Cinequest team elated about festival’s 30th year
When an event hits its 30th anniversary, it’s tempting to look back through the highlights of years past. But Halfdan Hussey, CEO of the Cinequest Film and Creativity Festival, said, “Looking back is not our bag.”
For Cinequest’s big 3-0, Hussey said, “We wanted to pick a theme that sums up the best of where we’re at.”
Hussey told those assembled for a Jan. 22 kickoff event that Cinequest chose Elation as the theme of this year’s festival in part as a response to the divisiveness of this year’s elections.
“We want you to feel great as you come together in community,” he said. “It’s so exciting people get together to celebrate each other.”
Cinequest’s opening and closing night films celebrate two men known for elating their audiences. The festival begins March 3 with a documentary about the late standup comedian John Pinette, and ends March 15 with a feature film about Marcel Marceau, who worked for the French Resistance before achieving fame as a mime.
In total, the festival will screen 321 films and virtual and augmented reality programs from 52 countries. This year’s Maverick Spirit Award recipients are actress Hong Cho, known for her roles in HBO’S “Treme” and the film “Downsizing,” and beat poet ruth weiss. Cho will be on hand March 7 for a discussion following a screening of her film “Driveways.” The March 8 feting of weiss features a screening of the documentary “ruth weiss: beat goddess,” followed by a discussion with and a reading by the poet, accompanied by her band.
Cinequest isn’t turning a blind eye to issues that leave people feeling less than celebratory. To that end, the festival has scheduled numerous films that “showcase the work of media artists and leaders who are bringing awareness and working to alleviate key issues in our community and our world.”
Homelessness and social justice are among these issues. “Port of Destiny: Peace” shows how former Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos worked to promote peace and uplift his country’s population, losing his office but winning the Nobel Peace Prize in the process. A March 9 screening of this documentary will be followed by the presentation of the Visionary Award to Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins, who will talk about his involvement in a movement to decrease homelessness in the Silicon Valley.
For a full schedule of events, go to cinequest.org.
Contact Anne Gelhaus at 408-200-1051.