New England may be skipping Spring. The fact that it snowed during Film Fest New Haven is a significant sign that Spring will be missing from the line-up again this year. Snowflakes fell, softly kissing all the beautiful flowering trees in the yards of Yale! Imagine celebrated its second birthday during the spunky three-day festival, right where the magazine first launched in 1998. Imagine hosted the second night party in celebration. It was absolutely gratifying to see some of our oldest and dearest friends while honoring the festival filmmakers.

The Opening Night Reception honored St. Clair Bourne as the recipient of the 2000 Connecticut Filmmaker Award. As a producer, director, and writer, Bourne has made more than 40 intelligent compelling films concentrating on cultural and political themes that contribute to our evolving understanding of how people of African descent have influenced world history. The award, presented by Doug McAward, chairman of the Connecticut Film Commission, recognizes St. Clair as another important model for filmmakers today. He joins Jeremy Leven (1999), Brad Anderson (1998), and Greg Johnson (1997) as Connecticut Film Commission honorees.

Monika Mitchell’s NIGHT DEPOSIT, featuring Christy Scott Cashman, earned the Best Comic Short Film Award. She was quickly off to another screening in New York and her New Haven print was whisked away to Utah for a festival there. Once again, festival-goers appreciated seeing on the big screen, films they might not otherwise get to see.

It was the first time I’ve seen the powerful debut "knock-out" film SHADOW BOXERS from Yale graduate Katya Bankowsky. I am taken by the fact that Katya chose to follow young boxer, charismatic and intelligent Lucia Rijker, at the 1995 New York Golden Gloves amateur boxing competition who actually went on to be the Super Lightweight Boxing Champion of the World in 1997. That was the first time women were allowed to compete. This film is beautiful, bold and powerful, powerful because it parallels the combative sport with the realities of life: fear, dreams, risks, power, and wisdom, discipline and sacrifice. In the lobby after the screening, people were asking, why is this film so powerful and moving? There are many answers. Two of them are the subject and the musical scoring. Extraordinarily high production values catapult this independent film onto the "not to missed list." See it if you can.

The filmmaker’s lounge at The Little Theatre on Lincoln Street was generously stocked with tasty sandwiches from one of the festival’s major sponsor’s, Subway Restaurants. Their ad headline reads, "We so strongly believe in Independent Film, Subway Co-Produced One." Its title is MULLIGAN and "Sometimes life is easier than the game," is its positioning statement. Is there a message for independent filmmakers here?

May is a busy month for Imagine as we plan to support and attend industry events. The Second Annual Image Awards For Vision & Excellence on May 16th is on the top of our list. The event and awards honor and promote women in the film and video industry. The recipients are individuals who advance the image of women in their work and inspire colleagues and the public.

Getting ready for the summer film festivals is also a huge part of Imagine Summertime activities. We look forward to covering each of them. First out are: The Newport International Film Festival, The Provincetown Film Festival and The Nantucket Film Festival. Find out about what each has to offer in Vinca Jarrett’s article in this Imagine on page 20.

Summer film production is edging into full swing. LIFT is in production on locations in and around Boston, including Roxbury, Dorchester, and Newbury Street. as we go to print. Kevin Fennessy cast (a 90% Black Cast) 30 of the 36 roles locally. This is a great script and project according to Kevin. Hart Sharp Entertainment, (Jonathan Hart, Jeffrey Sharp, producers of BOYS DON’T CRY), are the New York producers and Mark Hankey of Picture Park is producer for Boston’s DeMane Davis and Cambridge’s Khari Streeter’s (BLACK AND WHITE AND RED ALL OVER) latest script developed through the Sundance Institute.

Kevin Fennessy told Imagine, LIFT is "The most exciting and fulfilling casting project for me to date. So many of my ‘first hit’ casting ideas got the attention I hoped they would including Boston actors like Jacqui Parker, Kathy Woods, Ted Reinstein, Naheem Allah, Georgia Lyman, John Fiore, Annette Miler, and more!" He especially liked discovering new talent through an open casting call held last month at the First Church of Roxbury, and using local resources like the Strand Theatre’s youth program in Dorchester, and Duggin Hill of City Lights, a youth performance project in the South End. All good things, we agree. We’ll have a full report in the next issue.

Imagine was honored to host BOYS DON’T CRY director Kimberly Pierce for a special appearance and reception in conjunction with the film’s screening at the successful Eighth Annual Boston International Festival of Women’s Cinema at the Brattle Theater in Harvard Square. The small party provided 40 lucky members of Women in Film/Video New England an opportunity to meet with the Award winning director at The House of Blues.

A Cannes bulletin: Francine Pellegrino’s TEA CAKES OR CANNOLI (January Imagine, and this Imagine read about the film’s DP Scott Crawford on page 15) will screen three times at the Cannes Film Market on the 12th, 16th and 19th at the Palais V. The film stars Abe Vigoda, Carmen, Conor Dublin and Susanne Calabrese. Imagine wishes Francine the best of all "good things" that can happen at Cannes.

This month Imagine honors all Mothers. Happy Mother’s Day! And I have to ask this question, does anybody know what May Day is all about anymore?