March 28, Tuesday, 7:30PM, 2006
Local Premiere: "Lunch with Fela" by Abraham Ravett

Balgan welcomes Abraham Ravett (in person) to present his new feature film "Lunch with Fela".

Abraham Ravett holds a B.F.A and M.F.A in filmmaking and Photography and has been an independent filmmaker for the past twenty eight years. Mr. Ravett received grants for his work from the National Foundation for Jewish Culture: Fund for Documentary Filmmaking, National Endowment for the Arts, The Massachusetts Council on the Arts and Humanities, The Japan Foundation, The Hoso Bunka Foundation, The Marion and Jasper Whiting Foundation, and a 1994, filmmaking fellowship from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. His films have been screened internationally including the Museum of Modern Art, Anthology Film Archives, The Collective for Living Cinema, Pacific Film Archives, S.F. Cinematheque, LA.. Forum, Innis Film Society(Toronto), and Image Forum, Tokyo, among others. His recent work has won "Top Prize" at the Viennale 2000 , Ann Arbor Film Festival, and Onion City Film/Video Festival. In 1999, he collaborated with dancer/choreographer, Bill T. Jones, on his solo performance, "The Breathing Show." Mr. Ravett teaches filmmaking and photography at Hampshire College, Amherst, MA.

Lunch With Fela 59 minutes, sound, DV and Beta, 2005
Produced, Directed, Filmed & Edited by Abraham Ravett
Animation drawings by Emily Hubley
Digital consultants: Ian Cunningham, Chris Perry

"Lunch With Fela" is the filmmaker's response to the passing of his last parent, Fela Ravett. Utilizing a combination of DV footage shot during her stay at a nearby nursing facility, excerpts from previously made 16mm films, animation sequences, plus remaining family memorabilia, the film renders the presence and absence of a much loved parent. "Lunch With Fela" is the eight film in a series that address the complexities of family history and Jewish cultural identity .

Screenings: Viennale, Vienna International Film Festival, October, 2005
Private Cinema, Sienna , Italy, Nov. 2005