NewEnglandFilm.com

The Coolidge Corner Theatre, well-known for its innovative programming and interaction with local communities, is now sponsoring a series of film screenings which will feature local independent filmmakers discussing their work. The series is called "Director’s Cut" and features unique films made by artists with a New England connection. The series began Wednesday September 20, and continues on Wednesdays once per month through January 2001.

"Director’s Cut" is curated by Boston Phoenix film critic Gerald Peary who personally selected each film in the series. Peary, a former curator of the Harvard Film Archive, was known for featuring outstanding, student-made shorts from Harvard and Boston University filmmakers at the Archive. As a well-traveled critic who attends many international film festivals each year, Peary now brings his curating skills to the Coolidge Corner Theater. "Gerry chose films that get people to think," says Clinton McClung, one of the managers at the Coolidge. "It can be very easy just to show films by local filmmakers, but we wanted to make this a one of a kind event by incorporating interaction between the audience and the artist."

The first film to screen was "Live Free or Die," a documentary by New Hampshire filmmakers Marian Lipschutz and Rose Rosenblatt. "Live Free or Die" tells the story of a controversial doctor who provides abortion services in his community. The film premiered on WGBH in late September as part of PBS’s POV line-up.

"We had a lot of people who were very interested in the film," he says of the event. "That is far more important to me, to have people who are interested, as opposed to a full house of people there to just be entertained."

Each "Director’s Cut" presentation features an informal reception prior to the screening and discussion, giving audience members an opportunity to mingle on a more personal level with film artists and fellow film buffs. McClung is excited about the program’s possibilities: "These films go well beyond just entertainment; the whole impetus of this series was to do something significant in support of local independent film."

Other films in the series include:

"Happy Accidents" (Wednesday, October 18, at 7:30 p.m.) – Directed by Brad Anderson ("Next Stop Wonderland"). This sci-fi comedy is about time-travel-crossed lovers and stars Marisa Tomei and Vincent D’Onofrio.

"The Brightest of B.U." (Wednesday, November 19 at 7:30 p.m.) – Three shorts films by student filmmakers Lauren Ivy Chong ("Testament"), Stephen L. Fromkin ("The State’s Conception") and Tom Danon ("Cuppa Cabby, Piece O’ Pie").

"I Was a Teenage Filmmaker" (Wednesday, December 20 at 7:30 p.m.) – Under the supervision of Jay Craven ("Where the Rivers Flow North"), and through the Vermont production company, Fledgling Films, teenage filmmakers present four short films: "Carlin Fell," "Night Out," "Perfect ‘10’," and "Losing Sleep."

"Humorous Hometown Documentaries" (Wednesday, January 17 at 7:30 p.m.) – This program features two documentaries from the Boston area; "Hairdo" directed by a trio of filmmakers (John Capron, Jonathan Schula, and Caroline Toth), chronicles a multi-cultural Medford beauty contest. Following "Hairdo", Director Randy Bell will introduce his film, "It’s Only a Tattoo." Bell’s documentary "Look Back, Don’t Look Back" won the "Best of Festival" award at the New England Film and Video Festival 2000.

For more information about this series call 617-734-2500, or go to www.coolidge.org.