Reading FilmFest announces award-winners; marimba concert set at KU [Spotlight]

Nov. 6—The Reading FilmFEST has announced the following award-winners from last weekend's festival:

Student winners

—First place: "Aperio" by Patrick Hanser

—Second place: "The Ladder" by Audra Nemirow

—Animation College: "Ceramic Rabbit" by Linnea Haga and Isobel Cassidy

—Animation High School: "Grizz" by Cameron Staley and Shivnil Lal

—Best Documentary: "The Show Must Go On" by Cody Myers

Best Narrative Feature

—"Not for Nothing" by Tim Dowlin and Frank Tartaglia

Best Documentary Film

—"Crutch" by Sachi Cunningham and Vayabobo

Best Social Impact Film

—"Entangled" by David Abel

—Honorable mention: "Honk" by Cheryl Allison

Best Short Film

—"West Bottoms" by Gregory Sheffer

Female Filmmaker Best Documentary

—"La Mitad del Mundo/The Middle of the World" by Erika Valenciana

—Honorable mention: "Ruth Stone's Vast Library of the Female Mind" by Nora Jacobson

Best Feature

—"Dangerous Sun" by Anna Lvovna Makeeva

Best Actor Feature

—Best Actor: Mike Bash, "Not for Nothing" (directed by Tim Dowlin and Frank Tartaglia)

—Best Actress: "Liza," "Dangerous Sun" (directed by Anna Lvovna Makeeva)

—Best Supporting Actor Female: Lauren LaVera, "Not for Nothing" (directed by Tim Dowlin and Frank Tartaglia)

—Best Supporting Actor Male: Mark Webber ("Bobby Boss"), Peter Patrikios ("Dommy Rocks"), Carmine Yusko ("Frankie Ventriello"), "Not for Nothing' (directed by Tim Dowlin and Frank Tartagli)

Best Actor Short

—Best Actor Male: David Ogrodowski, "Fire" (directed by Samuel Diggs)

—Best Female Actor: Merhnoosh Satari, "A Winner" (directed by Mehdi Mahaei)

—Best Male Supporting Actor in a Short Film: Babak Ansari, "A Winner" (directed by Mehdi Mahaei)

Best Music

—"Not for Nothing," Original Score by M. Teacher

Best Cinematography

—"West Bottoms," Director of Photography Isaac Alongi

Best Latinx

—"Contratiempo" (Jose Angel Paredes Rios)

Best Made in Reading

—"The Mick and the Trick"

Best Script

—"Our Prestigious Faculty" (by Rani Deighe Crowe)

People's Choice Awards

—First place: "Crutch" by Sachi Cunningham and Vayabobo

—Second place: "Ruth Stone's Vast Library of the Female Mind" by Nora Jacobson

—Third place: "Honk" by Cheryl Allison

----As part of the "Global Oscars Comes to Berks" series, Penn State Berks will present the film "Wild Tales" at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday in room 5 of the Luerssen Science Building. The presentation is free and open to the public.

"Wild Tales," an Argentinian film directed by Damián Szifron, is comprised of six short stories, all dealing with the extremities of human behavior when people are in distress.

The film was a critical and commercial success and was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. "Wild Tales" was also nominated for the Academy Award for best foreign language film at the 87th Academy Awards.

Music

The Heartland Marimba Quartet will join Reading Pops Orchestra for a unique performance at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Schaeffer Auditorium at Kutztown University. HMQ is North America's premiere marimba quartet and the primary performing ensemble of Heartland Marimba, a non-profit organization dedicated to developing and disseminating the classical art form in communities throughout the world. Reading Pops Orchestra is a professional 55-piece orchestra comprised of musicians throughout Pennsylvania.

The marimba is a revered musical percussion instrument that consists of wooden bars that are struck by mallets. Established in 2016 through the vision and leadership of internationally acclaimed marimba soloist Matthew Coley, HMQ seeks to pursue a platform for the music of American composers in its programming and continues to expand its repertoire with works from composers worldwide. HMQ's pieces include both original works written for marimba and well-known tunes adapted for the instrument.

The Reading Pops Orchestra, under the direction of Dr. Willis Rapp, will join the second half of the concert for music by Joplin and Gottschalk. Attendees will enjoy sounds inspired by nature, video games and ragtime to celebrate this mallet percussion instrument that is played throughout the world.

To purchase tickets, visit www.KutztownPresents.org.

----The Busker Incognito Trio — Dave Kline, John King and Chuck Steinle — will host a blues music mentoring workshop and jam on Nov. 19 from 4:30 to 6 p.m., between the early and evening concerts of the Reading Blues Fest at the Doubletree by Hilton hotel, Reading. The workshop will be held in the DoubleTree's amphitheater room. It is free to the public, with pre-registration requested.

Best suited for beginner to intermediate musicians, or anyone simply interested in participating, the workshop and mentoring jam will cover the roots of blues music and various styles of blues will be performed and taught. There will also be question and answer opportunities throughout the session.

There are no age restrictions, but it is recommended for students over the age of 12, with a limit of 50 participants. All instruments welcome, ideally students of guitar, bass and harmonica, and students are encouraged to bring their instruments. Non-musicians, or musicians who do not want to perform are also welcome to attend.

Funding for this workshop was provided by the Outreach Committee of the Reading Musical Foundation. Musicians are asked to register for the workshop at https://vivenu.com/event/blues-from-the-crossroads-to-the-world-qoxz.

Author event

The WCR Center for the Arts, 140 N. Fifth St., in partnership with the Albright College English Department, Reading Public Library, Village Library and the Wyomissing Public Library, will host a celebration of author Kurt Vonnegut's 100th birthday on Friday at 7 p.m.

The free event, "Happy Birthday, Mr. Vonnegut," will include refreshments, film clips, dramatic readings, raffle prizes and birthday cake. In the spirit of Vonnegut, the evening will also feature a Doodle Wall, jazz music, selfie stand and books/merchandise for sale. Proceeds from the sales will benefit the three libraries and future programming at the WCR Center for the Arts.

James Speese, a lecturer in the English Department at Albright College, will serve as master of ceremonies. Speese's specialty is post-WWII American Literature.

Born in Indianapolis on Nov. 11, 1922, Vonnegut became a prolific writer, publishing 14 novels, three short-story collections, and five plays, among other works. His first novel, "Player Piano," was published in 1952. Other works include "Slaughterhouse-Five," "Cat's Cradle," "Breakfast of Champions" and "Happy Birthday, Wanda June." He died at the age of 84 in April 2007.