QC Film Blog

"Groundhog Day" 30th Anniversary at Cinemark Feb. 2 & 5

Fathom Big Screen Classics at the Cinemark Davenport 18 and IMAX presents "Groundhog Day" on Thursday, February 2 and Sunday, February 5th.

Celebrating 30 years - Snowed in during a trip to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to cover the annual Groundhog Day festivities, television weatherman Phil Connors (Bill Murray) finds himself stuck in time, endlessly repeating February 2nd. His world is inhabited by the same people every day, but they don't know Groundhog Day is repeating itself. That gives him a certain advantage: He can find out what a woman is looking for in a man, and then the “next” day behave in exactly the right way to impress her. Luckily there is a woman closeby to practice on. She's Rita (Andie MacDowell), Phil's long-suffering producer, who has had to put up with his tantrums, demands and surliness. Gradually Phil is able to see the error of his ways and improve his behavior until, finally, a Groundhog Day dawns when she finally likes him.

Visit https://www.fathomevents.com/events/Groundhog-Day-30th-Anniversary for ticket information. 

Cinemark Davenport 18 and IMAX is located at 3601 E. 53rd St, Davenport, IA.

When you want to see great documentaries, independent, foreign, classic and other noteworthy films in the Quad-Cities area, visit QCFilmBlog.com for the latest screenings and special film events.

QC Connection to First Computer Coming to Augie Program February 23

Art by Bruce Walters.

Story by Jonathan Turner, WHBF-TV4
OurQuadCities.com

Was the first electronic digital computer invented in downtown Rock Island?

That mystery has never been clearly solved, but the fateful 1937 winter night — when John Vincent Atanasoff drove from Iowa State in Ames to the Quad Cities — is a key part of a documentary that will be shown at Rock Island’s Augustana College.

A free program, “The Birth of the Computer,” will be presented Feb. 23, 2023 at 6 p.m. at Wallenberg Hall, 3520 7th Ave., Rock Island. In addition to showing of the 2013 film “Atanasoff: Father of the Computer,” featuring an introduction by Truth First Film Alliance Co-Executive Director Kelly Rundle, scheduled speakers will include:

• Dr. Ashfaq Khokar, chairman of Iowa State University’s electrical and computer engineering department.
• Shawn Beattie, Augustana’s Information Technology manager.
• Mark Ridolfi, managing editor of the North Scott Press.

The program is presented by the nonprofit Truth First Film Alliance, the Rock Island Public Library and Davenport Public Library.

In the winter months of 1937, Atanasoff — then an assistant professor in mathematics and physics at Iowa State College in Ames — traveled to Rock Island, where he conceptualized the first digital computer, according to a Rock Island Library event summary. The Wallenberg Hall event will “retrace Dr. Atanasoff’s road trip to destiny that fateful night,” it says.

READ THE REST OF THE STORY at OurQuadCities.com Here!

When you want to see great documentaries, independent, foreign, classic and other noteworthy films in the Quad-Cities area, visit QCFilmBlog.com for the latest screenings and special film events.

"The Loyola Project" Showcased Jan. 26 & Feb. 4 at St. Ambrose Galvin Fine Arts Center

The Notre Dame Club of the Quad-Cities and the Galvin Fine Arts Center at St. Ambrose University will present "The Loyola Project", an independently produced documentary film by O’Malley Creadon Productions on Thursday, January 26th at 7:00 p.m. and on Saturday, February 4th at 3:00 p.m. at the Galvin Fine Arts Center at St. Ambrose University, 518 West Locust Street, Davenport, Iowa.

 

"A Q&A session will follow the screening to spark meaningful conversations about how the messages in the film relate to our current day struggles in our daily lives whether it be in the workplace, in our schools or in our community with regards to racial discrimination will follow each showing," according to the production company website.

 

The film screening and Q&A are FREE and open to the public.

 

Synopsis: At a time when it was uncommon for college basketball teams to play more than three Black players at any one time, the 1963 Loyola University Chicago Ramblers started four Black players and won the NCAA championship. This team not only revolutionized the way college basketball was played, but also battled and overcame extreme racism both on and off the court. "The Loyola Project", is a documentary film by O’Malley Creadon Productions.

 

 

When you want to see great documentaries, independent, foreign, classic and other noteworthy films in the Quad-Cities area, visit QCFilmBlog.com for the latest screenings and special film events.

"Roman Holiday" 70th Anniversary at Cinemark January 22

Fathom's Big Screen Classics at the Cinemark Davenport 18 and IMAX presents "Roman Holiday" on Sunday, January 22 and Wednesday, January 25th.

Celebrating 70 years - ROMAN HOLIDAY features a legendary, Oscar®-winning performance from Audrey Hepburn (in her first starring role). Nominated for a total of 10 Oscars®, including Best Picture, it’s the story of a modern-day princess who, rebelling against the royal obligations, explores Rome on her own. She soon meets an American newspaperman (Gregory Peck) who pretends ignorance of her true identity, in the hopes of obtaining an exclusive story. Naturally, his plan falters as they inevitably fall in love. Featuring Eddie Albert as a carefree cameraman pal, a classic Dalton Trumbo screenplay, expert direction from William Wyler, and featuring Edith Head’s Oscar®-winning costumes, it’s a timeless romantic comedy considered to be one of the greatest films from the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Visit https://www.cinemark.com/movies/roman-holiday-70th-anniversary for ticket information. 

Cinemark Davenport 18 and IMAX is located at 3601 E. 53rd St, Davenport, IA.

When you want to see great documentaries, independent, foreign, classic and other noteworthy films in the Quad-Cities area, visit QCFilmBlog.com for the latest screenings and special film events.

QC Environmental Film Series Season begins January 22 at Figge

RiverAction's 2023 QC Environmental Film Series begins in January and will run through March 5th, with screening events hosted at various venues in the Quad Cities region. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://riveraction.org/filmseries.

January 22 (Sunday), 2:00 p.m. "The Seeds of Vandana Shiva"
Hosted by QCEFS at the Figge Art Museum, 225 W 2nd St, Davenport, IA 

The Seeds of Vandana Shiva tells the remarkable life story of Gandhian eco-activist Dr. Vandana Shiva, how she stood up to the corporate Goliaths of industrial agriculture, rose to prominence in the food justice movement, and inspired an international crusade for change.

January 29 (Sunday), 2:00 p.m. "My Garden of a Thousand Bees"
Hosted by St. Ambrose Green Life at St. Ambrose University, 518 W Locust St, Davenport, IA 

A wildlife filmmaker spends his time during the coronavirus pandemic lockdown filming the bees in his urban garden and discovers the many diverse species and personalities that exist in this insect family.

Reflection Speaker is Kraig McPeek, Field Office Supervisor for the Illinois-Iowa Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service.

February 5 (Sunday), 2:00 p.m. "Youth Unstoppable"
Hosted by North High School Green Team at North High School Auditorium, 626 W 53rd St, Davenport, IA

YOUTH UNSTOPPABLE takes us inside the rise of the Global Youth Climate Movement. Slater Jewell-Kemker was 15 when she began documenting the untold stories of youth on the front lines of climate change refusing to let their futures slip away.

February 12 (Sunday), 2:00 p.m. "The Ground Between Us"
Hosted by Augustana College Student Sierra Club at Olin Hall Auditorium, Augustana College, 820 38th St, Rock Island, IL 

Since 2017, public lands throughout America have faced unprecedented threats. Bears Ears National Monument was shrunk by 85 percent, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge was opened to oil exploration, and the Elliott State Forest in Oregon was nearly privatized. Throughout this, Americans from both sides of the political spectrum have stood up and made their voices heard in support of protecting these areas. The Ground Between Us presents these public lands debates alongside the day-to-day realities of three families who hold vastly different connections and perspectives on public lands.

February 26 (Sunday), 2:00 p.m. "Black Ice"
Hosted by Black Hawk College's Clean Sphere at the Figge Art Museum, 225 W 2nd St, Davenport, IA 

Told through the eyes of Malik Martin and Chris Dean, Black Ice follows a crew of aspiring ice climbers from the Memphis Rox gym travels to the frozen wilds of Montana, where mentors Manoah Ainuu, Conrad Anker and Fred Campbell share their love of winter adventure in the mountains.

March 5 (Sunday) 2:00 p.m. "Dead Sea Guardians"
Hosted by the Jewish Federation of the QC at the Figge Art Museum, 225 W 2nd St, Davenport, IA 

The Dead Sea - the lowest place on earth and one of the wonders of the world - is dying. Three historic enemies join forces on a heroic journey to stop this catastrophe and save the Dead Sea from disappearing.

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When you want to see great documentaries, independent, foreign, classic and other noteworthy films in the Quad-Cities area, visit QCFilmBlog.com for the latest screenings and special film events.