Five Things I Took Away From: Carl Spence
As the Artistic Director of Seattle International Film Festival (May 24 – June 17) and the Director of Programming at Palm Springs International Film Festival (January 4 – 15, 2007), Carl Spence spends all year watching films. So what will he remember from his experience this year at Sundance?
1) AN AMERICAN CRIME [festival.sundance.org] – a masterfully told tale surrounding an unsavory true story that manages to weave a bit of optimism and beauty into its narrative arch.
2) Intimate dinners with friends and colleagues – at Grappa, Zoom, a Thai place and especially at an amazing condo with our own chef and winemaker from Washington State.
3) Getting told I’m late to attend a screening by every volunteer at the Racquet Club from the tent to the front door of the theatre after I get off my 45minute bus ride from the Marriott Headquarters (I arrived at 8:25 for an 8:30 screening).
4) Best little lie overheard to save a seat for a later-comer: “He has diarrhea and is in the bathroom.” That seemed to do the trick!
5) Most enjoyable film of the festival (that I saw): SON OF RAMBOW [festival.sundance.org] – refreshingly funny and sweet with just the right amount of nostalgia
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Peter Bowen
Senior Editor, Filmmaker Magazine
