Feb. 25-26 ‘mini-festival’ of Peter Weller films to benefit Syracuse International Film and Video Festival

Feb. 25-26 ‘mini-festival’ of Peter Weller films to benefit Syracuse International Film and Video FestivalFebruary 17, 2005Jaime Winne Alvarez jlwinne@syr.edu

Fans of film actor Peter Weller-best known as the star of “Robocop”-will have the chance to meet him in person and take in eight hours of his films later this month. He will be the guest of the Syracuse International Film and Video Festival’s (SIFVF) “mini-festival” screening of five Weller films, Feb. 25-26 at the newly refurbished Palace Theater, 2384 James St., Eastwood. The mini-festival will benefit the upcoming SIFVF, which will be held Apr. 28-May 1 at venues across Syracuse.

The Feb. 25 screenings will include Weller’s films “Shadow Hours” at 7 p.m. and “Naked Lunch” at 9:30 p.m. “Buckaroo Bonzai” will light up the theater at 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 26, with “Gold Coast” at 7 p.m. and Weller’s most recent film, “Man of God,” at 9:30 p.m. Weller will meet and talk with fans at 9 p.m. on both evenings.

Weller is said to have been perfectly cast in his role as William Lee in 1991’s “Naked Lunch.” The film is a blend of art house film, crime noir, horror and surrealism. Directed by David Cronenberg, “Naked Lunch” is an engrossing and challenging movie with a strong sense of black humor.

More recently, “Man of God,” was screened in the Sundance Film Festival. This will be its first screening outside the festival circuit. According to SIFVF Director Owen Shapiro, the film is a tour de force for Weller the actor, who in recent years has focused his talents on directing.

Tickets are available at the Palace Theater box office for $10 per show or $35 for a full weekend pass that includes all five screenings.

Saturday matinee tickets are available for $5 each. All of the evening films have adult content and are recommended for a mature audience.

For more information on the Peter Weller films weekend, contact the SIFVF office at (315) 443-8826. The film screenings are sponsored by SIFVF and Point of Contact, a nonprofit arts organization.

The Syracuse International Film and Video Festival (SIFVF) will be held April 28-May 1. Tickets for the festival can be reserved at http://www.syrfilmfest.com or by calling (315) 443-8826. SIFVF is a production of Point of Contact. It is a collaboration between the City of Syracuse, Syracuse University and the Cultural Resources Council of Onondaga County.