Entertainment
The Battalion
The big picture
Pag#A ‘H^esday, February 17.2t
The 11th annual Texas Film Festival lineup will include HIV documentary
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By Robert Saucedo
THE BATTALION
Michael Venner, a senior psychology major, heard about HIV
when he watched the film “Philadelphia.” The film introduced him
to the epidemic and many years later, he is using the same media to
spread awareness for it.
“I saw the movie got interested about (AIDS),” Venner said. “My
dad worked in the health industry and he was worked with people
with AIDs.”
Venner said although he feels like he knows an average amount
about the disease, that he can always afford to learn more.
On Wednesday, the MSC Film Society will present a special
showing of “A Closer Walk” as part of the 11th annual Texas Film
Festival. The documentary includes testimonies from patients, doc
tors and nurses from across the world. It also includes interviews
with the Dalai Lama, Bono and Kofi Annan.
“It was very emotional,” Venner said. “It was a really good film.
It’s an important film for people to see. I’m definitely going to
watch it again. No matter how good or bad the movie is, it’s an
important movie to see.”
When the movie is shown on Wednesday, audiences will also be
able to listen to Josh Lozman, a representative from the Global
Health Organization, who will lead a presentation on the disease and
its effects.
Venner said the screening is is sure to affect each student in a
different way.
“Today we got an e-mail from someone who went to the festi
val’s Web site and saw the film’s trailer and started crying because
it was so emotional to him,” Venner said. “He said to tell audiences
to bring Kleenexes.”
“A Closer Walk” is just one of the many films being shown this
year at the Texas Film Festival.
With Monday’s unveiling of the 11th annual Texas Film Festival,
a year’s worth of work and preparation from the MSC Film Society
has been brought to close. From planning to execution, the Film
Society has worked to bring a weeklong program of films and work
shops to the Bryan-College Station area.
Venner, MSC Film Society chair, said the society’s primary goal in
putting together the film festival is to import of films to the local area
“Our goal is really to provide something for the Bryan-College
Station area,” Venner said. “A lot of the movies being shown may be
released in New York and Los Angeles, but they may not get a
release in the Bryan-College Station area.”
This year’s lineup is includes 11 features (including four films
scheduled for wide release) and 13 short films, and is something in
which Venner said he takes great pride.
Pictures Courtesy of • TXFILMFEST.OI
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The Texas Film Festival will include screenings of movies that deal with historical and social issues, such as "A Closer Walk," a documentary aboulAI
patients from across the globe. The film is narrated by Will Smith and Glenn Close.
“We have everything from special advanced screenings to eight
other features with the director for nearly all of them in attendance,”
Venner said. “Pretty much the earmark for all of them is that you get
to see a really good movie and then talk to director afterwards.”
The Texas Film Festival began in 1993 and has grown to become
the largest student-run independent film festival in the nation.
“Every year we’ve been programming it, we begin work on the
next one as soon as the year’s festival is over. We’ve been working
hard on the 11th ever since the end of the 10th festival,” Venner said.
Hallie Gardiner, a senior political science major, has been a
member of the Film Society since her sophomore year and has been
working with the festival for three years. As the director of the
Texas Film Festival, Gardiner carries a lot of responsibility.
“I’m in charge of just about everything (in regards to the film fes
tival),” Gardiner said.
With a squad of assistant festival directors and the entire film
society behind her, Gardiner will see the fruit of the Film Society’s
labor harvested as the festival begins this week.
“We have better movies then we’ve ever had in the history of the
festival,” Gardiner said. “A number of the movies we are showing
have already been shown in other festivals - one of the directors is
going to Cannes. We (also) have advanced screenings. We have big
ger profile movies.” .
Gardiner said some of the high-profile movies of the festival will
include ‘“Hidalgo,” “Broken Lizard’s Club Dredd” and “The Girl
Next Door.” She said all advanced screenings will be free. Gardiner
said the film society hopes to have a better strategy of getting the
word out on the festival.
“Last year, we only put our Web site up a day before the festival,”
Gardiner said.
Venner said one of the struggles that the student-led project has
faced in previous years is a lack of proper exposure, which prompt
ed this year’s strong advertising blitz. n p
“From years past we’ve talked to people that have said, Iff
known about it I would have come,”’ Venner said. “We’re markelii
everywhere we can. At the Memorial Student Center, wehaveato
ner and we have sandwich boards. Last weekend and this
weekend when you go to Cinemark you get an extra ticket
film festival coupon for $5 off an all-festival pass.”
Even though he realizes someone of his position raving aboutl
festival’s lineup is bound to sound biased, Venner said heissi
excited about this year’s festival.
“I’m a fifth-year senior and I have to say that this festival isthete fosephWil
in years past,” Venner said. “Every year we screen films before*
choose which ones to show and I'll occasionally want to seethe! Samuel Pat
again if I get a chance, but this year I’m marking on the calendarii
ones I can’t wait to see. I (already) have questions for the directors!
Kevin Jordan, a junior journalism major, purchased a fesiin
pass as soon as they were open for public sale.
“Every year I’ve been coming here (Texas A&M), I’ve gone!
the festival in varying degrees,” Jordan said. “Fve bought am
tival pass every year.”
Having enjoyed his visits to the festival in the past, Jordan lool
forward to this year’s festival. Jordan said one of the attractions
the festival is being able to see movies before they are in theaters,
“It’s cool to see the advanced screenings so I can talk about the
with friends before they are released,” Jordan said.
Venner said College Station’s small size is not a setback fortl
film festival.
“No one would think that in College Station, Texas, there woul
be a film festival,” Venner said. “If you think about it, Telluridean
Sundance (film festivals) are all in small cities. Why shouldn’t*
have the best film festival at the Texas A&M campus?”
Tickets can be purchased at the MSC Box Office. For more infu
mation and a complete schedule of the festival’s events, %o
msc.tamu.edu.
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TuesdayFebruary 17
Spiritual Journey Panel
What will
your mother say?
Dean’s Ho
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(fall fish can
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Dialogue: “Perspectives on Jesus Christ: Christian and
Islamic”
see below for time and location details
TuesdayFebruary 17
Spiritual Journey Panel with General John Van Alstyne (Corps
Commandant), Dr. Charles Futrell (Business), Dr. Ken Wigley
(Cardiologist), Dr. Andrew Chan (Engineering) and TAMU Football coach
Mark Tommerdahl
4:00-5:30 P.M. ■ Rudder 510
Dialogue: “Perspectives on Jesus Christ: Christian and Islamic”,
with Dr. William Lane Craig and Dr. Jamal Badawi
7:00 P.M. ■ Rudder Auditorium
WednesdayFebruary 18
“Five Reasons God Exists and Three Reasons Why It Makes A
Difference” with Dr. William Lane Craig
9:30-11:00 A.M. ■ Rudder 404
“Is There Scientific Evidence for the Existence of God?”,
with Dr. Walter Bradley
7:00 PM. ■ Rudder Auditorium
ThursdayFebruary 19
Women’s Lunch: “The Role of the Body in the Spiritual Search” with
Lilian Calles Barger (President of Damaris Project),
12:30-1:45 P.M. ■ MSC 231 ■ RSVP RHildreth@clm.org
“What I Learned from Sex and the City” with Lilian Calles Barger
4:00-5:30 PM. ■ Rudder 410
“Relativism, Truth, and Tolerance” with Dr. Peter Kreeft
7:00 P.M. • Rudder Auditorium
FridayFebruary 20
Catholicism and Evangelicalism: Are They Compatible?, with Dr. Peter
Kreeft. St Mary’s Catholic Church, 7:00 A.M. (reservations please:
info@aggiecatholic.org) NOTE: This event is not just for Catholics.
Everyone is welcome to attend. There is no charge for the breakfast.
Actually, if you tell her you signed an organ donor card,
she’ll know she raised you to do the right thing. Caring
about others has always been important in your family.
When you tell your family that you want to be a donor
they'll know to follow your wishes. In fact, talkinq to vonr
family is just as important as signing your donor ra h ’
or driver's license. carc '
Grant Robe
Zan Derek
Clayton Da
William De
Travis Jon [
Andrew Thi
MicliaelAllt
David Chris
Come talk to us at the MSC
or the Blocker Building on
March 11 from 10am-3pm.
GET THE FACTS
’’ 11
TELL YOUR FAMILY
www.donorworld.com
1.800.355.7427
OtganOonot Catd
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Justin Beauf
Tommy Gle
lyan Scott
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Jonathan Sa
Jason Elliott
Veritas ■ veritas • veritas ■ venta^ v
February 16-20, 2004
www.veritas.org/TexasA&M
Mi
Michael Jon
John Michat
Andrew Thi
Christopher
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Jana Lore! E