Thursday, April 10, 7:30 PM
OPENING NIGHT FILM
VIDEO WARS
(1983, 72 minutes, Dir. Mario Giampaolo)
w/ CAST AND CREW IN ATTENDANCE!
BUY TICKETS HERE
Video Pirates have uncovered a film so rare (no listing on IMDb), so wild, and so Philly that it became immediately apparent upon our initial viewing that this would be the opening night film. VIDEO WARS is an independent production shot in the Philadelphia and Mt. Airy areas in 1980 featuring a cast of unknown non-actors as well as the gorgeous ladies of that year’s Miss Hemisphere pageant. It was the first feature film for director Mario Giampaolo who employed a professional crew including local cinematographer Christopher Speeth (director of MALATESTA’S CARNIVAL OF BLOOD).
VIDEO WARS is a James Bond spoof with healthy doses of B-movie cheesecake and the arcade game culture of the time. In what would be both his first and last leading role, George Diamond stars as secret agent Ignatius Maximillion Scattergood whose task is to infiltrate a snowy mountain resort in the fictional country of Bastavia (aka the Pocono-based Mount Airy Lodge) and put a stop to the world domination plans of Prince Radolpho Reichmonger. This one has it all, folks: Russian spies, video game challenges, lovely ladies lounging 
poolside, an exotic dance scene, a soundtrack that features local disco outfit Philly Cream…there’s just so much to love in this obscure local oddity.
And if that’s not enough, we’ve tracked down the film’s star, George “Diamond” Mazzacano, and producer Maria Rybczuk (yes, they were understandably surprised when we reached out about this forgotten film) and they’ll be in attendance for a post-screening Q&A.
Previous program: Tuesday, April 8, 2014, 8:00 PM – SON OF THE WHITE MARE
Next program: Friday, April 11, 2014, 8:00 PM – VIDEO PIRATES: LIFE OF PIA