Comic Arts Laugh Festival

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Schedule of 1st Comic Arts Laugh Festival April 9-13. Events to be held at downtown Belfast’s Colonial Theatre and Belfast High School. Schedule may be subject to additions, changes, and organizers pulling fast ones. For up to date info check the web site www.comicartsfest.com or see updated schedule at theatre. Last grasp: call 207-338-1975

Free festival stickers! Request a free sticker! www.comicartsfest.com/free-sticker.html They’re free!

Please note that many of the events will run more than once. We will add to the schedule. A full schedule of films will always run. The theatre will be full and running from 1pm each day until late in the evening.

Independent films: many are very short and some are as long as 30 minutes. We have over 21 films. Indies show in their entirety. all of the independent films will show all of the following times. Order may change due to filmmakers being present or other considerations. Opening night: Thursday @ 7:00, Friday @ 1:00 and 7:15, Saturday @ 1:00, Filmmaker Sunday @ 12:00. The order and total run time will vary depending on introductions, Q & A with guest filmmakers, and projection issues. Please join us Sunday for 3 guest filmmakers to introduce and talk about their films.

Each show is priced individually from free! And up. A specially discounted full pass can be purchased to all events for $50.00 (savings of up to +/- $60.00) Seating is limited.

Tickets available at the Colonial Theatre during open hours. Call 338-5087 or 338-1975.

Check web site or theatre for latest schedule.

Weds April 9, 2008

All Week: Aarhus Gallery 50 Main Street Belfast April 3-27 “Funny Looking” a photo show to make you smile. (free)

All week: Yoga coach Michael Shell will drop by and teach a fast loosen up and laugh exercise from time to time at various events.

1pm - Films begin: we will have many films based in comedy or humor all week that will run concurrent with all other events including King of Comedy, Air Guitar Nation, Richard Pryor, Vince Vaughan’s Wild West Comedy Tour, and much more to be announced! There is a full slate of independent films that will be screened during the week also. (matinee $4 / evening $6) Click for Films Info

7pm - Two special films from the American Film Institute top 100 Comic films introduced by film aficionado and historian Baird Whitlock : films TBA ($6)

Thursday April 10, 2008

1pm - Films begin and play late until the evening(see above) (matinee $4 / evening $6) Click for Films Info

7pm - An all night slate of independent short and long films submitted from all over the USA, Maine, and Belfast too…introduced by film studies Prof. Gordon MacLachlan ($6) Click for Films Info

Independent films: Indies show in their entirety. all of the independent films will show all of the following times. Order may change due to filmmakers being present or other considerations. Opening night: Thursday @ 7:00, Friday @ 1:00 and 7:15, Saturday @ 1:00, Filmmaker Sunday @ 12:00.

Friday April 11, 2008

Movies start at 1pm… watch for schedule… Click for Films Info

1:00 Independent films showcase. Four hours and more than 20 films. … (matinee $4 / evening $6) Click for Films Info

Laughing Yoga with Michael Shell from time to time yoga teacher Michael Shell will lead very short “loosen up and laugh” exercises from time to time.

Wine and beer will be catered in the Colonial Theatre lobby by Matt Brennan & Mainely Bartenders Friday and Saturday nights.

Scot Cannon: “Scot the Mime” will be incognito.

7pm - Probot Productions of Los Angeles will host and screen a 10 year retrospective of their short and full length animation films featuring a bevy of dolls, action figures, toys, and films that parody, skewer and yes: adore Star Wars to Paris Hilton. Filmmakers Damon Wellner and Belfast native Carla Norton will introduce, narrate, and answer questions. www.probotproductions.com ($6)

7:15 Independent films: Indies show in their entirety. all of the independent films will show all of the following times. Order may change due to filmmakers being present or other considerations. Opening night: Thursday @ 7:00, Friday @ 1:00 and 7:15, Saturday @ 1:00, Filmmaker Sunday @ 12:00.

7:30pm - A Night with Tim Sample. At Belfast Area High School, nationally acclaimed and famed Maine humorist Tim Sample will take the stage as headliner of the festival. Belfast raconteur Jennifer Armstrong will open the show. ($16 adults / children $8)

9pm - Hold on for the Mystery Science Theatre 3000 treatment by a troupe of wisecracking and brilliant Belfast comedians who will comment over a selection of scenes on the big screen from famous Belfast films including Stephen King’s Thinner, Mel Gibson’s Man Without a Face, and the esteemed Peyton Place. All of the film clips are packed with Belfast, Camden, Bayside, and Lincolnville scenery.

10:30pm - After party!!!!/ cash bar/ all invited/ lobby of Colonial

Saturday April 12, 2008

10:30am - Cartoon Madness. Two and a half hours of cartoons for children and adults of all ages! ($1)

12:00 Noon - Films begin. (matinee $4 / evening $6) Click for Films Info

1:00 Independent films showcase: 4 hours and more than 20 films.

1:30 PM - Filmmaking Workshop with Probot Productions helmers Damon Wellner and Carla Norton @ University Maine Hutchinson Center. ($5)

2:00 PM Jackson Gillman, one of Maine’s famed entertainers, a great physical comedian, and humorous musician with an appeal to all ages will hold down the Dreamland stage Saturday afternoon. ($8.00 adults/ $4.00 kids)

3:30pm - Youtube Workshop: how to make a film and put it up on Youtube @ University Maine Hutchinson Center. Wes Sterrs teaches. (FREE)

Wine and beer will be catered in the Colonial Theatre lobby by Matt Brennan & Mainely Bartenders Friday and Saturday nights.

Saturday Night

Films are showing: check schedule

7pm - Ken Eisen of Waterville’s Railroad Square Cinema and Shadow Distribution will introduce two of the classic comedies: Preston Sturges 1940 film “The Lady Eve” starring Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda and Buster Keaton’s 1924 “Sherlock Jr.” for both films.

7:30pm - “Night of the Living Comedians” Three comedians from Boston and New England will rock the stage. Rob Steen, Tom Clark, and Tom Hayes. They’ve performed on the Letterman Show and stages all over the United States. With a rocking house band to open the show and a catered bar. ($16)

10pm - “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” finally comes to Belfast. Rice, toilet paper, newspapers, …. The whole shebang. Get dressed up, bring your friends, and get ready to have some fun.

Sunday April 13, 2008

10:30am - Brunch! Join us at Zoe’s across the street from the Colonial. We’re bringing the newspapers!

Noon - Independent Films Showcase with featured guests filmmakers from points south: Julia Radochia, the Mensher Brothers, and J.P. DiSciscio to present and Q&A. Click for Films Info

2pm - Maine Organization Of Storytelling Enthusiasts (MOOSE) Roland Watier and The Golden Raven Storytelling Circle will host an afternoon with a full slate of performers. Hosted by Robert “humble Farmer” aka “humble” Skoglund. ($8 adults and $5 kids)

3:30-? “Almost Live” The Mark and Tim Show will be filming and interviewing festival attendees as they walk the red carpet.

4:30pm - Belfast Maskers and Friends, poets, and spoken wordsmiths including Poet Annaliese Jakimides, Chuck Smith, and Eddie Adelman will perform poetry and excite us with a reading of a comic TV sitcom script, and more. ($6)

7:00 Repeat live performance of Mystery Science Theatre 3000 treatment of Belfast films.

7:15 Second chance: Reprise of Probot Productions with Damon Wellner and Carla Norton: see Friday night description. ($6.00?)

9:30 good night……sleep the sleep of the well deserved