Ahhh the movies. The stars! The glamour! The 35 previews before the feature film! And let’s not forget the ads. Because what could be more enchanting than little boxes of candy telling you to turn off your cellphone and a giant cup of soda begging you not to litter? Well, I have two words for you: celebrity hosts.
The Maryland Film Festival, it seems, is intent on making dreams like this one come true. This year, from May 6-9 in Baltimore, you’ll be able to see films chosen and discussed by indie luminaries Dan Deacon and Bill Callahan (Smog). Mr. Deacon has selected Total Recall, starring Sharon Stone and that guy who’s governing California right now; while Mr. Callahan has chosen John Cassavetes’ Faces, featuring Gena Rowlands. Both performers join the illustrious ranks of past Maryland Film Festival hosts (listed with their chosen films): Will Oldham (The World’s Greatest Sinner), Jonathan Richman (Cyrano De Bergerac), Joyce Scott (The Long Hot Summer), Julian Bond (Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song), Harvey Pekar (The Bicycle Thief), Branford Marsalis (Scent of Green Papaya), Henry Rollins (Maxed Out), and last year’s host Ian MacKaye (Nina Simone: La Légende).
Both screenings take place on May 8. Attendees can also catch music documentaries about the Seattle soul/funk scene in the 60s-70s (Wheedle’s Groove), the Japanese noise scene (We Don’t Care About Music Anyway…), and Norwegian black metal (Until the Light Takes Us).
• The Maryland Film Festival: http://www.md-filmfest.com
