“It’s fun but insanely nerve-wracking.”
Derrick Casto is getting ready to unveil his inaugural Something Wild Film Festival, which will kick off tonight (Friday) and run through the weekend at Durango Stadium 9.
Casto – who has a degree in English and film history and who has worked with other festivals, including Durango Independent Film Festival – saw a need to fill what’s known as a “shoulder season” in town – that time of the year when it is quiet.
“This town needs a fall festival,” he said.
So he started looking around for movies that would make for an interesting weekend.
The films Casto’s bringing in are an eclectic mix, he said, and a quick look through the trailers and descriptions proves this: Selections range from the more DIY, subversive “Static Age” to this year’s Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or winner “The Square.”
The non-competitive festival will show 11 feature films and a shorts program. Movie-goers have the opportunity to buy a $100 pass, which will get them into all films, or, they can buy tickets to individual films at $13 each – those tickets will go on sale at the theater about 10 minutes before the film begins.
Screenings will kick off at 6 tonight with the movie “Sundowners,” a comedy about two friends who are tapped to shoot a destination wedding in Mexico.
Filmmakers will be on hand after Saturday’s 11 a.m. screening of the film “The Landing,” a film about Apollo 18, the last U.S. mission to the moon, in 1973. With the Watergate scandal front and center in everyone’s minds at the time, the almost-catastrophic landing and ensuing mystery of Apollo 18 almost went unnoticed.
Immediately after “The Landing” will be film “Infinity Baby.” A sci-fi comedy, “Infinity Baby” is the story of company a future world that offers parents the opportunity to never have to leave the “baby bubble” – their children never age past infancy. The film features “Will and Grace”’s Megan Mullally.
One of the darker films on the schedule is “The Strange Ones,” a film about two brothers who on the surface appear to just be traveling, but dig a little deeper, and you’ll find a web of secrets.
“You’ll be thinking about this one for weeks,” Casto said.
It should be noted that while most of the films on the schedule are not rated, some may not be appropriate for the kiddos. Check out the fest’s website, http://bit.ly/2hgqvk1, for more information.
Something Wild will end on a cool note: The last movie to be screened is going to be a surprise, Casto said.
“It’s something really fun,” he said.
katie@durangoherald.com
If you go
What: Something Wild Film Festival
When: Friday-Sunday
Where: Durango Stadium 9
Tickets: Passes $100, tickets to individual shows $13 and are available at the door 10 minutes before shows. Passes available at Maria’s Bookshop, 960 Main Ave., and online at http://bit.ly/2hcfxfg.
More information: Visit https://somethingwildfilmfest.com.
Movie schedule
All movies will be shown at Durango Stadium 9. Individual tickets are $13 and will be sold 10 minutes before each screening.
Friday
6 p.m.: Sundowners. (1 hr. 37 min.) Comedy/buddy movie/vacation. Not rated.
9 p.m.: A**holes. (1 hr. 13 min.) Comedy/crass/surreal. Adults only.
Saturday
11 a.m.: The Landing. (1 hr. 23 min.) Science/mystery. Not rated.
1:30 p.m.: Infinity Baby. (1 hr. 12 min.) Comedy/witty/science fiction. Not rated.
3:30 p.m.: A Taste of Ink. (1 hr. 20 min.) Drama/family/coming of age.
6 p.m.: The Square. (2 hr.) Comedy/drama. Rated R.
9 p.m.: Static Age. (1 hr. 2 min.) Experimental/comedy/surreal. Adults only.
Sunday
11 a.m.: Shorts Program. (1 hr. 20 min.)
1 p.m.: The Strange Ones. (1 hr. 21 min.) Thriller/drama/mystery. Not rated.
3 p.m.: Aim for the Roses. (1 hr. 42 min.) Documentary/musical/drama. Not rated.
5 p.m.: Thirst Street. (1 hr. 23 min.) Drama/comedy/romance. Not rated.
7:30 p.m.: (Closing film to be announced)
