Kilgore Film Festival opens with 'Miss Potter' April 18

Renee Zellweger stars as the title character in the 4 Star Film Festival's opening production, 'Miss Potter.' Zellweger portrays popular children's author Beatrix Potter, whose life changes drastically when she publishes her debut book "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" and falls in love with her publisher, played by Ewan McGregor.

The 4 Star Cinema will be hosting its Spring Film Festival starting April 18 with the Renee Zellweger film "Miss Potter." This film is based on the life of author Beatrix Potter.

Opening night will include a wine-and-cheese reception and a brief discussion of the film. Last fall was the first time the theater did not show movies on the other screens on opening night and held a reception and discussion.

With the success of last year's reception and the interest shown in continuing the festival, supporters of the threeweek event have expressed an interest in forming a "Friends of the Kilgore Film Festival" group. This would allow those attending the semiannual event to suggest changes and provide input about future festival films.

Byron Berkley, 4 Star owner, says that as the event has grown, independent producers continue to be impressed with the attendance figures coming out of Kilgore. Those interested in joining the "friends" group or receiving future film festival listings can sign up at the theater.

Ewan McGregor and Renee Zellweger in 'Miss Potter.'

This marks the seventh year the theater has hosted the festival which draws its audience from around the East Texas area, as interested filmgoers travel to see films that might not otherwise be shown in local theaters.

"I know those who attend the three-week event just love having something different to choose from and in some cases it saves them a trip to Dallas," said Jim Allen, who was the marketing director at KTPB radio station when the idea of a festival was first contemplated.

"Byron wanted KTPB radio to publicize the 4 Star bringing 'The English Patient' to the theater," said Allen. "We did, and he and I along with KTPB manager Kathy Housby started talking about the concept of a film festival and if these types of films would draw enough of an audience to justify the expense of bringing them in.

'The Painted Veil' is the second film scheduled.

"Little did we know that people would drive from as far away as Nacogdoches, Mount Vernon, Pittsburg, Daingerfield, Jefferson, Jacksonville, etc., just to see movies that are sometimes called 'art films.'"

A mailing list was created to send out fliers for the festival, and Allen said quite a few of the recipients were from Tyler.

The 4 Star Cinema is located on Hwy. 259 in Kilgore. Showtimes for the festival films will be 4:30 and 7:15 on weekdays and 2, 4:30 and 7:15 on Saturday-Sunday. General admission price is $6 or $5 for seniors. A ticket for the entire series can be purchased for $30.

THE PAINTED VEIL

China in the 1920s is the backdrop for W. Somerset Maugham's story of a young English couple who struggle for purpose in one of the most remote and beautiful places on earth. The film stars Edward Norton and Naomi Watts. April 22-24 (PG-13)

LITTLE CHIILDREN Tom Perrotta's novel of suburbia and its flawed individuals. Kate Winslet and former child star Jackie Earle Haley give Oscar-nominated performances in a story of three young married couples whose lives intersect in surprising and perhaps dangerous ways. April 25-28 (R)

LITTLE CHIILDREN

VENUS

Peter O'Toole gives another acclaimed performance, this time as Maurice, an aging actor. Along with his friend Ian, Maurice finds that old age and acting don't mix. Their lives are turned upside down with the arrival of the teen-aged Jessie (Jodie Whittaker). April 29-May 1 (R) NOTES ON A SCANDAL

Dame Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett give Oscarnominated performances in this story of a cynical teacher, an attractive young colleague and a scandal that rocks both their lives in ways they never imagined. May 2-5 (R)

THE LIVES OF OTHERS

This year's Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Language Film and numerous other honors focuses on the horrifying, sometimes unintentionally funny system of observation in the former East Germany in the early 1980s. May 6-10 (R)

NOTES ON A SCANDAL