Drive-In workaround trend pulls up in Chapel Hill, NC for Film Fest 919
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by Quendrith Johnson, Los Angeles Correspondent
Telluride Film Festival recently showed a drive-in screening as part of its 2020 ingenuity, and this workaround has now come to Film Fest 919 in Chapel Hill, NC. “In the spirit of the ‘The Show Must Go On,’ we are excited to present a reimagined 2020 version of Film Fest 919 with a LIVE event, offering the best in pandemic viewing, using two outdoor venues: the newly-created Drive-in at Carraway Village and The Green at Southern Village.” That’s Carol Marshall, FF919 co-founder, who might have to trademark that slogan: “The Best in Pandemic Viewing.” This is the kind of optimistic energy and freshness, even in the worst of times, created by Film Fest 919.
Still on a roll for the third year, FF919 will add more details and a full slate of films by the end of this month. But for now the news is about fighting back against the pulled plug in North Carolina.
“With theaters still under state mandate to stay closed, over the past several months we have explored many options to produce a COVID-appropriate Festival where we can provide the health and safety of our community while giving film lovers a new and exciting theatrical experience to look forward to,” added co-founder Randi Emerman and Carol Marshall. “In keeping with our tradition, this year’s program will feature a slate of films encompassing a diverse breadth of compelling selections for the area’s enthusiastic film-loving audience.”
For helmers, Marshall noted “the big screen is how the filmmaker intended for their film to be seen.” And for the rest of us? “No distractions from home, and you are able to escape into the experience.”
To underscore this point, Emerman said, “I, for one do not enjoy watching a movie at home, no matter how large the screen is, and having the state-of-the-art sound system. 
Nothing beats the theatrical experience in all its glory.”
Both agreed that “people are hungry to see a film on the big screen and want to go out but in a very safe manner. A drive-in like we remembered as kids is the perfect experience.”
Film Fest 919 will open a brave and bold third edition Weds. Oct. 14 through Sat. Oct. 31.
Here’s the Official Cinema Newsflash from North Carolina
FILM FEST 919 ANNOUNCES 2020 FESTIVAL PLANS
Introduces New Drive-In Theater Partnership with Carraway Village
CHAPEL HILL, NC: In the spirit of the “The Show Must Go On,” we are excited to present a reimagined 2020 version of Film Fest 919 with a LIVE event, offering the best in pandemic viewing, using two outdoor venues: the newly-created Drive-in at Carraway Village and The Green at Southern Village.
Film Fest 919 will open their 3rd edition on Wednesday, October 14, and continue with showings on Wednesdays through Saturdays, closing on Saturday, October 31. The full program line up will be announced in late September.
“With theaters still under state mandate to stay closed, over the past several months we have explored many options to produce a COVID-appropriate Festival where we can provide the health and safety of our community while giving film lovers a new and exciting theatrical experience to look forward to,” commented Film Fest 919 Founders Randi Emerman and Carol Marshall. “In keeping with our tradition, this year’s program will feature a slate of films encompassing a diverse breadth of compelling selections for the area’s enthusiastic film-loving audience.”
After the festival, The Drive-in at Carraway Village will continue to show the latest Hollywood releases, Event Cinema programming and special Film Fest 919-hosted events. Northwood Ravin, the owner of Carraway Village rose to the occasion by partnering with Film Fest 919 to create this top-of-the-line outdoor movie-going experience for the region.
“We are pleased to bring Film Fest 919 to Carraway Village and to provide a unique movie-going experience at The Drive-In at Carraway Village,” said Kyle Whitaker, Vice President of Development with Northwood Ravin. “Given the “new normal” brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re excited to provide an opportunity for the residents of our community, the Town of Chapel Hill and the Triangle as a whole, to gather in a socially distanced environment and enjoy a night at the movies.”
Film Fest 919 has achieved tremendous success in just two years. Our lineups were curated to include acclaimed films from all over the world, many of which were on the award season trajectory. Our first year opened with ROMA and closed with Green Book, both of which went on to win several Oscars, as well as an award-winning slate that included The Favourite, Shoplifters, Destroyer, Boy Erased, Birds of Passage and Capernaum (recipient of the Audience Favorite Award) and many more. Our success continued for our 2nd edition featuring such hits as Oscar winners Parasite (which also received the Audience Favorite Award), Jojo Rabbit, Pain & Glory, Ford v. Ferrari and Marriage Story, as well as the acclaimed Portrait Of A Lady On Fire, Honey Boy, Just Mercy, and many more. Film Fest 919 honored Oscar nominees Yalitza Aparicio and Marina de Tavira from ROMA, Nick Vallelonga for Green Book, as well as Oscar nominee Anthony McCarten for The Two Popes, and we presented a special Encore of Rocketman, honoring music producer Ray Williams, who is credited with discovering Elton John and introducing him to longtime writing partner Bernie Taupin.
Outdoor screenings will feature the carefully curated slate that our filmgoers have come to expect, including “Oscar buzz” films. A limited number of passes will be available in advance starting September 23, with each pass allowing for up to 5 people per car and/or pod. Both venues will follow strict state and local safety guidelines. Passes can be purchased at www.filmfest919.com.
Follow Film Fest 919 on our social media pages, also here.
Film Fest 919 Official
Film Fest 919 is a film festival based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina that highlights the best feature films the year has to offer. Founded by Randi Emerman and Carol Marshall, the festival showcases great films and the artists behind them. The Triangle area has a strong community of film lovers with discerning tastes and a passion for the arts and the festival aims to serve as a celebration of these qualities.
About Carraway Village
The first phase of Carraway Village opened in 2019 and features a new level of luxury apartment living not seen in Chapel Hill. The first phase includes 403 high-end apartments, 8,000 square feet of ground floor retail space and amenities include a huge salt water pool complete with private lap lanes, an indoor spa with internal pool, steam rooms and sauna, a golf simulator, a professional grade 3,000 square foot fitness center, private resident office space, a central village green with walkable retail, a pet park, and more. In 2020, Carraway Village opened the first phase of retail development welcoming Starbucks, Chick-fil-a and UNC Health to the vibrant mixed-used development at Carraway Village. Carraway Village is conveniently located along Interstate 40, at the intersection of Eubanks Road and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Chapel Hill. It is surrounded by numerous residential developments and in close proximity to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC Medical Center. Carraway Village’s premier visibility from I-40 along with its unique position within the prestigious Chapel Hill submarket will continue to attract a strong mix of high-profile tenants. At full buildout, Carraway Village will have between 600,000 and 830,000 square feet of retail, office, hotel, and residential uses. Visit www.carrawayvillage.com.
About Northwood Ravin
Northwood Ravin is a leading full-service development, construction, and property management firm. Northwood Ravin develops and manages signature apartment communities and mixed-use venues with a singular focus: to create communities that foster healthy lifestyles, neighborhood involvement and appealing living environments. Based in North Carolina with offices in Charlotte, Raleigh and Tampa, Northwood Ravin has apartment 25 communities in Charlotte, Huntersville, Tampa, Orlando, Miami, Austin, Dallas, Decatur, Chapel Hill, Durham, Nashville, Franklin and Chantilly. For more information, please visit www.NorthwoodRavin.com.
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