Montclair Film Festival

Montclair Film Festival Announces 2015 Conversation Series

[caption id="attachment_7618" align="alignnone" width="1000"] Richard Gere, starring in Oren Moverman’s Time Out Of Mind[/caption] The Montclair Film Festival (MFF) announced the 2015 Conversation Series, presented by Audible, Inc., the world’s largest seller and producer of downloadable audiobooks and other spoken-word content. The Conversation Series takes audiences inside the creative process, featuring immersive discussions with leading voices in film and other creative storytelling mediums. 2015 marks the second year of collaboration between Audible and the MFF, with the organizations partnering to host the Audible Listening Lounge, the festival’s home for conversations, special events, and unique community programs. On Saturday, May 2nd, Richard Gere, producer and star of Oren Moverman’s Time Out Of Mind, joins Stephen Colbert at the historic Wellmont Theater for a discussion about this very special film and the passion that informs his work. May 9^th, Academy Award® winning director Jonathan Demme joins AMC Networks Executive Vice President of Original Programming Joel Stillerman for an intimate discussion of Demme’s wide-ranging filmmaking career. The Conversation Series also features discussions with two-time Academy Award® winning director Barbara Kopple (Hot Type: 150 Years of The Nation), Emmy-winning MacArthur Fellow Stanley Nelson (The Black Panthers: Vanguard Of the Revolution), producer/ director Abigail Disney (The Armor Of Light), documentary producer John Battsek (Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead, Listen To Me Marlon), actor Patrick Wilson, journalist and producer Jonathan Alter, and many more. The series will also focus on creative storytelling, including a live recording of Michael Ian Black’s interview with Bobcat Goldthwait (Call Me Lucky) for his Audible original audio series How To Be Amazing; a live recording of David Crabb’s Stories in Session, Audible’s new storytelling series; and Meant To Be Spoken, a panel that explores the process behind creating original content for audio featuring author John Scalzi (Old Man’s War), actress and audio narrator Barbara Rosenblat (Orange is the New Black), and Audible producer Kat Lambrix. Tickets for all Montclair Film Festival films go on sale on Wednesday, April 8^th for Members and Sponsors, with public sales beginning Monday April 13^th. The full 2015 MFF program will be announced on Thursday, April 2^nd. Tickets for all events are available by visiting www.montclairfilmfest.org. The 2015 Montclair Film Festival takes place May 1-10, in Montclair, NJ. The 2015 Montclair Film Festival Conversation Series Presented by Audible Hunger & Homelessness in Montclair A Community Conversation Saturday, May 2nd 10:00 AM The Audible Listening Lounge Moderated by: Steve Adubato, Emmy Award winning broadcaster (WNET/ NJTV) and Author It’s not as hard as you would think to end up without a roof over your head. In fact, many people are one step away from financial misfortune that could leave them homeless. Partners for Health Foundation presents this conversation to talk about our neighbors in need and how we can collaboratively address hunger and homelessness. Using MFF’s screening of TIME OUT OF MIND starring Richard Gere as a platform for dialogue, this discussion explores local issues and potential solutions. Black Voices In Film Saturday, May 2nd 12:00 PM The Audible Listening Lounge Moderated by: Professor Sultan Sharrief (Writer/ Director, BILAL’S STAND) Conventional wisdom has held films featuring black actors or focusing on black themes aren’t commercially viable. Recent successes in black themed film, from both Hollywood and Independent productions, have proven such thinking wrong, but have also revealed some issues. This conversation looks at the current state of black film to highlight what has worked, and to discuss the implications of how black issues have been defined and depicted in film. With: Pete Chatmon (Writer/ Director, BLACK CARD) Curtis John (Programmer, New Voices In Black Film) Lacey Schwartz (Director, LITTLE WHITE LIE) In Conversation With Richard Gere Saturday, May 2nd 2:00 PM The Wellmont Moderated by: Stephen Colbert Actor, activist, and humanitarian, Richard Gere has established himself as one of America’s leading screen artists. From his breakout performance in AMERICAN GIGOLO to his defining roles in AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN and PRETTY WOMAN, to his award winning performance in CHICAGO, Richard Gere has created iconic characters that have shaped the cinema. In his latest film TIME OUT OF MIND, Gere gives a deeply human performance as George, a homeless man struggling with life on the streets and a system that offers no comfort. In this conversation, Richard Gere joins Stephen Colbert for a career-spanning discussion of his passions and work, both on and off the screen. In Conversation With Stanley Nelson Saturday, May 2nd 2:00 PM The Audible Listening Lounge Stanley Nelson (THE BLACK PANTHERS: VANGUARD OF THE REVOLUTION) is an Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker, MacArthur “genius” Fellow, and member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He was awarded the National Humanities Medal by President Obama in August 2014. Nelson is the director of twelve documentary features, including FREEDOM SUMMER (2014), FREEDOM RIDERS (2009), JONESTOWN: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF THE PEOPLE’S TEMPLE (2006), and THE MURDER OF EMMETT TILL (2003). Join Stanley Nelson in this conversation examining his films and his extraordinary career as one of our leading documentarians. In Conversation With Patrick Wilson & Friends Sunday, May 3rd 1:00 PM The Montclair Art Museum Patrick Wilson is one of our most versatile actors, with roles ranging from the cinema to Broadway to television. In 2014, Patrick hosted one of the MFF’s most beloved panels, interviewing his friend and colleague Christian Borle. This year, Patrick returns to the festival with another surprise guest in what promises to be an in-depth look at the craft of performance. Join us for what promises to be an unscripted, provocative conversation! In Conversation With Barbara Kopple Sunday, May 3rd 3:00 PM The Montclair Art Museum Barbara Kopple is one of the leading lights in non-fiction filmmaking. Having learned the craft of filmmaking under the tutelage of Albert and David Maysles, Kopple went on to make her feature film debut with HARLAN COUNTY, U.S.A. (1976), for which she won her first Oscar®. Her second film AMERICAN DREAM (1980) won her a second Academy Award®, with Kopple going on to create unforgettable films like WILD MAN BLUES (1997), SHUT UP & SING (2006), RUNNING FROM CRAZY (2013), and HOT TYPE: 150 YEARS OF THE NATION, playing this year’s MFF. In Conversation With Jonathan Alter Sunday, May 3rd 7:30 PM The Audible Listening Lounge Jonathan Alter is an award-winning author, reporter, columnist and television analyst. He is the author of three New York Times bestsellers, and spent 28 years at Newsweek, where he was a longtime senior editor and columnist and wrote more than 50 cover stories. He has also written for the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Atlantic, the New Yorker, Vanity Fair, the New Republic, and other publications. Since 1996, Alter has been an analyst and contributing correspondent for NBC News and MSNBC. Alter also produced the scripted series ALPHA HOUSE for Amazon.com, and will discuss his wide-ranging career in this conversation. Audible Presents How To Be Amazing with Michael Ian Black Special Guest: Bobcat Goldthwait Sunday, May 3rd 7:30 PM The Montclair Art Museum In this live taping of the latest episode of Audible’s original audio series HOW TO BE AMAZING, host Michael Ian Black talks with comedian, actor, and filmmaker Bobcat Goldthwait, whose new documentary about stand-up comic Barry Crimmins, CALL ME LUCKY, is screening at the Montclair Film Festival this year. Among the fascinating personalities Black has interviewed in previous episodes of the show are Amy Schumer, Kevin Smith, Elizabeth Gilbert, Bob Odenkirk, and Tavi Gevinson. In Conversation With John Battsek Monday, May 4^th 7:30 PM The Audible Listening Lounge Since conceiving and producing Academy Award®-winning ONE DAY IN SEPTEMBER in 1999, John Battsek has been involved in the creation of over thirty documentaries, including SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN (Academy Award® 2013), THE IMPOSTER (BAFTA winner 2013); RESTREPO (2011) SERGIO (2010); MANHUNT (2013), HILLSBOROUGH (2014) and THE TILLMAN STORY (2011). Battsek has been nominated three times for a PGA Award and was the recipient of 2013 prestigious Grierson Trustees Award for Outstanding Contribution to Documentary. His latest films, Stevan Riley’s LISTEN TO ME MARLON and Douglas Tirola’s riotous DRUNK STONED BRILLIANT DEAD play this year’s MFF. Join us for a look at the work of this pioneering producer and the films that have defined his incredible career. In Conversation With Montclair Filmmakers 7:30 PM The Audible Listening Lounge Meet 2015’s crop of homegrown talent! The Made in Montclair panel features several filmmakers from this year’s line-up who are from our community. Join us as we meet local artists and learn about their films, process, and how living and working in Montclair has shaped their perspectives on filmmaking. With: Director, Daryl Ferrara (CEREMONY FOR OUR TIME) Director, Charles Poekel (CHRISTMAS AGAIN) Director, John Block (THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY) Director/Cameraman, Steve McCarthy (WARMING OCEANS) Audible Presents Meant To Be Spoken Wednesday, May 6th 7:30 PM The Audible Listening Lounge As audio continues to come into its own as a challenging and exciting storytelling medium, artists and creators of all stripes are flocking to the form. Audible invites you to an informal chat about this emerging art form with author John Scalzi (Old Man’s War), actress and audio narrator, Barbara Rosenblat (ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK), and Audible producer, Kat Lambrix. They’ll discuss writing works that are meant to be performed, creating character with voice, and other considerations of this innovative storytelling medium. In Conversation With Abigail Disney Saturday, May 9th 12:00 PM The Audible Listening Lounge Abigail E. Disney is a filmmaker, philanthropist and the CEO and president of Fork Films. Disney’s longtime passion for women’s issues and peace building culminated in producing her first film, PRAY THE DEVIL BACK TO HELL, which screened in Montclair in 2011. She then executive produced the five-part PBS series, WOMEN, WAR & PEACE. Since then, she has produced numerous acclaimed social-issue films, including 1971 (2014), CITIZEN KOCH (2013), FAMILY AFFAIR (2010), HOT GIRLS WANTED (2015), INVISIBLE WAR (2012 Academy Award® Nominee). Her directorial debut, THE ARMOR OF LIGHT, plays this year’s MFF. In Conversation With The National Lampoon Saturday, May 9th 2:00 PM The Audible Listening Lounge National Lampoon was one of the definitive satirical voices of the 1970’s and 80’s, a groundbreaking publication that was one of the original multiplatform content creators. With the infamous magazine, the National Lampoon Radio Hour, and in the production of classic films like ANIMAL HOUSE (1978) and VACATION (1983), National Lampoon made an unforgettable mark on American comedy. This panel, held in conjunction with the MFF screenings of Doug Tirola’s DRUNK STONED BRILLIANT DEAD, will feature a group of original National Lampoonwriters in an irreverent conversation about the stories behind the late, beloved publication. In Conversation With Jonathan Demme Saturday, May 9^th 2:00 PM MKA Upper School Jonathan Demme is an Academy Award® winning director, documentarian and producer. Best known for his masterpieces THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991) and PHILADELPHIA (1993), Demme’s legendary career spans four decades, beginning with the exploitation hit CAGED HEAT (1974), through to his storied work on the beloved MELVIN AND HOWARD (1980), STOP MAKING SENSE (1984), SOMETHING WILD (1986), and SWIMMING TO CAMBODIA (1987). Jonathan Demme remains one of our most vital and important directors, and will join AMC’s Joel Stillerman for a conversation that will explore his creative process and career as one of this generation’s defining filmmakers. Audible Presents Stories in Session Sunday, May 10th 2:00 PM The Montclair Art Museum The power of narrative comes to life in master storyteller and storytelling coach David Crabb’s new original series for Audible, Stories in Session. At this special live event that promises to push buttons and boundaries, two special guests armed only with a microphone will share true stories from their own lives, after which David will conduct a brief interview with each performer to get the story behind the story.
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2015 Montclair Film Festival Announces Opening, Closing, Centerpiece Films

[caption id="attachment_7612" align="alignnone" width="750"] Hello, My Name Is Doris, starring Sally Field and Max Greenfield[/caption] The Montclair Film Festival (MFF) announced the Opening, Closing and Centerpiece selections for the 2015 festival, taking place May 1-10, 2015 in Montclair, NJ. The 4th annual festival will open on May 1st at the historic Wellmont Theater with the East Coast Premiere of Michael Showalter’s award winning Hello, My Name Is Doris, starring Sally Field and Max Greenfield. On May 8th, the festival will screen Jessica Edwards’ Mavis! as its Documentary Centerpiece film. Ms. Edwards will attend to present her portrait of the legendary gospel and R&B singer, Mavis Staples. Ms. Staples will attend the screening and participate in a post-screening Q&A with Stephen Colbert. May 9th, the festival presents Alfonso Gomez-Rejon’s award-winning Me And Earl And The Dying Girl as its Narrative Centerpiece film. The film was Executive Produced by Montclair’s own Nora Skinner. On May 10th, the festival presents a special Mother’s Day screening of Kris Swanberg’s acclaimed feature Unexpectedas the festival’s Closing Night Film. OPENING NIGHT FILM HELLO, MY NAME IS DORIS Director: Michael Showalter Producers: Daniela Taplin Lundberg, Riva Marker, Daniel Crown, Michael Showalter, Jordana Mollick, Kevin Mann Cast: Sally Field, Max Greenfield, Stephen Root, Jack Antonoff, Natasha Lyonne, Tyne Daly USA/ 95 Min In Michael Showalter’s HELLO, MY NAME IS DORIS, Sally Field makes a triumphant return with her leading performance as Doris Miller, an unassuming office worker living in her childhood home despite the recent death of her mother. But when Doris finds inspiration in the ideas of a self-help guru, the arrival of a handsome new co-worker named John (Max Greenfield) heralds a new obsession. Can Doris catch John’s eye, find happiness and move forward? Or are her dreams destined to remain just beyond her reach? HELLO, MY NAME IS DORIS is the rarest of comedies, effortlessly moving between laughs and real feeling to paint a touching portrait of a dreamer. The Montclair Film Festival is proud to present Michael Showalter’s HELLO, MY NAME IS DORIS as the 2015 Opening Night Film. DOCUMENTARY CENTERPIECE MAVIS! Director: Jessica Edwards Producers: Jessica Edwards, Rachel Mills Featuring: Mavis Staples USA/ 85 Min Directed by Jessica Edwards, MAVIS! is the first feature-length documentary on gospel/soul music legend and civil rights icon Mavis Staples and her family group, the Staple Singers. From the delta-inflected gospel sound she helped pioneer in the 1950s, to the “message songs” of the civil rights era marching beside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., to massive hits such as “I’ll Take You There” in the soul-filled Stax era, and her recent Grammy-winning work with Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy, Mavis Staples is one of the most influential and enduring vocalists of our time and a true American icon. MAVIS! follows her unrivaled career through dynamic live performances, archival footage, captivating storytelling and interviews with friends and collaborators. She occupies a singular place in American music: a soldier of love and peace whose fight continues; her message of equality is needed now more than ever. NARRATIVE CENTERPIECE ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL Director: Alfonso Gomez-Rejon Executive Producer: Nora Skinner Producers: Jeremy Dawson, Dan Fogelman, Steven M. Rales Cast: Thomas Mann, RJ Cyler, Olivia Cooke, Molly Shannon, Connie Britton, Nick Offerman USA/ 104 Min Greg Gaines (Thomas Mann) is an awkward, self-deprecating high school student determined to coast through his senior year as anonymously as possible. He spends most of his time remaking bizarre, spirited versions of classic movies with his only friend Earl (RJ Cyler) – and avoiding social interactions like the plague. But Greg’s plans are foiled when his well-meaning mother forces him to befriend Rachel (Olivia Cooke), a classmate who’s been diagnosed with leukemia. Bristling with wit from a clever screenplay by Jesse Andrews, director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon’s second feature is a poignant coming-of-age film with a heart of cinematic gold. A Fox Searchlight Release CLOSING NIGHT FILM UNEXPECTED Director: Kris Swanberg Producer: Andrea Roa Starring: Cobie Smulders, Gail Bean, Anders Holm, Elizabeth McGovern USA/ 85 Min With the Chicago public high school where she teaches scheduled to close, Samantha (Cobie Smulders) decides it’s time to plan for the future. But when Sam discovers she is pregnant, everything changes, including her relationships with John (Anders Holm), who wants to build a family with Sam, and Jasmine (Gail Bean), one of her brightest students. Despite her personal and professional struggles, Sam remains determined to have a baby on her own terms while supporting Jasmine in her quest to attend college. Kris Swanberg’sUNEXPECTED is a luminous ode to modern maternity, a beautifully crafted story of friendship and motherhood that depicts the experience of pregnancy with a delicate, sophisticated grace. A Film Arcade Release
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Montclair Film Festival Reveals 2015 Kidz Shortz Award Winners

The Montclair Film Festival (MFF) revealed the competition winners for the third annual “Kidz Shortz” filmmaking competition, including a returning sponsor and dates for the official premiere of the winning films at the festival. “We were proud of all the students who sent us films and thrilled to have received so many wonderful film submissions.“ said MFF Kidz Shortz Coordinator Michelle Anderson. “We can’t wait to share the work of our finalists with our audiences.” American Express returns as corporate sponsor for Kidz Shortz. “American Express is proud to be back as a sponsor of the ‘Kidz Shortz’ filmmaking competition,” said Glenda McNeal, Executive Vice President, Global Client Group, American Express. “It is important to develop young and talented leaders in the community, and the Montclair Film Festival embodies this spirit by nurturing and showcasing these distinctive student films.” The 19 winning entries will be screened during the Montclair Film Festival, slated for May 1 through May 10, 2015, taking place on Saturday, May 2nd at 11:30 a.m. at the Bellevue Cinema in Upper Montclair. Tickets go on sale to the public on Monday, April 13th at www.montclairfilmfest.org. Celebrate with the winners at The Stars on the Green Afterparty immediately following the screening in courtyard of St. James Church, corner of Valley Road and Bellevue Ave—steps from the theater. This free community event is co-sponsored by the Upper Montclair Business Association and is open to the public. Kidz Shortz 2015 Winners Include: Cinemaniacs- Grades 4-6 Individual, Grand Prize One Nation Anthony Hobbs Baltimore, MD Our Lady of Victory School Cinemaniacs- Grades 4-6 Individual, Honorable Mention Stranded Talia Cohen-Vigder Montclair, NJ Watchung Elementary Cinemaniacs- Grades 4-6 Small Group, Grand Prize A Series of Bad Ideas Milena Testa, Grace Bayne Glenridge, NJ Ridgewood Ave. School Cinemaniacs- Grades 4-6 Small Group, Honorable Mention ZiZi Pogelham Dani Dreifach, Maddy Dreifach Montclair, NJ Edgemont Elementary Cinemaniacs- Grades 4-6 School or Large Group, Grand Prize Dominoes Luke Gardiner, Riley Rendino, Elias Lepore, Isabel Lucas, Jonah Barbin, Elliot O’Dell, Charlie Macdonnell and Anna Gardiner Montclair, NJ Montclair Kimberley Academy Storytellers-Grades 7-9 Individual, Grand Prize Paper Alex DeRosa Short Hills, NJ Millburn Middle School Storytellers-Grades 7-9 Individual, Runner-Up Cyber Bullying Olivia Harner Montclair, NJ Montclair High School Storytellers-Grades 7-9 Individual, Honorable Mention Animation Change the World Estée Goel Montclair, NJ Glenfield Middle School Storytellers-Grades 7-9 Individual, Honorable Mention Comedy Revenge of the Festival Zack Reichgut Maplewood, NJ Craig School Storytellers-Grades 7-9 Small Group, Grand Prize Self-Portrait Madison Stanton, Lucia Ledesma, Julia Abate Montclair, NJ Mount Hebron Middle School Storytellers-Grades 7-9 Small Group, Runner-Up Juice Aidan Champeau, Jacob Manthey, Jake Weinberg Montclair, NJ Glenfield Middle School Visionaries-Grades 10-12 Individual, Grand Prize (tie) Lapse Jasen Aziz Millburn, NJ Millburn High School Escape Velocity James Tralie Fort Washington, PA Upper Dublin High School Visionaries-Grades 10-12 Individual, Honorable MentionSpecial Effects iShrink Jasen Aziz Millburn, NJ Millburn High School Visionaries-Grades 10-12 Small Group, Grand Prize Closure Tim Connolly, Miles Tilley, Emily Handley Washington, NJ Warren Hills Regional High School Visionaries-Grades 10-12 Small Group, Runner-up Screenwriter’s Block James Tralie, Justin Richmond Fort Washington, PA Upper Dublin High School Visionaries-Grades 10-12 School or other Group (5+), Grand Prize (tie) A Different Breed Aidan O’Connor, Nick Vecchione, Hank Felix, Michael Bogaards, Harry Keppel, Evan Williamson Glen Ridge, NJ Glen Ridge High School The Aftermath Matthew Hippolyte, Taymar Walters, Remi Riordan, Saadiq Powell, Maliik Hall, Amiri Bradley, Will Jacobson Montclair, NJ Montclair High School Visionaries-Grades 10-12 School or other Group (5+), Honorable Mention- Cinematography The Awakening Anthony Raisley, Mike Wilson, Matt Salicco, Andrew Tompkins, Josh Tritini Middletown, NJ Middletown High School South
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Montclair Film Festival Gets Education Director

The Montclair Film Festival (MFF) in Montclair, NJ announced the appointment of Sue Hollenberg as Education Director of MFF. This newly created position will serve to launch and manage the MFF’s year-round film and media education initiatives and community partnerships.

“We are thrilled to welcome Sue to our team,” said MFF Executive Director Tom Hall. “As we look to launch our education department to reach throughout our community and beyond, Sue provides expertise in the development and implementation of world class programs. Education is a critical area of importance for our organization, and Sue’s work at the intersection of film production and education will be vital to our success.”

Hollenberg, an Emmy award winning producer (Word World for PBS,) joins the festival having served on the MFF Education Committee for the past year. She has an MS in Neuroscience and Education from the Teacher’s College at Columbia University, and has been developing education programs for PBS Kids, The US Department of Education and Scholastic for over 25 years. Her work with at-risk students and development of core curriculum for public school students has been an important part of her career.

“I am incredibly excited to join the wonderful team at the Montclair Film Festival,” Hollenberg said. “The MFF is uniquely positioned to bring together diverse and talented educators, media professionals, and community organizations to harness the educational power of the moving image.”
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Montclair Film Festival Announces 2015 Poster Contest Winner

Montclair resident and graphic designer Amanda Ansorge’s design has been selected to serve as the Montclair Film Festival (MFF)’s 2015 Festival Campaign.

The design, selected from dozens of submissions to the festival’s annual Poster Contest, features a beautiful text treatment and swirling imagery against a bright yellow background and marks an exciting new direction for the festival’s brand. The design will be utilized in 2015’s MFF posters, banners, publications and advertising as the 2015 festival’s signature image.

“Amanda has created a beautiful design and we are so pleased to be able to showcase her work,” said MFF Executive Director Tom Hall. “Working under the leadership of our Marketing Committee leaders and Board Members Kelly Coogan Swanson and Lisa Ingersoll, MFF continues to build an exciting brand that maintains a deep connection to our community.”

Amanda Ansorge is a graphic designer and the Art Director for Red Hot Magazine, a bimonthly about Red Bank and its surrounding area. She has branded and designed publications for numerous New Jersey destinations, including Asbury Park, Englewood, and the Ironbound District in Newark. Amanda is a graduate of Brown University, and pursued graduate studies in industrial design at Pratt Institute. A New Jersey native, Amanda lives in Montclair with her husband and two sons.

“I’m so honored to have my design represent the Montclair Film Festival,” Ansorge said.
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Montclair Film Festival Reveals 2014 Films; Special Guests Include Kevin Smith, Julie Taymor, Stephen Colbert, Michael Moore

1 Way Up The Story of Peckham BMX

The Montclair Film Festival (MFF) announced the lineup for its 2014 edition. The festival opens on April 28 with Chef, the new comedy directed by and starring Jon Favreau with a supporting cast that includes John Leguizamo, Sofia Vergara and Scarlett Johansson, being released nationwide in May. MFF’s popular live conversation series presents eclectic guests including Kevin Smith, Michael Moore and Julie Taymor paired with Stephen Colbert.

The festival hosts six world premiere films including 1 Way Up: The Story of Peckham BMX, presented in 3D, from the executive producers behind the Oscar-winning Inocente. The lineup also has two U.S. premiere documentaries: I Am Big Bird: The Carroll Spinney Story about the 80-year-old puppeteer on Sesame Street; and Advanced Style based on the eponymous New York City photography blog focusing on fashionable older women. In addition, 56 feature length films will make their NJ premieres.

Representing MFF’s strong interest in comedy, the festival Centerpiece on May 2 is Fort Tilden, an award-winning satire of young Brooklynites, followed by a Q&A with directors Sarah-Violet Bliss, Charles Rogers, plus stars Bridey Elliott and Clare McNulty. Closing Night on May 4 features Wild Canaries, a comic mystery starring Montclair-raised Sophia Takal, who will attend.

Expanding its commitment to black cinema, MFF partners with the Blackhouse Foundation to host the annual “House Party” on May 2 and showcases a full day of conversations onMay 3 with distinguished filmmakers including director Nelson George, producer Lisa Cortes, editors Sam Pollard and Lewis Erskine.

“We strive to create a festival that reflects the diversity and wide-ranging interests of our community,” said Artistic Director Thom Powers. “We have a depth of local talent in northern New Jersey, combined with visitors from New York City that make for a festival with big influence beyond this small town.”

Other highlights of this year’s festival include:

Drama section: 14 narrative films celebrated on the festival circuit, 12 of them NJ premieres. Titles include the Sundance Audience Award winner for World Cinema, Difret, set in Ethiopia, with producer Mehret Mandefro attending; and Roman Polanski’s latest Venus in Fur.

Documentary section: 13 nonfiction films spanning global topics including two US premieres (noted above). Among the 11 NJ premieres are Dinosaur 13, about the legal battle over Tyrannosaurus Rex bones, with director Todd Douglas Miller and film subject Peter Larson in person; and Ivory Tower, analyzing controversies in American higher education, followed by a conversation with director Andrew Rossi and New York Times columnist David Carr.

Comedy section: 10 comedy films including the world premiere documentary I Am Road Comic directed by stand-up comedian Jordan Brady who will attend. Eight NJ premieres include Intramural, a send-up of sports films, with actor Beck Bennett (Saturday Night Live) attending.

Black cinema: In keeping with Montclair’s African-American heritage, MFF takes a special interest in black stories and filmmakers throughout all sections of the festival. Directors in attendance include Thomas Allen Harris (Through a Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People) and Michèle Stephenson (American Promise), in addition to the special guests for the Blackhouse Foundation conversations on May 3 (listed above).

New Jersey Spotlight: This section triples in size from six feature length films in 2013 to 18 this year. Five world premieres include the comedy Jammed, produced out of Teaneck, NJ, about a couple attending a jam band festival in the woods, andGirl, Adopted by Maplewood, NJ filmmakers, following an Ethiopian orphan girl for five years after she’s adopted by an American family. MFF will screen a work-in-progress version of Althea, a documentary about tennis great Althea Gibson who lived in Essex County, NJ with director Rex Miller attending. Additionally, three programs of short films with NJ connections appear in this section.

Family section: Three presentations including a 75th anniversary screening of The Wizard of Oz, with attendees encouraged to dress as their favorite characters. This section also screens the winners of MFF’s Kidz Shortz film contest featuring short films by young directors in grades 4-12.

Themed sections: MFF has three sidebar sections. Unique to this year is a section called “Focus on Civil Rights” featuring four documentaries that deal with the legacy of the civil rights movement including the NJ premiere of Freedom Summer, timed to the 50th anniversary of the push to register black Mississippi voters in 1964. Two other sidebars return from last year: “Movie Love” features two NJ premiere documentaries, The Dog and What is Cinema? that intersect with film history; plus a retrospective screening of Network, followed by a conversation with Dave Itzkoff, author of the book Mad as Hell, moderated by Stephen Colbert. “Music on Film”contains four films including the NJ premiere of No Cameras Allowed, a documentary about sneaking into music festivals by James Marcus Haney who will attend. Oscar®-winning (and NJ-based) filmmaker Alex Gibney will be in person to present his latest, Finding Fela, about the Nigerian Afrobeat musician Fela Kuti.

Free Panels: Five free panels are open to the public. Two take place at in the pop-up storefront named the Audible Lounge: “Filming in New Jersey” on April 29 explores how NJ struggles to compete with other states that have higher tax incentives for film and TV; “The New Golden Age of TV” on April 30 looks at the rise of quality television dramas. Three free panels take place at the Montclair Public Library onMay 3, including “What to Expect When You’re Expecting Film School” with filmmaker and teacher Chuck Workman leading the conversation.
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Jon Favreau’s latest film CHEF selected to Open 2014 Montclair Film Festival

Chef from Jon Favreau has been selected as the opening night film of the Montclair Film Festival which runs April 28 to May 4, 2014 in Montclair, New Jersey. Chef, which had its World Premiere last month at the SXSW Film Festival, also screens as part of the upcoming Tribeca Film Festival in New York City later this month. Favreau wrote, directed and stars in the comedy film that also features Sofia Vergara, Scarlett Johansson, John Leguizamo,Bobby Cannavale, Dustin Hoffman and Robert Downey Jr. Favreau plays Carl, a chef who loses his job and decides to launch a food truck business, while attempting to reunite his estranged family.

Other reported highlights include for this year include the return of Michael Moore for a discussion on documentaries, a talk by Kevin Smith, two conversations with Stephen Colbert and a screening of “The Wizard of Oz” on the final morning of the festival.

The complete lineup of films is now available on the festival’s website.

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Montclair Film Festival Announces Contest To Design 2014 Official Poster

The Montclair Film Festival (MFF), in partnership with The Montclair Art Museum announced the launch of a contest to design the official poster for the 2014 Montclair Film Festival to be held April 28-May 4, 2014. The winning design will be seen on buses, lampposts, t-shirts, the web, catalogs and, of course, the big screen, as the centerpiece of a dynamic week of 80+ films and events that will comprise the third annual celebration of the art of filmmaking in Montclair.

Artwork can be submitted as digital file or as flat art. Only original artwork will be considered. Image size should be no larger than 11” X 17”. The poster should include the words Montclair Film Festival 2014 and the dates April 28th-May 4th.

Each entry should include artist’s full name, address, phone number, and a valid e-mail address.

All entries must be postmarked/emailed by November 25th 2013. One winner will be chosen from all entries in early January by an independent panel of judges. The winner will receive two free tickets to the MFF Opening Night Gala and will be acknowledged on the MFF website.

For more information, including mailing and email addresses for submission, go to http://montclairfilmfest.org/2014-mff-poster-contest/

MFF Artistic Director Thom Powers said, “The poster is the focal point of the Festival and we’re excited to open up its design to the creative community who has supported us in our first two years in so many ways.”

Added Michael Gillespie, Director of Marketing and Communications for the Montclair Art Museum, “We’re happy to join with the Montclair Film Festival in this poster competition. The Festival, which champions local filmmakers, has become one of the premier cultural events in our area and this is another creative opportunity to showcase area talent.”
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Montclair Film Festival Announces 2014 Dates

The Montclair Film Festival (MFF), in New Jersey, will host its third annual festival from April 28 to May 4, 2014.

Submissions are now being accepted in all categories with all the information available on the MFF website.. There are four key deadlines for filmmakers to make note of:

Early-bird deadline: Dec. 20

Regular deadline: Jan. 31

Late deadline: Feb. 21

Withoutabox special deadline: Feb. 28
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Film Lineup is Complete for 2012 Montclair Film Festival and Tickets Go On Sale

[caption id="attachment_2724" align="alignnone" width="550"]Opening Night Gala film ‘The Oranges’[/caption]

Tickets are now on sale for the 2012 Montclair Film Festival running May 1 – May 6, 2012 in Montclair New Jersey. The festival will present over 45 films with live participation by over 50 special guests including Kathleen Turner, Olympia Dukakis, Michael Moore, Patrick Wilson, and Oliver Platt.

The Opening Night Gala (May 1) will present the New Jersey comedy, The Oranges. Set in suburban New Jersey, Hugh Laurie (House M.D.) and Catherine Keener (The 40-Year-Old Virgin) play a couple whose best friends and neighbors are Oliver Platt (Love and Other Drugs) and Allison Janney (The West Wing). Their comfortable existence goes awry when a prodigal daughter played by Leighton Meester (Gossip Girl) returns and sparks an affair. The ramifications affect all of the family members in unexpected and hilarious ways.

Other highlights of the festival include the drama Tiger Eyes, based on the novel by New Jersey native Judy Blume directed by her son Lawrence Blume, and An Oversimplification of Her Beauty, the debut of African-American director Terence Nance.

[caption id="attachment_2725" align="alignnone" width="550"]Tiger Eyes[/caption]

Born and raised in New Jersey, Judy Blume belongs to the pantheon of American storytellers, yet none of her books have been adapted for the big screen – until now. Her son Lawrence Blume directs this touching story of a 17 year-old girl played by Willa Holland (Gossip Girl; The O.C.) who suffers a family loss. She’s uprooted from her home in Atlantic City and transplanted to New Mexico where she meets a young man who helps her find new strength.

[caption id="attachment_2726" align="alignnone" width="550"]An Oversimplification of Her Beauty[/caption]

In An Oversimplification of Her Beauty which premiered earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival, Terence Nance in his directing debut chronicles his relationship with a lovely young woman (Namik Minter), teetering between platonic and romantic. Utilizing a tapestry of live action and animated styles, Nance explores his fantasies, emotions, and memories for a vibrant expression of young love.

Documentaries at the festival include the world Premiere of The Prep School Negro and a screening of About Face.

[caption id="attachment_2727" align="alignnone" width="550"]The Prep School Negro[/caption]

In The Prep School Negro, André Robert Lee revisits the life-changing events of his adolescence when he gained a way out of Philadelphia’s ghettos with a scholarship to an elite prep school. As he moved into a different world, he grew distant from his sister and mother. In this poignant film, he explores thorny questions of race, education, opportunity and family. He also spends time with current day prep school students of color to see if anything has changed inside the ivory tower.

[caption id="attachment_2728" align="alignnone" width="550"]About Face[/caption]

About Face features esteemed portrait photographer Timothy Greenfield-Sanders interviewing fashion’s top supermodels on their lives, careers, and lifelong relationship with beauty. From youth to cosmetic surgery, addiction to self-esteem, overnight stardom to reinvention, this HBO documentary reveals the extraordinary women behind the famous faces. The memorable testimonies include Paulina Porizkova on her insecurities; Pat Cleveland on breaking boundaries for African-American women; and Carol Alt on posing for Playboy in her late 40s. Not to mention Christie Brinkley, Beverly Johnson, Jerry Hall, Isabella Rossellini and more. Courtesy of HBO Documentary Films.

The festival will host the world premiere of David Bromberg: Unsung Treasures and Evocateur: The Morton Downey Jr. Story.

[caption id="attachment_2729" align="alignnone" width="550"]David Bromberg: Unsung Treasures[/caption]

In David Bromberg: Unsung Treasures, David Bromberg is a musician’s musician who collaborated with Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jerry Garcia and other greats. But Bromberg stopped performing publicly in the 1980’s and turned to violin making. New Jersey director Beth Toni Kruvant, who won acclaim for Heart of Stone about Newark’s Weequahic High School, follows Bromberg as he helps to revitalize an urban community and makes a musical comeback with esteemed friends such as Dr. John and Levon Helm.

[caption id="attachment_2730" align="alignnone" width="550"]Evocateur: The Morton Downey Jr. Story[/caption]

Evocateur: The Morton Downey Jr. Story, looks at Morton Downey Jr., dubbed the “Father of Trash Television,” who pushed the boundaries of controversy and confrontation from his New Jersey studio and became a media sensation in the late 1980s. Évocateur gains access to never-before-seen footage and takes us behind Downey’s cult of personality while charting his rise and fall. Interviewees include Pat Buchanan, Sally Jessy Raphael, Alan Dershowitz, as well as Downey’s former colleagues, critics and fans. Their testimony brings new insight to a bizarre chapter of TV history.

Visit the festival website to see the full film lineup and to purchase tickets

credit: Film description from the festival’s website.

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1st inaugural Montclair Film Festival Official Poster

The Montclair Film Festival has chosen Chris Gash’s submission as the winner of the poster contest for the 2012 Festival. Chris is a Visiting Specialist at Montclair State University in New Jersey.

The 1st inaugural Montclair Film Festival is scheduled for May 1 thru 6, 2012 in Montclair, New Jersey.

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Inaugural Montclair Film Festival Hires Festival Director

[caption id="attachment_2191" align="alignnone" width="550"]Evelyn McGee-Colbert, Stephen Colbert, Chairman of the Board Bob Feinberg, Raphaela Neilhausen, Thom Powers, and journalist Jonathan Alter.[/caption]

The inaugural Montclair Film Festival has hired the festival director duo of Thom Powers and Raphaela Neihausen to organize and program the 2012 Festival.

Thom and Raphaela started New York’s documentary film festival DOC NYC as well as the IFC Center’s documentary series Stranger than Fiction. Thom is also a programmer at the Toronto International Film Festival.

The board of directors includes Colbert and his wife Evelyn McGee-Colbert.

The Montclair Film Festival will take place May 2 -6, 2012 in Montclair, New Jersey.

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