Talking Turkey

With less than two weeks to go before the start of Minnesota Film Arts' latest Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival (April 19 to April 29 at five area theaters), travel arrangements are firming up for filmmakers, celebrities, and other invited guests.

Danny Glover, coproducer of Mali master Abderrahmane Sissako's anti-globalization drama Bamako, is expected to be at the Riverview Theater on opening night to introduce the screening.

"We have a hotel room for him," says M-SPIFF publicist Vince Muzik. "We do think he'll be here."

Muzik has also confirmed the appearance of Texas-based documentarian Erik McCowan, whose film Ruby's Town, receiving its world premiere at the fest, profiles the annual turkey race between competing birds from Cuero, Texas, and our own Worthington, Minnesota.

Has Muzik made arrangements for Paycheck, the Worthington turkey, who is also "expected" to attend?

"I don't know about the turkey," says Muzik. "We're not paying for his travel fare. He'll have to get here himself."