CINEMATHEQUE PRESS RELEASE -- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 4, 2013

UW CINEMATHEQUE & WISCONSIN FILM FESTIVAL PRESENT BENEFIT SCREENING OF HERZOG’S “NOSFERATU THE VAMPYRE”
OCTOBER 29 SCREENING AT SUNDANCE CINEMAS IS FUNDRAISER FOR BRINGING DIGITAL CINEMA TO UW-MADISON CAMPUS

In conjunction with their current series tributes to Werner Herzog and the International Horror Film, the UW Cinematheque, in partnership with the Wisconsin Film Festival, will present a benefit screening of Herzog’s 1979 chiller NOSFERATU THE VAMPYRE (NOSFERATU: PHANTOM DER NACHT). The screening will take place Halloween week on Tuesday, October 29 at 7 p.m. at the Sundance Cinemas in Madison, 430 N. Midvale Blvd. The screening will serve as a benefit for the Cinematheque, which is seeking funds to install a new digital projector and server in their regular venue at 4070 Vilas Hall. These upgrades will also benefit the Wisconsin Film Festival, which annually holds its event at the Cinematheque venue.

Tickets are $20 each and can be purchased online through the Wisconsin Film Festival’s website here: https://itkt.choicecrm.net/templates/UWFF/

A remake of F.W. Murnau’s horror classic, Herzog’s NOSFERATU THE VAMPYRE is itself an outstanding contribution to the vampire genre. Unavailable for big screen showings for several years, the film’s visually sumptuous quality extends to its cast, which includes Klaus Kinski as the notorious and hideous count, the beautiful Isabelle Adjani as Lucy Harker, the vampire’s prey, and acclaimed actor Bruno Ganz as Jonathan Harker. Simultaneously shot in German and English versions, NOSFERATU will be screened in a newly restored DCP of the German version, with English subtitles.

Over the last two years, the vast majority of commercial cinemas in the U.S. and around the world have made the transition from exhibiting movies on 35mm film prints to screening them via DCP (Digital Cinema Package). DCP provides a bright, clear digital image in a lightweight, compact format that is immune to the type of damage and degradation of sound and picture that a 35mm print incurs during its lifetime.

While the UW Cinematheque has remained committed to screening 35mm, most major studios and independent distributors are proceeding with plans to make movies available only on DCP in the near future. This ongoing transition applies not only to new releases, but in some cases to the catalogue holdings of these studios and distributors - holdings that represent decades of cinema history. Even archives and museums, in an effort to preserve the original elements, are now loaning film titles that have been transferred to DCP.

Changes are coming to the Cinematheque that will allow our regular audiences, and audiences for the Wisconsin Film Festival, more opportunities to discover cinema’s past, present, and future.  For this to happen, it will be necessary for our projection booth to be upgraded with a new projector and digital server in compliance with current industry standards. Our new equipment will give us the ability to alternate between film prints and DCPs.

This fundraising initiative has a target of $50,000 and over $10,000 has already been raised. Donations are currently being accepted by the Cinematheque’s Friends of Film fund at http://cinema.wisc.edu/donate.

A benefit screening of NOSFERATU: THE VAMPYRE on Tuesday October 29, 7 p.m. at:

Sundance Cinemas
430 N. Midvale Blvd.
Madison, WI 53705

Tickets: $20.

Tickets can be purchased in advance here: https://itkt.choicecrm.net/templates/UWFF/

Tickets can also be purchased night of the screening (cash only).

NOSFERATU THE VAMPYRE (NOSFERATU: PHANTOM DER NACHT)
West Germany | 1979 | DCP | 107 min. | German with English subtitles
Director: Werner Herzog
Cast: Klaus Kinski, Isabelle Adjani, Bruno Ganz
Herzog’s remake of F.W. Murnau’s horror classic is itself an outstanding contribution to the vampire genre. The film’s visually sumptuous quality extends to its cast, especially Kinski as the notorious and hideous count and the beautiful Isabelle Adjani as Lucy Harker, the vampire’s prey.

For inquiries, please contact Jim Healy, jehealy@wisc.edu or 608-263-9643.

See you at the Movies!

Jim Healy, Director of Programming