4th Annual ReadingFilmFEST grows in participation and support from community

The Edwin Barbey Charitable Trust is proud to present the 2018 ReadingFilmFEST, Thursday, Nov. 1, through Sunday, Nov. 4, at four venues: Reading Movies & IMAX, GoggleWorks Center for the Arts Boscov Theater, the State Theater in Boyertown and the WCR Center for the Arts.

This year’s festival highlights several new events!

Studio B in Boyertown opened the Art of Film exhibit on Sept. 21. The winners from that show can be viewed at the WCR Center for the Arts throughout the festival.

Also on Sept. 21, The historic State Theater of Boyertown presented a preview event featuring trailers of films being presented at ReadingFilmFEST as well as the Berks County premiere of Traffic Opera. The State Theater is a venue for films on Nov. 3.

FiveMinuteFilmFEST — a film competition for Berks County High School students makes its debut this year. Supported by a grant from the Berks County Community Foundation, this event encourages young filmmakers to explore the world of filmmaking and screen their films at the WCR Center for the Arts on Oct. 18. Winners of this competition will screen during StudentFEST at Reading Movies & IMAX on Nov. 1.

ReadingFilmFEST will present an assembly for high school and college students on Nov. 2 at RACC’s Miller Center at 9 a.m. featuring filmmaker Erik Bloomquist.

Opening Night welcome and Gala on Nov. 2 at 5:30 p.m. at the WCR Center for the Arts featuring a performance by The Hot Club of Reading.

A very special Actor’s Seminar presented by veteran actress and Golden Globe nominee Lisa Eichhorn and moderated by talent coach and casting director Ann Gillette at the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts on Saturday, Nov. 3, at 10 a.m. (open to the public).

Presentation of 47 films including shorts, features and documentaries, followed by Q&A with filmmakers and in some cases community members who are experts in the topics being covered.

The Reading Symphony Orchestra is partnering with ReadingFilmFEST to present the documentary film “Samuel Barber: Absolute Beauty,” followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker and moderated by RSO Executive Director, David Gross, and concluding with a performance by the Reading Symphony Youth Orchestra of Barbers’ Adagio for Strings. This event is supported in part by a grant from the Reading Musical Foundation.

We’re also excited to partner with Berks Arts Council to bring you the amazing jazz pianist Justin Kauflin, who will present the film “Keep on Keepin On” at the festival, followed by a performance after the awards ceremony on Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m. Other items of note: In 2018, ReadingFilm and the ReadingFilmFEST became a program of the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance. We had over 120 films submitted and we have over 40 filmmakers planning to attend this year’s weekend festivities. ReadingFilmFEST was supported by over 30 community sponsors and grants. Nearly 50 ReadingFilmFEST Volunteers make this event happen including people who return each year to jury films, moderate panels, sell tickets and more. This is the 4th year of ReadingFilmFEST, each year our attendance and the support of the community grows!

For more information, please visit our website http://readingfilmfest. com/ and purchase tickets at http://readingfilmfest. com/attend/#tickets.