The Chattanooga Film Festival, just under a month away, has announced three more titles in its screening schedule, including two documentaries. "12 O'Clock Boys," "Teenage" and "The Sacrament" are the titles included in the growing lineup, and they're a bit more reality-based than the first films they announced, "The Congress" and "Mood Indigo." Read about those films here.
"12 O'CLOCK BOYS"
New York filmmaker and artist Lotfy Nathan's first film, "12 O'Clock Boys," follows the antics of young dirt bikers in Baltimore. In particular, the movie centers on Pug, a young and devoted aspiring rider who will do anything to join the group. The film debuted at SXSW and Hot Docs Film Festivals. At Hot Docs, Lotfy took home the HBO Emerging Artist Award. It's apt that The Torontoist called the film "The Wire with wheelies." - the nickname "12 O'Clock" comes from the moment when a rider is at the top of a wheelie, that the bike stands vertically in the air.
See the "12 O'Clock Boys" website.
"TEENAGE"
"Teenage" pays tribute to the adolescent years of generations from the end of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. It's a "living collage of rare archival material, filmed portraits, and diary entries," according to a Festival press release, and is narrated by Jena Malone ("The Hunger Games"), Ben Whishaw ("Skyfall") and others. The movie's score is by Bradford Cox of the indie group Deerhunter.
See the "Teenage" website.
"These two films blew me away," said CFF director Chris Dortch. "12 O'Clock Boys made my heart pound and made me realize I knew nothing about the Baltimore I thought I learned about while watching The Wire. It feels dangerous and alive. Teenage is sure to please history hounds and cinephiles alike with its amazing assembled look at youth culture."
"THE SACRAMENT"
Also included in the Festival is "The Sacrament," a thriller directed by Ti West and produced by Eli Roth ("Inglorious Bastards," "Green Inferno"). The Scenic City is one of the first cities to screen this movie, since it won't be released on demand until May 1st, and in theaters June 6th. "The Sacrament" follows two Vice media correspondents as they set out to document their friend's search to find his missing sister, but conflict arises when they travel outside of the United States to an undisclosed location. This new world is known as "Eden Parish," a self-sustained rural utopia with nearly 200 members. When they dig deeper, things are not what they seem in the isolated community.
AJ Bowen, the film's lead actor, will attend the #CFF screening, along with costar Kate Forbes, who lives in Chattanooga. Both will be on a filmmaking panel for Festival Badge holders. Bowen said in a statement, "As a man lucky enough to have been born and raised in the South, I know well the need for advocating the art of cinematic storytelling, on the regional level, especially down home way. I'm grateful for the opportunity to be at the first of what I hope are many wonderful years for The Chattanooga Film Festival, and I can't wait to see the other films and hug necks with fellow Southern cinephiles."
The CFF is scheduled April 3-6, 2014. The event will offer four days of independent films at the Carmike Majestic in downtown Chattanooga, five education panels to local and regional filmmakers and social events for filmmakers and fans of cinema.
For the latest developments on event and film programming, visit chattanoogafilmfest.com, like Chattanooga Film Festival on Facebook or follow @chattfilmfest on Twitter.