News

PINE BLUFF FILM FESTIVAL WAITING FOR AN ‘ANGEL’

By Judy Normand/of the commercial staff
Thursday, October 2, 2008 10:12 AM CDT

It’s been a 14-year struggle, but one that’s paid immeasurable dividends over the years to the people of Pine Bluff who’ve experienced the magic of the Pine Bluff Film Festival, held annually in October.

Unfortunately, unless an “angel” swoops down, last year’s festival will be the last, according to Kathy Majewska, director of the nonprofit Old Towne Theatres Centre Inc., organizers of the festival.

“Farley Granger was our guest last year, and he did it for nothing,” said Majewska. “We had no money to offer him.”

Majewska said the festival was held each year to raise funds to restore the once-majestic Saenger Theater and the smaller Community Theater in downtown Pine Bluff, but that attendance at the festivals, not to mention the number of desperately needed dollars, has been on a steady decline.

An Arkansas Arts Council grant for $7,500 was lost in 2001, which meant the loss of the services of the Pine Bluff Symphony, who had accompanied the festival’s screenings of classic silent films.

Guest stars over the years have included such legends as Van Johnson, Geraldine Chaplin, Fay Wray, Tippi Hedren, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Jane Russell, Kitty Carlisle Hart, Carol Channing, Shirley Jones and Patricia Neal.

Angela Lansbury was tentatively set to appear at the 2008 event, but with the current state of affairs, Majewska said, it’s unlikely there will be a festival at all.

She revealed that the two-day fest ival costs approximately $15,000 to $20,000 to produce. Many stars, she said, have indeed accepted an honorarium, but some have either refused the offer or have given at least a portion back to the festival, as did Shirley Jones.

Ever the optimist, Majewska said negotiations were ongoing with former Pine Bluff resident and businessman, Elvin Moon, who had expressed an interest in purchasing the Saenger Theater, owned currently by the Old Towne Theatres Centre. The group has tried, unsuccessfully she said, to literally give the theater to anyone who would agree to restore the building.

Discussions are also continuing with Lansbury, “just in case,” Majewska said. “But, I can’t see how we could do this without a miracle.”

She did reveal that she’d received several phone calls during the past few days asking, “Where’s the festival?”

“Our guest stars who come to Pine Bluff do so because of their love for the theater and classic films” she said. “I’m hoping, with the phone calls I’ve gotten, that maybe there’s a phoenix, an ember, a spark — someone out there who knows and appreciates what we’ve tried to do for so many years.”

Details: Call Majewska at 535-2646.

Print this story   |   Email this story