Movie madness in San Jose

By Kristine Wedum

It's been the star of the San Jose winter season for years. The 12-day Cinequest Film Festival, which will happen for the 17th time Feb. 28, will premiere 245 films from 45 countries, all within a three block radius in downtown San Jose.

Founded by filmmakers Halfdan Hussey and Kathleen Powell in 1990, the Cinequest Film Company is a motion picture institution that discovers films and connects them to society, providing a safe place for the filmmaker to showcase his or her work.

"At Cinequest, we are trying to communicate to the film institute, the film lover, the filmmakers and people who just love independent and international films," said Susie Mun, a senior publicist at Cinequest.

The company is also a big supporter of individualistic, independent thinking.

Their motto, "Empowering the Maverick," can be seen almost anywhere you find the Cinequest name.

"When we talk about the Maverick, we're talking about the individual, the unique voice that each person has," said Mun.

The festival, which draws an average of 70,000 people each year, will showcase various independent films from around the world in the California Theatre, Camera 12 and San Jose Repertory Theatre.

While the company's festival has always offered a wide variety of films in the past, previewing documentaries to comedies, the 2007 film festival is the first time that there will be a night devoted specifically to college students.

Beginning at Loft Bar and Bistro at 8 p.m. on March 1, students can collect their free ticket for the film and enjoy a complimentary beverage.

Loft is located at 90 South 2nd Street in San Jose.

At 9 p.m. everyone will make the short walk over to the California Theatre on First and San Carlos to view the film "You Are Here," which will begin at 9:15 p.m.

The film, which was chosen by a Santa Clara student, is a romantic comedy about six 20-somethings in Los Angeles who recall their adventures from the night before.

"It's really fast paced, really fun and something I'd want my friend to see," said Heather Holdorf, one of the planners of the event.

Santa Clara's Activities Programming Board is offering tickets for free, which include a complimentary drink at Loft and a ticket to the movie.

If students are not interested in having a drink at the restaurant or are unable to obtain a ticket from APB, tickets are available at the venue for five dollars.

"The main focus of the event is about bringing out college students and making them more aware of the arts," said Holdorf.

While the film may not be the typical Hollywood production, College Night and the film festival itself are both great ideas for a date or a night with friends.

It's an experience that is cheap, different and close.

Each film is shown three separate times. "You Are Here" will also be showing on March 2 at 9:30 p.m. and March 10 at 10 a.m.. Both shows will be in the Camera 12 theater on Second Street.

There are programs throughout campus that include a list of all the movies at the festival this year and their show times.

Tickets are available at the festival, through Santa Clara's Activities Programming Board or online at Cinequest's Web site at www.cinequest.org.

Whether you are already a lover of the arts, a student interested in supporting the making of independent films or a struggling college student looking for a creative and cheap way to spend a free night, the Cinequest Film Festival has something to offer to almost all walks of life, and it's all right here in our own backyard.

Contact Kristine Wedum at kwedum@scu.edu.