Second Annual Chester River Film Festival April 3-5

Festival Features Experimental Art Films to Local Documentaries

Chestertown, MD, March 21, 2003 — The Kent County Arts Council and the Washington College Friends of the Arts present the Second Annual CHESTER RIVER FILM FESTIVAL, Thursday, April 3 through Saturday, April 5, 2003. This year's festival will feature 26 films showing during the weekend in Washington College's Norman James Theatre and at the Prince Theater in Chestertown. For venue information and viewing times, call the Kent County Arts Council at 410-778-3831. Admission is free and all are invited to attend.

Launched in Spring 2002, the Chester River Film Festival was created to present an eclectic exhibition of independent film and video in all genres—narrative, experimental, documentary and animation—in the enriching historic and cultural atmosphere of Chestertown. Film artists, from established national independent filmmakers to local students, have submitted for this year's festival and some of the films to be featured are:

• “Silver Cities of the Yucatan, the Mason Spinden Expedition.” Footage of an exploration of the Yucatan in the 1920s, creating a narrative that won the 2002 award at the New York Explorers Club.
• “The Prizefight of 1849.” A docudrama about the famous fight at the mouth of Still Pond Creek in Kent County that was the birth of modern boxing in America.
• “Urban Hiker.” A three-minute art-film exploring wildlife in the city.
• “Gift of the Game.” A documentary about a group who revive little league baseball in present day Cuba.
• “Books under Fire.” A look at book-banning in Texas public schools.
• “C-Town Girl.” A narrative produced and directed by Washington College senior Shane Brill featuring a surprise twist and a soundtrack by Chestertown's musical experimentalists, Astralyte.
• “A Chronicle of Corpses.” A lushly detailed early 19th century period piece, concerning the last days of a family of once wealthy aristocrats.

The Chester River Film Festival is made possible by the support of Washington College's Friends of the Arts and the Kent County Arts Council. Founded in 1988, Friends of the Arts is a group of Washington College alumni, faculty, staff, parents and community members working to fund and promote visual and performing arts activities at the College. For additional information about the Friends of the Arts, please contact Ellen Wise at 410-778-7295.

The Kent County Arts Council (KCAC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the arts in Kent County, Maryland. Sponsoring dozens of diverse programs annually, it seeks to cultivate a thriving culture for the arts in Upper Shore region. Contact Leslie Prince Raimond at 410-778-3831 for information on KCAC events and programs.