Ventura Music Festival features fine art auction, Sundance film on March 14

VENTURA, CA -- Musical Chairs are worth every penny at this year's fundraiser for the Ventura Music Festival.

Ventura Music Festival´s annual auction and fundraiser invites filmmaker, writer and director Kathi Carey to screen her award-winning short film, "Worth," in rare Southern California showing. The evening also will feature a live auction of 15 one-of-a-kind "Musical Chairs" crafted by local artisans, March 14.

The Ventura Music Festival will showcase the award-winning short film "Worth," most recently shown during the prestigious Sundance Film Festival. Also attending the annual auction event on March 14 will be filmmaker, writer and director Kathi Carey and Sid Page, a featured actor in the film.

A silent and live auction featuring the popular 15 hand-painted one-of-a-kind "Musical Chairs" will be a highlight of the evening with proceeds benefiting the Festival, a 501(3)(c) nonprofit organization. Fifteen identical wooden chairs were given to 15 local artists who carried out their own vision of the Ventura Music Festival´s 15th season theme, Ruskaya! Music…the Soul of Russia. The chairs have been touring Ventura County since December.

"The evening will be a celebration of the senses," said Cheryl Heitmann, executive director of the Ventura Music Festival. "We are so pleased to showcase 15 fine art chairs handcrafted by local artists in our live auction and to treat guests to traditional Russian music as a backdrop to our festivities."

The evening´s entertainment will include the "Magic Strings," a trio of Russian émigrés belonging to the Los Angeles-St. Petersburg Russian Folk Orchestra. The virtuosic repertoire ranges from sad, lyrical Russian melodies to exuberant and often humorous dances of Ukraine and innovative works of well-known composers.

About the short film, "Worth"

"Worth" is the story of a nondescript violin at auction that appears damaged and worn. Bidding has stalled until a janitor picks up the instrument and begins playing a beautiful melody. Upon hearing the violin and realizing its value, or worth, bidding ensues, bringing bids for thousands of dollars.

Carey said at its most basic, the theme of the film is don´t judge a book by it´s cover, but it also explores life´s choices, the paths we have taken and the conditions we place on others and ourselves.

The film met with critical claim most recently during the Sundance Film Festival and has won awards at both the La Femme International Film Festival (which was the film´s world premiere) and the Anchorage International Film Festival (it´s second screening).

It also will be screened at The Sedona International Film Festival, Method Fest, Heart of Gold Film Festival in Australia, Phoenix Film Festival, Lake Arrowhead Film Festival, Female Eye Film Festival in Toronto Canada, and at Worldfest in Houston, the oldest film festival in the U.S. where its shining alumni, including Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Ridley Scott, Oliver Stone and many more won their first award in the film business. Information: www.worththemovie.com.

Event Details:

What:

White Russian Nights, a festive evening of Russian food, entertainment and magic

Date:

Saturday, March 14

Time:

5:30 pm, silent auction and social hour; 7 pm gourmet dinner and live auction

Location:

Four Points by Sheraton, 1050 Schooner Drive, Ventura

Cost:

150 per person; Black-tie or Russian-inspired attire optional

Tickets:

www.venturamusicfestival.org or 648-3146

The event is made possible through the generous donations of Montecito Bank and Trust and Dottie Pas.

Tina Vervoorn

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