"We've been busy," said Burke. "This year we have a new Emerging Technology Fair that takes place Saturday November 8th from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. at the Center for the Arts Ballroom". "Apple, Avid, Final Cut Pro, Cannon, Focus Enhancements, Boris FX, LaCie, Custom Fix, Comcast and several others are expected to be in attendance." The festival will be giving away several thousand dollars in software and prizes, no purchase necessary. It is free and open to the general public.
The festival program continues to build on last year's commitment to independent filmmaking and adds panels, parties, and special events designed to benefit the filmmaking community and the film going audience.
This year's festival lineup includes film director Mark Decena screening DOPAMINE. "Dopamine" was started as a screenwriting project at Sundance. It is the story of a computer animator, who has created an artificial intelligence creature designed to interact with children and teach them responsibility. When his prototype is forced into practice at a school, Rand encounters Sarah, a teacher he was inexplicably drawn to at his favorite bar one fateful evening. This is the first movie ever to go through the Sundance Labs, Sundance Festival, and Sundance Channel.
Steven Latham and Chris Carson's documentary titled A PEACEFUL WARRIOR is on the slate. Steven flies in from LA for the world premiere of his documentary produced by Barbra Streisand. War correspondent and journalist Sebastian Junger narrated and plans to attend. This is a film about the life of Robert St. John, 100, a renowned journalist, author and war correspondent who was a pacifist. He battled Al Capone, was shot by Nazis, reported on D-Day for 117 consecutive hours without rest, broadcast live from London during the "Blitzkrieg" and was the first to report the end of World War II. He was accused of being a Communist, lost his job and spent 15 years overseas in self-imposed exile. This is an extraordinary story about an extraordinary man.
On the political front Northampton will screen the short TODAY I VOTE FOR MY JOEY. This is a story about a group of older, feisty Jews and a Haitian nurse going to proudly vote for the first Jewish Vice Presidential candidate. Their day is ruined when they find they have mistakenly voted for their nemesis, Pat Buchanan. Just when you start to empathize with this tragic situation and realize that the Presidential election drama of 2000 is still a mystery to most Americans the feature COUNTING ON DEMOCRACY begins. This story investigates charges of disenfranchisement and 180,000 uncounted Florida votes cast largely by the working poor and people of color, uncovering racial exclusion, voting rights violations and the subverting of a recount in the most contested and controversial election in U.S. history.
Director Vincent Sassone will be at the festival with Moving Pictures for the USA premiere of THE TALE OF TWO PIZZAS, a light-hearted Romeo and Juliet story about attraction and two competing pizza storeowners. THE TALE OF TWO PIZZAS was screened by special invitation as part of the premier American Filmmakers Showcase at the Cannes Film Festival. Vincent will bring Soprano's actor Vincent Pastore, actor Frank Vincent, and Dreamstreet's Frankie Galasso to the screening.
Director Joel Katz along with a special guest will screen the Documentary STRANGE FRUIT, which is the first documentary exploring the history and legacy of the Billie Holiday classic song. STRANGE FRUIT brings listeners face to face with the terror of lynching. It examines the history of lynching in a biased popular culture. Abel Meeropol, a Jewish schoolteacher, and the author of the song Strange Fruit, is the same person who adopted the two sons of accused atom bomb spies Julius and Ethel Rosenberg.
The Alloy Orchestra is back with a screening of the classic and newly restored 35mm print THE GENERAL. Very few movies come as close to perfection as Buster Keaton's THE GENERAL. This is a fast-paced rousing adventure with romance and an American Civil War re-creation. The movie leads up to one of the most impressive special effects shots in all of silent film: the train crossing the burning bridge and plummeting to the water below. The bridge had to be burned far enough to collapse at the right moment but still be able to support the initial weight of the train. Boston's world-acclaimed musicians, Ken Winoker, Terry Donahue, and Roger Miller will enhance the truly breathtaking scene. Roger Ebert calls them, "The best in the world at accompanying silent films." We agree!
The festival includes many local appearances. John Stimpson will screen his short THE WINTER PEOPLE, a story about spirits who live in Cape Cod summer homes during the off-season. Steve Alves will have a World Premiere of his Documentary TALKING TO THE WALL, a story about Wal-Mart and its impact on local communities and their fight to keep them away. This documentary is destined for PBS. Smith College is bringing in alumnae filmmakers Cynthia Wade, SHELTER DOGS and Elizabeth Holder, RISK REWARDS; both will be featured in this year's festival.
Director John O'Brien will screen the Vermont feature NOSEY PARKER. A story about Natalie and Richard Newman who move to rural Vermont where they expect the unspoiled setting and the indigenous values to rejuvenate their marriage. The construction of their dream house leads to a visit from the local tax assessors. Over the course of two inspections, Natalie and George develop a flirtation, which eventually results in George becoming Natalie's handyman.
Director Toshi Wakita flies in from Italy for his 16mm film showing of MARU, which takes place in New York City. No one speaks a common language but it's exactly why they can speak to one another. In fact they do it very, very well. Bunta (Takuro Ebata) speaks only Japanese. Florence (Sophie Malleret) speaks only French. And the rest...... speak only their native languages like Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Creole. No subtitles are necessary for this film.
And that's just a partial list. This years Northampton Independent Film Festival will screen over 75 films in five days! The festival continues a partnership with United Artists and John Kirk who will be on hand to discuss the restoration of classic films. He will screen two UA restored classics. Professional panels, informal morning coffee with the filmmakers, and live entertainment are back.
There will be an "Arts Funding Panel" with Senator Stanley Rosenberg, Charles McDermott- Massachusetts Cultural Council, Katherine Meyers- Director of Marketing and Promotion- Mass MOCA and Rus Peotter- General Manager of WGBY. It will be moderated by Northampton City Councilor and film aficionado extraordinaire Bill Dwight.
Another panel, "How To Sell and Market Your Short" with Meagan O'Neil, Director of Acquisitions for Atomshockwave, Harold Warren Co-Founder of Forefront Films and formally of Atom Films' executive team, and LA director and editor Michael Matzdorff who has sold several award winning shorts.
There will be a panel on "Demystifying the Sundance Labs: Straight Talk From Filmmakers Who've Been Through It." This is the idea of festival programmer Amy Geller of Cambridge. Amy, no stranger to the independent world of film, has put together several filmmakers who have been through the labs process.
New England festival directors will discuss a panel on "Getting Your Film or Short into the Festival Circuit". Whether you have a short or feature there is a method to getting it seen and distributed among the festivals.
David Kleiler and Charlie Burke's idea has always been to make this an interactive festival and a meeting place where dialog and communication is accessible to all. Panel discussions and special events will take place over the entire festival.