{"id":116663,"date":"2023-03-08T21:22:05","date_gmt":"2023-03-09T02:22:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=116663"},"modified":"2023-03-08T21:22:05","modified_gmt":"2023-03-09T02:22:05","slug":"allentown-film-festival-to-screen-world-premiere-of-married-to-the-mayor-a-short-documentary-about-allentown-mayor-matt-tuerks-wife-karen-tuerk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=116663","title":{"rendered":"Allentown Film Festival to screen World Premiere of Married to the Mayor, a short documentary about Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk\u2019s wife Karen Tuerk"},"content":{"rendered":"

ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, March 6, 2023 \u2014 Today the nonprofit Allentown Film Festival announced that\u00a0<\/span>Married to the Mayor\u00a0<\/span>will have its world premiere at the 2023 Allentown Film Festival<\/span>\u00a0in the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/a>Quirky Shorts & Lehigh Valley Filmmaker Finalists<\/span>\u00a0screenings block. The news of the project and its ad<\/span>dition to the lineup is being revealed for the first time ahead of its premiere screening on Friday, April 14, 2023 at 8:00 p.m. ET at the Civic Theatre\u2019s 19th Street Theatre.\u00a0<\/span>The film, produced by Michael Schelp and Alan Younkin,\u00a0<\/span>presents an intimate portrait of Allentown\u2019s first lady, tracing her journey from Boulder, Colorado, where she met the future mayor at a punk music nightclub when both were teenagers — and Karen was dating Matt\u2019s best friend — to City Hall in Pennsylvania\u2019s third-largest city.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk commented: \u201cI love that\u00a0<\/span>Married to the Mayor\u00a0<\/span>shows everyone in Allentown what I love about Karen.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

“It took me a couple of days of working through minor anxiety and some convincing on the part of my kids to agree to participate in this biopic project,\u201d admits Karen Tuerk, who plans to attend the World Premiere with the mayor. \u201cI don’t like being the center of attention (ever!). But I think the filmmakers are great, and I trusted them to do me right! Plus, I’m so excited and enthusiastic about the Allentown Film Festival, and I wanted to help in any way possible.”<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In recognition of the pivotal role that they played in encouraging their mother to participate in the production of\u00a0<\/span>Married to the Mayor<\/span>, Karen\u2019s daughters have received executive producer credits in the film and will be awarded official Allentown Film Festival medals at the World Premiere.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Married to the Mayor\u00a0<\/span>introduces Karen Tuerk in four chapters. In the first chapter, \u201cWayfinding,\u201d Karen discusses her upbringing in Boulder, Colorado, her love of nature, and her first encounter with Matt Tuerk. \u201cMatt was very cool, a little bit awkward, and definitely edgy,\u201d remembers Karen.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the second chapter, \u201cMarch 2020,\u201d Karen talks about Matt\u2019s and her decision to run for mayor during the Covid lockdown. \u201cAt that point, everything was so surreal — it seemed like anything was possible.\u201d She shares the unexpected twists and turns of the mayoral campaign.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapters three and four, \u201cNovember 2021\u201d and \u201cLife now,\u201d describe how life in the public eye has affected the mayor\u2019s family. And the relief she felt when certain aspects of their lives did not change.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are so proud to include\u00a0<\/span>Married to the Mayor\u00a0<\/span>in our inaugural lineup,\u201d declares Allentown Film Festival Director Alan Younkin. \u201cKaren Tuerk captivated our judging panels and sneak preview audiences. She is a real asset to our city.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe plan to screen over 40 short films from local filmmakers,\u201d adds Younkin. \u201cLehigh Valley has such a wealth of talent. We can\u2019t wait to share their wonderful works.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tickets for the in-person only premiere of\u00a0<\/span>Married to the Mayor\u00a0<\/span>and other Festival screenings are now available at AllentownFilmFestival.org<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Festival is a program of the nonprofit Allentown Film Festival. To date, 2023 Festival sponsors are: City Center, 88.1 WDIY, Adams Outdoor, WFMZ-TV, PBS39, 91.3 WLVR, and LehighValleyNews.com.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Allentown Film Festival venue details
\n<\/span><\/strong>To date, the Festival has received almost 550 film submissions from 50 countries. The entry deadline has been extended to March 15 — about 130 short and feature-length films will be exhibited in 15 screening blocks. A third of the selected films are from filmmakers in the Lehigh Valley or nearby. Films will be screened in five Allentown venues:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n