Take The Golem, the 1920 silent film classic that combines film noir, horror, and science fiction, add composer/conductor Tom Nazziola and a six-piece orchestra - the BQE Project – www.thebqeproject.com playing his original score, as well as Peter Travers, film critic for Rolling Stone magazine, member of National Society of Film Critics and New York Film Critics Circle - and you have an incredible, not-to-be-missed evening.
Not familiar with the Golem? He was there before Superman, Spider-Man, or Batman – a giant clay warrior created by a Talmudic rabbi in 16th century Prague to protect his people from the tyranny of Rudolph II. Based on an ancient Hebrew legend, the golem, designed to do good, and ultimately used for evil, is regarded as the source of the Frankenstein myth. The legend inspired actor/director Paul Wegener to create one of the most extraordinary films of the German silent cinema – a masterpiece that has been re-imagined and re-done time and again. Tom Nazziola was commissioned by the Brooklyn Academy of the Arts to compose a score for the film, and the reviews for the music have included only superlatives: fantastic musical achievement, magical, absolutely brilliant, stunning, it made the weird tale come fully ALIVE. Peter Travers will serve as Master of ceremonies and will host a Q & A with the audience following the film. (The Golem may be unsuitable for children under ten).
Prior to the Film Festival, Teaneck Festival of Arts (TFOA) and the Teaneck Public Library will host a Meet the Artist Reception on Sunday, November 2 from 3-5pm at the Library Auditorium for a Visual Arts Show entitled “Search for Heroic Beings” taking place at the library for the month of November. Adult artwork, as well as masks created by 5th and 6th graders at the Teaneck Community Charter School conducted by Mask Maker Howard Berelson will be on display.
A video created by Liz Celotto of the masks and adult artwork with excerpts of Nazziola’s film score will be shown at the reception as well as at the Cedar Lane Cinemas Theater on Nov 15th at 7:30pm prior to the Golem Film. The reception is free and open to the public.
The November 15th Saturday event is a joint program of the Teaneck International Film Festival (TIFF) and the TFOA, both projects of The Puffin Foundation. It will be presented as the centerpiece of Teaneck’s third annual film festival on Saturday, November 15, 8:00 p.m., at the Cedar Lane Cinemas, 503 Cedar Lane, Teaneck. Tickets will go on sale by mid-October at the Teaneck Public Library, Cedar Lane Cinemas, Simply the Best and Briar Rose Books located on Cedar Lane and on-line at www.teaneckfilmfestival.org. Tickets are $20 if purchased in advance and $25 at the door. Prices for weekend passes, good for all films except The Golem, are $25; single day passes are $15; and individual tickets are $5. Through a grant from Target, children under 12 will be admitted free to family-friendly movies.
This year’s films at the Teaneck International Film Festival are described by executive director Ellen Rand as the most unique and outstanding that TIFF has presented. The theme is Connections, and highlights include, in addition to the Saturday night event, the NJ premiere of The Exiles, a restored 1960 film featuring an all Native-American cast; the NJ premiere of The Cake Eaters, directed by actress Mary Stuart Masterson in her directorial debut and featuring Elizabeth Ashley and Bruce Dern in leading roles; Kid Flix Mix, a selection of favorites from the acclaimed NY International Children’s Film Festival, and a host of documentaries, features, shorts, and foreign films, plus guest speakers and Q & A sessions.
Check out The Golem and everything that’s coming at www.teaneckfilmfestival.org. If you have questions, send an e-mail to teaneckfilmfestival@gmail.com or call 1-800-811-2909. If you’ve made a contribution of $25 or more to TIFF a gala opening party sponsored by the Teaneck Suburbanite and Holy Name Hospital will be held on Thursday evening, November 13, at Holy Name Hospital. It’s not too late to become a patron of the arts. Make check payable to: Teaneck Intl. Film Festival, 20 Puffin Way, Teaneck, NJ 07666.
