Fantastic finish for Cinequest: ‘Don Quixote,’ Elle Fanning
Cinequest’s closing weekend managed to package a little bit of everything this year’s fest — dubbed a “film and creativity festival” — had to offer.
There was a rising star in 20-year-old Maverick Spirit Award winner Elle Fanning, who in both her new film “Teen Spirit” (being released April 5) and her on-stage conversation with Cinequest co-founder Kathleen Powell displayed talent and poise that will probably make her a powerhouse in the film industry in years to come.
Sunday’s closing night film, Terry Gilliam‘s “The Man Who Killed Don Quixote,” was just the type of offbeat fare that Cinequest audiences have come to expect. The comedy fantasy, starring Adam Driver and Jonathan Pryce, packed the California Theatre and for good reason: Gilliam’s been trying to get the movie made for a quarter century and its only planned U.S. release is a one-night Fathom Events screening at various theaters April 10.
The festival lived up to its theme “The Unexpected,” with surprise performances peppered throughout the 12-day run, including virtual reality experiences, dancers, musicians and stand-up comics. Comedian Erik Griffin did a surprise set Friday night at the California Theatre, wedged between the Silent Cinema presentation of Buster Keaton‘s “Steamboat Bill Jr.” and “Electric Love,” a comedy about dating in the smartphone age in which Griffin had a small part.
Not everyone loved the extra bits, though, and one longtime Cinequest attendee told me the festival should stick to movies and drop the distractions. But overall, the audiences kept showing up: Attendance was announced Tuesday at 110,000 — up from last year’s record of 105,000.
That may be reason to celebrate, but Cinequest co-founder CEO Halfdan Hussey says preparations are already under way for next year’s 30th annual festival.
SPARTAN SEND-OFF >> Saturday afternoon’s celebration of the late Ed Mosher‘s life was all that and more. Held at Morris Dailey Auditorium on the campus of his alma mater, San Jose State, the memorial opened with a performance by the San Jose State band and cheerleaders. Mosher, who died in January and would have turned 90 this past Monday, had been a Spartans booster for more than seven decades, cheering on its football team every season — including the past two as he battled cancer.
Many speakers, including Mosher’s sons, Todd and Scott, mentioned that Ed would close his men’s clothing shop in downtown San Jose on Saturdays when the Spartans played and hang a sign that said “See You At the Game.” And, in a video tribute, “Krazy” George Henderson used his drum to lead the crowd in a “Go Spartans!” cheer. “We could cheer “Go Ed,” but he wouldn’t want that,” Henderson said.
At the reception afterward, I floated the idea to SJSU Athletics Director Marie Tuite that an “Ed Mosher Day” at a San Jose State football game would be a good idea. Mona Onstead, a longtime friend of Ed’s, countered that there could be an Ed Mosher Day at Opera San Jose and Symphony Silicon Valley, too, as he was a passionate supporter of both of those groups as well.
CULTURAL SHOWCASE >> Although Ann Woo died in 2017, she left behind a wonderful legacy in the Chinese Performing Arts of America, which is presenting “Splendor!” its 11th annual Silicon Valley Spring Festival on Saturday at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts. More than 100 performers will participate in the show, which features both traditional and contemporary Asian music and dance.
Tickets are available for $28 to $88 at http:// sf.cpaasv.org.