`Goldfinger` selected to headline Robert Osborne's Classic Film Festival, March 19-22
20-Feb-2009 • Event
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Other movies in the festival include "Funny Girl," "Sunset Boulevard," "Rear Window," "King
Kong" and "For Your Consideration."
Nate Kohn, festival executive producer and professor of telecommunications in the Grady College
of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia, is thrilled by the list. "Robert
is the world's foremost authority on the Academy Awards, and he worked hard to put together this
dynamic program. Robert's commitment to the success of our festival is something we're very
proud of."
This year, Robert Osborne will share his hosting duties with a special guest host, who will host
the Saturday and Sunday films. Joining Robert is acclaimed actor and former film festival guest,
Fred Willard. Mr. Willard's work includes a part in every movie directed by Christopher Guest,
including 2009 festival selection "For Your Consideration".
Festival director Pamela Kohn looks forward to the new format. "We are fortunate to have Fred
Willard joining us this year. He enjoyed the festival so much as a guest in 2007, and he is excited
to come back in this expanded role. This year, we celebrate our fifth anniversary and I would like
to thank Robert for making the festival so wonderful. I would also like to thank our projectionist of
these past years, James Bond, and his team for their expertise and flawless projection of all of
our films. Finally, our thanks goes out to all of our contributors and to our loyal and expanding
audience for their continued support of this exciting and fun community event. I look forward to
seeing you at the festival".
Past festivals have brought guests such as Jane Powell, Louise Fletcher, Maximilian Schell, Pia
Lindstrom, Patricia Neal, Parker Posey, and Mickey Rooney to Athens to discuss their films with
Osborne on stage after the screenings. Kohn expects that the upcoming festival will feature
guests of similar stature.
For the three-and-a-half day festival in March, the 2,000-seat Classic Center theatre will be
transformed into a world-class movie palace with the installation of a 60-foot motion picture
screen and state-of-the-art 35 mm projection and sound systems. Most prints will be pristine
archival 35 mm prints from many of the major studios.
"It's an exciting adventure to see these films the way they were meant to be seen," explained
Osborne. "The big screen gives a different dimension and vitality to them."
In addition, the festival will feature a panel discussion hosted by Osborne. Panelists will include
University of Georgia scholars, festival guests, artists, critics, and others. The panel topics will
relate to the classic festival films and their various influences. The panel discussion will be free
and open to the public.
All films, with the exception of the Friday matinee showing of "Rear Window," will require a paid
ticket for admission. The matinee will be free and open to the public. In celebration of the
festival's 5th year anniversary, children 12 and under receive a special ticket price of $5 for âE.T.â
Passes and tickets for individual films go on sale January 8, 2009 at The Classic Center box
office, online at www.classiccenter.com or by calling (800) 918-6393. Prices are $60 for a pass to
all films and panel discussions or $45 with valid student identification. A limited number of
passes that include the festival's Saturday brunch will be available for $90 for the general public
and $75 with valid student or UGA Alumni Association identification. Individual film tickets are
$10, or $8 for students and alumni association members.
Robert Osborne's Classic Film Festival is an annual non-profit event of the University of Georgia's
Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. For more information, visit
http://www.robertosbornefilmfestival.com/. Please note that films on the list are subject to
change.
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