Friday, October 13----With the fall foliage in full regalia, the town of Woodstock, nestled in the Catskill Mountains region of New York State, is in full flower (of reds, oranges and greens). The Woodstock Film Festival, which opened last evening, adds even more color as it unspools a group of provocative films.

Friday highlights have included the North American Premiere of the Canadian drama STEEL TOES, a provocative legal drama starring Academy Award nominee David Straithairn, who plays a Jewish lawyer who is chosen to defend a teenage skinhead who has killed an Indian man in a vicious hate crime. Based on the stage play by David Gow, which has been a success internationally, the film delves into the emotions behind racism and the meeting of minds between the guilt ridden lawyer and the tough and troubled youth.

David Strathairn

Screening as an East Coast Premiere is the Sundance sleeper FLANNEL PAJAMAS, directed by distributor turned filmmaker Jeff Lipsky. The film tells the truthful tale of a marriage that goes sour, despite its promising beginnings. Shot entirely in New York, and evoking relationship films from Woody Allen, Robert Benton and others, the film is being released theatrically later this year.

Two documentary films are making their East Coast premieres at the Festival. TALES OF THE RAT FINK is the story behind the legendary animator who created the anarchic character of "Rat Fink", a television staple of the 1960s, with actor John Goodman providing the voice for Ed "Big Daddy" Roth.

UNAUTHORIZED AND PROUD OF IT is the chronicle of Todd Loren, the publisher of unauthorized comic book biographies of rock stars. Among the famous faces featured in the film is proto rocker Alice Cooper.

Alice Cooper

Rock music is, of course, synonymous with the Woodstock ethos. To honor those roots, the Festival is presenting a number of live concert events. This evening, New York group The Rosewood Thieves rocked the house with their rhythmic house music.

Things are just getting started at the Woodstock Film Festival, which runs through Sunday.

Sandy Mandelberger
Festivals Editor