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Entertainment

Your virtual entertainment planner: Begin with Kansas City FilmFest, live concerts

Kansas City FilmFest International has been celebrating independent films from around the country and the world for 24 years, and organizers aren’t about to let the COVID-19 crisis end that streak.

The long-running film festival had been scheduled for AMC Ward Parkway 14, but it will move to the virtual world this year.

Most of the 84 films will be available to stream online April 13-19; some will be scheduled for one-time slots.

The festival’s opening night will showcase “Microplastic Madness,” about kids in Brooklyn, New York, taking on plastic pollution. The 7 p.m. film will be followed by a Q&A with directors Atsuko Quirk and Debby Lee Cohen, as well as Bob Grove of Climate Council of Greater Kansas City.

More film titles, times and information will be available at kcfilmfest.org, where all-access passes can be purchased for $10. Festival passes previously purchased will be honored, and pass holders will receive additional complimentary passes.

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Viewers can vote on Audience Choice Awards in categories such as feature narrative, feature documentary, short narrative and short documentary.

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Jack Schlotfeld of Lawrence directed “Royal Crest Lanes,” a short film about three friends who rob a bowling alley to cover the expenses of an unplanned pregnancy. Kansas City FilmFest International

Easter and Good Friday

But first, the big event this weekend is Easter. Area churches are closed, but many will stream Good Friday and Easter services online. Among them:

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (kcgolddome.org)

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Christ Community (christcommunitykc.org)

Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral (kccathedral.org)

Hillsong Kansas City (hillsong.com/kansascity)

Redeemer Fellowship (redeemerkansascity.org)

Second Presbyterian (secondpres.org)

United Methodist Church of the Resurrection (cor.org)

Unity Temple on the Plaza (unitytemple.com)

ENTER-MOVIE-ONCE-WERE-BROTHERS-REVIEW-MCT
The Band in 1969, from left: Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Richard Manuel, Garth Hudson and Robbie Robertson, from the documentary “Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and the Band.” Elliott Landy Magnolia Pictures

More things to do

Here are 10 more online ways you and your family can spend your coronavirus-induced stay at home time:

Homes from the postponed Spring 2020 Parade of Homes can be viewed through the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City app available at kcparadeofhomes.com

The Free State Festival will celebrate the first national Film Festival Day by presenting “Phoenix, Oregon,” 5 p.m. April 11 ($6.50) at twitter.com/freestatefest

Tivoli at Home is streaming “Corpus Christi,” “Whistlers” and “Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band” at nelson-atkins.org/tivoli

Katy Guillen & The Drive on Knuckleheads Livestream, 8 p.m. April 10 ($10) at eventbrite.com/event/101672840202

Local singer/songwriter Kelley Hunt’s Facebook Live Connection Concert 5.0 – Love Edition, 7 p.m. April 11 (free, but support appreciated) at facebook.com/kelleyhuntmusic

Band Together, a virtual showcase of music, arts activities, dance classes and more supporting the Kansas City Young Audience’s Teaching Artist Emergency Fund, 9:30 a.m. and continuing into the evening April 11 at kcya.org

Linda Hall Library’s Livestream Lecture “Apollo 13 — NASA’s Most Successful Failure,” 3 p.m. April 13 at lindahall.org

Cornerstones of Care’s Thyme for Kids Plant Sale, April 15-May13 at cornerstonesofcare.org/plantsale

Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art’s permanent collection at kemperart.org/permanent-collection and virtual play dates at kemperart.org/art-videos

Johnson County Museum provides content and activities at jcprd.com/virtualmuseum and is collecting your COVID-19 stories at jcprd.com/covid19collectinginitiative

Dan Kelly has been covering entertainment and arts news at The Star for 10 years. He previously worked at the Columbia Daily Tribune, The Miami Herald and The Louisville Courier-Journal. He also was on the University of Missouri School of Journalism faculty for six years, and he has written a historical novel, “Soaring with Vultures.”
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