Monster fun at Godzilla and Friends Film Festival VII May 4 and 5
The
big green guy is stomping back to Washburn University for the seventh annual
Godzilla and Friends Festival on May 4 and 5 at Washburn University. No
admission is charged and the public is invited to this event that celebrates
the cultural history behind the giant creature in all of its bizarre diversity.
Events are planned 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, May 6 and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday,
May 7 with film and trailer screenings, various commentaries, contests and
giveaways in room 112 of the Henderson Learning Resources Center.
A contest to see who can put forth the best imitation of the monster Japanese
film star will be Saturday afternoon. All films will be shown in English.
The schedule is:
May 4 (Friday)
7 p.m.: “Space Monster Gamera” (1980). It’s the return of Gamera, the giant,
flying, fire-breathing turtle who opposed Godzilla in a rival series, but never
faced him in battle. This film features every monster Gamera battled during his
career, in addition to a group of female superhero aliens in hot pants.
May 5 (Saturday)
10 a.m.: “Invasion of Astro-Monster), 1965. Features Gidorah, the three-headed
monster. Aliens come to earth with an urgent plea to borrow Godzilla and Rodan
to do battle with the giant creature invading their distant planet. Co-stars
film star Nick Adams.
Afternoon: “Rodan, The Flying Monster” (1958). This is the debut film of one of
the coolest monster films, which was the first Japanese monster film produced
in color. Rodan is a giant prehistoric pterodactyl from the dinosaur age who is
unearthed from a deep cave during a mining accident.
“War of the Gargantuas” (1968), a freaky Toho epic initially designed as a
sequel to “Frankenstein Conquers the World” (1966), but the connection was
never publicized for U.S. audiences. Twin giant monsters rise up in different
parts of the world to do battle and to terrify the population of Japan.
Evening: A surprise feature film is planned, which will provide a slam-bang
finish to the festival. Following the special film presentation, a brief update
is planned on the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. As a
tribute to the citizens of the country that produced our favorite monster
friend, Godzilla, festival organizers are again asking that all donations made
to the festival this year be used to support disaster relief efforts continuing
in Japan.
The Godzilla and Friends Film Festival VII is hosted by KTWU TV and is made
possible with support from the Washburn University office of international
programs, office of multicultural affairs and Center for Diversity Studies, the
Center for East Asian Studies at the University of Kansas and donations from
audience members.
For information, call Bill Shaffer at (785) 670-1111.
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Dena Anson, university relations, (785) 670-1711
