Actionfest to premiere Centurion

http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20100302/NEWS01/303020029

Actionfest brings high-energy cinema, Chuck Norris to Asheville

By Tony Kiss • March 2, 2010
ASHEVILLE — Pow! Thirty high-energy action films — and martial arts movie icon Chuck Norris — are coming to Asheville next month for a wild four-day cinematic celebration.

Actionfest, billed as the first festival devoted to nothing but action films, happens April 15-18 at the Carolina Asheville cinema. Norris, star of the long-running TV series “Walker, Texas Ranger” and many action films, will be given the first Lifetime Action Achievement Award.

Actionfest also includes such world premieres as “Centurion,” a warring Roman epic starring Michael Fassbender of “Inglourious Basterds'' fame. And there's a demonstration of a rocket belt flying device by veteran stuntman Kinnie Gibson. The festival was created by Aaron Norris (brother of Chuck Norris) and Bill Banowsky, owner of the Carolina Asheville cinemas.

“I think Asheville will accept something like this with open arms,” said Aaron Norris, who was executive producer and show runner for “Walker, Texas Ranger” during its eight-season run on CBS. “We want to recognize and honor the people who bring us action films.”

Actionfest is a showcase “that doesn't exist anywhere else in the world,” said Banowsky, who purchased the old Hollywood multiplex cinema in 2008 and remodeled it into the Carolina Asheville. “This will be a really cool film festival in a really cool city.”

Ten films will be in a juried competition, with an awards ceremony to conclude the event, at a venue to be announced. All proceeds will go to Chuck Norris' Kickstart Kids foundation to help inner-city children through the philosophies of martial arts.

Actionfest will occupy four screens at the Carolina Asheville during its run, with the other auditoriums operating as usual. “My hope is that in years to come, we will reach out to other cinema operators and make it bigger,” Banowsky said.

Tickets will be available for single features or for the entire festival weekend, he said. The complete festival program will be announced March 22 and more information will be released at the Web site www.actionfest.com
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http://ashvegas.squarespace.com/journal/2010/3/2/fact-chuck-norris-is-coming-to-asheville-for-actionfest.html

Fact: Chuck Norris is coming to Asheville for Actionfest
DateTuesday, March 2, 2010

Chuck Norris is coming to Asheville next month for a new film festival called Actionfest. Love it!

From Asheville Citizen-Times entertainment editor Tony Kiss:

Actionfest, billed as the first festival devoted to nothing but action films, happens April 15-18 at the Carolina Asheville cinema. Norris, star of the long-running TV series “Walker, Texas Ranger” and many action films, will be given the first Lifetime Action Achievement Award.

Actionfest also includes such world premieres as “Centurion,” a warring Roman epic starring Michael Fassbender of “Inglourious Basterds'' fame. And there's a demonstration of a rocket belt flying device by veteran stuntman Kinnie Gibson. The festival was created by Aaron Norris (brother of Chuck Norris) and Bill Banowsky, owner of the Carolina Asheville cinemas.

“I think Asheville will accept something like this with open arms,” said Aaron Norris, who was executive producer and show runner for “Walker, Texas Ranger” during its eight-season run on CBS. “We want to recognize and honor the people who bring us action films.”

Follow Action Fest on Twitter.

Here's the press release from Actionfest:

This April, Asheville, NC will be the home to the inaugural edition of ActionFest, the world's first film festival devoted exclusively to action cinema, and to the people who make it possible, from filmmakers to stuntmen and fight choreographers. Created by Carolina Cinemas founder/Magnolia Pictures co-founder Bill Banowsky and famed action director and producer Aaron Norris (Missing in Action III, Walker, Texas Ranger), the festival will take place at The Carolina Asheville cinema from Thursday, April 15th to Sunday, April 18th. ActionFest opens with the world premiere of Neil Marshall's bloody sword and sandal epic, Centurion, and is proud to announce that the recipient of its first annual Lifetime Action Achievement Award will be none other than legendary martial artist and action movie superstar Chuck Norris!

With an impressive roster encompassing the best contemporary action films from around the globe, including several world premieres, major studio previews and classics of the genre (including some of Norris's most loved titles), ActionFest will be four days of heaven for fans of adrenaline fueled cinema, with a full list of films to be announced on Monday, March 22nd. There will be a competition section juried by genre experts from around the country, including award recipient Chuck Norris. Additionally, stuntman Kinnie Gibson will be on hand for a demonstration of his famous Flying Rocket Belt, a feat of bravery and technology that's been featured at the Olympics, the Super Bowl and the Daytona 500! Magnolia Pictures/Magnet Releasing SVP Tom Quinn is head programmer for ActionFest, and Matt Kiernan is festival director.

Centurion, the latest genre masterpiece from cult favorite Neil Marshall (The Descent), will have its world premiere at ActionFest on Thursday, April 15th. Based on the legendary battle between Rome's famed Ninth Legion and ferocious Picts of Northern England in 117 AD, Centurion stars Michael Fassbender (Inglourious Basterds, 300, Hunger), Dominic West (300; HBO's The Wire) and gorgeous Bond-girl Olga Kurylenko (Quantum of Solace, Hitman). Recently acquired by Magnet Releasing, Centurion will open in theaters nationwide this summer.

Chuck Norris will receive the Lifetime Action Achievement Award in person on Sunday, April 18.

http://twitchfilm.net/news/2010/03/centurion-chuck-norris-actionfest.php

Film News
CENTURION! Chuck Norris! ACTIONFEST!

by Todd Brown, March 2, 2010 2:13 PM

All hail the arrival of a festival smart enough to worship at the feet of Chuck Norris whilst also hosting the world premiere of Neil Marshall's Centurion. Will Chuck ever be a guest of honor in Cannes or Venice? No. Therefore ActionFest is automatically superior. Read on to learn why!

ACTIONFEST TO PREMIERE IN ASHEVILLE, NC APRIL 15-18, 2010!
First ever film festival devoted to Action Cinema opens with World Premiere of Neil Marshall's CENTURION!!
Chuck Norris to accept Lifetime Achievement Award!!!

Asheville, NC - March 2, 2010 - This April, Asheville, NC will be the home to the inaugural edition of ActionFest, the world's first film festival devoted exclusively to action cinema, and to the people who make it possible, from filmmakers to stuntmen and fight choreographers. Created by Carolina Cinemas founder/Magnolia Pictures co-founder Bill Banowsky and famed action director and producer Aaron Norris (Missing in Action III, Walker, Texas Ranger), the festival will take place at The Carolina Asheville cinema from Thursday, April 15th to Sunday, April 18th. ActionFest opens with the world premiere of Neil Marshall's bloody sword and sandal epic, Centurion, and is proud to announce that the recipient of its first annual Lifetime Action Achievement Award will be none other than legendary martial artist and action movie superstar Chuck Norris!

With an impressive roster encompassing the best contemporary action films from around the globe, including several world premieres, major studio previews and classics of the genre (including some of Norris's most loved titles), ActionFest will be four days of heaven for fans of adrenaline fueled cinema, with a full list of films to be announced on Monday, March 22nd. There will be a competition section juried by genre experts from around the country, including award recipient Chuck Norris. Additionally, stuntman Kinnie Gibson will be on hand for a demonstration of his famous Flying Rocket Belt, a feat of bravery and technology that's been featured at the Olympics, the Super Bowl and the Daytona 500! Magnolia Pictures/Magnet Releasing SVP Tom Quinn is head programmer for ActionFest, and Matthew Kiernan is festival director.

Centurion, the latest genre masterpiece from cult favorite Neil Marshall (The Descent), will have its world premiere at ActionFest on Thursday, April 15th. Based on the legendary battle between Rome's famed Ninth Legion and ferocious Picts of Northern England in 117 AD, Centurion stars Michael Fassbender (Inglourious Basterds, 300, Hunger), Dominic West (300; HBO's The Wire) and gorgeous Bond-girl Olga Kurylenko (Quantum of Solace, Hitman). Recently acquired by Magnet Releasing, Centurion will open in theaters nationwide this summer.

Chuck Norris will receive the Lifetime Action Achievement Award in person on Sunday, April 18. Best known for the hit CBS-TV series, Walker, Texas Ranger, and over 30 action films, including such genre classics as Return of the Dragon, the Missing in Action and Delta Force films, and Code of Silence, Norris is also a best-selling author and weekly columnist for WorldNetDaily and Creators Syndicate. Next to his family, he feels his greatest accomplishment is the KickStart Kids, a foundation that he conceived in 1992 that's committed to helping inner city kids by building strong moral character through the Martial Arts. Taught in middle schools, over 63,000 kids have graduated from the program since its inception, most of them going on to college and becoming successful in their own right. KickStart Kids currently has over 6,500 students in the program. In honor of Norris's appearance at ActionFest, all profits of this year's festival will be donated to the Kickstart Kids Foundation.

"A festival like this one is long overdue," said co-founder Aaron Norris. "ActionFest will cover the full gamut of what defines the genre and will pay appropriate respect to the artists who create great action films: the actors, directors, producers, stuntmen, stunt coordinators, and fight choreographers."

"Aaron and I are very pleased to bring ActionFest to life," said co-founder Bill Banowsky. "The festival will benefit Asheville, it will benefit fans of the genre, and most importantly, it will benefit worthy causes like Kickstart Kids. And who better for the world's first action-oriented festival to honor than the iconic Chuck Norris, whose presence at this year's festival will ensure its success."

"I set out to do something only when I know it's going to be done right. And I know that's how Bill and Aaron have approached ActionFest," said Chuck Norris. "I am honored and privileged to receive an award from ActionFest and to be part of the creation of the first action film festival, one which has been founded in the spirit of giving."

ActionFest's home is beautiful Asheville, NC, voted "America's Top 25 Arts Destinations" by American Style magazine and the "New Freak Capital of the U.S." by Rolling Stone magazine. The fest will be held exclusively at The Carolina Asheville, part of the Carolina Cinemas chain founded by Banowsky, former CEO of Landmark Theaters. The newly renovated theater features 14 screens with state-of-the-art digital and 35mm projection, plush seating, a bar stocked with over 15 local beers on tap, and sofas and loveseats in four of the auditoriums. The Carolina Asheville has reinvented the movie-going experience in Asheville and has become the most talked-about theater in Western North Carolina in less than one year of existence.

Tickets for ActionFest will go on sale in early April; individual show tickets are $10, while festival badges purchased before April 1, 2010 will be $65. Tickets can be purchased at www.actionfest.com. Follow ActionFest on Twitter at @actionfest.