Savannah’s had a few success stories in the singer/songwriter department, but none so impressive as Tony Arata, who was born here in the waning days of the 1950s and put down roots in Nashville in 1986.
Among Arata’s most famous compositions are “The Dance” (one of Garth Brooks’ biggest–ever hits) and Patty Loveless’ stunning “Here I Am.” He’s been recorded by Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris, Trisha Yearwood, Reba McEntire and loads of others.
Arata’s coming home for an Oct. 28 show at the Tybee Post Theater – a benefit for the ongoing restoration of the vintage facility. He’ll split stage time with Jill Knight, another homegrown singer/songwriter. Tickets for the 8 p.m. performance are $25 at savannahboxoffice.com and (912) 525–5050.
More for the Film Fest
The Savannah Film Festival announced the movies that’ll be in competition for awards this year, and several more special screenings.
Oh, and Ray Liotta has been added to the list of visiting celebrities.
Among the more interesting: Writer/director Brian Jett’s parole–officer comedy Let Go, with Gillian Jacobs, Ed Asner, David Dinman and Kevin Hart; These Amazing Shadows, a classic movie clip–heavy documentary about the National Film Registry; A Year in Mooring, Chris (Smoke Signals) Eyre’s new pensive drama about a “young mariner” played by Josh Lucas; Victor Garber, Bree Turner and Lynne Shay in Sam Jaeger’s road trip rom–com Take Me Home, about a woman who impulsively takes a New York City taxi across the country.
There are a couple of big names in the comedy Butter (Hugh Jackman, Jennifer Garner, Olivia Wilde and Alicia Silverstone) a low–budget comedy about a butter–carving competition in a small midwestern town.
Three more documentaries of note: Last Call at the Oasis, the latest from ecologically–minded Participant Media, is director Jessica Yu’s examination of the world’s water crisis; Grow! profiles Georgia’s sustainable farmers, through interviews with 20 young people dedicated to the burgeoning cause; The Bully Project is Lee Hirsch’s documentary about bullying in America’s public school system.
Full schedules and all ticket information at filmfest.scad.edu
And now, this
• Judging is over in the tiny Savannah Beach Film Festival, and the final 12 shorts will be screened (and judged) Oct. 22 at Huc–a–Poos on Tybee Island. Tickets for the 8 p.m. event are $5 at thumbprintlive.com.
