Denis Foundation supporters attend the Three Rivers Film Festival Perimeter Party

Great party tonight at Molly Brannigans. More than a hundred of us were there for the Three Rivers Film Festival's perimeter party, a way to build awareness and excitement about the upcoming event. To be honest, I've never attended the Three Rivers Film Festival before, thought I am absolutely the kind of person who should have. I love film. I love documentaries. I love parties. I love being the coolest person in the room. And I love things that celebrate Pittsburgh.





We ("We" being Mt. Lebanon) were very lucky to have struck up a partnership with the great people at the Three Rivers Film Festival, something for which I must thank TRFF advisory board member, former Mt. Lebanonite, and all-round great person, Dawn Kosanovich.



The TRFF crew, led by Executive Director Andrew Swenson, set up screens at Molly Brannigan's showing clips from the movies in the festival, and Andrew gave a brief talk about why we should consider attending. There were drinks and appetizers and an information/gift bag for everyone who attended. In addition, the Denis Foundation had folks selling prints of the Denis and taking names for those who wanted to be on the mailing list.

TRFF only did three of these events--one in Edgewood, where the Regent Square Theatre is, one in Cleveland, who have their own film festival in March every year, and one in Mt. Lebanon.




This year for the first time, there will be a VIP kick-off party for festival. It's coupled with the premiere of Pittsburgh native David Conrad's documentary about Tamas Szilagyi, his teacher at Kiski School, whom he followed back to Szilagyi's native Hungary. A labor of love, the film, Tamas, ought to be great. I happen to be have fallen in love with David Conrad as an actor a little over ten years ago when I saw him at Pittsburgh Public Theatre in Tom Stoppard's incomparable Arcadia. I have high hopes I'll get to say hello to David at the party, which runs from 5:30 to 7:30 on November 7 at the Concept Art Gallery in Edgewood, followed by the film at 7:30 at the Regent Square Theatre next door.

Please consider attending the film festival. It's a great way to support cinema in Pittsburgh, and, who knows, the folks you meet there may be traipsing over to the Denis to help support our theatre when the restoration is complete. Find out more at
http://www.3rff.com/3rff_08/special_events.html.



Speaking of the Regent Square Theater, my husband, daughter and I hit Breakfast at Tiffany's there on Sunday night. Believe it or not, none of us had ever seen it before. Audrey Hephburn is wonderful to watch--and the clothes! Sigh. It was a pleasure to sit with my family, eating freshly popped popcorn and drinking hot tea and watching a classic film, something I hope we'll be able to do in Mt. Lebanon very soon.

Pittsburgh 250

It was my joy on Saturday to take my daughter and her friend to the fireworks celebrating Pittsburgh's 250th birthday downtown. There were thousands and thousands of people there--we did not dare venture into Point State Park--and, for the first time in my memory, the lower level of the Fort Pitt Bridge was closed to traffic and open to pedestrians, and the streets near the downtown Hilton, while not technically closed to cars, were filled with so many watchers that cars couldn't get through. It was exciting and a little weird, with so many rules overturned. I overheard two different people in the crowd mention the movie, "Cloverfield."

The fireworks were magnificent. I heard differing reports: that they were the largest fireworks display ever in the region, that they the largest fireworks display ever in North America. All I can tell you is they were the largest fireworks display I have ever seen. With fireworks exploding over the Mon, in front of the Point and over the Allegheny, it was a panorama of fireworks, thrilling for a fan like me, and, if that weren't enough, there were fireworks exploding from the top of several buildings downtown as well.

Best of all, we just hopped on the T at the Mt. Lebanon station and zipped both in and out of downtown. Ah, what a joy for Mt. Lebanon that we have such a convenience. That, like the Denis, is one of the jewels of our town.

The 3 Rivers Film Fesitval's South Hills Preview Party

You're Invited!

The Denis Theatre Foundation and Pittsburgh Filmmakers invite you to attend a special South Hills Preview Party celebrating the 27th Annual 3 Rivers Film Festival.

When:
October 29, Wednesday
From 7 - 9pm

Where:
Molly Brannigan's
660 Washington Road
Mt. Lebanon, PA 15228

RSVP to www.denistheatre.org/FilmmakersEvent

Free Admission * Cash Bar * Giveaways
Special Thanks to Molly Brannigan's for providing
complimentary hors d'oeuvres for all attendees


Three Rivers Film Festival

Clips from the Festival films will be shown to celebrate the renaissance of the Denis, the Pittsburgh Filmmakers organization and independent film in the Pittsburgh area. Admission is free, and there will be complimentary appetizers and a cash bar.

Denis Theatre Foundation Announcements!

Highlights:

* The foundation receives its 501(c)(3) tax exempt status...
* A theater cleanup day is scheduled for October 11th...
* The Foundation and Pittsburgh Filmmakers to host an event on October 29th...

Look in your e-mailbox for a newsletter in the near future, but in the meantime check out these hot Denis Theatre news flashes!


Theater Cleanup - October 11, 2008

Volunteers are needed on Saturday, October 11 to haul old theater materials, furnishings and debris to dumpsters in preparation for construction. There will be three shifts: 9-11 a.m., 1-3 p.m. and 3-5 p.m.. This work is dirty and can be heavy, so please wear old clothes and sturdy shoes. We will provide work gloves and any necessary tools. No experience is needed.

In order to accommodate all of the volunteers, we do require that you SIGN UP for this opportunity, and only sign up for one shift. Thanks for your understanding!

Sign up to volunteer at http://www.denistheatre.org/Volunteer/Cleanup

Tax-Exempt Status

The Denis Theatre Foundation has been granted official 501(c)(3) tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service. This means that all donations are completely exempt from Federal income taxes - retroactive to the date that we were incorporated in December of 2007. This important step will provide momentum and encouragement to donate to this fantastic community effort.

This also means that we now qualify for matching gift programs offered by many employers. Talk to your employer to see if they offer this option. It will make your donation to The Denis Theatre Foundation work twice as hard!