Screen scene: Local film news

DRESSED TO IMPRESS: Three gay Palestinian friends confront their national and sexual identities in modern-day Tel Aviv in this still from 'Oriented.' The 2015 documentary is the latest selection in the monthly Israeli Film Series. Photo courtesy of PICTURED

• The Asheville Parks & Recreation Department’s 2017 season of Movies in the Park continues Friday, June 9, with Sing (108 minutes, rated PG). The 2016 animated musical comedy follows koala Buster Moon (voiced by Matthew McConaughey) as he stages a singing contest in order to save his theater. Children’s craft activities begin at 6:30 p.m., and the film starts at dusk on a giant screen on the Pack Square Park stage. The series continues monthly through September. Attendees are encouraged to bring a chair or a blanket. Free. avl.mx/3s9

• Grail Moviehouse’s and the Asheville Jewish Community Center’s monthly Israeli Film Series — designed to allow viewers to use film as their window into the minds and culture of Israel — continues Sunday, June 11, at 3 p.m. with Oriented. The 2015 documentary follows a trio of gay Palestinian friends as they confront their national and sexual identities in Tel Aviv. Tickets are $7 and available online or at the Grail box office. grailmoviehouse.com

• The Princess Bride is the next selection in The Orange Peel’s Summer Movie Series and will be shown Monday, June 12, at 8 p.m. Free. theorangepeel.net

• Asheville freelance software engineer and amateur filmmaker Ryan DuVal has launched avlfilm.com as a resource for the local independent filmmaking community. DuVal was inspired to create the website over the course of a year that involved multiple positive experiences with the Asheville filmmaking industry.

After moving to Asheville last year, he participated in the 48 Hour Film Project and in October began taking classes at the Asheville School of Film. Around the time of that first course, DuVal started an extensive FAQ page of area film schools, festivals, movie theaters, production companies and other industry offerings, and has since compiled a list of local working actors and created a form where employers may post jobs. As DuVal continues to take classes at ASoF and work with local industry figures, he says he would like for the website to be “a sort of one-stop shop for all things film in Asheville” and is taking suggestions from the public to help make the resource more valuable. avlfilm.com

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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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