The schedule has been announced for the second Benicia Film Festival, taking place next month in three local venues including The Majestic Theatre.

This year’s edition of the three-day festival has both short and feature-length films, and live action and animated entries from around the world as well as from Benicia contributors.
In addition, some of the filmmakers will participate in panels, during which they will describe what led them to produce their movies.

As is appropriate for opening night of a film festival, the event begins Sept. 4 with a garden gala at Carter’s Biz Cafe in the historic Commanding Officer’s Quarters in the Benicia Arsenal.

After that, attendees will go inside to watch festival films, starting with a 10 minute film by Brandon Davis, an American filmmaker and costuming enthusiast who will take viewers on a journey into the world of costume play, or “cosplay.” Davis explores the hobby and the people who make up the role portrayal community.

“Golden Age,” by Turkish filmmaker H. Sercan Tunali, is a two-minute film that shows how a village hero, Odin’s “golden boy,” finds his position changed.

“Victory” is by Beatriz Soto of Spain, who takes less than five minutes to tell the story of the last moments of a man condemned to death. The audience doesn’t know what he has done, but shares his anxiety expressed in the film.

“Three Knocks,” by American filmmaker Sam Sandahl, is only slightly longer, and tells the story of how a young woman’s life is upturned by an unexpected visitor.

American filmmaker Christian Medina’s “El Chiflon Waterfalls” is a visual study of the series of waterfalls at an ecotourism center in Chiapas, Mexico.

“Sunken Canyon,” also by Medina, is a 10-minute look into the Chiapaneca story of El Canon del Sumidero, also in Chiapas, Mexico. According to a local legend, the Chiapanecas committed a collective suicide, jumping into the canyon to avoid capture by invading Spaniards.

“Out of Order” is a three-minute animated film by American filmmaker Nathaniel Schrage. It tells of a young man whose heart is like a vending machine, trading love for quarters, But the heart is missing a gear, and he must retrieve the gear from his ex-girlfriend or find a replacement part.

Another animated film, a short by American filmmaker Kathy Jo Ryan, is “Slice and Dice,” in which a watermelon, onion and carrot wreak havoc in the refrigerator of the “hungry hand.”

“Baby Cries,” a 10 minute film by American Serge Rocco, tells how a 40-year-old man’s life is turned upside down when his wife tells him she is pregnant.

A hamster with a bad attitude is the subject of “Petty’s Misadventures,” a short by American filmmaker Christabel Savalas.

“Zapper Woman,” by American Vinnie Langdon, is a short film set in the City of Ville, in which an aspiring heroine and her sidekick try to rid their city of crime.

The film festival continues Sept. 5 in the Hayley Horn Auditorium at Benicia High School, opening with “Leaping Water,” a short film by American Jacalyn Robinson, who explains through her 10-year-old character, Tallulah, that abuse is not always physical.

“Fixed,” by Australians Cody Wilson and Burleigh Smith, tells of a girl, Jermimah, who wants her dog, Tilly, to have puppies. When she learns her parents want to have Tilly spayed, she starts a quest to get her dog pregnant.

“Consolation Prize,” by Canadian filmmaker Todd Kipp, is a short film about a delusional deadbeat father who lives on his inherited wasteland of wrecked cars and trucks. The man tries to connect with his sun during a surprise weekend visit.

“Seagulls,” by Scottish filmmaker Martin Smith, is about a young showman who tries to fin into a new town he’s visiting. Seagulls follow him as he attempts to bond with a group of local boys.

“Sound/Vision,” by American filmmaker Jeremiah Kipp, tells of a quiet Muslim girl who feels lost in an unfamiliar world. She meets a disillusioned Jewish pianist and discovers her own musical genius through their unexpected friendship.

American filmmaker Orlando Torres made a personal short film, “OTC Story.” He tells how he was diagnosed with testicular cancer at 20, and shows his experiences toward victory over his greatest life challenge.

“Water Bedouin,” by Turkish filmmakers Yavux Pulluke and Omir Gunes, is a short film about the Central Marshes, a complex of wetlands that once were part of the Tigres and Euphrates rivers. Their beautiful cinematography documents changes that impacted the lives and culture of the people called “water Bedouins.”

American filmmaker George Nixon tells the story of an older woman who goes into a medical supply store and the strange happenings that take place there in his film, “Getting Something for Mama.”

The festival will have a break that day from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., resuming with “Jes and Lora,” by American filmmaker Patrick Duncan. In the film, Jes needs to borrow gas for his car, but Lora, a farm girl wants to find out more about the visitor. The pair form an unexpected bond during the film about dark secrets and a lonely trail. Included in the film are songs by Bonnie “Prince” Billy.

“The Alley Cat,” by American filmmaker Marie Ullrich, is a 65-minute film about Jasper, a troubled bike messenger who competes at night in an adventurous alley cat bicycle race in Chicago.
Both Duncan and Ullrich will describe their films in a panel at 3:40 p.m. that day.

Filmwatching resumes at 4 p.m. with “Memoirs of a Hip ‘ole Black Man,” by Ivar Idling of the Netherlands. The documentary tells the story of American percussionist Vinx dejon Parette, who at one time was the only musician-athlete in the world. Vinx played with Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder, Tom Jones and Sting. He also had hoped to compete in the Olympic games, but the 1980 boycott ended that dream.

After another break, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., the festival resumes with “Art of Life,” by American filmmaker Kyle Holbrook, a 104-minute coming-of-age film about a young man, Chey, and a young woman, Cheyanne, who are affected by negative influences of their lives, but escape those pressures through art.

The Benicia Film Festival moves to The Majestic Theatre in the city’s downtown shopping district starting at noon Sept. 6.

“Wind, Water, Land,” by American filmmaker John Beck, is the 20-minute documentary about the making of the Benicia Arts and Culture Commission’s first public art piece that has been mounted in the Benicia Community Center.

“Tunnel,” by high school student Billy Cruz, is a 10-minute film about how the paths of two strangers intersect by choice in a tunnel.

“Ballet Dreams,” by American filmmaker David Manley, is a short film about three women who embark on adventures during which they are guided by good magic, threatened by evil spells and are rescued by Prince Charmings.

At 1:10 p.m. that day, Beck, Cruz and Manley will talk about the making of their films.
When viewing resumes, “Rana Plaza,” by British filmmaker Carla Novi, will tell the story of the Rana Plaza garment factory in Savor, Bangladesh, that employees mostly women. Novi visited the factory and interviewed the women workers. Two months later, Rana Plaza collapsed, and the 15 women with whom she spoke were buried in the rubble.

“Helen Lewis: A Survivor’s Story” is American filmmaker Caroline Friend’s short film about a Holocaust survivor who shares her story in the documentary about resilience and bravery. Friend has said she hopes her film leaves viewers with a sense of hope, despite the harsh subject matter.

The final film in the festival is “Pechorin,” by Russian filmmaker Khrushch Roman. The feature-length film is based on “A Hero of Our Time,” the 1839 classic Russian novel by Mikhail Lermontov. Roman’s film follows a chain of memories. They aren’t shown as they actually happened, but as they are remembered by the mind of the dying hero, portrayed as a chain of recollections about the life he had lived.

The second annual Benicia Film Festival has been organized by the Benicia Arts and Culture Commission.

Advance tickets to the festival are being sold online at http://beniciafilmfestival.com through Sept. 4.

Admission to the 6 p.m. Sept. 4 Friday Film Festival and Gala at Carter’s Biz Cafe at the Commanding Officers’ Quarters, 1 Commandant’s lane, is $30 for a single ticket and $50 for a pair, and includes refreshments and a glass of wine per person as well as admission to see the films.
Admission to the Sept. 4 series of films that starts at 10 a.m. at the Benicia High School’s Haley Horn Auditorium, 1101 Military West, is $25 for adults and $15 for students.

Admission to the final day of the festival, which starts at noon Sept. 6 at The Majestic Theatre, 710 First St., also is $25 for adults and $15 for students.

Weekend tickets for all three days also are available, at $65 for adults and $30 for students. In addition, there are Benicia Film Festival Packages at $95 each that covers a weekend pass for one person, one copy of the “Wind, Water Land” DVD of Benicia’s first public work of art that is on display at the Benicia Community Center, 370 East L St., and one T-shirt, available in medium, large and extra large sizes.

Tax-deductible donations and sponsorships of the festival also are welcome, and those interested may contact Bowles at 707-746-4358, or may mail them to the City of Benicia, Benicia Public Library, 150 East L St., Benicia CA 94510.