CinemaSavannah is closing out February with a presentation of the movie “The Death of Dick Long” on Thurs., Feb. 17 at 7 pm and some of the 2022 Oscar nominated shorts on Fri., Feb. 25 at 7 pm.
The pandemic originally halted the start of CinemaSavannah 2022 season but as cases are lowering some and venues are opening back up more the attendance for these screenings have been increasing.
“The turnout is improving with each screening as people get more comfortable watching films in person with others,” said Tomasz Warchol, director of CinemaSavannah. “Those who have come to our first two post-pandemic screenings were very grateful to be together with other viewers in the audience. They all missed the communal nature of experiencing cinema.”
Audiences will get to experience “The Death of Dick Long.” This is a 2019 black comedy-drama film directed and produced by Daniel Scheinert and written by Billy Chew. The film stars Michael Abbott Jr., Virginia Newcomb, Andre Hyland, Sarah Baker, Jess Weixler, Roy Wood Jr., and Sunita Mani.
“The film has been out since 2019 but has never been shown theatrically. When I watched it online, I knew instantly I had to share it with our CinemaSavannah crowd. It’s a small film that has all the ingredients to become a cult film,” said Wachol.
The plot takes place in small-town Alabama, where Zeke and Earl scramble to cover up the unlikely and illegal events that led to their friend’s death while trying to dodge their families, the cops and one horrified medical examiner.
“Not only is it truly independent but it is also highly accomplished. It’s funny and tragic, suspenseful and chilled, tightly written and delivered. It handles this outrageous story shifting from one genre to another, balancing its tones and modes perfectly, surprising us with twists all the way to its brilliant ending,” Warchol said.
Screening of that film will be at the Gingerbread House next to Foxy Loxy Café on Thurs., Feb. 17 at 7 pm.
The nominees for the 94th Academy Awards were announced on February 8 with “Power of the Dog” leading the pack as the feature film with the most nominations this year. Some of the Oscar nominated shorts are being presented by CinemaSavannah as a part of the national theatrical opening of this year’s Oscar Shorts.
This popular annual event features Oscar-nominated short films in all three categories: documentary, live action, and animation. The program was originally scheduled for early March but now audiences here will get to experience some of these films a month earlier.
“When I was offered to show it during the national opening on February 25, I simply couldn’t refuse. I think 25 years of my relationship with Magnolia Pictures which coordinates the release with Shorts TV had a lot to do with it,” said Warchol.
CinemaSavannah has decided to focus on the documentary shorts category. “That category looks the strongest this year. At least four out of five nominees are very compelling,” Warchol said.
Warchol described the animation program as “often disturbing and relatively weak.” He was also not impressed with the live action programs this year either. Savannah can see the Oscar nominated shorts on Fri., Feb. 25.
All shows start at 7 p.m. Box office opens at 6. Tix are $10, cash preferred. No advance tickets. Masks are required inside the building and the theater.
THE DEATH OF DICK LONG TRAILER (RATED R)