By Mike Stafford: Future hall-of-famer Bernard Hopkins, Academy-award nominated actor Burt Young and former WBO heavyweight champ Michael Bentt were just some of the stars who came out for the second annual Shadow Box Film Festival this year. The festival, which ran December 6 and 7 at the SVA Theatre in Manhattan, showcased twenty four boxing films, including eleven features. This remains the only film festival dedicated entirely to the sport of boxing.
“We are so pleased with this year’s festival,” said festival director David Schuster. “The quality of the work in these films was excellent. Our hope is that we can continue to bring our audience an abundance of quality boxing films year after year.”
On Saturday afternoon, Paulie Malignaggi made his feature film debut, starring in “Omerta,” and later that evening, Malignaggi won the Battle of Brooklyn with a decision over Zab Judah at the Barclays Center. “It was a great day to be a Paulie Malignaggi fan,” said the film’s director, Craig Syracusa. “It was the first time Paulie was asked to carry a film and he did it. He’s a great champion in the ring. But I know when he retires from boxing – whenever that may be – he has a future in acting.”
Maligniggi wasn’t the only boxer-turned-actor in the festival. Seamus McDonagh, who once ought Evander Holyfield, wrote and starred in the short film, “Bullied.” Undefeated junior welterweight contender Chris Algieri, who fights on ESPN next month, was featured in “The Regimen,” and Michael Bentt starred in two short films – “The Championship Rounds” and “Broken.”
“The Championship Rounds,” won the award for the festival’s best short. Directed by Daniel Stine, it was a beautifully shot film that featured a cast of superb actors. The film tells the story of the deaf son of a once-promising boxer whose life was wrecked by drugs and alcohol. The son, portrayed brilliantly by Michael Anthony Spady, has struggled for years to escape his father’s legacy and establish his own life and family. One day, he meets a trainer and former rival of his father (Harold Perrineau steals the show in this role) and must decide to either run from his past or climb back into the ring. Some of the other notable cast members include Rutina Wesley (“True Blood”) and Lawrence Gilliard Jr. (“The Wire”).
Patrick Joseph Connolly may be best know for his role as the menacing truck driver in the final scene of “The Sopranos,” but he showed his comedic side in the short film, “The Corner Man.” Connolly plays a nerdy process server who attempts to serve papers to a mythical pro during the biggest fight of his life. The fighter is played by real-life middleweight Richie Neves and the between-rounds banter between Connolly and Neves was priceless. Connolly’s process server managed to push all the right buttons while completely distracting Neves. Trainer Kevin Collins – another former pro fighter – brings authenticity to the corner.
“Fight Day,” directed by Chris Cassidy, tells the touching story of Showtime Boxing commentator Steve Farhood as he visited with the patients of Manhattan’s Cabrini Nursing Home to screen and discuss a historic boxing match. An animated short film, called “The Return,” was submitted by Iranian filmmaker Yahya Ghobadi and was a finalist in the short film competition.
The documentary, “The Trials of Muhammad Ali,” won the festival’s best feature award and “The Gentleman Prizefighter,” a documentary about the life of James J, Corbett, won the award for best foreign film. The Corbett film was directed by Irish filmmaker Andrew Gallimore and was narrated by Liam Neeson. Gallimore also directed another excellent documentary, “A Bloody Canvas,” which chronicled the story of legendary light heavyweight champ, Mike McTigue.
Women’s boxing was also well represented at the festival. “Boxing Chicks,” was shaped around the life of boxer Terri Moss . “Outside the Ring,” a short film directed by Joanne Green and Steve Lindsay, focuses on a group of women who have been the victims of violence who are reclaiming their bodies and lives through boxing.
Fighter turned director Jill Morley gave us a first-person perspective of her journey through boxing and life in, “Fight Like a Girl.” Morley has overcome several personal setbacks but ultimately fulfills her desire to compete in the New York Golden Gloves.
This year each day concluded with the presentation of a “Garfield” award. Named after the late John Garfield, the award was established for actors who have enhanced the image of boxing through film and television.
On Friday evening actor Burt Young, of “Rocky” fame, was presented with the award along with Anthony P. Rhodes, the School of Visual Arts Executive Vice President. Friday’s awards presentation was followed by a screening of Garfield’s “They Made Me a Criminal.”
On the festival’s closing night Garfield’s daughter Julie Garfield was in attendance to host a Q & A and present the award to Holt McCallany, of TV’s “Lights Out.” Trainer Teddy Atlas was on hand to support McCallany, as was the actor’s mom, the 89-year-old Tony-award nominee Julie Wilson. Following the lively Q & A, which featured Julie Garfield, McCallany, Bentt and Connolly, the festival closed with a screening of Garfield’s classic, “Body and Soul.”
“This was an incredible experience,” said Bentt. “Boxing lends itself to such great drama and so much of it was on display at this festival. I applaud the actors and directors who have continued to tell worthwhile stories based on the Sweet Science.”
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