The 2nd Annual Ciclismo Classico Film Fest presented in the historic Regent theater for Bike Week gave a pleasant reprieve from the week's constant rain to the 130 attendees.
The welcome committee passed out programs and raffle tickets to the Great Jersey giveaway full of cool jerseys and raffle prizes.
Delicious homemade cookies were made by Ciclismo's MJ Keeler and Dancing Deer Baking Company cookies were served to the delighted film-goers.
Nicole Freedman, Boston bike czar and Richard Fries, master of ceremonies, began the evening with a well-received question and answer session on the state of cycling in the greater Boston area. Nicole is shown here coming to the film fest in the rain with her bike.
Shown here is David Watson, Executive Director of MassBike (the beneficiary of the evening's proceeds), Richard Fries and Nicole Freedman.
The evening's line-up of bicycle films were quite varied and there was something for everyone.
Guido Marchegiano's Play Your Bike kicked off the evening in an upbeat manner:
Then the evening got underway with Between the Curbs, by Kris Carter in conjunction with Tufts University. In order to make Boston a great cycling city, the City needs to re-educate both cyclist and driver. Interviews with drivers, cyclists and some of Boston’s leading cycling advocates.
Leading into the film fest, as last year, Ciclismo Classico held a bike travel film contest, with the winner traveling free on a Ciclismo Classico trip. Last year's winner was Patria Lanfranchi with her Gelato Diet film, taken as she traveled across Italy on Ciclismo's Bike Across Italy trip:
This year's winner was Bill Charette for his Under the Tuscan FOG.
Here Lauren presents the Golden Pedal Award to Bill.
The film is a look at the Tuscan landscape by a group of intrepid cyclists, called the FOG (Fat Old Guys – most of whom are here this evening) who did their own version of the PMC in Italy. Ciclismo’s film contest winner!
The FOG group came to the festival to see their adventure on the big screen.
Tearing it up on the big screen next was Boulder Cyclocross by Celin Serbo & Sergio Ballivian. Fascinated with cyclocross racing suffer fests, this film shows a brief glimpse into a fringe segment of the Front Range cycling community. It was shot over the course of 3 months last fall and winter in Boulder. The thrill of the sport of cyclocross came through with a powerful soundtrack and some of the best of Boulder cycling.
Sardegna is arguably the most popular vacation destination for Italians and Jim Mongillo compiled a flick to share his dreamy vacation with us that he took on this, the 2nd largest island in the Mediterranean. Here is an abbreviated version:
This past winter in New England could be described as the worst in a long time, a bit brutal with the constant snow that kept piling up. Laurinda Bedingfield had had enough and took off for sunny, warm Arizona. Her inspired journey in "I Want to Ride my bicycle" made the audience laugh as she finally made it on a fun riding trip in warmer climes. This film was runner-up in Ciclismo's bike travel film contest.
Winner of last year's Boston Film Festival, Cycle of Love by Cat Marshall, captivated the audience in this short, but well-developed story of a tricycle looking for true love and stops and almost nothing to find it.
The flick can be seen here:
http://catmarshall.blogspot.com/2011/03/cycle-of-love_01.html
The only raffle of its kind, the Great Jersey giveaway, was an incredible 21 jerseys and 30+ prizes, in total, given to lucky ticket holders.
After intermission, to keep the program on-time, Handmade Bikes by Lynette Chiang was unable to be shown. However, it can be seen here!
Lynette interviews the few and fortunate who are particular enough to want their own unique cycling machine, and the lengths to which some of them will go to get one.
Mountain bikers, the next flick was for you! Seasons by The Collective documents seven of the world’s top mountain bikers are followed through the course of four seasons. The film explores what it means to be full-time downhill racers, slopestyle competitors and big mountain freeriders.
The perfect end to a wonderful evening, Why I Ride by peopleforbikes.org summarized in short that we all ride for our own reasons, but we all want the same thing: a better future for bicycling.
The Leaders in Bicycle Vacations since 1989, Ciclismo Classico offers the world's best bicycle tours with more tours in Italy than anyone. We offer unique, award-winning itineraries throughout the world in the top cycling destinations. Our mission is to transform lives with the most innovative, fun, scenic, expertly-guided bicycle tours and to make every ride full of learning, excitement, joy and freedom! We invite you to ride with us soon!
We'd like to extend our gratitude to those who helped make the evening happen and generously donated their time, jerseys and other products. Please patronage them!
Bern Unlimited - Multi-sport helmets
Bikes Belong
Boston Bike/Hub on Wheels
Cantitoe Road - Bike safety wing and other products
Cat Bryant & The Boston Bike Film Festival
Dancing Deer Bakery
Harpoon Brewery
Hub Bicycle Company
Quad Cycles
Landry’s Bicycles - Locations throughout Boston
Mass Bike Pike Tour
Mt. Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb
Pedal & Pose Fitness & Cycling Performance Center - Indoor training with CompuTrainers, spin bikes and fitness classes, in Concord
Regent Theater - 95-year-old historic theater located in Arlington Center
Retro Image Apparel
Ride. Studio. Cafe.
Urban AdvenTours
Wheelworks
