Fine Arts Film Festival, November 21 and December 3

The Fine Arts Film Festival in Santa Barbara will screen six films (three are top award-winners) and offer film introductions by three artists/filmmakers, who will be available for discussion.

One film has a Santa Barbara connection. The Stones of Famagusta is produced by UCSB professor and art historian Allan Langdale, from a bicycle trip through Cyprus.

The Fine Arts Film Festival was founded in 2010 by Lynn Holley, a Santa Barbara writer, independent curator, and art consultant, and by Kathleen Fairweather, a Los Angeles writer and documentary filmmaker. “Films about art, artists, collectors and those inspired by art are rarely shown at regular film festivals,” says Holley. “Art is not just for galleries and museums; the stories of art deserve their own film festival. There are plenty of good films on art that are rarely seen. We wanted to offer some to the community.”

“Our goal,” says Fairweather, “is to launch The Fine Arts Film Festival in Santa Barbara, and then expand it to LA in 2011. We plan to be back next year in Santa Barbara with a bigger Fine Arts Film Festival.”

Co-sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara’s Art at the JCC and the Santa Barbara Art Association.

For more information on the Fine Arts Film Festival contact Lynn Holley at 805-450-3799, or Kathleen Fairweather at 310-570-5756. Or find us soon on Facebook. Reservations may be made in advance by calling 805-957-1115 or going to the website. Seating is limited to 80 people.

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The Line Up

10:30am: Caught in Paint (2003, 6 minutes), by artist Rita Blitt. It is a film-favorite, winning over 20 awards around the world. It is an inspiring glance at painting, dance and photography rolled into one interesting documentary, including the Parsons Dance Company. Introduction by Lynn Holley.

10:45am: The Stones of Famagusta – The Story of a Forgotten City (2008, 70 minutes), by Dan Frodsham and Allan Langdale, art historian and professor at UCSB. Rather than a look at the usual historical sites, it is a rare look at the history of art and architecture as it developed in Cyprus. The film will be introduced by Allan Langdale, who will be available for discussion during the break.

12-12:30pm Break.

12:30pm: Maynard Dixon: Art and Spirit (2008, 67 minutes), by Jayne McKay. This Spur Award-winning documentary is simply outstanding, a vivid look at one of the West’s great painters. Even if you’re not familiar with the work of Maynard Dixon, this documentary is worth watching. The narrative is superb, and the subject is an artist whose story had to be told. The film will be introduced by Jayne McKay with discussion afterwards. Narrated by Diane Keaton, an avid collector of Dixon’s paintings and drawings. Original music written and performed by Grammy-winner, John McEuen.

2:15-2:30pm Break

2:30pm: Picasso’s Ghost and Me (2009, 10 Minutes), Van Gogh’s Ghost and Me (17 minutes) and Cezanne’s Ghost and Me (12 Minutes) by Phil Savenick. Picasso’s stepdaughter opened the great master’s studio to the public for the first time in 2009. Artist Phil Savenick made a pilgrimage to Picasso’s Chateau de Vauvenargues in the south of France to make a film about it… but Picasso’s Ghost had other ideas. A similar theme runs through Van Gogh’s Ghost. The films will be introduced by Phil Savenick with discussion afterwards.

4:00pm Reception

The Festival will continue on Friday, December 3, 1-3 pm, with a free screening of Herb & Dorothy (2008, 85 minutes) by Megumi Sasaki. Herb, a New York City postal worker and Dorothy, a librarian, scoured the new contemporary art scene in the 1960s and 70s and became the biggest collectors in the world of contemporary and abstract art.

The Art of the Steal will complete the 2010 Fine Arts Film Festival—date to be announced. The Art of the Steal, (100 minutes), directed by Don Argott, is a documentary that follows the struggle for control of Dr. Albert C. Barnes’ $25 billion collection of modern and post-impressionist art. This controversial film delves into the world of non-profits, museums, philanthropy and political chess games at a county, city and state level.

– THE FINE ARTS FILM FESTIVAL: The Art of Film; The Film of Art

– Sunday, November 21, 10:30 am – 5 pm

– and Friday, December 3, 1-3 pm

– at the Bronfman Family Jewish Community Center, 524 Chapala St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101, 805-957-1115

– Cost: $25 at the door. $20 in advance with reservation and payment.