Bicycle Film Festival 08
Brendt Barbur's Bicycle Film Festival opened strong with an enthusiastic crowd filling the sidewalk of Hollywood Boulevard as the The What Cheer Brigade, a "Luddite Hard Core Marching Band," marched down the street and proceeded to stop traffic, both motor vehicle and pedestrian.
After drawing in the crowd, they pulled a Pied Piper and marched into the Vine Theatre, followed by their audience, leaving them pumped up and ready for a Shorts Program that featured local Director Ross Harris' film, GHOST RIDE. Harris was back for his second year and he commented "It's an honor to be selected again 'cause this year's program is really strong!"
The sidewalk was full of bikes and cyclists, all in contrast to the typical slow moving club traffic that is the norm for Hollywood Boulevard on a weekend night. The Police were out in full force, not just LAPD and LASD but also Beverly Hills and Santa Monica, among other imports. It turns out they were part of a Gang Task Force and the City Attorney's Office along with the Probation Department were also on the streets. All in an effort to make Hollywood Boulevard a better place to ride your bike!
Around midnight Brendt stood outside the Vine Theatre and watched hundreds of cyclists standing alongside a sidewalk packed with bikes and remarked "I travel the world 6 months out of the year with the Bicycle Film Festival and I assure you that the Bike Movement is the strongest cultural force in play at this time."
This is the Bicycle Film Festival's eighth year and its fourth year in Los Angeles. The Festival is co-produced by Silver Lake artist Ashira Siegel, who was proud to note that many of the cyclists in attendance were wearing back packs, bags and clothing with her Red Riding Hood logo. Ashira hails from New York where she operated a bicycle food delivery company that serviced local restaurants.
Saturday's screenings start at 1:30 pm and there are 5 programs with day passes available for 30 bucks.
Local Director Sean Patrick Crowell's THE BIKE LANE takes a look at over one hundred years of LA bike culture, starting with the LA Wheelmen and the LA Athletic Club of days gone by to the local bike scene through the eyes of the distinct groups of cyclists who share the streets of Los Angeles today. (Program 3 - 1:30 pm)
The Urban Bike Shorts Program (Program 7 - 9:30 pm) features Shawn Bannon's LA BIKE SCENE covering fearless racers to tall bike riders, all part of the rolling bike party that defies categorization. Donny Digital's WOLFPACK HUSTLE: THE MIDNIGHT DRAGRACE is a local favorite that covers the bicycle drag races that take place late at night in downtown LA's 2nd Street Tunnel.
Through it all, the best part of the Festival is that the Directors are there, the Cyclists are there and the Party is definitely there!
See you on the Streets!