ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Films in Español, experiments with artificial intelligence and a Bravo TV star.
Allentown Film Festival, or AFF, returns with celebrity cameos and shorts by homegrown talent.
Founded by Michael Schelp and Alan Younkin, AFF is in its second year.
It will take place inside Allentown Art Museum and the historic Civic Theatre of Allentown's 19th Street Theatre and Theatre514.
Last year's festival went off "without a hitch" Schelp said — so much so that they decided to expand it this year.
"We learned that audiences like the way we grouped short films by genre — like psychological thrillers and surreal shorts — and that having a variety of film lengths and themes is popular," Schelp said.
"And we learned that filmmakers value the opportunity to network and share their experiences, so we have added a filmmaker lounge and a place to gather and discuss films."
AFF will begin at noon Saturday, April 6, and runs through April 14.
Art shorts, Cine en Español
The festival kicks off Saturday at Allentown Art Museum.
The schedule: "What is Art? (a collection of eight shorts) starts at noon and Cine en Español (nine Spanish-speaking shorts, or cortos, with English subtitles) begins at 2 p.m.
With the growing population of Latinos living in the Lehigh Valley, event organizers say it "made sense" to foster a cross-country dialogue.
The shorts speak on issues such as immigration, family-life, relationships and a seven-minute lively look at a celebration at a Dominican carnaval.
"During our interview with Allentown City Council President Cynthia Mota, we discussed the importance of celebrating Allentown’s diverse community," Schelp said.
"The museum’s involvement marks a promising beginning. The distinct essence and fresh outlook of the Spanish-language films we’ve chosen are particularly gratifying, aligning perfectly with our vision."
Al with Carson Kressley, elected officials
Amid Hollywood's growing concerns about the use of artificial intelligence onscreen — a major point in last year's Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes — the festival will hold an "Augie Al Film Challenge," session at 7:30 p.m. April 13.
Featured in the Al/voice-generated project, will be "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" star and Lehigh Valley native Carson Kressley, Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk, U.S. Rep. Susan Wild and Mota.
"When we became familiar with Aug X's Augie editing software, our immediate gut reaction was, 'we can't touch that with a ten-foot pole,'''Michael Schelp, Allentown Film Festival
"When we became familiar with Aug X's Augie editing software, our immediate gut reaction was, 'We can't touch that with a 10-foot pole,' because AFF celebrates filmmakers and the art of cinema," Schelp said.
"Artificial Intelligence won't help. Or will it?"
The Augie challenge has the subjects narrating a short story, which was fed into the Al program. The software then produced an image to follow along with their narrations — with a small bit of editing, Schelp said.
"When the typewriter was invented in 1868, did Creative Poetry Contest directors decree: No typewritten entrees allowed?" he said.
"Probably, but then they realized that new technology often helps artists, whether it be sharper tools to carve stone or more-permanent oil paints.
"We're exploring how AI will [hopefully] enhance our ability to share our experiences and our humanity."
Of working with Kressley, who graduated from Northwestern Lehigh High School and resides in the area part-time, he couldn't have been more pleased.
"He's brimming with Lehigh Valley pride and is so generous with his time," Schelp said.
The televsion personality and style guru also shows up in his own short, "Carson Kressley: Born in Allentown," a 20-minute flick about his journey from the Queen City to the TV screen.
That debut screens after the Al challenge on Saturday.
"We subscribe to the ‘One Degree of Carson Kressley’ theory," which contends that everyone who lives within 100 miles of the PPL Building is just one connection away from Carson Kressley," Schelp said.
Tickets to Saturday's screenings cost $10. They will be in the 19th Street Theatre, 527 North 19th St.
Local directors
The festival also will feature a number of works by local talent with its Lehigh Valley Filmmakers contest.
The semi-finalists' films will debut at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, and finalists' films debut on April 12.
According to Schelp, about 220 filmmakers with ties to the region submitted to the contest.
Tickets to the semi-final and finalist screenings cost $10.
Other categories and genres include Voices of Change: Enhancing Community in the Lehigh Valley on Wednesday, April 10; psychological thriller shorts on Thursday, April 11; Arthouse horror on Friday, April 12; and women take control shorts on Saturday, April 13.
For a complete schedule, visit Allentownfilmfest.org.
