As autumn leaves transform the Blue Ridge Mountains into brilliant, unforgettable colors, Asheville welcomes the 2007 Asheville Film Festival from November 8th to the 11th. Movie screenings will be held over five days at a variety of local venues including Pack Place, the Diana Wortham Theatre, the Fine Arts Theatre, Asheville Community Theatre, and The Ritz Building.
The Asheville Film Festival is young but already considered a nationally recognized gathering of actors, actresses, directors, producers, writers and critics. In less than five years the festival has featured over 300 films and been attended by over 30,000 people. If you are planning a fall vacation to experience the incredible leaf season of the Blue Ridge Mountains the Asheville Film Festival is a one of a kind event you don't want to miss.
Modern Movies and the Allure of Asheville: Making Film History
In the 1990's Asheville became a hot spot for movie producers and directors. The 1992 version of the Last of the Mohicans, 1993's The Fugitive and 1996's My Fellow Americans brought Daniel Day Lewis, Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones, Jack Lemmon and James Garner all to the Asheville area. The city of Asheville has also been home to the cast of The Swan, Patch Adams, Forrest Gump and Hannibal.
Increasing attention from Hollywood motivated the city of Asheville to combine resources with local theaters, filmmakers and businesses in 2003. Together they began to make a focused effort to create a film festival worthy of such a fantastic location and powerful community support.
What To Expect at the 2007 Asheville Film Festival
This year the 2007 Asheville Film Festival judges are a mixture of local celebrities and film experts. Harry Anderson, Robby Benson, Felicia Feaster, Don Mancini, Larry Toppman, Sam Watson and Asheville's own Ken Hanke are responsible for judging 93 films, 14 of which are shot or produced in WNC. The competition includes 17 feature films, 22 documentaries, 18 shorts, 8 student films and 4 animated movies.
According to the Asheville Film Festival web site over 400 films were submitted this year including 13 foreign films from France, Canada, Belgium, Germany and Greece. The opening gala will premiere the critically acclaimed film The Savages starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney on Thursday November 8, 2007 at the Diana Wortham Theatre between 7 and 11 pm. Closing night, Sunday November 11, will feature The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, a film by acclaimed director Julian Schnabel, at 6:30 pm at the Diana Wortham Theatre.
This year's recipient of the 2007 Career Achievement Award is Tess Harper. Honored for her great success in the film industry, Harper is a shining example of acting at its best. Harper will receive her award at the Spotlight Celebration Awards held on Saturday November 10 at 7 pm at the Diana Wortham Theatre. Several of her films will be featured over the weekend including Loggerheads and Tender Mercies. An evening with Tess Harper is scheduled for Friday November 9 at the Fine Arts Theatre after the screening of Tender Mercies.
Plan the Ultimate Luxury Mountain Getaway and Experience the Asheville Film Festival
Personal and family vacation planning can be a lot of work so plan ahead to make the most out of your time in the mountains this leaf season. In Asheville, NC there are a variety of vacation rentals and hotels to choose from. To insure that your visit to Asheville and the 2007 Film Festival goes smoothly, find a hotel or vacation rental that can assist you with your individual itinerary and provide you with everything you need to make the very most of your luxury mountain getaway. Some of the highest quality lodging can be found downtown in the Biltmore area, along with fine dining, shopping, nightclubs and art galleries. A travel concierge can help you rent a car, plan a hiking trip, buy film festival tickets or choose a restaurant. Let hospitality experts take care of the vacation details while you enjoy the culture, beauty and comfort of the North Carolina Mountains.
The full movie schedule for the Asheville Film Festival can be found at http://www.AshevilleFilmFest.com
James Gibson is the Managing Director of The Residences at Biltmore, a condo hotel in Asheville, North Carolina with concierge services designed to pamper and delight guests. Mr. Gibson has over twenty years experience in hospitality. He has been Hotel Manager at the Ritz Carlton San Juan Hotel, Spa and Casino, and a General Manager of the Adam's Mark Columbia in South Carolina. He has also worked in six Hyatt Hotel Corporation properties in a management capacity. Email concierge@residencesatbiltmore.com or visit http://www.residencesatbiltmore.com/hospitality for more information.
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