Last night, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre was aglow with Beethoven and Bach and elegance, and tonight … it’s Thor. See what happens when you leave town, TCM?
Last year’s was fun… this year’s festival was special. Building on last year’s framework, what was noticeable this year was a close-knit sense of community. This shared, communal experience was instant and electric, making fast friends of complete strangers, simply because they happened to be waiting in a queue for the same film. Film is a universal language that unites people regardless of background or distance or age or even language– I’ve been to many a film festival and, without question, nowhere is the power of film more apparent than at TCM’s Classic Film Festival. If for no other reason than the simple fact people are not there simply to watch a movie– nor are they simply there to be seen. (cough, Sundance, cough) but rather to embrace the beauty of film and to engage in an exchange of expression with like-minded enthusiasts.
And that is why The Kitty Packard Pictorial is breaking with tradition and our next Pictorial of the Month is not dedicated to a classic film star… but rather classic film’s reigning patron saint: Turner Classic Movies.
Four days of films, fans and fast new friends, here is our farewell to the TCM Classic Film Festival with a send-off of highlights and a collection of newly released press-photos.
Enjoy, and see you at the Festival next year!
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The night’s silent festivities were introduced by the classic Burns and Allen Vitaphone sketch Lamb Chops. The perfect introduction– we were putty in their silly little hands:
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The Kitty Packard Pictorial 
Amazing! I’m a tad jealous of all of you who got to go to the TCM festival. It looks like so much fun! Thank you for sharing these wonderful photos!
Oh Kendra, had you been in town I would have moved mountains to get you in on the fun. It really was extraordinary! TCM announced a classic film CRUISE at the end of the year: from Miami to Cozumel. Details haven’t been released yet, but I highly suggest to START SAVING YOUR PENNIES!
I’m saving my pennies (pence?) to go to the 2012 festival! Watch out, Hollywood, I’m comin’ home (hopefully)!
This year’s festival sounded absolutely amazing, you have no idea how much I wish I could have been there. I’m not sure what I’m more jealous of: being able to see all those movies and the people involved with them or being able to meet so many other classic film fans.
Angela darling, you were MEANT to be here. And you’re right: as marvelous as it was to see the films on the big screen, probably the biggest treat was getting to interact with all the other fans.
You hit the nail on the head talking about the sense of community. Compared with other festivals, it was 1000x easier to strike up conversations in lines or with the person sitting next to you, even for a shy someone like me! Everyone’s there because they love great film, not because they want to be seen, or need to make deals, or whatever else. Some people were complaining that it has gotten too big, it’s harder to get into things, lines are longer. You know what, whatever. More people are seeing classic films the way they’re meant to be seen, and that’s awesome. I enjoyed a ton of great conversations throughout the weekend – of course not least of all with you! 🙂
Oh I know– I heard a lot of grumbling about the queues being too long, but again, I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been to film festivals and haven’t been able to get into the screenings I needed to get into. Not to mention the staffers, oh god, they’re normally about as helpful as a hole in the head. But at TCM Fest they were like concierge or something– really, the passholders who were throwing hissy fits have no idea how good they had it!
Great coverage, and capped by fantastic pix worthy of an experienced photojournalist.
Simply put, heaven in Hollywood. I envy all of you who went, and hope I can go next year.
More about the cruise, plus a link to get further information, can be found here:
http://carole-and-co.livejournal.com/407623.html
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It was so much fun this year! I agree about last year being great but this year was special, there’s no better word for it!! Hope to see you there next year!
(Go to my blog for my inside take on TCMFF 2011: http://sovirtuallyyours.wordpress.com/