Screen scene: Local film news

TRAMPTASTIC: Charlie Chaplin deals with a disgruntled customer in this still from 'The Rink.' The 1916 short comedy is one of four that will be screened in the latest installment of Grail Moviehouse's Silent Sundays series. Photo courtesy of Flicker Alley

• Asheville-based production company Orange Puffin Pictures presents the world premiere of its new short comedy film Emojional Breakdown on Friday, June 2, at 7:45 p.m. at the Altamont Theatre. The satirical work explores dating in the age of emojis and was written by Tom Chalmers (who also directed the film), Sharon Feingold and Scott Smith. It stars Reeni Lindblom-Dowd and Michael Shenefelt and features appearances by local comedians Grayson Morris, Jeff Thompson, Tabatha Hall and Michael Thomas. Shane Peters served as the director of photography. The film will be followed by local improv troupe Reasonably Priced Babies’ monthly show at the venue. $10 general admission or $15 VIP, which guarantees seating in the first three rows. thealtamonttheatre.com

FierceFlix, a summer film camp open to girls and gender minorities ages 8-16, is holding a pair of fundraising events. Filmmakers from the 2016 inaugural camp will screen their work nn Saturday, June 3, from 5 to 7 p.m., at The Hop Ice Cream Cafe on Merrimon Avenue. Interested parties may learn more about how to sign up, volunteer or otherwise become involved. Then on Sunday, June 4, from 2 to 6 p.m., there will be a silent auction at UpCountry Brewing Co. with music by local bands 12 Olympians and Brief Awakeningmechanicaleyecinema.org/fierceflix

• Now in its third season of showcasing independent films, the Smoky Mountain Film Festival runs Saturday and Sunday, June 3 and 4, at The Greystone Lodge in Gatlinburg, Tenn. Tickets cost $10 for a day pass or $15 for a weekend pass online through Wednesday, May 31, after which $15 day passes and $25 weekend passes are available exclusively at the door. smokymountainfilmfest.com

Hickory Nut Gap Farm hosts a family movie night screening of The Lego Movie in its Big Barn on Saturday, June 3, at 6 p.m. Attendees are asked to bring a blanket and chair. Admission is $6 and children ages 4 and younger get in for free. Snacks and drinks, including Asheville Brewing Co. beers, will be available for purchase on site. hickorynutgapfarm.com

Grail Moviehouse’s monthly Silent Sundays series continues June 4, at 7 p.m., with a collection of four short comedies. The selections are The Rink, starring Charlie Chaplin; Fatty and Mabel Adrift, with Roscoe Arbuckle and Mabel Normand; Max Davidson’s Pass the Gravy; and Laurel and Hardy in Big Business. Film historian Frank Thompson will introduce the films and participate in a post-screening Q&A. Local stride pianist Andrew J. Fletcher will provide a live, improvised score for each short. Tickets are $12 and available online or at the Grail box office. grailmoviehouse.com

The Cashiers Historical Society hosts a screening of Horace Kephart: His Life and Legacy on Tuesday, June 6, at the Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library. The documentary chronicles the work of the Ivy League-educated scholar and former librarian who moved to Western North Carolina in 1904. Kephart wrote numerous outdoors articles for national publications as well as the books Our Southern Highlanders, Camping and Woodcraft and the posthumously published novel Smoky Mountain Magic. Free. fontanalib.org/cashiers

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About Edwin Arnaudin
Edwin Arnaudin is a staff writer for Mountain Xpress. He also reviews films for ashevillemovies.com and is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association (SEFCA) and North Carolina Film Critics Association (NCFCA). Follow me @EdwinArnaudin

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