Twin Rivers Media Festival Opens May 17th at the Flood Fine Arts Center

Production Still From:  A Family Dinner- Short Drama by Peter Davenport, Williamstown, MA

Asheville, NC.   The 20th Twin Rivers Media Film Festival opens Friday May 17^th  through 19th,  and continues with a multi-media performance on May 23^rd by Daniel Ouellette & The Shobijinand then ends with the Feature Film Winner May 24^th  at the Phil Mechanics Building at 109 Roberts St at the Courtyard Gallery and Flood Fine Arts Center.  These screenings offer the community a chance to view outstanding films from around the world, enjoy good food and drink, and mingle with special guest filmmakers all in one weekend. All events are free and open to the public.

The 20th  annual festival has more than 50 selections that include world premier feature films, shorts drama, documentary and animated films that will screen in the  Flood Fine Arts Center Library and the Courtyard Gallery both at the Phil Mechanics Building in the River Arts District of Asheville.

The Courtyard Gallery and the Mechanical Eye of Hendersonville  organizes the festival, and has brought independent filmmaking to the area for the past 20 years.

Cynthia Potter coordinator of the TRMF, said “this festival is a great way to bring the community together.  While the majority of the submissions are from International filmmakers, there are more Western North Carolina entries this year than in any previous years. There's also opportunities to meet some local and national filmmakers," she said.

A local short film called “Over Home” featuring WNC musicians will be screened with a live performance from some of its talent and Asheville filmmaker LisAnna will be presenting her short film “Orphan.”

The wide range of short drama and feature films vary from some set on the streets of India, Moscow, Mexico City or Tokyo, to one smuggled out of Iran. The US entries provide dramatic looks at injustice against the Japanese Americans during World War II, and range from comic to tragic looks at society’s misfits and dysfunctional families. The award winning short film this year is Mousse, a comic look at robbery and justice.

Documentary films range from films examining a massacre in Afghanistan to dancing in the Appalachian Mountains. The Animation and Experimental film categories are

especially well represented with the inclusion of Mechanical Eye as sponsors for the event, bringing a wider selection of experimental filmmakers to Asheville this year.

"This year's festival is bigger and more prestigious with films coming from every corner of the world and the US, and although we all have different objectives, this is a good place for independents to get feedback and learn about filmmaking," Ms. Potter said.

  The Flood Fine Arts Center Library and the Courtyard Gallery are the venue for the festival, which include the screenings,  food and wine, and live music. The opening night films are the winner of short drama and La Jettee from France.

“The winning feature film will screen on May 24th,” states Ms. Potter, “this is a chance for Asheville audiences to view world premiers that will be distributed in theaters later this year.

All screenings are free and open to the public but a donation is suggested. The

Twin Rivers Film Festival Schedule is:

Friday, May 17th--7:30 p.m. -  Kick Off  with:

La Jettee, France and  Mousse, by John Hellberg, Stockholm, Sweden

Saturday: May 18^th—Courtyard Gallery and Flood Fine Arts Center Library

10am to 12n  Documentary Films,

1pm to 5pm Short Drama Winners

6pm to 8pm Animation and Experimental Winners, Courtyard Gallery

Sunday May 19th: Courtyard Gallery and Flood Fine Arts Center Library

1pm-4pm: Short Drama Winners

5pm to 7pm: Animation Winners

Thursday  May 23^rd, Multimedia Installation and Presentation—Courtyard Gallery

 8pm —Daniel Ouellette & The Shobijin

Friday May24th-Feature Film Winner—Courtyard Gallery, 8pm

All screenings are free an open to the public at the Phil Mechanics Building at 109 Roberts St. in the River Arts District of Asheville. Call 828-273-3332  or see www.twinriversmediafestival.com for more information.

For More info: Contact, Carlos Steward, 828-273-3332

carlos@ashevillecourtyard.com