Synopsis & Film Details
Filmworks presents the now-classic 2008 dramatic comedy that inspired the “swede” movement—low-budget, summarized re-creations of popular Hollywood movies. Directed by Michel Gondry, the movie tells the story of bumbling junkyard worker Jerry (Jack Black), who attempts to sabotage a power plant that he believes is melting his brain. When his plan goes awry, the magnetic field he creates accidentally erases all the VHS tapes in a local video store where his best friend Mike (Mos Def) works. In order to keep the business running before the store’s owner, Mr. Fletcher (Danny Glover), can intervene, they re-create and re-film shortened versions of every film in the store with their own camera—using a budget of zero dollars, the neighborhood’s citizens as their cast, and assorted cardboard and junk as props.
Swede Fest 11
After the screening of Be Kind Rewind, stay for Swede Fest 11, the latest installment of the Central Valley’s fastest-growing amateur film festival. Swede Fest was launched in 2008 by local filmmakers Roque Rodriguez and Bryan Harley. The only film festival dedicated to sweded movies, Swede Fest aims to make filmmaking easy, fun, and accessible to anyone in the community. The deadline to submit entries for Swede Fest 11 is May 13 at 11:59 p.m.
Swede Fest 11 is sponsored by Fresno Filmworks, Gotta Love Fresno, the Fresno Arts Council, KVPR, and The Tower Theatre.