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2012 Films
Thirty-two marvelous and bracing feature length documentaries, along with a special shorts program comprise the 2012 Salem Film Fest, which will be presented at CinemaSalem, The Peabody Essex Museum and National Park Service Visitor Center in Salem, Massachusetts. Two-thirds of the films will likely have representatives attending and dialoging before and after their films, making for a truly unique and powerful cinematic experience. Browse through the film descriptions below to find films to match your passions or open up new windows on the world. You can also download a two-page films roster (pdf), or the 2012 Fest Program (pdf).
There are two venues for most screenings, the MAIN THEATER (capacity 160), and the SCREENING ROOM (capacity 18). This year, three of the films will be presented at the nearby Peabody Essex Museum and an additional screening will take place at the National Park Service Visitor Center.
Filmmaker in attendance
Filmmaker Call-in via Skype
Indicates film is a premiere
Click [+ticket] to purchase tickets for a film, or Purchase Tickets by Date.
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A PEOPLE UNCOUNTED
99 min - Europe
Directed/Produced by Aaron Yeger
MAIN THEATER
[+ticket] [+cal] Sun, Mar 4- 1:45 pm
The true story of a romanticized and ostracized people, the Roma, commonly referred to as Gypsies - whose genocide during the Holocaust has left them struggling to overcome their past - even as they face a frightening resurgence of racism and persecution in present-day Europe.
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A SIMPLE RHYTHM
52 min - Canada
Directed by Tess Girard
MAIN THEATER
[+ticket] [+cal] Sun, Mar 4- 12:00 pm
A SIMPLE RHYTHM is a philosophical exploration about rhythm and synchronization. Utilizing recorded conversations with interview subjects, the film connects their diverging disciplines through one topic; our unconscious tendency to keep in step.
[MORE]
ALL ME: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF WINFRED REMBERT
78 min - USA
Directed by Vivian Ducat
PEABODY ESSEX MUSEUM
[+ticket] [+cal] Thu, Mar 1- 7:00 pm
In ALL ME: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF WINFRED REMBERT, the artist relives his turbulent life, abundantly visualized by his extensive paintings and, in a series of intimate reminiscences, shows us how even the most painful memories can be transformed into something meaningful and beautiful. A glowing portrait of how an artist—and his art—is made, "ALL ME" is also a triumphant saga of race in contemporary America.
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ANDREW BIRD: FEVER YEAR
80 min - USA
Directed by Xan Aranda
MAIN THEATER
[+ticket] [+cal] Sat, Mar 3- 7:00 pm
The acclaimed musician’s rigorous touring year culminates in perpetual fever as he crosses the finish line on crutches. This concert documentary features collaborators Martin Dosh, Jeremy Ylvisaker, Michael Lewis, and Annie Clark of St. Vincent.
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ARAB ATTRACTION
118 min - Austria, Yemen
Directed by Andreas Horvath
MAIN THEATER
[+ticket] [+cal] Mon, Mar 5- 6:00 pm
A fascinating inside look at the unusual paradigm shift when a feminist falls in love with a devoted Muslim.
[MORE]
BATTLE FOR BROOKLYN
93 min - USA
Directed by Suki Hawley & Michael Galinsky
MAIN THEATER
[+ticket] [+cal] Sat, Mar 3- 2:00 pm
What would YOU do if they tried to take your home?
[MORE]
BEAUTY DAY
92 min - Canada
Directed by Jay Cheel
MAIN THEATER
[+ticket] [+cal] Fri, Mar 2- 7:00 pm
His cable access television show, The Cap'n Video Show, ran from 1990 to 1995, spawning a small but loyal cult following. Each week Ralph performed a series of idiotic and occasionally dangerous stunts, challenging the sensibilities of his small Southern Ontario audience. With the advent of the internet and reality television still years away, his unique brand of gross-out stunt comedy was truly ahead of its time. All it took was a broken neck for him to get noticed.
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BECOMING SANTA
97 min - USA
Directed by Jeff Myers
SCREENING ROOM
[+ticket] [+cal] Fri, Mar 2- 7:30 pm
[+ticket] [+cal] Sat, Mar 3- 7:00 pm
[+ticket] [+cal] Sun, Mar 4- 1:30 pm
[+ticket] [+cal] Wed, Mar 7- 5:00 pm
When Christmas rolled around again after his father’s death, Jack Sanderson realized he was not looking forward to the holiday. He had only two choices - avoid it entirely or dive into the deepest part of the Christmas pool. Avoiding it seemed impossible so Jack decided the best way to get through Christmas was to be the eye of the Christmas Season storm.
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BOUTON
78 min - Switzerland
Directed by Res Balzli
SCREENING ROOM
[+ticket] [+cal] Fri, Mar 2- 5:40 pm
[+ticket] [+cal] Sat, Mar 3- 5:15 pm
[+ticket] [+cal] Sun, Mar 4- 7:00 pm
[+ticket] [+cal] Wed, Mar 7- 7:00 pm
Johana is a beautiful young artist working as a ventriloquist with her self-made puppet Bouton. The film’s story tells of crying and laughter, this life and afterlife, documented reality and poetic fiction.
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BURY THE HATCHET
86 min - USA
Directed by Aaron Walker
SCREENING ROOM
[+ticket] [+cal] Sat, Mar 3- 9:00 pm
[+ticket] [+cal] Sun, Mar 4- 11:45 am
[+ticket] [+cal] Mon, Mar 5- 6:40 pm
[+ticket] [+cal] Thu, Mar 8- 6:30 pm
BURY THE HATCHET is a portrait of three Mardi Gras Indian Big Chiefs of New Orleans, descendants of runaway slaves taken in by the Native Americans of the Louisiana bayous. It is the story of the unique and endangered culture of New Orleans they represent--as bearers of tradition, artists, musicians, and warriors who have laid down their weapons, but not their determination to survive as a people.
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CANADIAN NATIONAL PARKS SHORTS PROGRAM
90 min - Canada
Produced by Ryan Noth
NATIONAL PARK VISIT CENTER
[+ticket] [+cal] Sun, Mar 4- 2:00 pm
In 1911, Parks Canada was founded, becoming the world’s first national parks service. In 2011, as a celebration of its centennial, an interactive film, music, television and new media project that features an unprecedented collaboration by more than 50 of Canada’s most acclaimed filmmakers and musicians was created: NATIONAL PARKS PROJECT (NPP).
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DARWIN
88 min - USA via SWITZERLAND
Directed/Produced by Nick Brandestini
MAIN THEATER
[+ticket] [+cal] Sun, Mar 4- 6:45 pm
DARWIN is a documentary film about an isolated community at the end of a weathered road in Death Valley, California.
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DESPICABLE DICK AND RIGHTEOUS RICHARD
79 min - USA via England
Directed by Joshua Neale
MAIN THEATER
[+ticket] [+cal] Sat, Mar 3- 9:20 pm
Enigmatic rascal and recovering addict Dick Kuchera has offended many people in his time. DESPICABLE DICK AND RIGHTEOUS RICHARD follows him on a life changing road trip to track down former loved ones in attempt to right the wrongs of his checkered past.
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ECO-PIRATE: THE STORY OF PAUL WATSON
110 min - Canada
Directed by Trish Dolman
MAIN THEATER
[+ticket] [+cal] Tue, Mar 6- 8:45 pm
ECO-PIRATE: THE STORY OF PAUL WATSON chronicles the extraordinary life of the most controversial figure in the environmental movement: Captain Paul Watson. A man on a mission to save the planet and its oceans.
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