Woodstock Film Festival

Actress Susan Sarandon to Receive Honorary Maverick Award at 2017 Woodstock Film Festival

Susan Sarandon in Blackbird

Actress Susan Sarandon will receive the honorary Maverick Award at this year’s 2017 Woodstock Film Festival.

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2017 Woodstock Film Festival Unveils Official Poster

In their most recent July newsletter, the Woodstock Film Festival unveiled the 2017 poster for the festival’s 18th year. This year’s poster was designed by Naomi Graphics from a concept by Alison Grant. The 18th Annual Woodstock Film Festival will take place October 11 to 15, 2017 in Woodstock, Saugerties, Rhinebeck, Rosendale, and Kingston.
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Shep Gordon to Receive Woodstock Film Festival’s 2017 Trailblazer Award

Legendary music manager, film producer and culinary arts visionary, Shep Gordon, will be fêted as the 2017 Trailblazer of the Woodstock Film Festival. Gordon, who is the subject of the 2013 hit documentary film SUPERMENSCH: The Legend of Shep Gordon, directed by Mike Myers, was chosen as the 2017 Trailblazer for his steadfast career launching one of the first independent film companies and film distributors, Alive Pictures/Island Alive, as well as managing musicians such as Alice Cooper, Teddy Pendergrass, and Luther Vandross; and for sparking the celebrity chef phenomenon by being the first to represent the likes of Emeril Lagasse, Wolfgang Puck and Daniel Boulud. The Woodstock Film Festival’s Trailblazer award is given to a leader in the film and media arts industry who has carved innovative paths in the business, established an independent vision, affected social change, and created a strong and widespread appreciation of quality, substantive change in the arts. The Trailblazer Award will be presented to Gordon on Saturday, October 14, at the Woodstock Film Festival’s Maverick Awards Ceremony at Backstage Studio Productions in Kingston, NY. Shep Gordon is known in the entertainment industry as having an eye for talent and an innate understanding of what people find entertaining. After graduating from SUNY Buffalo, Shep moved to Los Angeles, and in 1969 he created one of the first independent film production companies along with the first independent film distribution companies in the U.S., Island Alive, and distributed such films as Stop Making Sense, Koyaanisqatsi, The Whales of August and Ridley Scott’s first film The Duelist winning the Cannes Film Festival. Over the years, Gordon has been responsible for managing the careers of Alice Cooper, Groucho Marx, Raquel Welch, Luther Vandross, Kenny Loggins, and countless others. He’s also credited as creating the celebrity chef, which revolutionized the food industry and turned the culinary arts into the multi-billion-dollar industry it is today. His clients include culinary legends, Wolfgang Puck, Emeril Lagasse, Nobu, Daniel Boulud and many more. In addition to the impact he’s had on the music, film and food industries, he’s also highly regarded for his philanthropic endeavors and sits on the board of the Tibet Fund for His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Shep was named one of the 100 most influential people in Rolling Stone magazine. Gordon has 23 films to his credit as Producer or Executive Producer including Kiss of the Spider Woman, A Time of Destiny, Prince of Darkness, People Under the Stairs and Shocker. “It’s a privilege to present our 2017 honorary Trailblazer Award to Shep Gordon,” said Meira Blaustein, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Woodstock Film Festival. “His visionary approach to music, film, artistic and culinary endeavors, coupled by his generous spirit which has inspired and empowered countless artists, is truly admirable, making him the epitome of a Trailblazer.” “Woodstock has always been a community that encourages new ideas and champions the notion of being truly independent,” said Gordon. “I’m honored to be chosen as a representative of that at this year’s Woodstock Film Festival.” The Trailblazer Award has previously been bestowed upon such film industry principals as David Linde (Chief Content Officer, Participant Media), Ted Sarandos (Chief Content Officer, Netflix), James Schamus (former President of Focus Features), Bob Berney (Head of Marketing & Distribution, Amazon Studios), Jonathan Sehring (President, Sundance Selects and IFC Films), John Sloss (Founder, Cinetic Media), and Robin Bronk (CEO, The Creative Coalition). Gordon’s background spans film production, music management and production, culinary management, entrepreneurialism across all fields and book writing. He has built many careers from the ground up. Most recently, Gordon published the autobiography, They Call Me Supermensch, about his extraordinary life in the rock-n-roll business and beyond. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zd0VOkPOrV0
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OLIVER’S DEAL, INCORRUPTIBLE Win Top Awards at 2015 Woodstock Film Festival

OLIVER’S DEAL, directed by Barney Elliott (pictured above) won the Maverick Award for Best Feature Narrative, and INCORRUPTIBLE, directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi won the Maverick Award for Best Feature Documentary at the 2015 Woodstock Film Festival which ran Wednesday, September 30, through Sunday, October 4, 2015. The Awards Ceremony was held Saturday night, with Academy Award® winning actress Melissa Leo on hand to help celebrate the talent at this year’s festival, including honorary award recipients Atom Egoyan and Guy Maddin, two of Canada’s most celebrated filmmakers. Guy Maddin presented Atom Egoyan with the Honorary Maverick Award, and Atom Egoyan then presented Guy Maddin with the second annual Fiercely Independent Award. This year’s ceremony also featured the introduction of two inaugural awards, the Carpe Diem Andretta Award, presented to Waffle Street, and the World Cinema Competition, presented to Meet Me In Venice. 2015 Woodstock Film Festival Maverick Awards The Maverick Award for BEST FEATURE NARRATIVE was presented by jurors Themla Adams, Stephen Lang, and Joana Vincente to: OLIVER’S DEAL, directed by Barney Elliott Honorable Mention was presented to: IT HAD TO BE YOU, directed by Sasha Gordon The Maverick Award for BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY was presented by jurors Simon Kilmurry, Alan Berliner, and Sara Bernstein to: INCORRUPTIBLE, directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi “This remarkable film traces a journey from idealism to corruption in one of Africa’s oldest democracies, asking the question – is power an inherently corrupting influence? What the leaders of the country do not count on is that — in the end — it is the people of Senegal who turn out to be incorruptible. Through unprecedented access to all the players, filmmaker Chai Vasarhelyi weaves a complex and thrilling picture of a country at the precipice.” – 2015 Woodstock Film Festival Jury Honorable Mention was presented to THE BABUSHKAS OF CHERNOBYL, directed by Holly Morris, Co-directed by Anne Bogart “A lyrical, poetic portrait of an unknown group of women in a forgotten land. The Babushkas of Chernobyl live mostly alone, in the shadow of the world’s largest nuclear meltdown, surrounded by huge amounts of invisible radiation contamination. Strong and independent, their indelible ties to their homes trumps any health risk to which they might be exposed. A beautifully crafted documentary, this film does what documentaries do best – transport us to an unknown world and introduce us to extraordinary people we might never meet.” – 2015 Woodstock Film Festival Jury The Maverick Award for BEST ANIMATION was presented by jurors Signe Baumane and Linda Beck to: THE FIVE MINUTE MUSUEM, directed by Paul Bush Honorable Mention was presented to RELIGATIO, directed by Jaime Giraldo The Markertek Award for BEST SHORT NARRATIVE was presented by Benjamin Scott, Mary Stuart Masterson, and Nancy Collet to: STANHOPE, directed by Solvan “Slick” Naim Honorable Mention was presented to WELCOME (BIENVENIDOS), directed by Javier Fesser The Markertek Award for BEST STUDENT SHORT FILM was presented by jurors David F. Schwartz, Isil Bagdadi, and Marjoe Aquilling to: AGAINST NIGHT, directed by Stefan Kubicki The Markertek Award for BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY was presented by jurors Hugo Perez, Cynthia Kane, and Jedd Wider to: ALL ABOUT AMY, directed by Samuel Centore Honorable Mention was presented to NANEEK, directed by Neal Steeno The Haskell Wexler Award for BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY was presented with a special introduction by Haskell Wexler to: BOB AND THE TREES, directed by Diego Ongaro, with cinematography by Chris Teague and Danny Vecchione James Lyons Award for BEST EDITING of a FEATURE NARRATIVE was presented by jurors Meg Reticker and Sabine Hoffman to: OLIVER’S DEAL, directed by Barney Elliott and edited by J.L. Romeu & Roberto Benavides Honorable Mention was presented to TOUCHED WITH FIRE, directed by Paul Dalio and edited by Paul Dalio & Lee Percy James Lyons Award for BEST EDITING of a FEATURE DOCUMENTARY was presented by jurors Sabine Hoffman, Katherine Barnier, and Michael Berenbaum to: THE BABUSHKAS OF CHERNOBYL, directed by Holly Morris and edited by Michael Taylor, Richard Howard, and Mary Manhardt Honorable Mention was presented to I WILL NOT BE SILENCED, directed by Judy Rymer and edited by Paul Hamilton ULTRA INDIE AWARD was presented by jurors Lori Singer and Leah Meyerhoff to: LAMB, directed by Ross Partridge Honorable Mention was presented to BOB AND THE TREES, directed by Diego Ongaro TANGERINE ENTERTAINMENT JUICE AWARD FOR BEST FEMALE FEATURE DIRECTOR was presented by jurors Amy Hobby and Anne Hubbell to: Linda-Maria Birbeck, director of THERE SHOULD BE RULES CARPE DIEM AWARD ANDRETTA AWARD FOR BEST FILM was presented by Lauri and Jim Andretta to: WAFFLE STREET, directed by Eshom Nelms and Ian Nelms WORLD CINEMA AWARD was presented by jurors Claude Dal Farra and Lucy Barzun Donnelly to: MEET ME IN VENICE, directed by Eddy Terstall BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE was presented to Roberta Petzoldt (Meet Me in Venice) FIERCELY INDEPENDENT AWARD was presented by Atom Egoyan to: GUY MADDIN HONORARY MAVERICK AWARD was presented by Guy Maddin to: ATOM EGOYAN
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2015 Woodstock Film Festival Official Film Lineup; THE WALK is Centerpiece Film

The 2015 Woodstock Film Festival (WFF) running September 30 through October 4, is definitely “celebrating its Sweet Sixteen in style” with a stellar lineup of films to be shown in the Hudson Valley towns of Woodstock, Rhinebeck, Rosendale, Saugerties, and Kingston. “As we enter into our sixteenth year, I reflect upon the past years of gradual growth and am thrilled by how the festival has opened itself up into the world while maintaining the core authenticity and artistry that it was first founded on,” said Woodstock Film Festival’s co-founder and executive director Meira Blaustein. “I invite everyone to come and discover the many national and international selections that make up our 2015 lineup, as each is its own unique gem and in each you will find something that will inspire and move you.” The Centerpiece Film is The Walk, directed by Robert Zemeckis. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, The Walk tells the story of high-wire extraordinaire Philippe Petit (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), as he is guided by his real-life mentor, Papa Rudy (Ben Kingsley), to execute his mad plan of walking the immense void between the World Trade Center Towers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GR1EmTKAWIw The 2015 Feature narratives include: The Adderall Diaries, The Automatic Hate, Band of Robbers, Blunt Force Trauma, Bob and the Trees, The Forbidden Room, Good Ol’ Boy, The Grace of Jake, Homeless, How He Fell In Love, I Dream Too Much, It Had To Be You, Lamb, Love & Taxes, Meet Me In Venice, The Missing Girl, Moscow Never Sleeps, Oliver’s Deal, Outliving Emily, Rendez-Vous, Remember, Scout, Silver Skies, Summer, There Should Be Rules, Touched With Fire, Waffle Street, The Walk. Th 2015 Documentaries include: 1 Giant Leap II: What About Me?, 3 Still Standing, After The Spill, The Babushkas of Chernobyl, Buried Above Ground, Deep Run, Drawing The Tiger, Family Matters, Hot Type: 150 Years of The Nation, I Will Not Be Silenced, Incorruptible, Lee’s 88 Keys, Left on Purpose, Look At Us Now, Mother!, Mavis!, Monty Python: The Meaning of Live, Paradise Is There: A Memoir By Natalie Merchant, The Poet of Havana, She’s The Best Thing In It, Reconquest of the Useless, Shelter, Sporting Dreams, The Student Body, The Three Hikers, A Woman Like Me The WFF 2015 Shorts Programming includes: Animation, Fever Dreams, Quirks, Let’s Talk, Short Docs 1 & 2, Teen Films, Based On, Growing Up, No Trespassing, Spanish Spotlight
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Atom Egoyan’s REMEMBER to Open and Guy Maddin’s THE FORBIDDEN ROOM to Close 2015 Woodstock Film Festival | TRAILERS

Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan’s newest film REMEMBER will screen as the Opening Night Film of the 2015 Woodstock Film Festival, and fellow Canadian Guy Maddin’s new feature THE FORBIDDEN ROOM will screen as the Closing Night Film. The Woodstock Film Fest will also honor the filmmakers; ATOM EGOYAN will receive the Honorary Maverick Award and GUY MADDIN will receive the Fiercely Independent Award. REMEMBER, making its US Premiere at WFF, tells the story of Zev Guttman (Academy Award® Winner Christopher Plummer), a 90-year-old struggling with memory loss who is living out his final years in a bucolic retirement home. A week following the death of his beloved wife Ruth, he suddenly gets a mysterious package from his close friend Max (Academy Award® Winner Martin Landau), containing a stack of money, a gun, and a letter detailing a shocking plan. Both Zev and Max were prisoners in Auschwitz, and the same sadistic guard was responsible for the death of both their families—a guard who, immediately after the war, escaped Germany and has been living in the U.S. ever since under an assumed identity. Max is wheelchair-bound but in full command of his mental faculties; with his guidance, Zev will embark on a cross-continental road-trip to bring justice once and for all to the man who destroyed both their lives. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFxXCoprNqc THE FORBIDDEN ROOM, is Maddin’s ultimate epic phantasmagoria. Honoring classic cinema while electrifying it with energy, this Russian nesting doll of a film begins with the crew of a doomed submarine chewing flapjacks in a desperate attempt to breathe the oxygen within. Suddenly, impossibly, a lost woodsman wanders into their company and tells his tale of escaping from a fearsome clan of cave dwellers. From here, Maddin and co-director Evan Johnson take us high into the air, around the world, and into dreamscapes, spinning tales of amnesia, captivity, deception and murder, skeleton women and vampire bananas. Playing like some glorious meeting between Italo Calvino, Sergei Eisenstein and a perverted six year-old child, THE FORBIDDEN ROOM is Maddin’s grand ode to lost cinema. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nqRS204bBA image 1: Christopher Plummer stars in Remember, ATOM EGOYAN image 2: The Forbidden Room (2015), Guy Maddin
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2015 Woodstock Film Festival Unveils “NEW” World Cinema Competition + Focus on Dutch Cinema Lineup

The Woodstock Film Festival announced its New for 2015 World Cinema Competition, including a special Focus on Dutch Cinema in partnership with the Netherlands Consulate General in New York. The Woodstock Film Festival has programmed three Dutch narratives to showcase the vast range Dutch cinema has to offer: RENDEZ-VOUS, MEET ME IN VENICE, and SUMMER. All Dutch filmmakers will be in attendance. Sparked by this joint venture with the Netherlands Consulate and the superb selection of other international films at the festival, the 2015 Woodstock Film Festival has launched its inaugural World Cinema Competition Award. Joining the three Dutch films are two additional World Cinema highlights, MOSCOW NEVER SLEEPS (Irish-Russian) and THERE SHOULD BE RULES (Swedish), to forge a strong line-up of international competition. WORLD CINEMA COMPETITION FILMS: FOCUS ON DUTCH CINEMA- THE NETHERLANDS RENDEZ-VOUS, DIRECTED BY ANTIONETTE BEUMER (pictured in main image above) US PREMIERE Simone needs a change. Together with her husband Eric and their two children, she buys a decrepit mansion in the south of France, to turn it into a home and B&B. While the chaos of the renovation grows, Simone flees into a thrilling affair with one of the French construction workers, the gorgeous twenty-year-old Michel. She slowly loses control of her life and the French dream turns into her worst nightmare. MEET ME IN VENICE, DIRECTED BY EDDY TERSTALL US PREMIERE Recounted by Lisa through a video she makes for her son, this Dutch father-daughter story of reconciliation unfolds between a woman and the father she first meets in adulthood. When the absentee Mauro invites Lisa to join him in Venice, she decides to go. But the journey doesn’t stop there, and the father-daughter road trip takes them from Italy to Istanbul along the Orient Express route, with breathtaking imagery of the Balkans and heartwarming musical interludes. In getting to know her father, Lisa gets to know herself. SUMMER (ZOMER), DIRECTED BY COLETTE BOTHOF NEW YORK PREMIERE “Zomer” (“Summer”) is sweltering in a Dutch village where everyday life is dominated by the continually droning power plant. Anne, a quiet girl who longs to escape the confines of her small town, often feels like an outsider — until she meets Lena, a new girl in town who rides a motorbike, wears leather and is different from everybody else. With the awkward tenderness of youth and innocence, the two girls quickly form a bond and the audience gets to watch as young love unfolds. Authentic performances and cinematography that captures the languor and heat of summertime create a beautiful story of sexual awakening and a girl daring to be different. For those who have traveled beyond the teenage years, it is a reminder of the possibilities life holds. MOSCOW NEVER SLEEPS, DIRECTED BY JOHNNY O’REILLY RUSSIA – US PREMIERE Moscow Never Sleeps is a multi-narrative drama about the hidden bonds that connects us all. The film dives headlong into the volatile intersections of contemporary Moscow and the intimate lives of five people. O’Reilly’s short The Terms screened at the 2001 Woodstock Film Fest, winning for Best Short Film. THERE SHOULD BE RULES, DIRECTED BY LINDA-MARIE BIRBECK SWEDEN – EAST COAST PREMIERE Mia and Mirjam, two passionate, free-spirited 14-year-olds, along with Karl, who is inventive and wise beyond his years, are a close knit threesome in a small town in Sweden where nothing ever happens. Mia wishes there were no rules and tempts life again and again. Mirjam, seeking love, finds her road to adulthood in a steamy romance with an older man who claims he loves her. Karl, supporting Mia’s sense of loss as her best friend is pulled away by new love, helps concoct ways to bring Mirjam back to them. While friendship and family bonds are tested and facades eventually crumble, the teens declare, “we are never becoming ordinary.”
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2015 Woodstock Film Festival Unveils Official Poster by JOY + NOELLE

The 2015 Woodstock Film Festival has unveiled the official poster art by acclaimed animators Joy Buran and Noelle Melody. Joy Buran and Noelle Melody are not only responsible for animating memorable WFF posters (2010, 2012), but some of their signature work have been Official Woodstock Selections. “Woodstock is one of our favorite festivals, so we were pretty excited to be invited to illustrate the 2015 poster,” said Noelle Melody. “When I visited the Film Center, we talked about palette and detail ideas, like scratched up stickers with the names of winning feature directors over the years. I invited Joy up for a little Drink and Draw session, meaning we drank a lot of coffee and sketched out the cake.” “We had to constantly try to keep Noelle’s cat from playing with the film strips!” said Joy Buran. “We’ve been coming to the Woodstock Film Festival for almost 10 years, so it was a huge honor to be invited to design this poster. We both feel very lucky to be part of such a big year for this festival, like we’re in high school and just got invited to a super cool Sweet Sixteen party. We hope the poster illustrates the fierce independence of the filmmakers and the festival itself.” “We are so excited to have Joy and Noelle as our official poster artists this year,” Executive Director and co-founder Meira Blaustein said. “Not only are they festival alumni, having their animation shown here before, but they perfectly encapsulate the Sweet 16 celebration aspect that is our theme this year. Incorporating past Maverick Award winners is a subtle nod to celebrating sixteen years of great independent filmmaking.” The Woodstock Film Festival will celebrate its “Sweet 16” Anniversary Sept 30-Oct 4 in the Hudson Valley towns of Woodstock, Rhinebeck, Rosendale, Kingston, and Saugerties.
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THE POET OF HAVANA Documentary to Open 16th Woodstock Film Festival | TRAILER

The documentary, THE POET OF HAVANA, directed by Ron Chapman about Cuban singer/songwriter Carlos Varela will open the 16th Woodstock Film Festival on September 30, 2015. Opening night will also include a live performance from Carlos Varela, joined by Jackson Browne at The Woodstock Playhouse. The Poet of Havana explores the cultural, political and social significance Varela has had in his 30 years as a singer-songwriter. A veteran of censorship battles with the Cuban government, his emotionally charged songs—raw, metaphoric chronicles of contemporary Cuban life— have drawn comparisons to Bob Dylan’s work. Jackson Browne’s translation of Varela’sMuros y Puertas (Walls and Doors), talks about how polarized we are as a society, evident in the song’s refrain, “There can be freedom only when nobody owns it.” Shot in Havana with unique access, the audience enjoys stunning concert and insider backstage moments, along with exclusive interviews with such international stars as Ivan Lins, Luis Enrique, Juan and Samuel Formel, Diana Fuentes, X Alfonso, Alexander Abreu, in addition to Jackson Browne and actor Benicio Del Toro (The Usual Suspects, Traffic, Guardians of the Galaxy). Cuban singer/songwriter Carlos Varela started playing music literally “in the dark.” Growing up in Havana, whenever a power failure killed the lights, Varela and friends would play rock music blowing across the sea via a homemade radio antenna. In 1977, at a concert of Silvio Rodríguez and Pablo Milanés — standard-bearers for Nueva Trova, homegrown folk music that reflected the unrest of many Cubans — Varela realized music could be more than just a fun way to pass the time. Although he insists poetics took precedence over politics, Varela has struggled with the restrictions of censorship. But while other artists might have sought refuge elsewhere, Cuba is his inspiration and has always been home. He has recorded eight albums and performs worldwide. Ron Chapman, director of The Poet of Havana, started out as a musician, then went on to manage musical artists, produce albums and ultimately establish a film production company, directing rock videos and TV commercials for some of the world’s leading brands. At his legendary Toronto music club “The Edge,” Chapman provided a scene for some of the most exciting international artists of the day. Chapman’s 2014 documentary Who the F**K is Arthur Fogel, features Lady Gaga, U2, The Police, Madonna, Rush, and key music industry insiders. His forthcoming film The Forbidden Shore, with performances and interviews of over 60 top Cuban artists, will be the most in-depth cultural/music documentary to come out of Cuba. In a return to his roots, Chapman has recently completed an album of his own songs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4B_3FVv_rQY
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Terry McMahon’s “Patrick’s Day” “Red Lines” Among Winners of 2014 Woodstock Film Festival Maverick Awards

Actor Mo Dunford, Director Terry McMahon and Producer Tim Palmer of Patrick’s Day at 2014 Woodstock Film Festival 15th Annual Maverick Awards Ceremony (photo by Silvia Forni) (Photo by Silvia Forni)

The 15th annual Woodstock Film Festival which began Wednesday, Oct. 15, closed on Sunday, Oct. 19. The Maverick Award for Best Feature Narrative at the festival was presented to Patrick’s Day, directed by Terry McMahon, and The Maverick Award for Best Feature Documentary went to Red Lines, directed by Andrea Kalin and Oliver Lukacs. Oscar-nominated director and writer Darren Aronofsky was among this year’s winner as recipient of the Honorary Maverick Award. Critically acclaimed for his work in films like Black Swan, The Wrestler, and The Fountain, Aronofsky was presented this award by Academy Award Winners Natalie Portman (Black Swan) and Jennifer Connelly (A Beautiful Mind), who he directed in his most recent films, Noah and previously in Requiem for a Dream.

The first annual Fiercely Independent Award was presented to Mark Duplass, after the East Coast Premiere of his newest feature, Creep. Also awarded at this year’s festival was the Haskell Wexler Award for Best Cinematography, which went to cinematographer Michael Lavelle of Patrick’s Day.

2014 Woodstock Film Festival Maverick Awards winners and recipients:

The Maverick Award for BEST FEATURE NARRATIVE was presented by jurors Logan Hill and Melissa Leo to:
Patrick’s Day, directed by Terry McMahon

http://youtu.be/VdmiKDmmZjo

Honorable Mention was presented to Arwad, directed by Samer Najari and Dominique Chila

The Maverick Award for BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY was presented by jurors Joe Berlinger, Amy Hobby and Barbara Kopple to:
Red Lines, directed by Andrea Kalin and Oliver Lukacs

http://youtu.be/k4EeouZf0ts

Honorable Mention was presented to Mentor, directed by Alix Lambert and A Snake Gives Birth to a Snake, directed by Michael Lessac

The Maverick Award for BEST ANIMATION was presented by jurors Signe Baumane and Patrick Smith to:
My Kingdom, directed by Debra Solomon
Honorable Mention was presented to The Dam Keeper, directed by Robert Kondo and Dice Tsutsumi

The Diane Seligman Award for BEST SHORT NARRATIVE was presented by Jonathan Gray, Leah Meyerhoff and Lori Singer to:
Sunday, directed by Iva Gocheva
Honorable Mention was presented to Nighthawks, directed by Jun Bung Lee

The Diane Seligman Award for BEST STUDENT SHORT FILM was presented by jurors Isil Bagdadi and Terry Kinney to:
So You’ve Grown Attached, directed by Kate Tsang
Honorable Mention was presented to The Young Housefly, directed by Laurence Vannicelli

The Diane Seligman Award for BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY was presented by jurors Leon Gast, Emily Rothschild and Todd Wider to:
Our Course (Nasza Klatwa), directed by Tomasz Sliwinski

The Haskell Wexler Award for BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY was presented to:
Patrick’s Day, directed by Terry McMahon with cinematography by Michael Lavelle

James Lyons Award for BEST EDITING of a FEATURE NARRATIVE was presented by jurors Sabine Hoffman and Adam Blaustein Rejto to:
Patrick’s Day, directed by Terry McMahon and edited by Emer Reynolds

James Lyons Award for BEST EDITING of a FEATURE DOCUMENTARY was presented by jurors Sandra Christie, Jean Tsien and Sabine Hoffman to:
Killswitch, directed by Ali Akbarzadeh and edited by Prichard Smith

ULTRA INDIE AWARD was presented by jurors Richard Abramowitz and Amy Gossels to:
Uncertain Terms, directed by Nathan Silver
Honorable Mention was presented to I Believe in Unicorns, directed by Leah Meyerhoff

TANGERINE ENTERTAINMENT JUICE AWARD FOR BEST FEMALE FEATURE DIRECTOR was presented by juror Amy Hobby to:
Caryn Waechter, director of The Sisterhood of Night

FIERCELY INDEPENDENT AWARD was presented by Tom Quinn to:
Mark Duplass

Jennifer Connelly, Darren Aronofsky and Natalie Portman at 2014 Woodstock Film Festival 15th Annual Maverick Awards Ceremony (photo by Simon Russell)

HONORARY MAVERICK AWARD was presented by Jennifer Connelly and Natalie Portman to:
Darren Aronofsky

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Woodstock Film Festival 2014 Film Lineup

Two Men in Town

The 15th Annual “fiercely independent” Woodstock Film Festival runs Wednesday, October 15, through Sunday, October 19, with more than 150 films, panels, performances and special events. Screenings and events take place in the historic arts colony of Woodstock, NY, and the neighboring towns of Rhinebeck, Rosendale, Saugerties and Kingston, just two hours from New York City in the Hudson Valley Catskills. The festival was founded by filmmakers Meira Blaustein and Laurent Rejto.

OPENING NIGHT FILM
After a troubled youth and 18 years in prison, William Garnett is being released. With the help of an idealistic parole agent and his new-found Islamic faith, Garnett struggles to rebuild his life and overcome the violent impulses which possess him. However, Bill Agati, the Sheriff of the small New Mexico border county where Garnett is released, has other ideas. Convinced that Garnett is unredeemable and is a threat to the security of his county, Agati launches a campaign to return Garnett to prison for life.

Two Men in Town stars Academy Award® winner Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland), Harvey Keitel, Brenda Blethyn, Luis Guzman, Dolores Héredia, Ellen Burstyn, Tim Guinee, Reg E. Cathey, and is directed by Rachid Bouchareb (Indigènes (Days of Glory)) and produced by Allen Bain (The Cake Eaters, Room, and Blackballed: The Bobby Dukes Story), both of whom have shown films at the Woodstock Film Festival in previous years.

CLOSING NIGHT FILM
The Better Angels, which takes its name from a line in Abraham Lincoln’s first Inaugural Address, tells the story of Lincoln’s childhood in the harsh wilderness of Indiana, the hardships that shaped him and the tragedy that marked him forever. Using black and white cinematography to conjure an America where the land was raw, this film sheds new light on the formative years of the future president and the two women who molded him into one of the most revered men in American history.

The film stars Jason Clarke (Zero Dark Thirty, The Great Gatsby), Diane Kruger (Inglourious Basterds), Brit Marling (I Origins, Another Earth), and Wes Bentley (The Hunger Games, American Beauty), and was produced by Academy Award® Nominee Terrence Malick (Days of Heaven, Tree of Life), Nicolas Gonda, Jake DeVito and Charley Beil

CENTERPIECE FILM
Directed by Caryn Waechter, The Sisterhood of Night is a story of friendship and loyalty set against the backdrop of a modern-day Salem witch trial. Shot on location in Kingston, NY, the film chronicles a group of girls who have slipped out of the world of social media into a mysterious world deep in the woods.

The Sisterhood of Night stars Georgie Henley, Kara Hayward, Kal Penn, Laura Fraser, Willa Cuthrell, Olivia De Jonge, Jessica Hecht, and Neal Huff.

SPECIAL SCREENINGS
Creep, directed by Patrick Brice, is a two-man story set in a remote mountain cabin in the woods. Joseph, expecting to die soon of an unstated illness, hires Aaron through an ad on Craigslist to document the end of his life as a legacy to his unborn son. Creep will be presented by actor, co-writer and co-producer Mark Duplass, who will lead a discussion following the screening.

Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles, directed by Chuck Workman, looks at the remarkable genius of Orson Welles on the eve of his centenary – the enigma of his career as a Hollywood star, a Hollywood director, and a crucially important independent filmmaker. Director Workman will be on hand for Q&A following the screening.

The Fly Room, directed by Alexis Gambis, is a wondrous story that captures the mysterious inner world of a child’s imagination at the brink of scientific discovery. The film will be introduced by Paul Hoffman, President and CEO of Liberty Science Center and the Creative Director of Beyond Rubik’s Cube.

Antarctica 3D: On the Edge, directed by Jon Bowermaster, witnesses the National Geographic explorer and his adventurous team travel along the frozen coastline by sea kayak, ice-worthy sailboat, and on foot to gain an up-close look and attempt to better understand just how the seventh continent is changing. Staying for a Q&A following the screening, filmmaker and WFF guest Jon Bowermaster will also be featured on the “Impact Filmmaking” panel.

Just Before I Go, directed by Courteney Cox, follows Ted as he decides to end his mediocre life. Before doing so, he returns to his hometown to revisit the demons of his past: the cruel school teacher; the relentless bully; the girl who got away. Courteney Cox will take part in a Q&A following the screening, as well as being featured on the “Women in the Director’s Chair” panel to discuss her feature-length directorial debut.

2014 NARRATIVE FEATURES

Feature narratives include: All Relative, The American Side, Amira & Sam, Arwad, Before I Disappear, Bread and Butter, Creep, Eat with Me, The Fly Room, Friends and Romans, I Believe in Unicorns, Just Before I Go, The Last Time You Had Fun, Late Phases, Listening, Little Accidents, Mahjong and the West, The Man Who Saved the World, Patrick’s Day, The Red Robin, Runoff, Sacrifice, The Sisterhood of Night, Uncertain Terms, White Rabbit, WildLike, The Young Kieslowski

2014 DOCUMENTARY FEATURES

Documentaries include: A Small Section of the World, A Snake Gives Birth to a Snake, Angel Azul, Antarctica 3D: On the Edge, Down in Shadowland, East Jerusalem/West Jerusalem, Enquiring Minds: The Untold Story of the Man Behind the National Enquirer, The Hand That Feeds, How I Got Over, Killswitch, Limited Partnership, Little White Lie, Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles, Mentor, Pauly Shore Stands Alone, Playing With Parkinson’s, Queens & Cowboys: A Straight Year On The Gay Rodeo, Red Lines, SlingShot, Stray Dog, Two Raging Grannies, Untitled Film On “World Citizen #1” Garry Davis, Why I’m Not on Facebook
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THE FORGOTTEN KINGDOM Among Winners of 2013 Woodstock Film Festival

THE FORGOTTEN KINGDOM, directed by Andrew Mudge

The 14th annual Woodstock Film Festival which began Wednesday, October 2nd, and close on Sunday, October 6th, 2013, held its closing Maverick Awards Gala on Saturday night. THE FORGOTTEN KINGDOM, directed by Andrew Mudge won the Maverick Award for Best Feature Narrative, and AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY: THE EVOLUTION OF GRACE LEE BOGGS, directed by Grace Lee won the Maverick Award for Best Feature Documentary. The festival also presented director Peter Bogdanovich with the Honorary Maverick Lifetime Achievement Award and the Meera Gandhi Giving Back Award was presented to acclaimed filmmaker and activist Mira Nair.

The Maverick Award for Best Feature Narrative was presented to:
THE FORGOTTEN KINGDOM, directed by Andrew Mudge

Atang leaves the hustle of Johannesburg to return to his ancestral land of Lesotho, where he must bury his estranged father in the remote, mountainous village where he was born. Stirred by memories of his youth, he falls in love with his childhood friend, Dineo, now a radiant young school teacher. Through her, Atang is drawn toward the mystical beauty and hardships of the people and land he had forgotten.

Honorable Mention was presented to WINTER IN THE BLOOD, directed by Alex and Andrew Smith

The Maverick Award for Best Feature Documentary was presented to:
AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY: THE EVOLUTION OF GRACE LEE BOGGS, directed by Grace Lee

AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY: THE EVOLUTION OF GRACE LEE BOGGS, directed by Grace Lee

Grace Lee Boggs is a 98-year-old Chinese American woman in Detroit whose vision of revolution may surprise you. A writer, activist, and philosopher rooted for more than 70 years in the African American movement, she has devoted her life to an evolving revolution that encompasses the contradictions of America’s past and its potentially radical future.

Honorable Mention was presented to MAGICAL UNIVERSE, directed by Jeremy Workman

The Maverick Award for Best Animation was presented to:
FERAL, directed by Daniel Sousa

FERAL, directed by Daniel Sousa

Combining the traditional techniques of sand animation with digital processing, A TANGLED TALE, is the story of a wild boy, found in the woods by a solitary hunter and brought back to civilization. Alienated by a strange new environment, the boy tries to adapt by using the same strategies that kept him safe in the forest.

Honorable Mention was presented to A TANGLED TALE, directed by Corrie Francis Parks

The Diane Seligman Award for Best Short Narrative was presented to
THE EARTH, THE WAY I LEFT IT, directed by Jeff Pinilla

The Diane Seligman Award for Best Student Short Film was presented to
ABOVE THE SEA, directed by Keola Racela;
Honorable Mention was presented to LATE SPRING, directed by Zachery Kerschberg

The Diane Seligman Award for Best Short Documentary was presented to
POUSTINIA, directed by Kristian Berg
Honorable Mention was presented to THE BEAST AND THE ANGEL, directed by Shira Piven

The Haskell Wexler Award for Best Cinematography was presented to
THE FORGOTTEN KINGDOM, cinematography by Carlos Carvalho

James Lyons Award for Best Editing of a Feature Narrative was presented to
THE FORGOTTEN KINGDOM, directed and edited by Andrew Mudge

James Lyons Award for Best Editing of a Feature Documentary was presented to
THE MANOR, directed by Shawney Cohen and edited by Seth Poulin

Honorary Maverick Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to
Peter Bogdanovich (The Last Picture Show, Paper Moon)

Meera Gandhi Giving Back Award was presented to
Mira Nair (Salaam Bombay!, Monsoon Wedding, Vanity Fair)

Tangerine Entertainment Juice Award for Best Female Feature Director was presented to
Stacie Passon, director of CONCUSSION

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