: THE SMARTEST GUYS IN THE ROOM (Oscar Nominee Best Documentary, Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary, Writers Guild of America Award, official selection Maryland Film Festival 2005). In the years since, Gibney has directed the 2007 Oscar-winner for Best Documentary TAXI TO THE DARK SIDE (which also won a Peabody Award in 2007 and an Emmy in 2009); GONZO: THE LIFE AND WORK OF DR. HUNTER S. THOMPSON (Sundance 2008; MFF 2008), CASINO JACK AND THE UNITED STATES OF MONEY (Sundance 2010; Maryland Film Festival 2010), and most recently CLIENT 9: THE RISE AND FALL OF ELIOT SPITZER. Before turning to feature documentaries, Gibney had great success in television as writer/director /producer of several documentary series. Gibney won an Emmy (1993) and the DuPont-Columbia Award for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism (1994) for directing, writing and producing the 10-part PBS series THE PACIFIC CENTURY. He also served as Series Producer for Executive Producer Martin Scorsese’s THE BLUES, and was awarded a Grammy for his work compiling the 5-disc soundtrack CD to the same series.
Two legendary musicians come together at Maryland Film Festival 2009, when MFF guest host, punk/hardcore pioneer Ian MacKaye, presents the rarely screened French documentary Nina Simone: La Légende. This 1992 film, made for French television, captures soul/jazz/gospel icon Simone at her most impassioned and outspoken, reflecting on her life, career, and beliefs. It also incorporates performance and interview footage from a 1969 film about Simone, when her fearless, eclectic career was arguably at its peak.
Maryland Film Festival Blog 
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