The Sacramento Film & Music Festival SummerFest kicked off with a bang last night. A medley of music, fashion and, of course, film, took hold of the historic Crest Theatre in Downtown Sacramento. In the lobby, attendees mingled as live music by Autumn Sky filled the room. The evening continued in the main theatre, where co-festival-directors Nathan Schemel and Tony Sheppard introduced the festival, noting that, while it’s the 12th annual Sacramento Film & Music Festival, it’s actually the first ever SummerFest, since this year marks the beginning of the festival’s split into two parts—the WinterFest (held earlier this year in January) and the current SummerFest, which runs through this Sunday, August 21.
Before the screenings took place, Cecile Mouette Downs, co-founder & director of the Sacramento French Film Festival, was presented with the 2011 Film Arts Service Award & red carpet worthy fashions, made out of newspaper, were modeled in the SacBee's Fashion Challenge (the designs will be on display in the lobby beginning Friday, so check them out!).
The SummerFest debuted with a screening of Sé Merry Doyle’s Jimmy Murakami - Non Alien, a documentary about Oscar-nominated animator Jimmy Murakami’s experience as a young boy in a Japanese concentration camp during World War II, and
its influence on his life’s journey. Nathan & Tony noted that “being different in America” is an inadvertent theme in this year’s festival, as it continues with screenings of Hollywood to Dollywood (Sat 7pm) and Fordson: Faith, Fasting, Football (Sun 3pm).
Screenings are held in the evening today and tomorrow and throughout the day Saturday & Sunday. Individual screenings are $10 a piece, but if you mention Sac365 at the box office, you can get an All-Screening Pass for $30 (half off the regular price, and quite a steal if you plan on seeing more than three shows!).
Written by Sacramento365.com Assistant Editor, Alison Kranz
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