WELCOME

PETER VAN SCOYOC SUPERVISOR, TOWN OF EAST HAMPTON

I’m pleased to welcome the Hamptons International Film Festival to East Hampton for its 2021 season. For close to three decades, the festival has occupied an important place in our community’s vibrant arts scene. Thanks to the festival’s organizers and sponsors, both East Hampton residents and visitors have enjoyed the opportunity to view the work of independent filmmakers from around the globe and to see the world premieres of many movies that went on to gain widespread critical acclaim.

Congratulations to the festival and to this year’s participants, who are telling stories on film that enhance and expand our understanding of our world and of the breadth of experiences beyond our own. Fall is a beautiful season in East Hampton. Welcome to all, and please safely enjoy the movies as well as our local restaurants and shops, and all that East Hampton has to offer!

PETER VAN SCOYOC

JERRY LARSEN MAYOR, EAST HAMPTON

It is a pleasure to welcome the Hamptons International Film Festival to the Village of East Hampton. For almost thirty years, the Festival has been a much-anticipated event, this year more than ever. I encourage you to explore the restaurants, shops and cultural institutions our village has to offer. Take a stroll along our beautiful Main Street and Newtown Lane. Visit Sweet Home Museum and the windmills, the Nature Trail, the Farmer’s Market in Herrick Park on Sunday mornings, and of course, the ocean beaches. Check the Village of East Hampton and the Chamber of Commerce’s websites and Facebook pages for ideas and events. Congratulations to the 2021 Hamptons International Film Festival.

JERRY LARSEN

JAY SCHNEIDERMAN SUPERVISOR, TOWN OF SOUTHAMPTON

On behalf of the Town of Southampton, I am pleased to welcome the Hamptons International Film Festival back to the East End. For 29 years, this annual event has been a favorite among residents and visitors alike, celebrating independent film in all its forms. Whether a film is long, short, fictional, or a documentary, your organization has time and again proven its commitment to introduce audiences to a unique and varied spectrum of films and their makers. In this effort to present “inspired entertainment for all,” you have enriched our community in a multitude of ways. With our congratulations and best wishes for your continued involvement and success, may the year 2021 bring the best Film Festival yet.

JAY SCHNEIDERMAN

STEVEN BELLONE SUFFOLK COUNTY EXECUTIVE

It is my pleasure to welcome you all to the 29th Annual Hamptons International Film Festival.

For nearly two decades, HamptonsFilm has become a jewel of Suffolk County by bringing a varied spectrum of world class cinema and esteemed filmmakers to Long Island. Each October, films from the minds of brilliant filmmakers, casts, and crews offer creative commentary on contemporary issues. The opening of Matthew Heineman’s THE FIRST WAVE, which spotlights the first-responders who fought on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic in our hospitals, is a fitting film to mark the in-person return of this fun annual event.

On Long Island, we saw first-hand the immense sacrifices that our healthcare heroes made when the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic took the world by storm. I applaud Heineman for making a film to commemorate this dark, yet brave time in our collective history, just as I applaud the leadership at HamptonsFilm for selecting such an appropriate kick-off. As Suffolk County Executive, I would be remiss if I did not also thank the Board and fellow leadership for their commitment to making this in-person event possible and safe for all who attend. Again, thank you all for your contributions to the world of contemporary cinema, and thank you for always choosing the East End of Long Island to hold this exceptional event. Enjoy the festivities!