Little Rock Film Fest 2008: Day Four

With the sun setting over the Arkansas River the Little Rock Film Fest held its awards show at the Riverfest Amphitheater. As darkness fell they screened 1972's classic The Legend of Boggy Creek in honor of its director Charles B. Pierce, an Arkansan who made the film (his first) on a budget of $160,000. It was like sitting in an old drive-in theater, without the car. The Bigfoot horror film went on to earn $22 million. Pierce spoke earlier in the week and was presented with the festival's Lifetime Achievement Award.

Judge Reinhold told a packed crowd at Little Rock's Chamber of Commerce that "we can set a tone" with events such as this festival. Reinhold has recently taken up part-time residence in Arkansas and was involved with attracting filmmakers to his other home in New Mexico. City officials were on hand to answer questions and were talking of implementing governmental studies on the future of Arkansas film. All well and good but it takes folks like festival organizers Brent Renaud, Craig Renaud and Owen Brainard to "just do it". By all accounts, attendees agree after seeing four days of great film. 

This "sleeper" of the festival pleasantly surprised me. After a violent attack Irishman Peter McCarthy shot a documentary on facing his fears with a journey through Thailand where he learned the art of Muay Thai Boxing, a type of kickboxing. But when he gets in the ring he begins to also wage a battle in his mind and his spirit. Aside from the actual fights the best parts of the film are his commentaries on his moments of discovery.

This story about an Atlanta "Man of the Year" losing his job, returning home and trying to start over begins well enough but stalls out with some weak dialogue and low-tech shooting. With a proper re-write and professional film crew Left/Right could be resurrected.

Book your hotel (I recommend The Peabody). Book a flight (or drive; the countryside is beautiful). And plan now for next year's Little Rock Film Festival, potentially one of the best fests in the country.