MANHATTAN SHORT returns...

 

 

 

 Film lovers at the Strand Theatre will join over 100,000 film enthusiasts around the world
Saturday October 5

when the 27th Annual MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival screens at 7 PM.

MANHATTAN SHORT 2024 will screen simultaneously across the world during a one-week period, with the Best Film and Best Actor awards determined by ballots cast by the audiences in each participating venue. By virtue of their selection by MANHATTAN SHORT, each short film is automatically Oscar-qualified.

Introducing the MANHATTAN SHORT Finalists of 2024

The MANHATTAN SHORT finalists hail from nine countries with films from United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Ukraine, Italy, France, Croatia, Australia, Ireland alongside two films from the USA.

These Final Ten Films represent the best short films from among 872 submissions from 74 countries received by MANHATTAN SHORT for 2024, testimony to the enduring vibrancy and creativity of short films worldwide.

The MANHATTAN SHORT Final Ten are:

The Talent (UK), 

I’m Not a Robot (The Netherlands), Mother (Ukraine),

Dovecote (Italy), 

Pathological (USA), 

Alarms (France), 

Favourites (Australia), 

The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent (Croatia), 

Room Taken (Ireland), 

Jane Austen’s Period Drama (USA)

All Final Ten short films become Oscar-qualified, meaning they will be automatically eligible for an Academy Award nomination by screening for a week at the Arena CineLounge in Hollywood in the county of Los Angeles from Sep 20 to Sept 26.

You Be the Judge!

Which of these Final Ten short films is the best? That's up to you and a worldwide audience to decide. Cinema-goers across the United States and around the globe will become instant film critics as they are handed a ballot that allows them to vote for the Best Film and Actor. MANHATTAN SHORT is the ultimate audience award that salutes the creative talents of both directors behind the camera and actors in front of it.

Votes will be sent through to MANHATTAN SHORT HQ with the winner announced at ManhattanShort.com on Monday Oct 7, at 10AM EST.

Tickets for MANHATTAN SHORT are $10 and available in advance at Highway 61 Coffeehouse.

And there's free hand crafted POPCORN...

Where?

The Strand Theatre

717 Clay Street

Downtown Vicksburg

L'Inferno - silent film with live music by Montopolois

Coming to the Historic Strand Theatre 

in downtown Vicksburg 

 

L’inferno + Montopolis = not so Silent Film 

 

Tuesday, October 1 at 7 PM

 

The Halloween season is starting early in downtown Vicksburg with a silent classic horror film accompanied by live music. Tuesday, October 1 the Italian silent classic, L’Inferno will be presented at the Strand Theatre with live original music by Montopolis of Austin Texas. 

 

L’Inferno (1911) is the first feature length horror film ever released.  An adaptation of Dante’s classic journey through hell, this masterpiece of silent film employs elaborate costumes, special effects, and set design to create an awe-inspiring and ethereal world.  The original Montopolis score brings new life to this horror classic with a mix of psych rock, dark wave and terrifying sound effects performed live.  Montopolis is following up their critically acclaimed tour of Man with a Movie Camera which they brought to the Strand in 2022. 

 

About silent films and musical accompaniment, Daniel Boone, film programmer for the Strand, had to say, “silent films were never silent. From the early days, live music was performed to accompany the images. Sometimes written, but often improvised, the music was a complement, a completion of the film. When sound pictures became the norm, the element of live performance at the movies was largely abandoned. There was no need.” 

 

“Not everyone believed sound was the best idea for the movies. The great Alfred Hitchcock thought the art of storytelling inherent in film was hampered by the necessity of recording the actors voices and background sounds. He referred to the new sound films as “photographs of people talking.” Even though most of the “limitations” of sound have been long been eliminated, the potential power of the image in “silent” film remains.” 

 

“Recent years have seen a resurgence in silent films accompanied by live musicans. High profile projects like Carmine Coppola’s orchestral accompaniment to Abel Gance’s Napoleon and Richard Einhorn’s shimmering Voices of Light paired with Dryer’s Passion of Joan of Arc are only two of many examples. At festivals groups like The Alloy Orchestra have performed many scores to films such as Tod Browning’s Dracula, and Paul Fejo’s Lonesome.  And in 2012 a silent film won the Oscar for Best Picture. We’ve a few silents with live music before, and it is experience that everyone should have.” 

 

Montopolis is an indie chamber music group from Austin, Texas that performs the works of composer Justin Sherburn.  Their genre-busting music uses inventive instrumentation to create "stunning and transcendent" (Austin Chronicle) concerts.  Their programs are audience-engaging, multi-media events that combine live music with film and interactive storytelling. The Montopolis musicians include members of the Austin Symphony, Okkervil River, Tosca String Quartet, and the Polyphonic Spree.  

 

The performance will take place at the Strand Theatre at 717 Clay Street. It will begin at 7 PM. Cost is $15 per person. Tickets are available in advance at Highway 61 Coffeehouse.

A Night of Magic at the Strand

 A live magic show followed by a film about magic

Saturday, August 31 at 7 PM

On Saturday, August 31 the Strand Theatre in downtown Vicksburg will present a night of magic.

The evening will begin with a live performance by Joe M. Turner, a native Mississippian and professional magician/mentalist for the past 24 years. Joe will share some of the world-class magic 

that has taken him to 50 countries on six continents: from the Hollywood Magic Castle to the London Palladium. Joe moved from Brandon to the Atlanta area over thirty years ago, and has recently relocated to Tennessee. "Now that we've moved closer to home, I'm especially excited to plug back in to events in my home state,” Turner said. 

 

The occasion of this upcoming appearance? After Joe’s performance there will be a screening of "Lost in the Shuffle," a new film by Jon Ornoy, which tells a story revolving around magic and magicians, including prominent Canadian magician Shawn Farquhar. Shawn and Joe met in 2001 and have been colleagues and friends ever since. In 2015, Joe Became International President of the International Brotherhood of Magicians -- succeeding Farquhar. 

 

The film, which recently enjoyed its world premiere at Hot Docs Festival in Toronto, features five of the world's top sleight-of-hand artists. It looks at the seemingly endless amount of inspiration that magicians can draw from a simple deck of cards and explores a tantalizing theory from two-time world champion Shawn Farquhar that hidden in the art of every standard deck are the clues to a cold case 

murder. 

 

Shawn has been surrounded by cards for as long as he can remember, but after a trip to France, he learned some interesting history that caused him to wonder why the court cards look the way they do. Of particular interest was the King of Hearts, also known as the Suicide King, because he appears to be stabbing himself in the head. 

 

Shawn believes there is a much more sinister story: that an actual medieval French king was assassinated at the hand of his own wife. Now Shawn is out to see if his theory is true - will the greatest illusion of all prove to be that an ancient cold-case murder has been hiding under our noses all this time? 

 

When the truth is discovered, Shawn proceeds to do the only logical thing about it: he sets out to construct a card trick that tells the story. But he wants it to be perfect, so he travels, not only to France, but around the world to consult with four of his mentors/peers. After explaining his theory about the secret hidden in every deck of playing cards, each of the four magicians advises Shawn on what they feel should be included in his trick; each reflecting his/her philosophy of magic. 

 

Along the way we learn many secrets of magic, but 

knowing how it's done does not mean the audience will not be amazed repeatedly. 

 

According to Turner "Shawn and Jon Ornoy are the 

masterminds behind this film, but I've had the opportunity to meet and work with all of the people featured over the years. Juan Tamariz is a legend from Spain whose work I've studied for most of my career. Richard Turner has been a prominent figure in magic for almost as long as Juan. I was on an international virtual show with Michael Vincent 

earlier this year, and I just saw Shawn, Michael, and Alexandra Duvivier at a conference in Tacoma in July. It was an honor to be invited to help add a live element to the screening of this film, especially since so many of the people involved are friends. Their trust in bringing me in means a lot." 

 

Tickets are $20 at Highway 61 Coffeehouse and at the door. Also available online at 

shuffle.brownpapertickets.com 

Where? The Strand Theatre 717 Clay Street Downtown Vicksburg

When?

Saturday, August 31 at 7 PM

30th Anniversary of Pulp Fiction in 4K

Pulp Fiction

Saturday, August 17 at 7 PM

If you've seen Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction, you can close your eyes and hear the music: Jungle Boogie; Misirlou; Son of a Preacher Man; Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon; Let's Stay Together...and all these quotes should bring back memories:

"All right, everybody be cool, this is a robbery!"

"They call it a Royale with cheese."

"Bring out the Gimp..."

"I'ma get medieval on your ass."

"The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil

men."

"...he'd have to be ten times more charmin' than that Arnold on Green Acres, you know what I'm sayin' "

 "...he hid it, in the one place he knew he could hide something"

"Pride only hurts, it never helps."

"Just because you are a character doesn't mean that you have character."

"Would you give a guy a foot massage?"

"...you have to bring the needle down in a stabbing motion."

" I'm just going to walk the Earth... you know, like Caine in Kung Fu: walk from place to place, meet people, get into adventures..."

These were among the few bits I could put in writing. This movie is rated R for a few reasons, one of which is the possibly excessive number of rude expressions used by the colorful characters; one of whom is played by

Samuel L. Jackson, (So, what do you expect.)

There's also

John Travolta

Bruce Willis

Uma Thurman

Harvey Kietel

Christopher Walken...

As always, the Popcorn is Free...

Advance tickets are available

at Highway 61 Coffeehouse for $9

Tickets at the door will be $10 each

Remebering Ray Lum, Mule Trader

 

 

 
Remembering Ray Lum: 2 films and a conversation.
 
Vicksburg’s Dr. William R. (Bill) Ferris will be coming home for a program
debuting the latest chapter in a quest he has been involved with for over
fifty years. The Strand Theatre will host a special event featuring two short
films about local mule trader, Ray Lum, and a conversation with the
filmmakers and guests who are connected to the films.
 
Daniel Boone, program presenter at the Strand explained, “there was a time
in the first half of the twentieth century when mules were essential for
transportation, agricultural, and construction work. Here in Vicksburg, Ray
Lum was a mule trader. It was his occupation and his way of life. In other
words, he lived by his wits and his words. As automobiles and tractors and
other heavy equipment became accepted in other parts of the country, the
mule remained a valued tool and partner here in the South for a number of
years. After the mule was no longer needed by many, Mr. Lum auctioned
cattle and horses at his livestock barn.”  
 
Ray Lum was a larger than life character; a natural storyteller which served
him well in his efforts to sell livestock. He believed it was important to
always tell the truth even if it might sometimes be necessary to “handle it
with care,” according to Ray Lum: Mule Trader, a book told in Lum’s own
words by Bill Ferris.  
 
In the introduction to that book Ferris states, “In the late ‘60s while a
graduate student in folklore at the University of Pennsylvania, I
rediscovered and understood better my culture as I filmed and recorded
black blues musicians, storytellers, and folk artists from the Mississippi
Delta. By 1970 I was teaching English at Jackson State College, and my
father suggested I record Lum, whom he felt was unique as a storyteller. I
took my father’s advice and in 1970 began a quest for Lum and through him
my own identity.”  
 
In collaboration with Judy Peiser and Bobby Taylor, Ferris, a former
chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, coeditor of the
award-winning Encyclopedia of Southern Culture and author of several
other books; made a film about Lum in 1974, also entitled Ray Lum: Mule
Trader. That eighteen minute film will be shown at the Strand along with a
new film entitled Okay, Mr. Ray which utilizes footage shot by Ferris; and
which was directed by Ashley Melzer, a young producer, filmmaker and
writer based in Durham, North Carolina, who considers Ferris to be a
mentor.
 

Ferris and Melzer will be at the Strand to talk about their films, and will be
joined in conversation by Henry Harris, the son of Squire Harris, who is
featured in the film, and Betsy Lum Lipscomb, Ray Lum’s niece.
 
According to Kelle Barfield, owner of Lorolei Books, “I have stock of Ray
Lum: Mule Trader at Lorelei Books, which I will have at the Strand on July
13 for those who would like to purchase an autographed copy. I plan to
donate profits from sales to The Strand.”
 
This program is being supported by the Mississippi Humanities Council
who helped fund the new film.  
 
The event will be Saturday, July 13 at 7 PM at the Strand Theatre located at
717 Clay Street in downtown Vicksburg. It is free and open to the public.  

Because so many seats are reserved for friends and family of the Lum family, Harris family and the Ferris family, we are over capacity already. I cannot, at this point save any more, and it is unlikely any more can be squeezed in. I apologize. I explained to Bill that in Vicksburg he is a rockstar.

 
 
 

Sweat Opens at the Strand

 

A Pulitzer Prize winning play by Lynn Nottage.

 

It’s the year 2000 and a group of friends go to work at the steel mill and then decompress at the bar like they’ve been doing for over 20 years. But, unbeknownst to them, their lives are about to be uprooted. Their steel mill, is making some changes and the blood, sweat and tears, not to mention the generations of loyalty these workers have shown, don’t seem to amount to much. 

 

This poignant play takes a look at the de-industrial revolution through the lens of a history play, but also delves into the issues of today: the economy, immigration, race-relations in America, and politics.

 

Performances: 

Friday, May 31 at 7:30

Saturday, June 1 at 7:30

Sunday, June 2 at 4:30 



Friday, June 7 at 7:30

Saturday, June 8 at 7:30

Sunday, June 9 at 4:30 

 

Tickets are $15 and available in advance at Highway 61 Coffeehouse.

 

Mel Brooks' The Producers coming to the Strand

 

Mel Brooks' first movie and his first collaboration with Gene Wilder tells the story of 2 men who realize that there are times when a failure could make them a fortune. Now, if they can only do nothing right...

Springtime for Hitler???

So, this crazy hilarious movie was eventually made into a Broadway hit and remade, but the original did everything right...

“Some of the best lunatic humor since the Marx Brothers invaded the opera.”

—Newsweek

“Pure lunacy… uproariously funny!”

—Time

I'm in pain! And I'm wet! And I'm still hysterical!

I picked the wrong play, the wrong director, the wrong cast. Where did I go right?

Don't be stupid, be a smarty. Come and join the Nazi party.

Will the dancing Hitlers please wait in the wings? We are only seeing singing Hitlers.

This is wine, women, and song... and women.

Shut up, I'm having a rhetorical conversation.

Not many people know it, but the Fuhrer was a terrific dancer.

You shut up! You are the audience! I am the author! I OUTRANK you!

Der Führer does not say, "Achtung, baby."

I'm not a "madam"! I'm a "concierge"!

Advance tickets at Highway 61 Coffeehouse: $9

At the door: $10

and FREE POPCORN!!!

Where? The Strand Theatre 717 Clay Street Downtown Vicksburg

When?

Saturday, May 18 at 7 PM