The Great Lakes Cinephile Society was found in 1990 it is a nonprofit organization. The Cinephile society is a place with one common interest to view new vintage motion pictures, the classics, and newer films. The films at their festival Fall Cinesation are show as they were originally presented. Their goal is to raise funding to further film preservation efforts or pay for presentation prints of preserved films.
The festival Fall Cinesation is held the last week of September or the first week of October each year at the 1915 Lincoln Theater in Massillon, Ohio. They annually show over 24 hours of vintage fare every year. Their program is a varied presentation of silent and sound features and short subjects including cartoons, newsreels, trailers, films fragments, and the proverbial serial chapter. Most films are shown in 35 mm for superior quality. The films are supplied by distributors and the leading archives such as The George Eastman House, The Library of Congress and The National Archives of Canada.
The silent films are also accompanied by music from Dr. Phillip Carli and Ben Model. Dr. Carli is a teacher at the Rochester School of Music. Ben Model has served over two decades as a resident silent film accompanist for the Museum of Modern Art in New York City and a silent film historian. Both musicians are talented and understand the importance of film music.
For many years, they have been recording live performances of their silent features. The feature is then transferred on a Rank Cintel to Betacam speed. The DVD is released for tax-deductible donations of 25.00 or more. All proceeds from the sales go to film archives as well as the profits of the festival. Some of the films they sell are The Balls (1926), The Beloved Rouge (1927), The Prairie Pirate (1925), Sailors Holiday (1929) and The Greatest Question (1919).
To become a member all you do is pay $5 for a whole year. You will receive at least three newsletters with information on what is going on in the world of films, preservation, and news on the next festival, other festivals, and other useful information for the interested Cinephile.
This year’s show is set around September 23-26. It is at the Ohio Lincoln Theater, Massillon Ohio. 2010 is a special year because it is their 20th anniversary. On the website they have a list of ideas for the show, remember these are not confirmed but just suggestions. Some ideas are Alice in the Wonderland, When the Clouds Roll By, Broken Chains, Black Cat, Crazy House, International House and Just Pals. Just by the suggestions you can see how creative the Cinephile Society is.
Where you can find more information, is going on their website www.cinephiles.org. Their email is info@cinephiles.org and the address is Great Lakes Cinephile Society Inc. PO Box 352 Frankenmuth, Michigan 48734. In addition, they have two-phone numbers (989)652-8253 or (810) 471-1809.
