On the Town: New stars and films at deadCenter Film Fest

Oklahoma City’s deadCenter Film Festival has announced its honored ICONS, its film schedule and the premiere of a new feature film at the 24 ^th annual festival, which will be June 6 through 9 at various venues.

Producer Dylan Brodie and actor Paul Sparks are the film festival’s ICONS to be added to the nonprofit’s “hall of fame,” which also includes alumni Gray Frederickson, James Marsden, Erica Tremblay, Sterlin Harjo, Tim Blake Nelson and Alfre Woodard, a news release noted. Both Brodie and Sparks are expected to attend the festival with their current works as part of the festival.

Brodie, who is from Ramona located north of Tulsa is best known for production on “Minari,” “Reservation Dogs” and “Fancy Dance,” the release stated. He began editing films and grew his career from there, including work on Food Network productions and films for Magnet Releasing and Blumhouse Productions, with a long list of credits through the years.

Sparks, a Lawton native, is known for roles in “Boardwalk Empire” and “House of Cards.” He recently finished work on an upcoming Jeff Nichols film, “The Bikeriders” for 21 ^st Century Fox and is shooting season three of the Apple+ Series “Physical.”

deadCenter’s Oklahoma Narrative Feature Centerpiece will be “Cricket,” a new production directed by Richard Janes of Filmmakers Ranch in Spencer. The world premiere of the film will screen at 8:30 p.m. on Opening Night, June 6, at Harkins Theatres Bricktown, the release stated.

“Founded by Oklahoma filmmakers, deadCenter has always valued Oklahoma productions and we are thrilled that the festival will host the World Premiere of Cricket ,” Executive Director Cacky Poarch stated in the news release.

Returning to the festival this year will be Family Fest, free and outdoor screenings, nightly parties and the dC Awards. New this year is the dCHub at the Fordson Hotel. For a festival pass or a full schedule, go to deadcenterfilm.org .

Art and ‘Sunny Dayz’ in Ponca City

Make plans to attend the fourth annual Sunny Dayz Mural Festival in Ponca this year from noon to 8 p.m. June 1 at 113 N 4 ^th . This festival, which has traveled to different locations around the state each year, has a mission of empowering, elevating and celebrating women and “gender minority artists” through public art, a news release noted.

The festival has chosen 52 artists to create 30 murals for that day. The event also includes more than 50 vendors and a live music stage.

Virginia Sitzes created the first Sunny Dayz team in March 2021, and since then the festival has been in Oklahoma City’s Britton District, downtown Edmond and downtown Tulsa. The festival also has a high school mentorship aspect.

“What we do is beyond just amplifying voices that have been historically silenced, we are actively fighting to create seats at a table that didn’t exist before. Plus, we pay all of our artists,” Sitzes stated in the release. “We are SO excited to bring our largest crew of Sunny Dayz artists yet to Ponca City this year!”

For information, go to sunnydayzmuralfest.com

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