deadCENTER logo, brazenly stolen from their website. Don't sue us! We love you!
Our little film festival has grown up. Now in it’s 12th year, deadCENTER bears almost no resemblance to the ragtag DIY effort it once was. What has remained, crucially, is a unique editorial voice. This is one of the broadest, quirkiest assemblages of films you will find at any festival, and that breadth of programming is one of the things that makes this a “film-makers film festival,” as one director told me. The hype machines are set to low, the festival staff and volunteers are gracious and friendly, and the general feel of the proceedings is so positive and upbeat that I feel tempted to retract my piece from last night about how OKC is probably not the “next Austin†at this very moment. We aren’t Austin 2.0 yet, but we have free beer at the art museum and a truck that sells waffles. That works for me.
Gripes: I know that Project 180 will result in all sorts of pretty and walk-able stuff downtown, but as of right now it gives the area around the museum/civic center/film row the charm and mystique of a massive construction site. I’ll be happy when it’s finished.
Here’s your deadCENTER calendar for Sunday, if you’re one of the cool people who likes good movies.
12:45 PM – CINEMA SIX, HARKINS CINEMA 2
If you missed your chance to catch OKC.NET contributor Mark Potts’ irreverent workplace comedy on Friday, you should go tomorrow. There will be a test.
2:30- THE DAUGHTER OF DAWN, OKCMOA
Quite possibly the earliest film made in Oklahoma, this 1920 feature filmed in western Oklahoma has been restored by the state historical society and is having it’s world première tomorrow, nearly a century after it was filmed.
5:45- BEAUTY IS EMBARRASSING, HARKINS CINEMA 2
Read Samantha Lamb’s write up here.
OR
6:00- HOW DO YOU WRITE A JOE SCHERRMAN SONG, HARKINS CINEMA 3
One of the buzziest features at this years festival, this classic showbiz tale is having an encore tomorrow night.
OR
6:00 – OKIE SHORTS, IAO GALLERY
A perennial favorite, pay special attention to friends of OKC.NET The Nghiems music video for “Dum Dum Dah Dah†and the moving “Reawakening of Meade†by Cacky Poarch.
Actually, one of the pleasant surprises of this festival is that there is so much that sounds interesting, so many original and worthwhile films, that there are multiple things I want to see playing at literally all times, mostly far across downtown from each other. That’s the sort of problem that’s good to have.
Go check out the full schedule here. Or go see Prometheus like everyone else. Just know that you will lose a bit of street cred.