April showers bring May flowers and Film Fest New Haven (FFNH). A broadly focused independent film festival held each April in New Haven, Connecticut, FFNH has a reputation for screening films which go on to claim attention and awards at many other festivals, including Sundance. FFNH enters its fifth year with it’s festival April 7-9, 2000.

FFNH was founded in 1995 by Wayne F. Buck and Alice M. Thompson. Co-workers who shared an interest in film and a desire for a venue in which to see independent films, they pooled their interest and motivation to form the only annual independent film festival in Connecticut. Today, FFNH is staffed totally by volunteers.

Left to Right: Janet Emanuel, Faith Hubley and Margret Hofmeister at this year's Sundance. Faith was honored this year at Sundance, and FFNH honored her last year

Unlike many independent film festivals, there are no limits placed on the category of film accepted for submission. Shorts or full feature, animation or documentary, all are eligible for consideration. Nor are guidelines placed on the subject matter of the film, the origins of the film makers, nor the audience for whom it is intended. Rather, films are solicited and chosen for their entertainment value, and their substance. FFNH looks for films that capture, reveal, illuminate, or explore some important reality of human life or the world. Whether treated dramatically, comically, factually, or experimentally, the characters, circumstances, and conflicts portrayed must be true and uncontrived. Moreover, the film must be new, different, and innovative in some important aspect.

FFNH is attended by a large number of filmmakers each year, with the majority of the films having representation by director, writer, cast, or in one case last year, the director’s parents. This allows for the audience to have time for discussion with the filmmakers formally through question and answer sessions after the screenings, and informally through the filmmakers lounge and at the several social events which accompany the festival.

The festival currently has three screens, each located at a different site in the downtown area of New Haven. Parking is readily available near all three sites, though driving between venues is hardly necessary. There is ample public transportation, and the distances are short enough to walk. The routes are well marked and take you through the Yale University Campus, renowned for it’s architecture and history. One screen, in fact, is the Whitney Humanities Center, which is a part of Yale University. The other two screens are in two of the oldest existing theaters in New Haven. The FFNH box office, film makers lounge, and a screening venue are located in the Lincoln Theater, which dates back to the early 20th century.

York Square Cinema, New Haven Connecticut. This CINEMA PARADISO feeling place is one of the Festival venues as well as the site of the festival's main office.

The third venue is located at the York Square Cinema, which also houses the FFNH main office. The York Square Cinema is the only area theater which shows "art films" in the greater New Haven area. The York Square Cinema has a reputation for bringing the finest of film making to New Haven. Its location, in the midst of a busy shopping and dining section of New Haven, allows for festival goers to enjoy breaks between shows.

April in Connecticut is a grab bag of weather, ranging from winter gray to the full explosion of spring. The festival allows for plenty of inside activity to help the audience hide from the rain. However, should the sun shine, there’s plenty of opportunity to take advantage of it in New Haven’s many boutiques and tasty dinning opportunities.

This years festival has attracted submissions from thirty-two alumni filmmakers. Entries have been received from fourteen countries as close as Canada and as far away as Japan and Australia. All these submissions are currently being reviewed by the selection committee, which has been meeting since the first films started arriving in November. With rare exceptions, the films chosen for screening at the festival will also be placed into competition, as FFNH is a juried show.

FFNH has a great track record for finding films with great value which go on to gain attention at other independent festivals and the film industry in general. In 1998, FFNH screened THE PERSONALS, a film by Keiko Ibi. Keiko Ibi went on to win an Academy Award, and THE PERSONALS went on to be shown on HBO. It also appeared at several other festivals, including the Northhampton Film Festival in November, 1999.

The Lincoln Theater, New Haven, Connecticut - one of the Festival screening venues as well as the site for the festival box office and filmmaker's lounge

DRYLONGSO, a drama screened at FFNH4 in 1999, won the grand jury prize for best feature in the third annual Urban World Film Festival in Manhattan. In addition to winning the grand jury prize, the film received its domestic pay television debut on the Sundance Channel in August, 1999.

And DRYLONGSO is not the only film FFNH has had which has been paid attention to by Sundance. In 1999, FFNH honored the works of animators Faith Hubley and Emily Hubley. This year Sundance honored Faith Hubley. On this one, FFNH was the leader.

FFNH is in the process of finalizing its program for April. While not available at deadline, the program should be available through the FFNH website, www.filmfest.org, in March. The website also provides programming notes from the first four years of the festival, jury selections, information on where the films are now, and links to many other sites related to independent film. The website also provides access to NEWSREEL, the FFNH newsletter, which provides information on the festivals activities.

Although FFNH receives revenues from the sale of tickets (available for individual screenings, day pass, or full weekend pass) and from filmmakers’ entry fees, the festival would not be possible without the support of individuals and businesses. Many individuals have become Friends of Film Fest New Haven, generously contributing $35-$500 each. The festival is also strongly supported by local and national businesses and organizations. Sponsors include Bell Atlantic Mobile, Subway, Kodak, Yale University, The New Haven Advocate, The Connecticut Film Commission, and The Connecticut Film Office.

FFNH is a not-for-profit 501C organization. Anyone interested in becoming a Friend of Film Fest New Haven, a volunteer, or finding out more about the festival can contact FFNH at (203) 776-6789. E-mails may be sent to info@filmfest.org. Or visit the website at wwww.filmfest.org.