Noise Pop Film Festival

The Noise Pop Film Festival is not only back, but rocking!

It's a banner year here for the Noise Pop Film Festival, bringing a whopping 10 events to 5 venues with faraway films from New Zealand, Nashville and New York to music videos shot in 10 hours in our very own town. As always, we screen never-before-seen world premieres and films with an undeniably DIY rock 'n' roll appeal. We'll bet you a white leather belt that you'll say to yourself, "Hey, I could do that!" and we hope that one day, you do.

Special surprises will come this year, as we introduce the first Noise Pop Film Festival Awards: Best Use of Music in Film and Audience Awards for Best Short and Best Feature. And we are proud to announce announce FREEDM Films (hosted in conjunction with Film Arts Foundation), short films that asked filmmakers to send in entries of their own personal interpretation on the theme "Make Art, Make Fun of Art." Grab a golf pencil at every screening and know that unlike stolen U.S. presidential elections, your vote counts.

Badgeholders *do* get in to Noise Pop Films. All films are walk-up admission, no advance sales.

FREEDM Films precede each feature-length screening.
Click here to find out more»

WEDNESDAY - 2/28

Who Is Harry Nilsson
(And why is everybody talkin' aBOUt him?)
ROXIE CINEMA - 7:00 PM $10 (117 min., USA)
Starring Harry Nilsson, one of the best songwriters of his time, according to peers like Brian Wilson and Randy Newman. Even the Beatles referred to him as their favorite "group" although he never, ever performed live. Memorable hits he sang include "Everybody's Talkin'" from the film Midnight Cowboy, to the soaring teen-angst anthem "Without You" to the inimitably catchy "Coconut" "You put the lime in the coconut" to "Me and My Arrow" and the theme song "Best Friend" from the hit television show, "The Courtship of Eddie's Father." All-star interviews with Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Yoko Ono, Van Dyke Parks, Jimmy Webb, Bryan Wilson and more describe the man who could drink John Lennon and Keith Moon under the table which contributed to his ultimate demise in 1992. Footage from television and radio shows and Nilsson's oral autobiography allow Harry to tell his own story, in his own words.
preceding the feature... Noise Pop (5:00 Min., USA)

Eight years in the making, Noise Pop is an independent documentary that explores the lives and careers of five quintessential "indie rock" acts, told through the lens of the Noise Pop Festival, the premiere festival of independent music and culture on the West Coast. Entirely shot by an army of volunteers, this year brings a sneak peek at a short teaser of the feature-length film that's in the works.

You're Gonna Miss Me
(a documentary about Roky Erickson)
ROXIE CINEMA - 9:15 PM $10 (91 min., USA)
Award-winning documentary by Keven McAlester who says, "I started out thinking I was making 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.' But I ended up with something more like 'Being There.'" Cinematographer Lee Daniel ("Slacker," "Dazed and Confused," "Before Sunset")shoots thestory ofAustin-ite Roky Erickson, undeniably one of the greatest singer-songwriter, guitar player and harmonica-wailers of all time, and Janis Joplin's chief influencer. The singer and founding member of the 13th Floor Elevators was talented but unpredictable. In 1969after amarijuana arrest, he entered an insanity plea, and wassent to amental hospital for three years where he was surrounded by the worst of the worst violent and mentally ill criminals. To the great dismay of his fans, he became arecluse. He calls himself an alien, and "the evil one." Without taking sides, this film follows the courtroom battle for Roky's care between his brother attempting to remove Roky from the clutches of theirBible-thumping mother.
Director Keven McAlester and Roky Erickson present at screening

THURSDAY - 3/1

A Night of Instant Calm
Presented by Noise Pop and FREEDM, in conjunction with McSweeney’s and Wholphin .
Mezzanine - 7:00 PM $5
Join us at Mezzanine for an evening of short films and readings as part of Noise Pop 2007. First, vital and hygienic presentations, often with accompanying slideshows, from a few of McSweeney's best—Chinaka Hodge, Evany Thomas, Salvador Plascencia, and Wells Tower. Hearts will break and then heal themselves, stronger than ever.

Then nestle deeper in your inflatable armchairs for some of Wholphin’s best short films of the musical persuasion. Selections include, but are not limited to: "Squid: Born Like Stars," in which a scientist has six hours to try and prove his theory that squid are good mothers, with sounds by Colleen;"Nice Day," the cheapest and perhaps funniest music video ever made; "Patton/Byrne" - Patton Oswalt stares, David Byrne sings; and acrying competition: Nine contestants. Whistle blows. First tear to hit the table wins.

This event will sellout RSVP to freedmreading@noisepop.com
to reserve a spot!

FRIDAY - 3/2

Sonic Youth:
Sleeping Nights Awake
ARTISTS' TELEVISION ACCESS (ATA) - 7:00 PM $8
(82 min., USA, world premiere rock documentary)
Hey baby, it’s the 4th of July, 2006. Seven teen students from the Reno area grab digital video cameras and capture a searing Sonic Youth performance onstage and backstage in glorious black and white. Humor, wit and disarmingly casual banter ensues. As part of a non-profit organization called 'Project Moonshine' the director says that the documentary “contains some of the most intimate concert footage ever captured.” And when Kim puts down her bass to dance, your epiphany may be, “So THAT’S how you dance to Sonic Youth!”
Writer/Director Michael Albright present at screening

David Kilgour Documentary:
Far off Town: From Dunedin to Nashville
ARTISTS' TELEVISION ACCESS (ATA) - 9:00 PM $8
(79 min., New Zealand, West Coast premiere)
West Coast premiere of Bridget Sutherland's documentary featuring the legendary musician David Kilgour in Nashville, recording with the alt-country band Lambchop, Star-studded appearances include Yo La Tengo, The Clean, the Heavy Eights, David Berman of the Silver Jews, Bonnie Prince Billy, Jason and the Scorchers, Billy Joe Shaver, Allison Moorer, Jason Lowenstein of Sebadoh and Ramblin' Jack Elliott.

SATURDAY - 3/3

Downtown Locals
ARTISTS' TELEVISION ACCESS (ATA) - 4:00 PM $8
(82 min., USA)
Six different buskers stake out the New York City subway system as their stage. In between auditions for legitimate acting roles, a man draws crowds by standing still, in silver paint, under the moniker Mercury Man. Helen, an articulate Vassar graduate who accepts a life of poverty and just wants to share her accordion-based songs. Witness an exceptionally talented Tom Waits-ian bluesman practically disintegrate before your eyes. The directors write, "Downtown Locals illustrates brilliantly the microcosm of the true underground by drawing us into the lives of a few of New York City's less celebrated characters. Their stories will leave you hopeful, haunted, and wondering where they are now."

Preceded by a music video of Sonic Youth “Do You Believe in Rapture” directed by Braden King who writes, “This collaboration with Sonic Youth is an elegy for NYC's legendary CBGB club and all the transcendent shows we've all ever been to.”

Cinemasports
@ The Noise Pop Film Festival
12 Galaxies - doors 7:00, showtime 8:00 PM $5
(approx. 60 min., Bay Area)
The Noise Pop Film Festival and Cinemasports.com present a one-day music video competition open to local musicians, filmmakers, and actors. Teams have 10 hours to shoot a music video with 3 secret ingredients revealed on the day of the event. Finished videos screen the very same night! Participants make a video under 3 min. 20 sec. with one of the following legal music sources: a Noise Pop Film Festival-recommended band;their own original music; or outside music for which they've obtained rights. Participants meet in Dolores Park at 9AM kickoff. Public screening at 12 Galaxies is open to all. More details and signup at cinemasports.com to participate. What’re you waiting for?

Sunday - 3/4

Dangerous Highway
ARTISTS' TELEVISION ACCESS (ATA) - 2:00 PM $8
(75 min., USA)
Eddie Hinton's cadre of secret fans know what the world is about to find out; Eddie Hinton may be the greatest unknown musician you've never heard. Moisés Gonzalez and Deryle Perryman's documentary traces the southern soulman through archival footage, and interviews with Jerry Wexler, Donnie Fritts, Dick Cooper, Dan Penn, Spooner Oldham, the Drive-By Truckers’ Patterson Hood, Bill Blackburn and many others. Hinton, widely regarded in the industry as the finest blue-eyed soul singer-songwriter-guitarist, played on more than 200 albums (Elvis Presley, Otis Redding, many more) and wrote hundreds of songs that were covered by Aretha Franklin, UB40 and countless others.

Preceded by a short documentary about Oklahoma prison rodeos directed by Noise Pop Film standby Bradley Beesley. It just wouldn't bea Noise Pop Film Festival without him.

Filmmakers Deryle Perryman and Moisés Gonzalez present at screening

Post-film reception at Annie’s Social Club
A tribute to Eddie Hinton with live performances by Mike Therieau, Bart Davenport, and surprises.(917 Folsom @ 5th Street )