Paste Magazine Welcomes Award-Winning Films To Its Inaugural Rock 'N' Reel Festival

Atlanta, GA (Oct. 17) - Independent filmmakers from around the world will gather in Decatur, GA at the inaugural Paste Rock ‘N’ Reel Festival for a short film competition. The Paste Rock ‘N’ Reel Festival will celebrate independent music and films during a two-day festival on Saturday, October 22 and Sunday, October 23. 53 short films from the United States, including several from the Atlanta area, as well as Australia, Germany, Spain and Singapore were selected by Paste staff who reviewed hundreds of entries. Awards will be presented at the festival to winners that are selected by a panel of twelve filmmakers and representatives from local film organizations. Attendees will also have the opportunity to view six Oscar-nominated short films and two feature film documentaries.

   A few highlights of the 20 hours of film includes everyone’s favorite teenage witch Melissa Joan Hart (star of the TV shows Clarissa Explains It All and Sabrina the Teenage Witch) who will make her film directorial debut with her first live-action short called Mute. Mute takes us on a journey through the eyes of Eileen who blames her older sister, Claire, for a car accident that has left her deaf and mute. After 7 months of preparations, Hart began the six day shoot in May 2005 using a 35 mm. “What appealed to me about Mute was not only my desire for something tragic and dark with a sense of irony, but also the use, or lack of sound the film would need,” said Hart. “In a situation where everything is bright and colorful, to have so much tragedy and blood appealed to my love of dramedy.”

   A special forum and screening with Decatur’s own Mike and Matt Chapman, a.k.a. the Brothers Chaps and creators of HomestarRunner.com. The founders will screen clips from their popular online flash animations, discuss its creation, and take part in a question and answer session with the audience. 

   Attendees will also have access to a special preview screening of High and Dry: Where the Desert Meets Rock ‘n’ Roll, a documentary about the Tucson, Arizona music scene. The feature length film includes interviews and performances by 20 years of Tucson's legendary local artists including Howe Gelb of Giant Sand, who will perform at the festival. Following the screening, the film’s director Michael Toubassi will be on hand for discussion.

   Push Push Theater an award-winning theater dedicated to the development of Atlanta's performing artists in film, theater and music will screen short films and music videos and present the opening of their new play, The Robbers. Festival organizers will also present the Best of Paste DVD’s, short films and music videos included on the magazines DVD samplers over the past year. Keeping with Paste Magazine’s commitment to “Signs of Life in Music, Film, and Culture,” the Paste Shorts Fest will also include a Global Awareness film and discussion forum spotlighting humanitarian issues, especially in developing nations.

   Tickets can be purchased at www.pasterocknreel.com   and select stores including Decatur CD (Decatur, GA), Criminal Records (Atlanta, GA), Wuxtry Records (Athens, GA), Horizon Records (Greenville, SC), Laser’s Edge Compact Discs (Birmingham, AL) and Grimey’s New & Preloved Music (Nashville, TN). Attendees can purchase weekend passes for $25 or single day tickets for $15. Children 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult. Proceeds from the festival will benefit selected charities, including Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, and the Decatur community.