Louisiana's 'Reel Festival' returns this month

     The ninth annual Cinema on the Bayou Film Festival — Louisiana’s “Reel Festival” — begins Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014, with the Louisiana premiere of Phil Comeau’s documentary “Secretariat’s Jockey, Ron Turcotte” at 6:30 p.m. at the Acadiana Center for the Arts in downtown Lafayette. 

"Secretariat's Jockey, Ron Turcotte"

     The Festival concludes Sunday, Jan. 26, at the AcA with the Louisiana premiere of “This Ain’t No Mouse Music!,” an award-winning film by Chris Simon and Maureen Gosling on the story of Chris Strachwitz and Arhoolie Records. The film features musicians Mance Lipscomb, Treme Brass Band, Michael Doucet, Pine Leaf Boys, Taj Mahal, Clifton Chenier, Lightnin' Hopkins and the Savoy Family Band. Following the screening, Ann Savoy and Friends with Michael Doucet will perform.

     In between those two events there will be dozens of films screened at the festival, including world, U.S. and Louisiana premieres, plus music performances by Bas Clas, The Blues Conundrum Blues Band and the Drew Landry Band. The Festival will include screenings of Comeau’s “The Nature of Frédéric Back,” who was an Academy Award-winning animated short filmmaker, and “The Numberlys,” the latest film from Academy Award-winning Moonbot Studios in Shreveport. 

"The Numberlys"

     Festival venues will be throughout Lafayette, including the Acadiana Center for the Arts, Vermilionville, the Lafayette Parish South Regional Branch Library, Pack and Paddle and Cité des Arts. Some offer themes, such as Vermilionville sponsoring a two-night Francophone film series and Cité des Arts screening the world premiere of “The Restoration” along with a performance by Drew Landry, the filmmaker, and his band. 

     All screenings at the Lafayette Parish South Regional Branch Library and Pack and Paddle are free. Tickets for screenings at the Acadiana Center for the Arts, Vermilionville and Cité des Arts can be purchased through those venues and at the door. Tickets for the opening night gala, including film and reception, are $10 per person and will be available for purchase in January at the Acadiana Center for the Arts. 

     For more information, visit http://www.cinemaonthebayou.com.