Exciting Updates for the Festival of Film & Sound

The Library of Congress Festival of Film and Sound  is excited to announce some new updates. including a special free screening of a film that has been unseen since it’s release in 1931.  We are also now offering individual screening tickets.

Held next week (June 15-18), in association with AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Silver Spring, Maryland, the Festival of Film & Sound will showcase rare restored archival 35mm prints from the Library’s collections and other preeminent archives, as well 4K digital presentations of new restorations and rarities. All silent films will feature live musical accompaniment.

Other highlights include two presentations and a special screening of “Spy Smasher” with Oscar-winning motion picture sound designer and sound mixer Ben Burtt (“Star Wars,” “E.T.,” “Wall-E,” “Indiana Jones,”) and a program about composer Max Steiner by his biographer, Steven C. Smith.

Films shown in 35mm include W.C. Fields in “So’s Your Old Man” (1926),“Submarine” (1928) from director Frank Capra, James Cagney in “Ceiling Zero” (1936), director Dorothy Arzner’s adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Craig’s Wife” (1936), the final silent film of Douglas Fairbanks, “The Iron Mask” (1929), and the newly restored print by the Library and Martin Scorsese’s Film Foundation of the lost classic, “Memory Lane” (1926).

FOUR-DAY and INDIVIDUAL SHOW PASSES ON-SALE NOW!

Four-day festival passes are $150, and include entry to all screenings and speaker sessions. You can also purchase individual screening tickets, and passes to each Ben Burtt presentation and screening at AFI.com/Silver

A SPECIAL FREE SCREENING:

On Sunday, June 18, at 7:00p.m., the Library of Congress is proud to show the premiere of the newly restored “Carne de Cabaret” from 1931.  This is a free screening to showcase the Library’s latest efforts in digital restoration, and will be introduced by film historian Maria Elena de las Carreras.

This Spanish language version of “Ten Cents a Dance” (1931) stars Mexican actress Lupita Tovar as a dance hall girl trying to navigate in a man’s world. Barbara Stanwyck originated the role and Tovar is her equal in communicating the challenges of living a hard life while facing the temptations offered by a rich man presenting an easy life. Tovar is best remembered for the lead female role in the Spanish language version of “Drácula” (1931), and her legacy including producer Pancho Kohner, actress daughter Susan Kohner and writer-director grandsons Paul Weitz and Chris Weitz.

During the transition to sound films, many movies were produced in multiple language versions, and “Carne de Cabaret” was the first from Columbia Pictures. Closely following the original script and reusing crowd shots from the first film, “Carne de Cabaret” was shot in two weeks, with most scenes completed in one take. This rushed production results in some natural performances and showcases Tovar’s charm and innocence on screen.

Festival Director David Pierce said “The Library of Congress is proud to present this example of Spanish-language filmmaking in Hollywood. “Carne de Cabaret” demonstrates that Hollywood was capable of making quality films for Spanish-speaking audiences, and this film features actors who became stars of Mexican cinema.”

GET TICKETS and SEE THE FULL SCHEDULE:

To purchase 4-day passes, individual show tickets, or to reserve your free show ticket visit AFI.com/Silver

Full film and schedule details are available at loc.gov/film-sound-festival.

To join the festival’s email list, please send your request or any questions to [email protected].

ABOUT THE AFI SILVER:

Located in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland, in the vibrant Washington, D.C., metro area, the AFI Silver provides ready access to restaurants, hotels, the D.C. Metro, and Dulles, Reagan National and BWI airports for local, national and international audiences. There are numerous restaurants within walking distance of the theater and several nearby hotels. Inexpensive municipal parking is free on the weekends.