Festival attendees climb aboard for a view of Provincetown from the sea. Photo / Lisa Hull

When summer comes to New England, film festivalgoers have some serious choices to make. Unless you are in the enviable position of being able to attend all of them, you'll want to review what each has to offer, and choose wisely. There is a perfect choice for you. So pack a bag and buy plenty of popcorn. The 2001 summer film festival season is about to arrive!

THE NEWPORT INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL,
June 5 - 10

More than 180 films have been screened during the first three years of the Newport International Film Festival's existence. To say that this festival is ambitious in its presentation is an understatement. If you'd like to take the stroll down memory lane, their web site is where you'll find a treasure trove of the Festival's celluloid memories.

At press time, the details of the 2001 Newport International Film Festival were not available. Please visit their web site for more information, www.newportfilmfestival.com.

THE PROVINCETOWN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL,
June 13 - 17

Surrounded by the beauty of Provincetown, this upstart festival includes fabulous parties, a provocative selection of premieres and sneak previews of the season's most exciting art films, visiting filmmakers and stars, as well as a Filmmaker Symposium followed by the presentation of this year's "Filmmaker on the Edge Award."

Filmmaking on the Edge 2001 - A Filmmaker Symposium featuring Ted Hope and James Schamus, co-founders of Good Machine, a New York-based production company that has produced some of the most acclaimed art house hits of the past decade (CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON, THE ICE STORM, HAPPINESS, THE TAO OF STEVE), is scheduled for June 15 at the Town Hall Auditorium. The panel also welcomes back director John Waters and producer Christine Vachon and other leading filmmakers in a discussion about pushing the boundaries in the world of cinema. This is a rare chance to see and hear luminary, independent filmmakers discuss their art, and answer questions from the audience.

Zack Stratis and John Waters Lily Tomlin meets her match. Photo / Lisa Hull

The symposium will be directly followed by the presentation of the third "Filmmaker on the Edge Award" acknowledging innovation in filmmaking style and storytelling, to the festival's guests of honor, Ted Hope and James Schamus, indie producers extraordinaire. The 2000 Symposium Panel represented the best and brightest in independent filmmaking. Moderated by film scholar and writer B. Ruby Rich (author of Chick Flicks: Theories and Memories of the Feminist Film Movement). The 2001 panel promises to be equally dynamic and impressive. You'll have to stay tuned for a confirmed participant list in late May.

Provincetown Harbor. Photo / Sally Brophy

This is not to be missed. Connie Francis comes to P-town as one of the most loved actresses of the sixties and an enduring international singer. Join Francis in this cozy and sentimental screening of her first film, WHERE THE BOYS ARE, when she travels to Fort Lauderdale, Florida with teenage girlfriends in hope of finding excitement and romance. With hordes of available young men around (including actor George Hamilton), the girls must discover what they really want in a relationship. Come see the real thing when Francis appears live to introduce WHERE THE BOYS ARE. Don't miss the chance opportunity to interact with Francis when she takes audience questions after this special screening. Francis will woo you silly with her vulnerable, innocent charm and revealing insight into entertainment and kitschy filmmaking.

Tim Russert, VP News and Washington Bureau Chief of NBC News and wife Maureen, Vanity Fair writer at Nantucket Screenwriters Salute. Scott Anderson, Harvard Square Scriptwriters and Bill Shanlinan sound recordist at Imagine House, Nantucket Film Festival 2000.

Following the 6 p.m. screening of WHERE THE BOYS ARE on Saturday, June 16, you can attend a glamorous outdoor poolside event under the stars with Connie Francis and savor the experience of Connie Francis intoxicating you with wrenching emotional ballads of yesteryear in an intimate, private setting. Mingle with celebrities, cutting-edge indie filmmakers and other surprise guests. The food, the champagne and the company make this the party of all parties.

Again this year this festival promises to open and close with a bang! In between you'll find more variety and screening selections with filmmakers introducing and discussing their films, including animator/director Faith Hubley and cinema-verite guru Albert Maysles (GIMME SHELTER, GREY GARDENS, A VISIT WITH TRUMAN CAPOTE, MEET MARLON BRANDO). Also coming premieres and sneak previews of soon-to-be-released art films, provocative and adventurous new independent videos, from classical cross-generational favorites to fresh, daring and distinctive programs.

For more information visit www.ptownfilmfest.com.

THE NANTUCKET FILM FESTIVAL,
June 20 - 24

Among hundreds of independent film festivals held throughout the U.S., The Nantucket Film Festival is one of a few to focus on screenwriting. A centerpiece of the festival has become the Writer's Tribute, which honors an accomplished practitioner of the art.

New England regional films, East Indian cinema, and a tribute to accomplished screenwriter Walter Bernstein are highlights of this year's 6th Annual Nantucket Film Festival, from June 20-24th on the historic Massachusetts resort island.

The festival has also won notice for outstanding discoveries among its offerings. Last year's festival included the short film One Day Crossing, by filmmaker Joan Stein, which was nominated for this year's Academy Award for Best Short Film. In 1997, the festival opened with the popular film version of THE FULL MONTY.

The Writer's Tribute pays homage to Walter Bernstein, a screenwriter who was black-listed in Hollywood during the McCarthy Era and who later won an Academy Award nomination for his original screenplay of THE FRONT, 1976, with Woody Allen.

Professionally constrained in 1950 by the House Un-American Activities Committee, Bernstein worked anonymously during the 1950's as a writer for Television's You Are There, with Walter Conkrite. His next big screen credit came in 1959 for THAT KIND OF WOMAN.

Co-produced by Nantucket Film Festival sponsor NBC, the Writer's Tribute brings colleagues, associated actors, and admirers of the honored writer to Nantucket for a special awards ceremony on Saturday of festival week. Previous honorees have included Paul Schrader, Jay Presson Allen, and Ring Lardner, Jr.

Festival events include panel discussions with industry professionals, Morning Coffee With, in which film professionals and film lovers ease into the day with a cup of coffee and casual conversation, and staged readings of unproduced screenplays. This year, the reading series will be produced by the theater group Naked Angels. The winner of the Tony Cox Screenwriting Competition- sponsored by Showtime Networks- is announced on the first day of the festival.

The Nantucket Film Festival has previously welcomed an impressive array of performers and industry professionals to its staged readings, on its public panels, or as part of the Writer's Tribute. Participants have included Jace Alexander, Jerry Stiller, Anne Meara, James Coburn, John Shea, Brooke Shields, Winona Ryder, Jerry Orbach, Ali McGraw, Marybeth Hurt, Amy Stiller, Chris Noth, Donnie Wahlberg, Maddie Corman and NBC Television Network notables. Producers will later announce those expected to take part this year.

The Nantucket Film Festival has typically drawn sold out crowds to screenings in the island's two movie theaters. Weeklong passes to festival happenings area available for $250; day passes are $35.00. For information log onto www.nantucketfilmfestival.org or call 1-508-325-6274 or 1-5098-325-0048.

THE MAINE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL,
July 6 - 15

The beautiful Opera House is one of the venues in Waterville, Maine.

Academy Award winning actress Sissy Spacek will be honored at the 4th Annual Maine International Film Festival (MIFF) in Waterville July 6-15.

Spacek earned a best-actress Oscar for her portrayal of country singer Loretta Lynn in the 1980 film COAL MINER'S DAUGHTER. She was an Oscar nominee for her roles in CARRIE, MISSING, THE RIVER AND CRIMES OF THE HEART, and has other numerous film credits including IN THE BEDROOM, which was filmed in Maine last year. In addition to honoring Spacek, MIFF will present a tribute to her husband, noted director, production designer and art director Jack Fisk. His credits include THE THIN RED LINE, DAYS OF HEAVEN, AND BADLANDS, all directed by Academy Award nominee Terrence Malick who was the honored guest at MIFF last year.

Festival programmer Ken Eisen looks forward to having Spacek and Fisk at the festival where a number of their films will be shown. "It's an honor and a thrill to have Sissy and Jack with us this summer. They will give audiences a look at films and filmmaking that few others could provide, and their association with some of the greatest directors in America, including Terrence Malick and David Lynch reflects the unparalleled quality of their own contributions to the artform." In just three short years the Maine International Film Festival has become a highlight of the summer. Each year our audience has grown and our impressive programming attract more and more people. Last year's audience came from more than two dozen states and at least ten other countries. With MIFF 2001, the festival will undoubtedly continue to grow - while still maintaining a commitment to quality, friendliness, and fun. There is no comparable event in New England, and MIFF will continue to grow in popularity as word spreads.

Venue lobby fills to capacity at the Maine International Film Festival in Waterville.

MIFF is a project of Friends of Art and Film in Central Maine, a non-profit corporation established in 1986 in Waterville. Its purpose is to stimulate and enrich the artistic climate in central Maine by sponsoring and promoting film, art, and other cultural programs. It is a private foundation with tax-exempt status.

Festival staff includes Joan Phillips-Sandy, Festival Director; Ken Eisen and Alan Sanborn, Festival Programming; Sam Sanborn, Marketing Coordinator; and Shannon Haines, Volunteer Coordinator. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Shannon Haines by email at info@miff.org, by signing up on line at www.miff.org, or by phone at 861-8138.

Ticket options include Full Festival Passes ($125) and Partial Passes ($65) good for ten admissions, on sale now. Call (207) 873-7000 to order with your Visa or MasterCard. Pass holders who arrive at screenings fifteen minutes in advance receive priority seating, subject to availability. Individual tickets ($8, except for some special events that may be more) will be on sale at venues during the festival shortly before each screening.

For more information, visit the festival website at www.miff.org, email info@miff.org, call 207-861-8138, or write 10 Railroad Square, Waterville, ME 04901.

THE WOODS HOLE FILM FESTIVAL,
July 28 - August 4

This summer, the Woods Hole Film Festival will celebrate its tenth anniversary in style. The Woods Hole Film Festival, which will take place from Saturday, July 28th through Saturday August 4th, offers a wide array of choices for filmmakers and audiences alike. Set in the beautiful seaside community of Woods Hole, the Festival attracts people from all over the world. The mixture of the salt air and enthusiastic audiences is an intoxicating combination that makes Woods Hole one of the region's best Film Festivals.

This summer, over the eight days, the Festival will screen the work of some of today's top independent filmmakers. The Festival offers nightly screenings held at either the Old Woods Hole Fire Station, Redfield Auditorium, Hoyts Nickelodeon Cinema or the Theater at Air Station Cape Cod. The Festival also offers workshops for filmmakers and non-filmmakers alike. Offered in conjunction with Falmouth Community TV-13 and the Boston Film/Video Foundation, the workshops this summer include: Project Development and Distribution by Laura Bernieri (co-producer Next Stop Wonderland, distributor Passage to Paradise), Directing a Scene by Mark Gasper, Acting by Dorothy Brodesser (The Actor's Center), Post-Production by Pat Heapy (Liberty Post), Low-Budget Filmmaking by J.P. Ouellette (Yankee Classic Pictures) and a one-day special workshop in Animation by Bill Plympton.

The Woods Hole Film Festival is committed to providing a venue for first-time and New England Filmmakers when possible and is constantly enhancing and expanding affiliated relationships. Last year, the Woods Hole Film Festival and the 'GBH-44 program Viewpoint developed a co-branding relationship to broadcast selections from the Woods Hole Film Festival throughout the month of July. That relationship will continue and expand this summer. Once again, the Massachusetts Film Office and the Mass Media Alliance will sponsor the Festival's opening night party, and new this summer, the Festival and the New England Blues Society will join together to present a very special Blues Concert on Saturday July 21st at the Theater at Air Station Cape Cod (James Montgomery, Danny Kortchmar, Kim Wilson (The Fabulous Thunderbirds) Jim Belushi and James Cotton are on the bill!) The concert will also feature the documentary GHENGHIS BLUES.

Signing the RIIFF 2000 poster by a visiting filmmaker. Over 225 filmmakers attended the 2000 event. Photo / Christine Keene

Although at this writing, the screening committee is hard at work choosing the summer line-up, the Festival is pleased to announce the New England premiere of Kate Davis' award-winning documentary SOUTHERN COMFORT and the premiere of Mark Wilkinson's narrative feature DISCHORD, shot in Wellfleet. Bestor Cram's award-winning documentary AN UNFINISHED SYMPHONY will also screen at the festival as well as a short-film animation compilation (including some brand new works) by Bill Plympton. Michael Donaldson, President of the International Documentary Association will present Southern Comfort and will participate in a panel discussion on documentary filmmaking. The Festival will also present two staged screenplay readings and live taped interviews with filmmakers hosted by David Kleiler and Joan Quinn Eastman. The opening night party will feature live indie film performance by the Boston-based comedy improv group Musical! The Musical. The closing night party will feature Vineyard favorites Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish.

These are some of the highlights of the Woods Hole Festival. The Festival is made possible through the hard working team of many people, especially, Fay Dearborn, David Kleiler, Garth Campbell, J.P. Ouellette, Erika Hahn, Christy Scott Cashman, Laura Bernieri, Mike Timm, Ed Slattery and Stephanie Murphy. For complete Festival Information, check the web site at www.woodsholefilmfestival.com.

THE RHODE ISLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL,
August 8 - 13

Students listening to a presenter from Hollywood at ScriptBiz, RIIFF's one-day intensive script pitching seminar. Photo / Christine Keene

In the entertainment business, everyone likes to throw around names. It's in a way a status symbol of who you know. So what do Patricia Neal, Bobby Farrelly, Ben Stiller, Robert Downey, Sr., Jon Cryer, Lloyd Kaufman, hundreds of independent filmmakers and 13,600 moviegoers in Rhode Island have in common? The answer may surprise you - it's the Rhode Island International Film Festival and its status is growing substantially with each passing year.

It started out small and without major expectations. The plan was to screen five French films in 1997. Three years later, in the new millennium, this fresh-faced festival reached to the sky and, in the process, laid down the tracks for 544 films in competition from 35 countries. Leading the charge were George Marshall and Betty Galligan, who expect 2001's festival to surpass all expectations.

Perhaps it is their leadership that has made RIIFF so successful and has led to many people calling it the "filmmaker's festival." And submissions from around the globe have been pouring in, with this year's numbers surpassing last year's numbers at the same time.

As always, the festival's focus has been on education as much as it has been on entertaining. A number of workshops have proven to be a staple for the festival. Every year aspiring filmmakers attend "Filmmaking with the Pros," a three-day master class workshop that was instructed in 2000 by indie legend Lloyd Kaufman, owner of Troma Films. Participants involved enjoy a hands-on overview of the filmmaking process from script to screen.

Patricia Neal and Michel Coutu, CEO of Brooks Pharmacy and RIIFF Chairman, upon the receipt of Ms. Neal's Lifetime Achievement Award which was presented by RIIFF. Photo / Christine Keene

Another highlight at the festival is a program designed for and geared to kids. "KidsEye" is a four-day movie making workshop for young people between the ages of 8-16. This precedes RIIFF 2001 by one week (July 30-August 4) and culminates in the first-ever KidsEye International Film Festival on August 4th.

Screenwriters also have a chance to shine. "ScriptBiz" (August 11th) is a one-day seminar led by screenwriting pros, which covers everything from selling your script to landing an agent.

RIIFF accepts films from all genres and within all subject matter, be it dramatic, experimental or documentary. With no one excluded from the screening process, filmmakers from around the globe will continue to look at this festival as a home to display their work. And as the filmmakers continue to pour in, so will the film fanatics and regular moviegoers.

"The Rhode Island International Film Festival has experienced remarkable growth since its inception five years ago," said Governor Lincoln Almond who is the RIIFF honorary chair.

By developing its own model for the festival and building lasting relationships with other festivals, RIIFF has managed to stand out amongst a bevy of others in the world. It has taken an amazing core group of individuals and put them in an atmosphere where they can thrive and grow the annual event to new heights.

(For more information on RIIFF visit their award-winning Web site at www.film-festival.org)

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Contributors to this article include Jason Burns, Judy Laster and Betty Galligan.