Elsewhere in entertainment and the arts: Indie film fest

A series of “Made in Arkansas” films and shorts, screenings of films by independent filmmakers, panel discussions, presentations and a free workshop for young filmmakers are part of the Eureka Springs Indie Film Fest, Wednesday-Friday in the Eureka Springs City Auditorium, 36 S. Main St., Eureka Springs.

The Arkansas Educational Television Network will present a block of films created by independent filmmakers to highlight Arkansas arts and artists from LOUPE, the network’s statewide arts initiative.

Director Mike Looney will screen his documentary The Big Shootout … The Life and Times of 1969, about the 1969 National Championship Game between the Texas Longhorns and the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Low Key Arts will present “Arkansas Shorts,” films of 10 minutes or less by Arkansas natives and current residents, and Valley of the Vapors, about the Hot Springs-based independent music festival.

Festival speakers will include Christopher Crane, executive director of the Arkansas Film Commission and the Arkansas Production Alliance; Bob and Don Blair, owners of VCI Entertainment of Tulsa; Kini Kay, award-winning sound designer, editor and Foley artist; and Eureka Springs native Bayou Bennett, who now heads up her own film company, Dolce Films.

Bennett will also be part of a “Young Filmmaker” panel with independent filmmakers Doug Wynn and Rod Slane, 10-11:30 a.m. Saturday. Admission to the panel discussion is free to anyone under 18.

The festival will conclude with the Indie Awards Show at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, at which Bennett will present the Loretta Young Foundation’s “Innovative Women in Film” award. Chris and Linda C. Lewis, son and daughter-in-law of the stage, screen and television actress, who died in 2000 at age 87, will attend. Awards-show attendees can also attend an after party at Voulez Vous Lounge, 63 Spring St., featuring music from Leah and the Mojo Doctors.

A three-day, full access pass, $25, includes all screenings, special presentations, panels, Indie Award Show and After Party. A one-day pass, $10, includes screenings, presentations and panels on that day only plus the award show and after party. A pass for the award show only is $5. A full schedule will be available at the website, esindiefilmfest.com. Call (479) 363-8185.

Pan needs dancers

Western Arkansas Ballet will hold open auditions for Peter Pan (music by Carmon de Leone, with choreography and direction by Melissa Schoenfeld) Saturday at its studio, 4701 Grand Ave., Fort Smith.

Dancers should be at least 8 years old and have at least two years’ dance experience; there are also parts for boys and adults with little dance experience. Boys and girls age 8-10 can register from 10-10:30 a.m. preceding a 10:30 a.m.-noon audition session.

Registration for dancers 11 and older will be 12:30-1 p.m.; the audition will be 1-2:30 p.m. Wear appropriate dance clothing.

Production dates are May 9-10. Call (479) 785-0152, email m.[email protected] or visit the website, waballet.org.

Post-Mao memoir

Ying Ma, author of Chinese Girl in the Ghetto, a memoir about her transition from post-Mao China to inner-city Oakland, Calif., and a policy adviser at the Heartland Institute, a Chicago-based free-market think tank, will give a talk at 6 p.m. today in Sturgis Hall, Clinton School of Public Service, 1200 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock. A book signing will follow. Admission is free, but it’s a good idea to reserve a seat: email publicprograms@ clintonschool.uasys.edu or call (501) 683-5239.

Style, Pages 21 on 01/21/2014