M-SPIFF dates, opening-night film announced

Last week, City Pages confirmed that Minnesota Film Arts had listed its Oak Street Cinema for sale despite recent box offices successes, and despite previous offers to take over the theater. Now that the organization has at last announced dates for its upcoming, scaled-down 25th Annual Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival (to take place April 19-29 at the Oak Street, the Bell Auditorium, St. Anthony Main, and the Riverview Theater)--with the Danny Glover-produced African IMF drama Bamako screening opening night and Glover himself set to appear--many local film lovers might wonder how to express concern over the Oak Street short of boycotting a potentially great festival. The simple answer: comment cards. For each of the 80 films (from 45 countries), cards will passed out letting patrons evaluate pictures and offer feedback. Whatever else you write is up to you.