Off and running...

The first screenings of T/F 2008 kicked off this evening after a wild day at the Artisan. Anyone who waited to buy single tickets was in for, well, a wait - and a little quality time with the local fire marshal. A line of purchasers over 300 deep was awaiting sales when they started at noon today.

As of 10 pm, it sounded like there were tickets remaining to about 11 shows this weekend - including the fantastic get of Man on Wire for closing night at Jesse Hall. But if the screenings tonight were any indication, there are plenty of opportunities to catch films via the "Q' lines. Please Vote for Me was quick to go NRT in all it's showings, but come showtime tonight there were at least 20 empty seats at the showing. So, if something strikes your fancy, don't believe the "SOLD OUT" hype and get your butt down to the venue 30 minutes prior to showtime for a chance to get in at the door.

Filmmakers are showing up and Silver Circle passholders make the most of their black and red scarves before the weather warms up for what promises to be a fantastic weekend.

So far the films are great, but I'm waiting to get these parties started. Tomorrow night is Lover's Leap at @CTION. Can't wait...free booze and plenty of people watching. (Don't forget to tip your bartenders.)

What's your favorite part of T/F?

T/F Hookups

Movies are great. Docs are even better. But you can't spend all day watching movies. . .or can you? T/F has great movies, but it also has great parties. And great parties can lead to, well, hookups. We need eyes and ears at this festival. If you see something, say something. Email us and let us know what you see, what you hear. We'll get the word out.

Hot or Not...the T/F edition

Let your voice be heard.

The Scoop: GONZO and the True Vision Award

The director Alex Gibney will be receiving the True Vision Award at this year's T/F. His films Gonzo and Taxi to the Dark Side will screen at the fest.



Elsewhere:

• From TheReeler.com: an interview with Alex Gibney
  
• From Studio Monthly: "Making Must-See Documentaries"

Going, going, gone.

All T/F passes for 2008 are gone. Sold out...

That's pretty exciting stuff, unless you missed the boat. Individual tickets will go on sale at the Box Office at noon on Thursday, Feb. 28. And, as I understand it, there are always going to be some seats available at the door, so "Q" up if there's a film you're dead set on seeing.

Time to figure out my flight plan for T/F 2008.

T/F 2008: The Program

The slate of films showing at T/F 2008 has been announced. You can find brief descriptions on the web. Word is the schedule grid will be up in the next 24 hours.

The Scoop: KNEE DEEP

Knee Deep, this year's film at the Reel Gone Round-Up, is the story of a young man, Josh Osborne, who attempts to kill his mother in an effort to gain control of the family farm. You can see the trailer on the film's website.

The Scoop: FORBIDDEN LIE$

Elsewhere:

• The official website
  
• From Australia's "At the Movies": a review
  

Vote!

Yes, we can. And yes, you should - regardless of who it's for...



Go vote!

The Scoop: SHAKE THE DEVIL OFF

You can find the trailer for this film on the film's web site.

This doc follows the fight waged by parishioners and musicians to save St. Augustine Church in New Orleans. Six months after Katrina hit, the archdiocese has decided to close the parish, and send the beloved Father LeDoux away. "Shake the Devil Off is a contemporary retelling of the story of Easter, in a city where politics, culture and religion collide and where the plan of God remains impenetrable."

Elsewhere:

• From IDFA: a synopsis
  
• From BestOfNewOrleans.com: an Oct. 10, 2007 report on the status of St. Augustine parish

The Scoop: STRANDED

An interview with the filmmakers:


The trailer:


Elsewhere:

• The official website for STRANDED
  
• From the Park City Record: "Stranded survivors tell their story in Sundance documentary"
  
• From indieWire: "DISPATCH FROM AMSTERDAM: Stranded in the wild with no help"
  

The Scoop

Here's the plan: as word gets out about the films coming to T/F 2008, we'll be doing our best to provide a little dirt on these docs. Hopefully we'll be able to include trailers, interviews with the filmmakers, and the like.

Stay tuned!