June Film Festival Continues at Media Theatre with "Beyond The Barricade" and More

10 Nights in June Film Festival continues through June 17 with several classic titles and interesting independent films by local filmmakers.

One of the independent films is the theatre's Executive Director Patrick Ward's directorial debut. With footage shot by aspiring thespian Kelsey Riker, a teen who was involved in last summer's "Les Miz" production at The Media Theatre, Ward has compiled a 30 minute look at what goes on behind the scenes during a camp musical entitled "Beyond The Barricade."

The short film showcases the young people in situations where they are completely honest, forthright, and having a great time at Delaware County's only professional music theatre. The film highlights the backstage relationships of the cast with the bonds of youth and friendship during their time in one of the world's most popular musicals. The Media Theatre's mission of music theatre is a part of their lives and the film allows audiences to see how important it is to them.

"Beyond the Barricade" will be shown Monday night June 13 at 7 p.m. prior to the evening's classic "A Night At The Opera" with those fabulous Marx Brothers. Tickets are only $5.

Other films in the Festival and the dates they are shown include:

Wednesday June 8: Sara Painter and Mary Beth Rim's "A Turn of the Blinds", Landsdowne film producer and actor Tommy Hogg's "Two of Harts", and the eerie yet brilliant documentary produced by Adolf Hitler "Triumph of the Will"

Thursday June 9:  Steve DeMarinis' two shorts "Forget Me Not" about a writer with an infatuation with a store clerk and "Meet The Leopolds," which is all about the rebirth of an ice cream parlor. The brilliant classic "Freaks" follows the shorts.

Friday June 10: "Little Hollywood" starts the evening. It's Steve Condon's situation comedy style flick about downbeat producers in La-La Land featuring Charlie McDermott, who plays Axl on ABC's "The Middle." It's followed by George Romero's terrifying "Night of the Living Dead".

Monday June 13: Patrick Ward's "Beyond The Barricades" (described above) and "A Night At The Opera"

Tuesday June 14: Matthew Bourne's hit Broadway production of "Swan Lake," in which men portray the swans, will be preceded by three live dance routines from teens Ryan Batchelor and Lydia Krull, of Media, and Ryan Blackson.

Wednesday June 15: Ang Lee's Oscar winner "Brokeback Mountain" is the evening's classic which is preceded by Media resident Dick D'Anjollel's documentary about the creation of Longwood Gardens "My Friend's Garden"

Thursday June 16: Merion Park's Andy Clibanoff's "Air We Breathe" will be the night's independent short. It's all about a writer who is losing his grip on life, love, and family. Marlon Brando's star-making turn in "A Streetcar Named Desire" follows.

Friday June 17: The June Film Fest concludes with another Steve Condon film "Radio On," a documentary look at a r0ck band from Lock Haven. The band will perform following the film. Then the Festival closes with "In Cold Blood" starring a young Robert Blake.

All tickets for the Film Festival are $5. The bar/concession stand will be open throughout the event. Proceeds benefit Media Theatre's music theatre programming. Come on out to see the films and support DelCo's Only Professional Music Theatre: 610-891-0100 or Mediatheatre.org