As a member of the Advisory Board of Film Fest 919, I am personally thrilled with the film offerings and the creative events offered. Located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, founders Randi Emerman and Carol Marshall started the festival with an amazing event. Legendary award-winning songwriter Diane Warren was honored with a laser light show accompanied by a compilation of her hit songs held at the Caraway Village Drive-In.
Prior to the show, we were treated to a Q&A by Vanity Fair’s Katey Rich. We found out that the hit song “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.” sung by Steven Tyler of the band Aerosmith; when writing, Warren had actually imaged a woman singing the song to her lover—Tyler sang it as a love song to his daughter Liv Tyler.
Spotlight Award winner Diane Warren article here: https://bit.ly/DianeWarren-SBP
Interviewing Warren via phone provided me the opportunity to delve into other areas and chat about my niece attending Berklee College of Music in Boston as she’s studying songwriting.
My interview with Diane Warren here: https://bit.ly/DianeWarrenSarahsBackstge
“King Richard” at the Caraway Village Drive-In was the primary offering the following evening. The inspiring biographical story of Richard Williams, played by Will Smith, the father and coach of the famous tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams. The film is directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green and written by Zach Baylin. I can highly recommend this heartfelt film anchored by an award-worthy performance by Smith.
Wednesday, October 20, brought a full slate of films, “The Lost Daughter,” “Petite Maman,”‘ The Hand of God,” “Huda’s Salon,” “Catch The Fair One,” and “Oleg: The Oleg Vidov Story,” followed by a Q&A that I conducted with Joan Berston, the widow of Vidov. More Coverage of the Q&A to follow.
Thursday, October 21, new film offerings included “The Electrical Life of Louis Wain,” “A Hero,” “See For Me,” “C’mon C’mon,” “Flee,” “India Sweets and Spice,” and “Passing.”
Friday, October 22, new film offerings “A Chiara,” “The Novice,” “Catch the Fair,” “Mass,” “The French Dispatch,” “The Lost Daughter,” “The Worst Person in the World,” “See For Me,” The Hand Of God,” “The Mustang: America’s Wild Horse,” “Red Rocket,” followed by a Q&A with screenplay writer Chris Bergoch moderated by Joey Magidson.
Stay tuned for my interview with Chris Bergoch.
The rest of my coverage will be posted in Part 2, as I’ll be attending for the duration, through Sunday, October 24.
Sarah Knight Adamson© October 23, 2021.