Recognizing FOUNDING SPONSORS who are still supporting us
Torch Song, Jippie No More!, Hardcore Never Dies are supported by the Dutch Culture USA program of the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in New York.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT
CLAUDE DAL FARRA
VICE PRESIDENT
ILENE MARDER HINCHEY
SECRETARY DAVE BALDWIN
TREASURER MARK GOLDFARB
ADVISORY BOARD
RICHARD ABRAMOWITZ
JUDY ARTHUR
SIGNE BAUMANE
JOE BERLINGER
EAMONN BOWLES
BLAIR BREARD
5 Welcome 6 Staff
9 25 Year Look Back
18 Year-Round Programs
22 Films Just In 24 Feature Narrative
31 Feature Documentary
35 Shorts Documentaries with Special Q&A
37 Shorts
45 Music Shorts and Performances
47 Special Events
51 Panels + Just In
58 Awards
62 2024 Sponsors
66 Ticket Information 2024 and Venues
Poster art by acclaimed actor and filmmaker Matt Dillon
This year’s poster by acclaimed actor, filmmaker and artist Matt Dillon was created for the Woodstock Film Festival in celebration of the festival’s 25th anniversary. A long-time friend and guest of the festival, Dillon made the drive from the asphalt jungle of NYC to the tree lined mountains of the Catskills and the film festival multiple times. This journey served as Dillon’s inspiration as he crafted the poster art, capturing the spirit and legacy of the Woodstock Film Festival, underscoring the festival’s commitment to celebrating cinematic excellence, independent spirit, and artistic innovation.
ROBIN BRONK
VINCENT D’ONOFRIO
GRIFFIN DUNNE
JESSICA EDWARDS
WENDY ETTINGER
HEIDI EWING
LAURI ANDRETTA
VICKI CHESLER
HAYES CLEMENT
JONATHAN GRAY
RACHEL GRADY
ETHAN HAWKE
SABINE HOFFMAN
GILL HOLLAND
BILL HORBERG
TED HOPE
KEVIN GREENE
PATRICK HARRISON
MIKE HASSAN
Limited edition signed posters available for purchase at the box office.
PURCHASING TICKETS
Tickets on sale September 17th, 2024 INTERNET ORDERS woodstockfilmfestival.org/tickets
BOX OFFICE LOCATION
13 Rock City Road, Woodstock, NY 12498 phone: 845.810.0131
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL EVENTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
CHECK THE WEBSITE TO:
Check for venues and times
Read updated information about screenings, special events, and panels.
SARAH JOHNSON
JEFF MORRIS NICOLE QUINN
ROGER ROSS WILLIAMS BRUCE WEISS
BARBARA KOPPLE
MARIAN KOLTAI-LEVINE
JOSHUA LEONARD
MELISSA LEO
MARY STUART MASTERSON
STEPHEN NEMETH
RON NYSWANER
BILL PLYMPTON
AIDAN QUINN
YORUBA RICHEN
EMILY ROTHSCHILD
LIEV SCHREIBER
LORI SINGER
JOHN SLOSS
FISHER STEVENS
DAVID STRATHAIRN
CHRISTINE VACHON
PAMELA YATES
This year the “silver screen” takes on special meaning for the Woodstock Film Festival (WFF) as we celebrate our 25th (silver) anniversary. Since its modest inception back in 2000, WFF has steadily grown, building a community of creative, diverse and dedicated filmmakers and industry members, drawing participants and audiences from near and far – yet always honoring our “fiercely independent” motto.
While I rejoice in our impact on our local community and the film world at large, I can’t help but reflect upon the challenges we are facing and their effect on our current state of the art of film. The silver screen has come a long way since the early 1900s, and today we face questions surrounding artificial intelligence in filmmaking, new forms of distribution and exhibition, along with continued fights for equity and inclusion. And for as much progress as the world has seen, there has also been regression, fear, and hardship. Yet, as wars, suffering and losses rage across various parts of the world, as climate changes barrel onwards and weather extremes continue to spike, as regimes change and new leaders surface, so do the countless heroes, who fight for environmental healing, women rights, human rights, and democracy. In all these realms, filmmakers have taken notice and have given voice to crucial issues where others have turned their heads away.
The Woodstock Film Festival has always provided a space to reflect upon the most important issues of our time through art. I think about the 2001 festival occurring only 9 days after September 11, or the 2020 festival happening during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through ground-breaking films and thought-provoking conversations, our film community has continually raised questions and pushed the envelope, seeking to affect positive change. I have confidence that this seminal year will continue this tradition.
It is in this spirit that I invite you to attend and experience the 25th annual Woodstock Film Festival. With talented filmmakers, actors, writers, artists, and musicians all gathered here from all corners of the world, this year’s festival promises to be exciting and inspiring.
On October 15th, we will begin our 6-day journey, continuing our mission to bring the Hudson Valley community together with emerging and veteran filmmakers alike. Seasoned filmmakers like Paul Schrader (Oh, Canada), Roger Ross Williams (executive producer of The Battle Of Laikipia), and Pamela Yates (BORDERLAND | The Line Within) will come together with budding new talents such as Smriti Mundhra (I Am Ready, Warden), Eunice Lau (Troll Storm), and Ryan J. Sloan (Gazer), sharing their work and their experiences with fellow filmmakers and audiences at large. Immigration, war, climate change, racism, and gun control are just a sampling of the issues this year’s filmmakers have been tackling head on. Of course, there will also be plenty of films that are just plain fun, as well as our usual great collection of eclectic shorts, live music, panels, and more.
We welcome the many talented filmmakers and industry members who are joining us here in Woodstock. I look forward to seeing them connecting with our audience and with each other during what will surely be six magical days of cinema, art, and community building.
Once here, don’t forget to visit and enjoy the beauty, artistry and unique craftsmanship that Woodstock and the Hudson Valley have to offer. Actor Matt Dillon, this year’s poster artist, used his car rides up from NYC to Woodstock – from urban asphalt to tree covered mountains – as his muse. Follow Matt’s inspiration as you discover some of the treasured hiking trails, orchards and wineries, stores and galleries, restaurants and clubs, and enjoy not only the Woodstock Film Festival, but also NY’s beautiful and vibrant Hudson Valley.
Last but not least, a big thank you to the thousands of filmmakers who submitted films this year, to the hundreds of volunteers, to our hard-working staff, community members, and supporters, to our dedicated board, our generous sponsors, our wonderful audience, and to all those who make it possible for the Woodstock Film Festival to not only sustain itself, but to keep on growing from year to year. Thank you!
Welcome to the 25th annual Woodstock Film Festival! See you at the movies.
And don’t forget to VOTE!
Meira Blaustein
Co-Founder / Executive + Artistic Director
Revercomb
Revercomb Phto
By
Revercomb
Meira Blaustein
Alejandro González Iñárritu, David Linde
Meira Blaustein and Michael Franti
Ethan Hawke and Amanda Seyfried
Matt Dillon
Woodstock Playhouse
STAFF
YEAR-ROUND STAFF
DEPUTY DIRECTOR Teressa DelCampo
OPERATIONS & ADMIN DIRECTOR Erin Cass
PROGRAMMERS
HEAD OF PROGRAMMING
FEATURE PROGRAMMER
SHORTS PROGRAMMER
Meira Blaustein
Amir Bogen
Amanda Naseem
SHORTS PROGRAMMING ASSISTANT Hali Traina
ANIMATION PROGRAMMERS
FESTIVAL STAFF
Joy Buran & Noelle Melody
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S ASSISTANT Ellie Whiteman
VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR Ariel Christensen
GUEST RELATIONS CO-DIRECTOR Lyndsey Alexander
GUEST RELATIONS CO-DIRECTOR & RESIDENCY COORDINATOR Tina Saienni
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION MANAGER / VENUE COORDINATOR Willis Williams
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
AUDIO LEAD
Chase Pierson
Ron Kuhnke
PRINT TRAFFIC COORDINATOR Kearin Coonan
TRANSPORTATION COORDINATOR Josephine Bono
BOX OFFICE MANAGER Will Hogue
ART DIRECTOR
Stacey Anderson
CRAFT SERVICES COORDINATOR Tamika Dunkley
PANEL COORDINATOR Sam Light
REGISTRATION Tracy Kamien
GUEST RELATIONS SUPPORT Nikki Goldbeck
PARTY COORDINATOR Lauri Andretta
PRODUCTION LEAD
PIPE & DRAPE / OPS
Phillip Levine
Devin Cabrera
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Nixie Vudelle
FEAST FOR FILM COORDINATOR Jeffrey Kolton
PROGRAM COPY EDITOR
WFF PODCAST HOST
DUTCH CULTURE USA LIAISON
INTERNS
Elizabeth Adams
Emma Carey
Sophie Frank
Jack Geary
SCREENERS
Riya Agarwal
Michele Alberio
Caroline Babson
Mia Barbuto
Caitlynn Barrett
Raphael Beretta
Jaqueline Bernstein
Laurann Lento Black
Andy Borer
Jonathan Brown
Mia De Jesus
Mary Dickey
Jack Lima Lili Mandel
Matthew Mingoia Eli Nussbaum
Judd Taylor
Adam Schartoff
Bruce Weiss
Ben Richardson
Jaelyn Tanersley
Francine Wooley
Lydia Wright
Anisse Elias
Ashley-Lauren Elrod
Stephenie Esbrand
Thomas Etzkorn
Sydney Fallon
Adah Frank
Marissa Gallien
Ryan Gellis
Daniel Gonzalez
Bryce Graham
Laura Griffin
Kate Grodd
DIGITAL CONTENT & PROGRAMMING MANAGER Trevor Roberts
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR Katy Mejia
PROGRAM & OPERATIONS MANAGER/ SHORTS PROGRAMMING ASSISTANT Charlee Liebeskind
SHORTS PROGRAMMING ASSISTANT Bri’anna Moore
DOCUMENTARY CONSULTANT
LIVE MUSIC CONSULTANT
MARKETING & COMMUNICATION
PROGRAM & GRAPHIC DESIGNER
PHOTO COORDINATOR
PHOTO EDITOR
Jessica Edwards
Ed Gerrard
Naomi Graphics
Corey Spears
Jason Vasquez
COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANTS Richard Ellenson & Richard Lobel
EVENT MARKETING Ariella Levitan
PUBLICITY
NATIONAL PRESS TEAM
PUBLIC RELATIONS
SOCIAL MEDIA & PRESS ASSISTANT
MAVERICK AWARDS
AWARDS PRODUCER
AWARDS SHOW TECH
AWARDS VIDEO EDITOR
AWARDS PRODUCTION MANAGER
VOICE OF GOD
AWARDS SHOW HOST
AWARDS TROPHIES
EDUCATION
YOUTH FILM LAB PROGRAM DIRECTOR
FILMMAKERS RESIDENCY ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
FILMMAKERS RESIDENCY ARTISTIC
CONSULTANT AT LARGE
PROGRAM BLURB WRITERS
Daniel Abelow
Sabina Barach
Amir Bogen
Claire Harrison
Lara Furtado
Hazboun
Alistair Henty
Katelyn Howard
Celina Igwe
Andrew Johnson
Samantha Kamelhar
Zachary Kirby
Naomi Wolff Lachter
Yoni Lamm
Aaron Jordan
Liebowitz
Aliah Lynn
Shefik Macauley
Joan MacDonald
Clare Manchon
John Manna
Courtney Marquard
Damian Masterson
Cait McCluskie
Terence McCorry
Julia McGill
Mark McKennon
Monet Massac
Adam Schartoff
Sierra Slaughter
JMP Verdant Communications, Inc.
Samantha Emson
Nick Gallo
Joey Vaughan
Jeff Kantor
Mark Carranceja
Ben Kujawski
Carl Welden
Louis Armistead
Steve Heller and Fabulous Furniture
Megan Sperry
Alex Smith
Sabine Hoffman
Peter Wortmann
Nicky Yeager
Richie Yeager
Alan Mckenzie
Kat McLane
Shelby Moore
Alana Liu Moskowitz
Alyce Myatt
Jillian Desirée
Oliveras
Mackenzie Oravec
Troy Peterson
Matt Porwoll
Danielle Quinoa
Atefeh Rahmani
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR MANY VOLUNTEERS!!
Matt Rose
Calvin Ryerse
Nicola Saikali
Sergio Sanchez
Tina Santomauro
Sarah Schutzki
Leslie Shaip
Nina Slesinger
Courtney Sposato
Pierre Stefanos
Andrew Stone
Matthew Stone
Mmakgosi
Anita Tau
Attila Tayefeh
Kathrine Tinggaard
Bethany Tipping
Jessica Vance
Liz Van Verth
Stacy Waters
Elena A Weinberg
Ellie Whiteman
Simone Wright
NETFLIX PROUDLY CONGRATULATES OUR SELECTION FOR THIS YEAR’S
WOODSTOCK FILM FESTIVAL
THE REMARKABLE LIFE OF IBELIN DIRECTED BY: BENJAMIN REE
CONGRATULATIONS TO 25 YEARS, WOODSTOCK FILM FESTIVAL!
Make every journey meaningful
Congratulations Woodstock on 25 years!
At KLM, we believe a destination is not just a place. It is an opportunity to see the world in a new way. Traveling well isn’t about where you go or where you’ve been, it’s about our commitment to make every journey meaningful.
25 YEARS OF THE BEST VIEWS IN THE HUDSON VALLEY
HIGHLIGHTS
Over the past 25 years, the Woodstock Film Festival (WFF) has nurtured a remarkable community that continues to grow. The festival is honored to have hosted filmmakers who have attended multiple times, artists who have launched their careers, and industry titans who have become lifelong friends. Each year we commissioned original artwork for our posters, by artists such as Peter Max, Milton Glaser, Bill Plympton, Mary Frank, Joan Snyder, and for 2024, Matt Dillon. Take a look at some highlights of the films, people, and memories that helped create the history of WFF leading up to the 25th Anniversary.
The inaugural festival, created on a shoestring as a labor of love, brought the film community and film lovers to Woodstock. Musical performances from Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Graham Parker opened the festival, while Barbara Kopple’s documentary My Generation was the closing night film. Guests included Magnolia Pictures founder Eamonn Bowles, the late composer Elmer Bernstein, filmmaker Gary Winnick, and Les Blank, who was awarded the firstever Honorary Maverick Award.
The festival took place nine days after 9/11, helping festival goers heal from earth shattering events through art. We presented a concert by Marshall Crenshaw, and a three-part, avant-garde film series curated and presented by Jonas Mekas. Filmmakers Chris Hegedus and D. A. Pennebaker were honored, and attendees included filmmakers Karyn Kusama and Mary Harron, and actors Stanley Tucci and Ethan Hawke.
“For over a hundred years, Woodstock has been a place of dreams and magic. ... it is entirely fitting that Woodstock should become a place of dreams and magic for films at this time.”
– Elmer Bernstein, Composer/Conductor
Screenings featured Rebecca Miller’s Personal Velocity, which won Sundance’s Grand Jury Prize, and the world premiere of Funny Ha Ha by then newcomer Andrew Bujalski. Gov’t Mule, Arlo Guthrie, and Phish all performed during a week of epic parties. Attendees included Neil Burger, Parker Posey, and Marcia Gay Harden, with Liev Schreiber presenting Tim Robbins with the Maverick Award.
“It’s a wonderful festival.”
–Liev Schreiber, Actor/Director
Martha Frankel, Haskell Wexler, David Strathairn, Meira Blaustein, Les Blank
Barbara Kopple
Alex Rubin (producer), Les Blank & Kevin Fitzgerald
Margarita Happy Hour cast & crew Benjamin Bratt
Kate Pierson & Gail Ann Dorsey Levon Helm
Parker Posey Ismail Merchant
Marcia Gay Harden Tim Robbins and Liev Schreiber
25 YEAR LOOK BACK
WOODSTOCK FILM FESTIVAL
28 - October 2
The festival opened with Peter Hedges’ Pieces Of April, and closed with Casa De Los Babys by John Sayles. Live music included the iconic bluegrass musician Peter Rowan, and actor Woody Harrelson was honored with the Maverick Award. Attendees included filmmaker Michael Almereyda, actor Annabella Sciorra, and the late Bingham Ray, co-founder of indie film distributor October Films. “ A smart, distinctive patchwork of narratives, documentaries, shorts, animations, panels, parties and music... ” – The Hollywood Reporter “ So moved by the beauty and the cheer and hospitality - and thank you again for the best award I have ever won!” – Mira Nair, Filmmaker
Featured films included The Woodsman, starring Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick, Undertow directed by David Gordon Green, and Down To The Bone by Debra Granik, starring Vera Farmiga. Cinetic president John Sloss received the inaugural Trailblazer Award. Panel participants included film executive and writer James Schamus, and actors Lili Taylor and Peter Riegert. Virtuose musicians Béla Fleck and Edgar Meyer headlined live shows, and other participants included Mira Nair, Peter Gabriel, Laura Linney, and Melissa Leo.
The festival’s year-round programming entered the national arena, screening several films in L.A. Back home in Woodstock, the festival honored Steve Buscemi with the Maverick Award, and screened Lonesome Jim. Other films included The Puffy Chair, by Mark and Jay Duplass; The Roost, an early Ti West film; and Twitch, a short by Leah Meyerhoff, the founder of Film Fatales. Janeane Garofalo, William Greaves, and Ellen Kuras were among the attendees.
“ There are a lot of film festivals but I think that the Woodstock Film Festival really champions independent film and that’s why I like it.”
– Steve Buscemi, Actor/Director
Longtime friend Barbara Kopple was honored with the Maverick Award, presented by Rosie Perez, and then head of IFC Films Jonathan Sehring was awarded the Trailblazer Award, presented by Matt Dillon. The festival was attended by Larry Fessenden with The Last Winter, Douglas McGrath with Infamous, James Ponsoldt with Off The Black, and LGBTQ+ film pioneer Barbara Hammer. Panels spanned crucial industry topics such as “Entertainment Law,” and “The Art of Producing,” with panelist documentarians Rachel Grady and Pamela Yates, editor Sabine Hoffman, producer John Sloss, and actors Giancarlo Esposito, Griffin Dunne, and David Strathairn.
The festival honored Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos and producer Christine Vachon during a week of programming attended by Norman Reedus, Molly Thompson, Jonathan Gray, and Ira Sachs. The festival screened Todd Haynes’ I’m Not There, Mary Stuart Masterson’s The Cake Eaters, Julian Schnabel’s The Diving Bell And The Butterfly, and Married Life, with starring actor Patricia Clarkson attending.
During this seminal year, the festival screened films by industry giants like Greta Gerwig’s Nights And Weekends, Barry Jenkins’ first feature film Medicine For Melancholy, and Bong Joon-ho, Leos Carax, and Michel Gondry’s Tokyo! Guests included Apple TV head Matt Dentler, documentarian Heidi Ewing, and filmmaker Ang Lee. The festival gave its first Lifetime Achievement Award to renowned cinematographer Haskell Wexler, and hosted shows headlined by Donovan and Béla Fleck.
25 YEAR LOOK BACK
“ We had such a great audience, I really wanted to come here for so long because I have so many friends who just love this film festival.”
– Tony Goldwyn, Director, Ezra
“ I am so thrilled and honored - out of every film festival in the world, yours means the most to me personally...”
– Lori Singer, Actor/Musician
‘Singing
Filmmaker Tze Chun launched his career with his first feature Children of Invention, which premiered at the festival. Ethan Hawke presented filmmaker Richard Linklater with the festival’s Maverick Award. Other attendees included Jonathan Demme, Uma Thurman, and Sarah and Emily Kunstler. Celebrating the ten year anniversary, the festival looked to the future through a panel titled “Redesigning Humanity: The New Frontier.”
Trish Lease
“ A smart, distinctive patchwork of narratives, documentaries, shorts, animations, panels, parties and music...” –
The festival took over the Emerson Resort & Spa for screenings of films by Vincent D’Onofrio and John Maggio, coupled with a lavish dinner and an allnight party. A screening of The Singularity is Near: A True Story About the Future was followed by a panel with renowned futurists Ray Kurzweil and Martine Rothblatt. Actors Edie Falco, Adrian Grenier, Keanu Reeves, and filmmakers Edward Burns, Alex Gibney, and Heather Rae attended, and Justin Sane and Sussan Deyhim performed.
The Hollywood Reporter
“ I have a special place in my heart for the Woodstock Film Festival…once you come, you just keep coming back.”
Woody Harrelson & Ron Mann Vera Farmiga, Lucy Liu, John Ventimiglia
Giancarlo Esposito
Bill Plympton Edie Falco
Adrian Grenier Vera Farmiga, Keanu Reeves
25 YEAR LOOK BACK
This year’s screenings included Musical Chairs by Susan Seidelman, and Peace, Love & Misunderstanding by Bruce Beresford, who was presented with the Maverick Award by actor Tess Harper. Actor and activist Mark Ruffalo received the Meera Gandhi Giving Back Award.
“ The most interesting filmmakers, I end up having a two or three hour conversation with people in a room somewhere, impromptu conversations with filmmakers from all over the world.”
Indie icon Nathan Silver presented his sophomore film Exit Elena, and has since shown all of his work at WFF. Other notable films included the documentary Casting By by Tom Donahue, Chasing Ice by Jeff Orlowski, and Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence In The House Of God by Alex Gibney. Legendary filmmaker Jonathan Demme was honored with the festival’s Maverick Award.
– Vincent D’Onofrio, Actor, Director “ It’s an honor to have a film show at the Woodstock Film Festival because obviously this place has a very important reputation and a very important history in the arts. ”
– Tim Blake Nelson, Actor/Filmmaker
Keynote speaker Slava Rubin of Indiegogo discussed crowdfunding to support creative projects, and panels delved into the intersection of new technologies and filmmaking, including “Facebook for Filmmakers and Artists.” Actor Paul Rudd participated in conversation about his career, Vera Farmiga, Andy Garcia and Sonny Rollins attended with their films, and Peter Bogdanovich was honored at the Maverick Awards.
“All the independent spirit that was here touched me. I can’t think of another place that seems better suited to have an independent film festival than Woodstock.”
The festival honored Mark Duplass and Darren Aronofsky during a week of programming that screened hits like The Imitation Game and Uncertain Terms. Panels explored such topics as “Women in the Director’s Chair,” and “Impact Filmmaking,” about the power of documentary filmmaking. Actors Natalie Portman, Jennifer Connelly, Courteney Cox, and Melissa Leo were among the participants.
– Paul Rudd, Actor “All the independent spirit that was here touched me and inspired me.”
– Darren Aronofsky, Filmmaker
Lori Singer
Jonathan Demme
Tim Blake Nelson
Natalie Merchant, Jon Bowermaster, Meira Blaustein
Seann William Scott, Courteney Cox
Audience
Sunny Rollins
Meera Gandhi, Mark Ruffalo Ellen Barkin, Vincent D’Onofrio
Kathy Ruttenberg
Bill Miller
Scott
Michael Ackerman
Mike DuBois
Tony Kaye
Michael Imperioli
Peter Bogdanovich Paul Rudd
2014 Maverick awards group photo
Jennifer Connelly, Natalie Portman, Darren Aronofsky
Director and activist Josh Fox gave the keynote speech, while additional talks included musician Natalie Merchant. Filmmakers Atom Egoyan and Guy Maddin were recognized with honorary awards, and attendees participated in discussions about “Social Impact in Media,” and “Film As Memoir.” A sold-out concert at UPAC featured a performance of Cuban music featuring Carlos Varela, joined by special guest Jackson Browne.
“
25 YEAR LOOK BACK
I’ve been very fortunate and lucky....I have an Oscar, I have an Emmy, I have a couple of Sundance things, and I pushed them over and I put that [Woodstock Film Festival] Maverick Award right in the middle!”
– Leon Gast, Director
The annual Spotlight on Women program featured 44 female directors in 2016, a third of the offerings. The festival honored David Linde with the Trailblazer Award presented by filmmaker Alejandro González Iñárritu, Oren Moverman with the Fiercely Independent Award presented by actor Ben Foster, and Leon Gast with the Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Barbara Kopple. Screenings included Thirsty by the late Margo Pelletier. There was also a masterclass with director Catherine Hardwicke, and an Actors Dialogue panel featuring first-time attendee Karen Allen.
The festival collaborated with filmmakers coming with their films from the Netherlands. Movies by honorees Rebecca Miller and Bill Pullman were accompanied by talks featuring both directors. Other films included Beauty Mark by Harris Doran, and Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold by Griffin Dunne. Guests included documentary filmmaker Lee Hirsch, actors Catherine Curtin and Giancarlo Esposito, and the late filmmaker and climate activist James Redford.
Honorees Julie Taymor, who attended with Across the Universe, and Matthew Heineman, who attended with A Private War, gave talks about their careers, as did actors Steve Buscemi and William Fichtner. The festival screened the exciting drama Wildlife by Paul Dano, and seminal documentaries like Mr. Soul! by Melissa Haizlip and Sam Pollard, and Stay Human by Michael Franti, who performed at the sold-out screening.
“Woodstock is becoming one of the most distinctive festivals on the circuit.”
– Time Out New York
“...The spirit of the namesake of the festival is in the very fiber of the festival itself - freewheeling experimental, searching and visionary.”
– by Julie Taymor, Director/Writer
Ron Chapman, Carlos Varela Guy Maddin, Atom Egoyan
Sweet 16 Cake
Rose McGowan, Stephen Lang
Mary Frank
Naomi Graphics and Laurent Rejto
John Cuneo
Alejandro González Iñárritu, David Linde Maria Govan
Bill Pullman
Auden Thornton, Meira Blaustein, Harris Doran, Catherine Curtin
Shep Gordon, Michael Lang
Karen Allen
Barbara Kopple, Leon Gast
Giancarlo Esposito, Michael Berry, Tim Young
William Fichtner, Steve Buscemi Virtual Reality Lounge
Cast & crew of Wheels Julie Taymor
25 YEAR LOOK BACK
For the 20th anniversary, the festival screened some of the most exciting films of 2019, including Parasite, Marriage Story, Portrait Of A Lady On Fire, and Swallow. Through documentary screenings like Parkland Rising, the festival explored some of the most important socio-political issues of our time. Events included a performance and screening of SIMON SHAHEEN: A Musical Journey, and conversations with actor Matt Dillon and musician Janis Ian. Producer and philanthropist Abigail Disney was honored at the Maverick Awards.
“My favorite festival by a wide margin. ”
– Enzo Cellucci, Filmmaker, (Film Freeway)
Despite the pandemic, where all theaters were closed, the festival continued its 20-plus-year legacy, and most filmmakers attended in-person. Responding to the challenges, the festival screened films at drive-ins and held virtual programming. Notable films included Fully Realized Humans, When Worlds Collide, and A Call To Spy, with filmmakers Lydia Dean Pilcher, Yoruba Richen, Heidi Ewing, Larry Fessenden, Malia Scharf, and Mira Nair attending in person.
“The Woodstock Film Festival continues to be the best! It encompasses all that is great about film festivals... It’s a must for filmmakers.”
– Barbara Kopple, Documentary Filmmaker
The festival screened instant classics like The Worst Person in the World by Joachim Trier and Petite Maman by Céline Sciamma, as well as groundbreaking documentaries. The Maverick Awards celebrated filmmakers Eliza Hittman and Roger Ross Williams, as well as Neon founder Tom Quinn. A special performance featured Kara DioGuardi with David Bacon and The Lumineers’ Jeremiah Fraites.
“Woodstock is my absolute favorite festival because it has everything; a beautiful and relaxing setting, a wonderful artistic community, and a powerfully curated selection of the finest-crafted films.”
– Roger Ross Williams, Academy Award-winning Filmmaker
Actress Awkwafina was honored with the festival’s new Transcendent Talent Award, while Ethan Hawke was feted with the festival’s Maverick Award, Debra Granik with the Fiercely Independent Award, and Arianna Bocco with the Trailblazer Award. The festival screened the award-winning films The Banshees of Inisherin and Triangle of Sadness and held a musical performance by Clem Snide with Scott Avett.
“The community building, idea sharing, and celebration of film as a medium is invaluable to the lifeblood of the film community. I’ve been to many festivals all around the world, but this is one of my favorites.”
– Ethan Hawke, Actor / Director
Drive-in screening A Call To Spy Q&A
Fran Kranz
Matt Dillon
Eric Roberts
Adam Blaustein Rejto, Beck Underwood
Risa
McKenna Wood
Joan Snyder
Parkland Rising live art
2019 Maverick Awards group photo
Greenville Drive In Drive-in screening
Sarah Kunstler Rachel Winter, Kelsey Grammer Roger Ross Williams
Legendary filmmaker James Ivory was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by actor Matthew Modine. 2023 buzzworthy films included I Used To Be Funny, and War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko by Dave Mullins, which premiered at the WFF and went on to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Short. Actor/musician Kiefer Sutherland performed after a screening of Texas Music Revolution, and the Zombies gave a memorable concert.
“All of us, and what we’re celebrating here at the WFF is something that really has no intrinsic value but is invaluable to our culture.”
– Matthew Modine, Actor / Filmmaker
Looking to the future, the Woodstock Film Festival will continue to be a vibrant, exciting space for filmmakers. The festival is proud to celebrate 25 years of fiercely independent cinema.
“The town of Woodstock is the perfect fall backdrop for this fiercely independent festival. I’m looking forward to the upcoming anniversary year festival in 2024.”
– Kim Jackson, Producer / NYWIFT Board Member
Kiefer Sutherland
Woodstock Film Festival Staff 2024
Sofia Coppola, Meira Blaustein Michael Imperioli
James Ivory, Matthew Modine
CONGRATULATIONS ON 25 YEARS OF CHAMPIONING INDEPENDENT FILM!
LIVE. LOCAL. INDEPENDENT. 100.1
YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMS
The Woodstock Film Festival has grown from once a year fall film festival into a vibrant cultural and educational hub, staying true to its mission of nurturing and supporting filmmakers while promoting culture, diversity, and community.
WFF continues to inspire its audience with a variety of cinematic experiences year-round—Academy Awards FYC screenings, filmmaker Q&As, networking events, and special parties. By teaming up with other groups and organizations, WFF serves as a powerful cultural and economic engine for New York’s Hudson Valley and beyond.
And after this festival, there’s still a lot more coming—so you don’t have to wait until next fall to feel the magic.
EDUCATION
The 4th Annual Woodstock Filmmakers Residency and Incubator, presented in collaboration with White Feather Farm and supported by the Lozen Foundation and Gigantic Pictures, ran for 4 weeks in the spring of 2024. The annual residency mentors and houses four filmmakers of diverse and underrepresented backgrounds as they develop their full-length narrative and documentary films – films that address environmental issues: from climate crisis/climate refugees, to sustainability and food security, to holistic ecosystem stewardship and/or regenerative practices.
Accomplished filmmakers serve as mentors, providing the residents with insight, inspiration, and guidance. Residents are selected via a robust advisory process, working with various film organizations. Residents get selected on the basis of their previous work, their choice of subject matter for their current project, their collaborative instincts, their ability to express their vision, and their openness to sharing a house with three other filmmakers.
The goal of the residency is to utilize the quiet, natural beauty of the Catskills to help cultivate a deep, fertile development process for new film projects. This initiative is an extension of WFF’s long history of nurturing independent filmmakers who are passionate about telling cinematic stories that impact humanity and our planet. During the four-week residency, fellows also engage in a series of in-person mentorship sessions, workshops, and craft lectures.
PROGRAMS
OCTOBER 2023
THE DEEPEST BREATH
Screening with Director Q&A
WFF presented a screening of the documentary, followed by a Q&A and reception with director Laura McGann, hosted by filmmaker Robert Stone.
NOVEMBER 2023
IN THE SHADOW OF BEIRUT Virtual Screening with Filmmakers Q&A
This live virtual screening of In The Shadow of Beirut was followed by a Q&A with director Stephen Gerard Kelly and co-producer Myriam Sassine, hosted by filmmaker Pamela Yates.
HER STORY: Empowered & Engaged
This symposium brought together five regional film initiatives that work to empower female-identifying and nonbinary members of the film industry. The event included networking time and a Q&A.
YOUTH FILM LAB
July 2024 marked the 7th year of the WFF Youth Film Lab, with support from the NoVo Foundation. Based in Kingston, NY, the free to attend three-week program included 14 students from local schools. The program was led by 3 TA’s (also YFL alumni) and 3 veteran filmmakers as instructors. Over the course of the three-week intensive filmmaking lab, the teams produced three unique films as they collaborated through all phases of the filmmaking process: pre-production, production + post-production. The lab wrapped with two short documentary films focusing on local, community issues and one narrative film. The films will premiere at the WFF in the Fall.
Throughout the 7 years, a highlight of the Youth Film Lab has often been the diverse roster of guest mentors that participated year after year. Hailing from all corners of the entertainment industry, these accomplished filmmakers, producers, editors, and actors provide students with creative guidance and unique insights gleaned from their distinguished careers.
GOING TO MARS: The Nikki Giovanni Project Screening with Filmmakers Q&A
This screening of GOING TO MARS:
The Nikki Giovanni Project, presented courtesy of HBO Documentary Films, was followed by a Q&A and reception with directors Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson, hosted by filmmaker Pamela Yates.
DECEMBER 2023
LITTLE RICHARD: I Am Everything Screening with Filmmaker Q&A
This screening of LITTLE RICHARD: I Am Everything was followed by a Q&A with director Lisa Cortés, hosted by Rolling Stone editor Jason Fine.
PAST LIVES Special Screening with Director Q&A
This screening of the Oscar nominated Past Lives, courtesy of A24, was followed by a live virtual Q&A with director Celine Song, hosted by best-selling author and film critic Thelma Adams.
ANOTHER BODY
Special Screening:
The WFF and Upstate Films co-presented a screening of the documentary Another Body, with editors Rabab Haj Yahya and Isabel Freeman in attendance. The film was followed by a speakeasy salon with Kate Cox and Poppy de Villeneuve.
FELLOW TRAVELERS
Live Virtual Conversation with Creator/Showrunner
WFF hosted an online conversation with Ron Nyswaner, creator and showrunner of Fellow Travelers, moderated by producer Peter Saraf.
JANUARY 2024
FEBRUARY 2024
THE SWEET EAST Special Screening with Director Q&A
Kicking off 2024, the WFF and Upstate Film co-presented a screening of The Sweet East, followed by Q&A with director Sean Price Williams and writer Nick Pinkterton.
BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE Special Screening
The WFF presented a sneak-peek screening of BOB MARLEY: One Love.
MARCH 2024
APRIL 2024
MAY 2024
OSCARS® PARTY
The WFF hosted an Oscars viewing party with drinks, hors d’oeuvres, exclusive movie swag, and a silent auction at Bearsville Theater.
TEN FILMS THAT CHANGED AMERICA
WFF hosted a multimedia event, produced by Thoughtful Productions and curated and presented live by Bard Professor Joseph Luzzi, which screened films that have profoundly impacted our culture.
THE RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALIST
Special Screening + Filmmaker Q&A
This screening of The Reluctant Fundamentalist was followed by a Q&A with Academy Award-nominated director Mira Nair and producer Lydia Dean Pilcher, moderated by Thelma Adams.
THE SMELL OF MONEY Screening + Panel Discussion with Woodstock Farm Sanctuary
The WFF collaborated with the Woodstock Farm Sanctuary to host a screening of the documentary The Smell of Money, followed by a Q&A with director Shawn Bannon, moderator Anna Balser, and Jo-Anne McArthur, founder and president of We Animals Media.
WOODSTOCK FILM FESTIVAL FILMMAKER MEETUP
WFF brought together local filmmakers for an afternoon of networking, project discussions, and talks from guest speakers, including indie filmmakers Larry Fessenden and Nathan Silver.
YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMS
JUNE 2024
GHOSTLIGHT with Filmmakers Q&A
This screening of IFC’s comedy-drama Ghostlight was followed by a Q&A with director Alex Thompson and director and writer Kelly O’Sullivan, moderated by film critic Thelma Adams.
JULY 2024
25th Anniversary Poster Signing and Reception with Matt Dillon + performance by Gail Ann Dorsey
Kicking off the 2024 festival, the WFF hosted a reception, poster signing, and concert with Matt Dillon and Gail Ann Dorsey. Dillon designed this year’s commemorative poster, while Dorsey has previously performed at the festival’s music events.
DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN / DESPERATELY SEEKING SOMETHING Screening, Q&A and Book Signing with Director & Author
The WFF held a throwback screening of Susan Seidelman’s Desperately Seeking
Susan. The film was followed by a conversation with Seidelman and director Katherine Dieckmann, as well as a book signing of Seidelman’s memoir Desperately Seeking Something.
PIECES OF APRIL Special Screening with Q&A
Director Peter Hedges, and actresses
Patricia Clarkson and Alison Pill attended a screening of cult classic Pieces of April. The festival alumni participated in a Q&A hosted by actor and climate activist Tim Guinee.
AUGUST 2024
QUEER FUTURE Shorts Series with Directors Q&A
In a collaboration with the Hudson Valley LGBTQ+ Center, the WFF screened four short films as part of a Queer Futures collection. The collection centers joy and connection to imagine future visions of queer life.
Directors Sasha Wortzel and Noah Schamus participated in a Q&A.
DAUGHTERS Screening and Q&A with Directors and Reception
Presented by Netflix, the screening of this year’s Sundance award-winning documentary was followed by a Q&A with directors Natalie Rae and Angela Patton, moderated by filmmaker Roger Ross Williams.
BEST OF THE DECADE: Woodstock Film Festival Animated Shorts
To celebrate the 25th anniversary, the WFF screened award-winning animated shorts from the past decade. The screening was followed by a conversation with the filmmakers, moderated by Noelle Melody, the WFF Animated Shorts programmer.
SEPTEMBER 2024
SNEAK PEEK: HIS THREE DAUGHTERS
The WFF hosted a sneak peek of the Netflix film His Three Daughters, starring Carrie Coon, Elizabeth Olsen, and Natasha Lyonne, before its theatrical release.
WORLD’S MOST AWARDED TEQUILA PROUD SPONSOR OF THE WOODSTOCK FILM FESTIVAL
FEATURE NARRATIVE
NICKEL BOYS
Directed by RaMell Ross
USA / 2023 / 140 minutes
Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Colson Whitehead, Nickel Boys chronicles the powerful friendship between two young Black teenagers navigating the harrowing trials of reform school together in Florida.
Cast: Ethan Herisse, Brandon Wilson, Hamish Linklater, Fred Hechinger, Daveed Diggs, and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor
Cinematographer: Jomo Fray
Editor: Nicholas Monsour
Production Design: Nora Mendis
Composers: Alex Somers, Scott Alario
OF DOGS AND MEN
Directed by Dani Rosenberg
Israel / 2024 /82 minutes w/ Q&A Hebrew with subtitles
16-year-old Dar returns to her kibbutz in search of her dog, lost during the massacre she survived days earlier. Confronting the horrors around her and the tragedy unfolding nearby in Gaza, Dar tries to find her own voice.
Screenwriters: Dani Rosenberg, Ori Avinoam, Itai Tamir
Producers: Itai Tamir, Alexander Rodnyansky, Donatella Palermo
Executive Producers: Serge Lalou, Vadim Aminov
Cast: Ori Avinoam, Natan Bahat, Nora Lifshitz, Yamit
Avital
Cinematographer: Ziv Berkovich
Editor: Nili Feller
Sound Design: Itzik Cohen, Neal Gibbs, Oz Sicherman
Music: Yuval Semo
FEATURE NARRATIVE
SEPTEMBER 5
Directed by Tim Fehlbaum
Germany / 2024 / 90 minutes
English, German with subtitles
Through this lens, September 5 provides a fresh perspective on the live broadcast seen globally by an estimated one billion people at the time.
Screenwriters: Tim Fehlbaum, Moritz Binder
Producers: Thomas Wöbke, John Wildermuth, Philipp Trauer, John Ira Palmer, Mark Nolting, Sean Penn
Executive Producers: Martin Moszkowicz, Christoph Müller
Co-Producers: Rüdiger Böss, Constanze Guttmann, Christian Reitz
Cast: Peter Sarsgaard, John Magaro, Ben Chaplin
Cinematographer: Markus Förderer
Editor: Hansjörg Weißbrich
Composer: Lorenz Dangel
RUMOURS
Directed by Guy Maddin, Galen Johnson, Evan Johnson
USA / 2024 / 109 minutes w/ Q&A
En route to the annual G7 summit, the seven leaders of the world’s wealthiest liberal democracies get lost in the woods and face increasing peril while attempting to draft a provisional statement regarding a global crisis.
Screenwriter: Guy Maddin
Producers: Liz Jarvis, Lars Knudsen, Philipp Kreuzer
Executive Producers: Kent Sanderson, Andrew Karpen, Ari Aster, Mary Aloe, Phyllis Laing, Gillian Hormel, Stefan Kapelari, Gábor Rajna, Blair Ward, Lauren Case, Eric Harbert, Jörg Schulze, Anders Erdén, Gábor Sipos, Tyler Campellone, Cate Blanchett
Co-Producers: Judit Stalter, Simon Ofenloch
Cast: Cate Blanchett, Rolando Ravello, Charles Dance
Cinematographer: Stefan Ciupek
Editors: John Gurdebeke, Evan Johnson, Galen Johnson
Production Design: Zosia Mackenzie
Music: Jillian Ennis
SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE
Directed by Tim Mielants
Ireland / 2023 / 96minutes w/ Q&A
Cillian Murphy delivers a powerhouse performance as a devoted family man who wrestles with staying silent or speaking out in the face of wrongdoing.
Screenwriter: Edna Walsh
Producers: Alan Moloney, Cillian Murphy, Catherine Magee, Matt Damon, Drew Vinton
Executive Producers: Ben Affleck, Michael Joe, Kevin Halloran, Niamh Fagan
Co-Producers: Susan Mullen, Gitte Nuyens, Bert Van Dael, Sasha Veneziano
Directed by Brian Brightly USA / 2023 / 102 minutes w/ Q&A
Twenty-something Rachel (a pitch-perfect Julia Randall) is our guide to this weekend’s gathering, chronicling the proceedings for her film-school project: a portrait of four fifty-something longtime friends, one of whom recently died. Rachel once babysat for these men’s children -- she knows them awfully well -- but now her presence as a grown woman subtly disturbs the landscape.
Screenwriter: Brian Brightly
Producer: Brad King
Executive Producers: Chad DePue, Josh Jones, Karen Brightly, Scott Nocas
Co-Producer: Michael Chernus
Cast: Michael Chernus, Rob Yang, Ross Partridge, Ryan Miller, Julia Randall
Cinematographer: Michael J. Burke
Editor: Myles David Jewell
Production Design: Clancy Talbot
Composer: Ryan Miller, Jay Lifton
Sound Design: Jon Flores
Music: Jon Muq, The Foxies, The Ghost Club, Dead Gowns, Microwave, Guster
64 DAYS
Directed by Nick Quested
USA / 2024 / 100 minutes w/ Q&A
From the filmmaker embedded with the Proud Boys, and who was called to testify before the January 6th Committee with his exclusive footage, this is a firsthand account of the conspiracy to steal the election.
Screenwriter: Nick Quested
Screenwriter: Nick Quested
Producers:
David Kennedy, Gretchen McGowan, Nick Quested
Executive Producers: Sebastian Junger, Matthew Freud, Kris Thykier, Matt Renner, TIm Pastore
Co-Producers: Nico Lupo Sonnabend, Alexander Spiess
Cinematographer: Carlos Cardona
Editors: Robert Nassau, Nick Quested, James Lester, Michael Craft
Composers: Adam Peters, Djami Wilson
Sound Design: Allan Gus
Music: Adam Peters, Djami Wilson
ADA - MY MOTHER THE ARCHITECT
Directed by Yael Melamede
USA, Israel / 2024 / 81 minutes w/ Q&A
English, Hebrew with subtitles
A deeply moving portrait of an artist tested by the realities of career, motherhood, and the unrealized dreams of her fragile nation.
Producer: Hilla Medalia
Executive Producers: Simon Kilmurry, Elise Jaffe, Jeffrey Brown, Ori Eisen, Guy Lavie
Cast: Ada Karmi Melamede, Yael Melamede, Frank Gehry, Moshe Safdie, Aharon Barak
Cinematographers: Daniel Kedem, Guy Raz
Editor: Sharon Yaish
NO OTHER LAND
Directed by Yuval, Basel, Hamdan, Rachel Abraham, Adra, Ballal, Szor
Palestine, Norway / 2024 / 96 minutes
Arabic, Hebrew, English with subtitles
FEATURE
[THE ] BIBI FILES
Directed by Alexis Bloom
USA / 2024 / 110 minutes w/ Q&A
English, Hebrew, Arabic with subtitles
This behind-the-scenes investigation of Benjamin Netanyahu and his inner circle provides an unflinching gaze into the private world behind the headlines. Leaked police interrogation videos show frustration, vanity and a sense of entitlement writ large in the Netanyahu family. Their stubborn refusal to cede power leads to a fatal alliance with the extreme right wing, and dire consequences follow.
Producers: Alex Gibney, Kara Elverson Raviv Drucker
Executive Producers: Lyn DavisBe Lear, Jim Swartz, Erin Edeikin, Richard Perello.
Cast: Benjamin Netanyahu, Sara Netanyahu, Yair Netanyahu, Ami Ayalon, Raviv Drucker, Nimrod Novik
Cinematographer: Avner Shahaf
Editors: Andy Grieve, Halil Efrat
Animator: Anthony Rhoads
Composer & Music: Will Bates
COASTAL
Directed by Daryl Hannah USA / 2024 / 74 minutes
Take a journey with Neil Young on this personal, behind-the-scenes doc as he cruises the coast for his recent solo tour. Coastal gives an intimate view of the maverick musician, as he navigates a return to the stage post-Covid. From his everyday observations on the bus to his candid banter with his audience. Coastal is a rare peek behind the curtain of this unguarded iconoclast.
Producer: Gary Ward
Cast: Neil Young
Cinematographers: Adam CK Vollick, Daryl Hannah
Editor: Rachel Simmer
Music: Neil Young
For half a decade, Basel Adra, a Palestinian activist, films his community of Masafer Yatta being destroyed by Israel’s occupation, as he builds an unlikely alliance with an Israeli journalist who wants to join his fight.
Unraveling centuries of greed and exploitation in America’s meat industry, this modern-day take on Upton Sinclair’s 1906 novel calls into question the profiteering of ecosystems, revealing how indigenous knowledge may hold the key to creating equitable food systems for both people and the planet.
Producers: Pamela Ryan, John Block, Jeff Spivack
Executive Producers: Kevin Lo, Mark Bittman
Cast: Mark Bittman, Derrick and Paige Jackson, Chuck Wirtz, Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin
Cinematographer: Matt Wechsler
Editor: Matt Wechsler, Michael Lahey
Animator: Beakus
Composer: Jim Gaynor, Allison Leyton-Brown
Sound Design: Ryan Staples
A SPECIAL POST-SCREENING CONVERSATION with Director Matt Wechsler, Executive Producer/ Subject Mark Bittman, and regenerative agriculture leader Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin
SHOWING AT Broken Wing Barn at White Feather Farm
MEN OF WAR
Directed by Jen Gatien, Billy Corben
USA, Canada / 2024 / 103 minutes w/ Q&A
English, Spanish with subtitles
An insider account of the failed 2020 coup in Venezuela as told by former US Army Green
Beret Jordan Goudreau, a three-time Bronze Star recipient who organized the ill-fated mission. A harrowing look into the realpolitik world of exiled leaders, private armies and shadowy intelligence operatives and what made one man believe he could change the course of a nation’s history.
Producers: Alfred Spellman, Billy Corben
Executive Producers: Tom Quinn, Dan O’Meara, Todd Schulman, Adam McKay
Co-Producers: Erin Kennedy, John Miller-Monzon
Cast: Jordan Goudreau, Cliver Alcala Cordones, Sebastina Barrez
Cinematographers: Hernan Perez, BJ Golnick, Gogy Esparza, Mohammed Hare, Francesca Consarino, Tobias Datum
Editors: Andrew Saunderson, David Cypkin, Janah Elise Cox, Armando Croda
COURTESY OF: ABRAMORAMA
FEATURE NARRATIVE
ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT
Directed by Payal Kapadia
France, India, Netherlands, Luxembourg / 2024 / 118 minutes
Malayalam, Hindi with subtitles
In Mumbai, Nurse Prabha’s routine is troubled when she receives an unexpected gift from her estranged husband. Her younger roommate, Anu, tries in vain to find a spot in the city to be intimate with her boyfriend. A trip to a beach town allows them to find a space for their desires to manifest. 2024 Cannes’ Grand Prize Winner, All We Imagine As Light has been receiving rave reviews from all critics, maintaining 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Screenwriter: Payal Kapadia
Producers: Thomas Hakim, Julien Graff
Executive Producers: Harshit Agarwal, K C Pranav Raj, Neil Chowdhury
Co-Producers: Zico Maitra, Ranabir Das, Frank Hoeve, Govinda Van Maele, Gilles Chanial, Denise Ping Leen, Roberto Minervini, Olivier Père
Directed by Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel Norway / 2024 / 117 minutes w/ Q&A Norwegian with subtitles
A shocking incident of alleged sexual harassment between young children is explored through the eyes of adults in this tense, thought-provoking Norwegian drama. Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel’s stunning directorial debut, which earned him the Camera d’Or at Cannes, delicately navigates the complex emotions surrounding the event. Renate Reinsve delivers a powerful performance as a single mother battling for her son’s and own innocence amid growing suspicion and blame. – Amir Bogen
Screenwriter: Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel
Producer: Andrea Berentsen Ottmar
Executive Producers: Dyveke Bjørkly Graver, Harald Fagerheim Bugge, Renate Reinsve
Co-Producers: Koji Nelissen, Derk-Jan Warrink, Fred Burle, Sol Bondy, Alicia Hansen, et al.
Cast: Renate Reinsve, Ellen Dorrit Petersen, Endre Hellestveit, Thea Lambrechts Vaulen, Cinematographers: Pal Ulvik Rokseth, FNF
Editor: Robert Krantz
Sound Design: Mats Lid Stoten
Music: Ella Van Der Woude
ANNA COMES HOME
Directed by Amber Paulette Suzor
USA / 2023 / 95 minutes w/ Q&A
Anna Comes Home follows an awkward, deeply inquisitive young woman as she navigates the painful transition to adulthood after being ghosted by a high school crush. Set in Marin County, the film explores privilege, identity, and self-discovery, as Anna confronts her insecurities. Facing the underlying emptiness she’s been avoiding all along, Anna learns to accept herself.
Screenwriter: Amber Paulette Suzor
Producers: Jennifer Downes, Frederic Bao Long Winkler
Cast: Bella Newman, Raina Morris, Charlie McElveen, Cindy Newman, Hugh Newman, Stephan Suzor, Isabella Chayet
ANORA
Directed by Sean Baker
USA / 2024 / 138 minutes
Fresh off its Palme d’Or win at Cannes, this electrifying comedy by Sean Baker dives into the gritty world of Brooklyn’s strip clubs with a raw and seductive style. Follow the fearless, unapologetic sex worker Anora (Mikey Madison) as she navigates a whirlwind of love, deception, and danger. When a young Russian admirer proposes, she seizes the chance for a better future, but his wealthy oligarch parents send thugs to break them apart. – Amir Bogen
Screenwriter: Sean Baker
Producers: Sean Baker, Sammy Quan, Alex Coco
Executive Producers: Ken Meyer, Clay Pecorin, Glen Basner, Alison Cohen, Milan Popelka
Cast: Mikey Madison, Mark Eydelshteyn, Yura Borisov, Karren Karagulian, Vache Tovmasyan
Cinematographer: Drew Daniels
Editor: Sean Baker
BLITZ
Directed by Steve McQueen UK / 2024 / 114 minutes
Academy Award® and BAFTA Award-winning Steve McQueen’s (Widows, 12 Years a Slave, Shame) new film follows the epic journey of George (Elliott Heffernan), a 9-year-old boy in World War II London, whose mother Rita (Saoirse Ronan) sends him to safety in the English countryside. Defiant to return home, George embarks on an adventure finding himself in peril, while a distraught Rita searches for her missing son. Blitz will open this year’s BFI London Film Festival.
Screenwriter: Steve McQueen
Producers: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Steve McQueen, Anita Overland, Adam Somner, Arnon Milchan, Yariv Milchan, Michael Schaefer
Executive Producers: Anna Smith Tenser, Natalie Lehmann, Sheeraz Shah, Sarah-Jane Wright
Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Paul Weller, Benjamin Clementine, Kathy Burke, Elliott Heffernan
Cinematographer: Yorick le Saux
Editor: Peter Sciberras
Production Design: Adam Stockhausen
Composer: Hans Zimmer
BOB TREVINO LIKES IT
Directed by Tracie Laymon
USA / 2024 / 102 minutes w/ Q&A
Opening with Lily Trevino’s emotional breakdown, Bob Trevino Likes It unravels her raw, non-linear healing journey. Barbie Ferreira (HBO’s Euphoria) stars as Lily, who, seeking to reconnect with her newly estranged father on Facebook, stumbles upon a stranger’s profile with the same name, Bob Trevino (John Leguizamo). Through this unexpected bond, she finds solace… but it’s not that simple. Tracie Laymon’s film powerfully explores complex family dynamics, trauma, and the cathartic path to healing. – Monet Massac
Screenwriter: Tracie Laymon
Producers: Tracie Laymon, Sean Mullin, Edgar Rosa, Felipe Dieppa
Executive Producers: Carl Effenson, Barbie Ferreira, John Leguizamo, Kirk D’Amico, Mike Sobiloff, Peter Sobiloff, Dale Holdren, Rose Stewart
Co-Producer: Heather Denton
Cast: Barbie Ferreira, John Leguizamo, French Stewart, Lauren “Lolo” Spencer, Rachel Bay Jones
Cinematographer: John Rosario
Editor: Anisha Acharya
Composer & Music: Jacques Brautbar
Sound Design: Ken Pries
CENTERPIECE
BOUNDARY WATERS
Directed by Tessa Blake
USA / 2024 / 98 minutes w/ Q&A
In the Iron Range of Minnesota, 12-year-old Michael, played beautifully by Étienne Kellici, is just learning to flirt with girls and find his place among his friends, when one night his mother is badly hurt. Caught between his meddling and wise grandmother (Carol Kane), his reserved Father (Bill Heck), and his Mother (Allison Miller), Michael is desperate to fix what happened. Trying hard to become a man, Michael learns that some men cause harm.
Screenwriters: Jennifer Manocherian, Tessa Blake
Producers: Erin Mae Miller, Jennifer Manocherian, Tessa Blake
Executive
Producers: Louis Tocchet, Todd Slater
Co-Producer: Birgit Gernböck
Cast: Étienne Kellici, Allison Miller, Chris Jackson, Carmela Zumbado, Bill Heck, Carol Kane
Cinematographer: Carlo Rinaldi
Editor: Nathan Whiteside
Production Design: Ian Connell
Composer: Valentin Hadjadj
Sound Design: Formosa Group
Music: Maddi Frick
[THE] END
Directed by Joshua Oppenheimer Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Italy, UK / 2024 / 148 minutes
Academy Award-nominated Director Joshua Oppenheimer (The Look of Silence, The Act of Killing) presents The End, a Golden Age musical about one of the last families on earth, starring Academy Awardwinner Tilda Swinton as Mother and Academy Award-nominee Michael Shannon as Father. After the sudden arrival of a stranger, Girl (Moses Ingram), threatens the family’s luxurious compound deep underground, Son (George MacKay) begins to question their seemingly perfect existence. – Amir Bogen
Producers: Signe Byrge Sørensen, Joshua Oppenheimer, Tilda Swinton
Executive Producers: Jeff Deutchman, Tom Quinn, Emily Thomas, Elissa Federoff, et al.
Cast: Tilda Swinton, George Mackay, Moses Ingram, Michael Shannon, Bronagh Gallagher, Tim McInnerny, Lennie James, Danielle Ryan, Naomi O’Garro
Cinematographer: Mikhail Krichman
Editor: Niels Pagh Andersen
Composers: Joshua Schmidt, Marius De Vries
Music: Joshua Schmidt COURTESY OF: NEON
BROOKLYN, MINNESOTA
Directed by Jessica Blank, Erik Jensen
USA / 2024 / 96 minutes w/ Q&A
Brooklyn, Minnesota follows a father, Kurt (played by Erik Jensen) and his daughter Maisie (played by his real-life daughter Sadie Jensen-Blank), on a cross country trip to Kurt’s childhood home. Following the death of her Grandfather she didn’t know existed, Maisie uncovers a wealth of deep dark secrets that are destroying her family. Costarring Amy Madigan (Field of Dreams) this family drama is a story of profound forgiveness and love. – Sierra Slaughter
Screenwriters: Jessica Blank, Erik Jensen, Han Shan
Producers: Michael Cuomo, Lillian LaSalle, Jessica Blank, Han Shan
Executive Producers: Bob Balaban, Mike & Zelene Fowler, Steven Silverstein & Cathy Raduns
Co-Producers: Dominic Howes, Joel Weber, AJ Rinella, Ashton Dicke
Cast: Amy Madigan, Sadie Jensen-Blank, Erik Jensen, Cullen Moss, Jacob Moran, Heather Reddick, Ines Mojica, Joel Marsh-Garland, Thomas Kopache
Cinematographer: Joel Weber
Editors: Gordon Grinberg; Danny Ward
Animator: Rachel Razor
Composer: Alex Rosenbloom
Music: Linda Cohen, Jolie Holland, David Robbins
FLOW
Directed by Gints Zilbalodis
Latvia, France, Belgium / 2024 / 84 minutes
In a world mysteriously devoid of humans, with fresh flood waters rising, a heroically brave cat finds refuge in a tiny boat, joining an odd animal menagerie who must somehow learn to survive together. A highlight of this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Flow is a tale of trust lost and found, with gorgeous animation and a keen sense of the animal kingdom to capture our imagination, telling a story accessible to all. – Peter Wortmann
Screenwriters: Gints Zilbalodis, Matīss Kaža
Producers: Matīss Kaža, Gints Zilbalodis, Ron Dyens, Gregory Zalcman
Cinematographer: Gints Zilbalodis
Editor: Gints Zilbalodis
Animator: Gints Zilbalodis
Music: Gints Zilbalodis, Rihards Zaļupe
EMILIA PÉREZ
Directed by Jacques Audiard
France / 2024 / 132 minutes
Spanish with subtitles
From renegade auteur Jacques Audiard comes Emilia Pérez, an audacious fever dream that defies genres and expectations. Through liberating song and dance and bold visuals, this odyssey follows the journey of four remarkable women in Mexico, each pursuing their own happiness. The fearsome cartel leader Emilia enlists Rita, an unappreciated lawyer stuck in a dead-end job, to help fake her death so that Emilia can finally live authentically as her true self.
Screenwriters: Jacques Audiard, Thomas Bidegain, Nicolas Livecchi, Léa Mysius
Cast: Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz, Edgar Ramírez
In Gazer, a unique Jersey Noir that premiered at Cannes Film Festival, Ariella Mastroianni plays Frankie, a young mother with dyschronometria, a fatal neurological disorder making it difficult to perceive time. Out of desperation, Frankie takes on a risky job, one which she later regrets and sets off a mystery with dark consequences.
– Adam Schartoff
Screenwriters: Ryan J. Sloan, Ariella Mastroianni
Producers: Ryan J. Sloan, Ariella Mastroianni
Executive Producers: Sean Glass, Emily Korteweg
Cast: Ariella Mastroianni, Marcia Debonis, Renee Gagner, Jack Alberts, Tommy Kang
Cinematographer: Matheus Bastos
Editors: Ryan J. Sloan, Jordan Toussaint
COURTESY OF: NETFLIX
FEATURE NARRATIVE
HARD TRUTHS
Directed by Mike Leigh
UK, Spain / 2024 / 97 minutes
Mike Leigh continues to captivate audiences with his latest work Hard Truths, in which he delves into the disintegration of a black working-class family. Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Secrets and Lies) delivers a powerful performance as a tormented woman who estranges herself from her husband, son, and sister. The film is a striking blend of hard-hitting realism and absurdity, showcasing the British Filmmaker’s unparalleled ability to capture the intricacies of human experience. – Amir Bogen
Screenwriters: Mike Leigh
Producer: Georgina Lowe
Executive Producers: Richard Kondal, Jennifer Eriksson, Alison Thompson, Mark Gooder, Andrew Karpen, Kent Sanderson, Javier Méndez, Javier Pons, Ollie Madden, Daniel Battsek, Gail Egan
Cast: Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Michele Austin
Cinematographer: Dick Pope BSC
Editor: Tania Reddin
HARDCORE NEVER DIES
Directed by Jim Taihuttu
Netherlands / 2023 / 94 minutes w/ Q&A
Dutch with subtitles
17-year-old Michael dreams of a future as a pianist, but his music education is not going smoothly. In his search for inspiration, he receives help from an unexpected source: his brother Danny introduces him to the emerging Dutch “gabber” music scene. Michael is drawn into a world of hard beats, brotherhood and drugs. When Danny’s drug business reaches international proportions, the brothers must fight for their lives.
Screenwriter: Jim Taihuttu
Producer: Sander Verdonk
Executive Producer: Frank Klein
Co-Producer: Benoit Roland
Cast: Joes Brauer, Jim Deddes, Rosa Still, Jordy Dijkshoorn, Joenoes Polnaija
Cinematographer: Lennart Verstegen
Editor: Emiel Nunninga
Production Design: Ben Zuydwijk
Composer: Gino Taihuttu
Supported by the Dutch Culture USA program of the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in New York COURTESY OF: NEW
IF YOU SEE SOMETHING
Directed by Oday Rasheed
USA, Jordan / 2024 / 97 minutes w/ Q&A
English, Arabic with subtitles
In the bliss of their new love, Ali, an Iraqi immigrant seeking political asylum, and Katie, an American woman, build their life together in New York City. When a crisis strikes in Baghdad, Katie and Ali are forced to navigate its impact on their relationship.
Centered around a fantastic performance from Adam Bakri (Ali & Nino, Omar), If You See Something is a beautiful and heartbreaking film that marks Iraqi director Oday Rasheed’s American debut.
Screenwriters: Jess Jacobs, Avram Noble Ludwig
Producers: Jess Jacobs, Stephanie Roush, Brian Newman
Executive Producer: Doug Liman
Cast: Adam Bakri, Jess Jacobs, Reed Birney, Nasser Faris
Cinematographer: Daniel Vecchione
Editor: Soojin Chung
Production Design: Cheyenne Ford
Composer: Bryan Keller
Sound Design: Nathan Ruyle
HAZARD
Directed by Eddie Mensore
USA / 2024 / 88 minutes w/ Q&A
Situated in the world of Appalachian coal country, Hazard tells the story of an injured coal miner attempting to escape his addiction and to support his family. What follows is a deeply empathetic and often heartbreaking portrait of the opiate epidemic affecting working class communities across this country, leaving viewers to question if one individual can truly escape the generational cycles of poverty and addiction. – Daniel Abelow
Screenwriter: Eddie Mensore
Producers: Eddie Mensore, Alex Roe, Sosie Bacon
Executive Producers: Gill Holland, Matthew Shreder
Cast: Alex Roe, Sosie Bacon, Dave Davis, Steven Ogg, Kevin Sizemore
Cinematographer: Matthew Boyd
Editors: Eddie Mensore, Steven Rickert Jr.
Production Design: Michael McKowen
Composer: Mauricio Yazigi
Sound Design: Greg Crawford
Music: Mauricio Yazigi
I’M STILL HERE
Directed by Walter Salles
Brazil, France / 2024 / 135 minutes
Portuguese with subtitles
Brazil faces the tightening grip of a military dictatorship. Eunice Paiva, mother of five, is forced to reinvent herself after her family suffers a violent arbitrary act by the government. Based on Marcelo Rubens Paiva’s memoir, directed by Academy Award-nominee Walter Salles (The Motorcycle Diaries, Central Station), and starring Academy Award-nominee Fernanda Montenegro as Eunice, I’m Still Here reconstructs an important part of Brazil’s hidden history.
Screenwriters: Murilo Hauser, Heitor Lorega
Producers: Maria Carlota Bruno, Rodrigo Teixeira, Martine De Clermont-Tonnerre
Executive Producers: Guilherme Terra, Thierry de Clermont-Tonnerre, Lourenço Sant’anna, Renata Brandão, Juliana Capelini, David Taghioff, Masha
Cast: Fernanda Torres, Selton Mello, Fernanda Montenegro
Cinematographer: Adrian Teijido
Editor: Alfonso Goncalves
Production Design: Carlos Cont
Composer: Warren Ellis
JIPPIE NO MORE!
Directed by Margien Rogaar
Dutch with subtitles
The Netherlands / 2023 / 90 minutes w/ Q&A
A family film about first loves and one wedding. Jaap Peter, a lively 16-year-old boy, eagerly prepares for his older sister’s wedding at their beloved grandfather’s country house. As the whole family rallies together to create the perfect celebration, Jaap Peter falls in love for the first time. But when the girl of his dreams is smitten with his younger sister Joe instead, Jaap Peter is faced with a dilemma.
Screenwriter: Fiona van Heemstra
Producer: Iris Otten
Executive Producer: Ben Bouwmeester
Cast: Wesley van Klink, Guido Pollemans, Aus Greidanus sr., Hannah van Lunteren, Lotte Jonker
Cinematographer: Sal Kroonenberg
Editor: Elsbeth Kasteel
COURTESY OF: SONY PICTURES CLASSICS
Supported by the Dutch Culture USA program of the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in New York COURTESY OF: JULIET AT PUPKIN
COURTESY OF: BLEECKER STREET
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
AMSTERDAM FILM COMPANY
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
WORLD PREMIERE
LOS FRIKIS
Directed by Michael Schwartz, Tyler Nilson
USA Production, Filmed in Domincan Republic / 2023 / 105 minutes w/ Q&A
Spanish with subtitles
A period drama set in 1990s Cuba follows a rebellious punk rock band that self-infects with HIV to gain entry into a government facility. Based on shocking real events, this coming-of-age story blends themes of life, death, humor, love, and music. From filmmakers Michael Schwartz and Tyler Nilson (The Peanut Butter Falcon), with support from Academy Award-winning producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller, and a score by Steven Price. – Amir Bogen
Screenwriter: Michael Schwartz, Tyler Nilson
Producers: Rebecca Tomlinson, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Jordan Fudge, Jeremy Allen
Co-Producers: Héctor Medina, Tess Cohen
Cast: Adria Arjona, Héctor Medina, Eros de la Puente, Luis Alberto García, Jorge Perugorría
Cinematographer: Santiago Gonzalez
Editor: Jon Otazua
Production Design: Raymundo “Cyber’ Caberra
Composer: Steven Price
Music: Kier Lehman
OH, CANADA
Directed by Paul Schrader
USA / 2024 / 95 minutes w/ Q&A
Academy-Award nominated writer/director Paul Schrader’s latest film follows ailing filmmaker Leonard Fife (Richard Gere) who wants to tell his life story, unfiltered, before it’s too late. As the director of lauded documentary exposés, he has much to be proud of, but his reputed avoidance of the Vietnam War draft and his past relationships harbor thorny truths.
Screenwriter: Paul Schrader
Producer: David Gonzales
Executive Producers: Tom Ogden, Bill Way, Damiano Tucci, Terri Garbarini, Eyal Rimmon
Cast: Richard Gere, Uma Thurman, Jacob Elordi, Michael Imperioli, Zach Shaffer
Cinematographer: Andrew Wonder
Editor: Benjamin Rodriguez Jr.
Production Design: Deborah Jensen
Composer: Matthew Houck
Sound Design: Ruy Garcia
Music: Phosphorescent
FEATURE NARRATIVE
MY DEAD FRIEND ZOE
Directed by Kyle Hausman-Stokes
USA / 2023 / 101 minutes w/ Q&A
What better imaginary friend is there than a spirited dead friend you used to have? From US Army veteran Kyle Hausmann-Stokes comes a dark-comedy/drama about Merit (Sonequa Martin-Green), a veteran, grieving the loss of her Army friend Zoe (Natalie Morales). Between her court-ordered group therapy, her grandfather’s (Ed Harris) newly diagnosed Alzheimer’s, and a new potential romantic entanglement, emerges a deeply emotional story about the everyday struggles of veterans and a strong message about the importance of communication. – Richie Yeager
Producers: Paul Scanlan, Terri Lubaroff, Ray Maiello
Executive Producers: Travis Kelce, Jeff Annison, Brandi Plants, Nancy & Joe Masterson, Igor Tsukerman
Cast: Sonequa Martin-Green, Natalie Morales, Ed Harris, Morgan Freeman, Gloria Reuben
Cinematographer: Matt Sakatani Roe
Editor: Ali Greer
NIGHTBITCH
Directed by Marielle Heller
USA / 2024 / 98 minutes
A woman (Amy Adams) pauses her career to be a stay-at-home mom, but soon her new domesticity takes a surreal turn.
Screenwriter: Marielle Heller
Producers: Anne Carey, p.g.a., Marielle Heller, p.g.a., Sue Naegle, p.g.a., Christina Oh, Amy Adams, Stacy O’Neil
Executive Producers: Megan Ellison, Allison Rose Carter, Havilah Brewster, Adam Paulsen, Sammy Scher, Rachel Yoder
Co-Producer: Kathleen Clifford
Cast: Amy Adams, Scoot McNairy, Arleigh Patrick Snowden, Emmett James Snowden, Zoë Chao, Mary Holland, Archana Rajan, Jessica Harper
Cinematographer: Brandon Trost
Editor: Anne McCabe, ACE
Production Design: Karen Murphy
Music: Nate Heller
OUT OF MY MIND
Directed by Amber Sealey
USA / 2024 / 107 minutes w/ Q&A
Adapted from Sharon M. Draper’s bestselling book, the Disney Original Movie Out of My Mind follows sixth grader Melody Brooks, who has cerebral palsy (portrayed to perfection by newcomer PhoebeRae Taylor who too lives with CP) and discovers her voice beyond assistive technology. Narrated by Jennifer Aniston as Melody’s inner voice, the film immerses us in Melody’s world as she battles being unheard and underestimated, making Amber Sealey’s film a touching and uplifting story of perseverance and self-discovery. – Monet Massac
Screenwriter: Daniel Stiepleman
Producers: Peter Saraf, Dan Angel, Robert Kessel, Michael B. Clark
Executive Producers: Eddie Rubin, Leah Holzer, Tom Mazza, Jeff Skoll, Alex Turtletaub
Cast: Phoebe-Rae Taylor, Rosemarie DeWitt, Luke Kirby, Michael Chernus, Courtney Taylor, Judith Light
Cinematographer: Noah Greenberg
Editor: Jacob Craycroft
Production Design: Michael Fitzgerald
Composer: Linda Perry
Sound Design: Kate Bilinski
Music: Susan Jacobs, Jackie Mulhearn
[THE] PIANO LESSON
Directed by Malcolm Washington USA / 2024 / 125 minutes
A family clash over an heirloom piano explodes. The battle between brother and sister – one hopes to sell it, the other refuses to give it up –unleashes haunting truths about how the past is perceived and who defines a family legacy.
Screenwriter: Virgil Williams, Malcolm Washington
Producers: Denzel Washington, Todd Black
Executive Producers: Constanza Romero Wilson, Jennifer Roth, Katia Washington
Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Danielle Deadwyler, Michael Potts, Ray Fisher
Cinematographer: Michael Gioulakis
Editor: Leslie Jones
Production Design: David J Bomba
COURTESY
COURTESY OF: BRIARCLIFF
COURTESY OF: KINO LORBER
COURTESY OF: NETFLIX
COURTESY OF: DISNEY+
EAST COAST PREMIERE
FEATURE NARRATIVE
[A ] REAL PAIN
Directed by Jesse Eisenberg
USA / 2024 / 89 minutes w/ Q&A
In Academy Award-nominated actor Jesse Eisenberg’s sophomore directorial feature film, mismatched cousins David (Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother. The adventure takes a turn when the odd-couple’s old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history. A Real Pain premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival where Eisenberg won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award.
Screenwriter: Jesse Eisenberg
Producers: Dave McCary, Ali Herting p.g.a., Emma Stone, Jesse Eisenberg p.g.a., Jennifer Semler, Ewa Puszczynska
Executive Producers: Ryan Heller, Jennifer Westin, Michael Bloom, Kevin Kelly
Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Kieran Culkin, Will Sharpe, Jennifer Grey, Kurt Egyiawan, Liza Sadovy, Daniel Oreskes
Cinematographer: Michał Dymek
Editor: Robert Nassau
Production Design: Mela Melak
[THE] STRANGER’S CASE
Directed by Brandt Andersen
Jordan / 2024 / 103 minutes w/ Q&A
Arabic with subtitles
Starring The Intouchables Omar Sy, when tragedy strikes a Syrian family in Aleppo, a chain reaction of events is set off involving five different families in four different countries. A globe trotting mystery thriller, The Stranger’s Case takes us through war-torn homelands and characters who try hard to survive against all odds. Winner of multiple awards including the Berlin International Film Festival’s Amnesty International Film Prize.
Screenwriter: Brandt Andersen
Producers: Ryan Busse, Ossama Bawardi, Brandt Andersen, Charlie Endean
Executive Producers: Theresa Preston-Werner, Dina Prior, Duff Rich, Chad Stahelski, Louise Rosner
Iran, Germany, France / 2024 / 167 minutes Farsi with subtitles
In this poignant family drama set against Iran’s “Woman. Life. Freedom” movement, a judge, forced to suppress protesters, clashes with his wife and two daughters, spiraling into paranoia when his gun goes missing. The film subtly reveals the regime’s devastating impact on women’s lives.
Directed by Mohammad Rasoulof, who defied an eight-year prison sentence to complete the film, The Seed of the Sacred Fig earned a Special Jury Award at Cannes. – Amir Bogen
After the death of her mother, singer Liz decides to pay a rare visit to her half-brother Gabe and his girlfriend Joey. Liz revamps old tensions with Gabe, an aspiring writer who fears being eclipsed by his successful sibling. To make matters worse, Joey and Liz grow closer, inspiring Liz to write new songs. An awakened sense of belonging catalyzes Joey into a journey of self-discovery, while further complicating an already deteriorating family dynamic.
Screenwriter: Jeroen Houben
Producer: Noortje Wilschut
Executive Producer: Jeroen Houben
Cast: Carla Juri, Markoesa Hamer, Al Weaver
Cinematographer: Aziz Al-Dilaimi, NSC
Editors: Lot Rossmark, Jeroen Houben
Production Design: Myrte Beltman
Music & Composer: Jeroen Houben
Sound Design: Tijn Hazen
SEEDS
Directed by Kaniehtiio Horn
Canada / 2024 / 90 minutes w/ Q&A
English and Mohawk with subtitles
Kaniehtiio Horn (Alice, Darling) stars as a social media influencer who uncovers her fertilizing client’s sinister plot while housesitting in her remote indigenous community. Stripped of her digital persona, she reveals a tough-as-nails side and, with the help of her cousin and past lover, fights back against corporate greed. Horn’s directorial debut is a biting snarky horror comedy and a tale of resilience and redemption. – Amir Bogen
Screenwriter: Kaniehtiio Horn
Producers: Leonard Farlinger, Jennifer Jonas
Executive Producers: Eva Thomas, Kaniehtiio Horn
Cast: Kaniehtiio Horn, Graham Greene, Dallas Goldtooth,
Cinematographer: Jonathon Cliff
Editor: Lindsay Allikas
Production Design: Matthew Ellis
Music & Composer: Alaska B
Sound Design: Renan Deodato, Lucas Raveda
TURNING
Directed by Marco Baratta
USA / 2024 / 95 minutes w/ Q&A
Who hasn’t been subject to the dreaded quarter-life question, “What do you want to do in life?”
This is the kind of question that inexplicably keeps coming up for Julian, a 25-year-old former athlete who lives alone in the woods, renting out his friend’s house to an odd string of nosey strangers. Serene and visually stunning, Turning captures the moment when a young man reaches life’s first big turning point. – Richie Yeager
Screenwriters: Marco Baratta
Producers: Adria Baratta, Nico Alvo, Richard Baratta
Executive Producers: Heroboy Productions, Emma Tillinger Koskoff, Justine Conte, Solomon Wang, John Louie, Katie Pappas, Will Hochman
Co-Producer: Cameron Lawther
Cast: Will Hochman, Helen Goldsby, Ian Duff
Cinematographer: Eric Richardson
Editor: Thomas Emmet Ashton
Production Design: Ioannis Papadopoulos
Composers: Paul Corley, Sindir Mar Sigfusson
Sound Design: Somepoint Sound
NEW YORK PREMIERE
COURTESY OF: NEON
COURTESY OF: SEARCHLIGHT
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
TWIG
Directed by Marian Quinn
Ireland / 2024 / 105 minutes w/ Q&A
We’re in the forlorn housing estates of workingclass Dublin. But something’s not right. Police checkpoints. Talk of gangland violence. A flash of murder within a family. In a retelling of the myth of Antigone, Twig is a powerful story of one young woman, Twig, played by a captivating Sade Malone, who risks all to dismantle a war being fought for long-forgotten reasons… and comes to change her world. – Peter Wortmann
Screenwriter: Marian Quinn
Producers: Ruth Carter, Tommy Weir
Executive Producers: Celine Haddad, Niamh Fagan, Patrick O’Neill, Marian Quinn
Cast: Sade Malone, Brian F. O’Byrne
Cinematographer: Declan Quinn
Editor: Tony Cranstoun
Production Design: Lauren Kelly
Composer: Gerry Leonard
Sound Design: Dominik Schleier, Lars Ginzel
Music: Leonard Cohen, Susan McKeown
FEATURE NARRATIVE
[THE] UNINVITED
Directed by Nadia Conners
USA / 2024 / 97 minutes w/ Q&A
UNSTOPPABLE
Directed by William Goldenberg
USA / 2024 /116 minutes
Unstoppable is the inspiring true story of Anthony Robles (Jharrel Jerome) who was born with one leg but whose indomitable spirit and unbreakable resolve empowered him to defy the odds and pursue his dreams. With the unwavering love and support of his devoted mother Judy (Jennifer Lopez) and the encouragement of his coaches, Anthony fights through adversity to earn a spot on the Arizona State Wrestling team. But his struggle does not stop there.
– Amir Bogen
Pedro Pascal, Elizabeth Reaser, Walton Goggins, Lois Smith, and Rufus Sewell lead an outstanding ensemble in this relationship drama that premiered at SXSW. In her narrative directorial debut, Nadia Conners, known for The 11th Hour, crafts an intimate story set in a single house over one night. A gathering of friends is disrupted by an older stranger, sparking comical yet revealing moments that expose secrets, lies, love, and midlife crises. As tensions rise, the line between guest and intruder blurs.
Screenwriter: Nadia Conners
Producers: Rosie Fellner, Carlos E. Cuscó, Ari Taboada
Cast: Elizabeth Reaser, Walton Goggins, Pedro Pascal, Lois Smith, Eva De Dominici, Rufus Sewell
Cinematographer: Robert Leitzell
Editors: Patrick Walsh, Todd Zelin
Woodstock’s Independent Bookstore
Screenwriters: Eric Champnella, Alex Harris, John Hindman
Executive Producers: Matt Damon, Michael Joe, Kevin Halloran, Dani Bernfeld, Jack Murray Cast: Jharrel Jerome, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Peña, Anthony Robles, with Don Cheadle, Jennifer Lopez
Cinematographer: Salvatore Totino
Editor: Brett M. Reed
Production Design: Jon Carlos
Composer: Alexandre Desplat
[THE ] BATTLE FOR LAIKIPIA
Directed by Daphne Matziaraki, Peter Murimi Kenya, USA / 2024 / 94 minutes w/ Q&A
“If our cows are healthy, we will have abundance in our lives,” says a Samburu tribe member in Laikipia, Kenya. An endless drought forces herders to seek more verdant grounds, but they are stymied by British colonists, who own nearby ranches and conservancies. With stunning cinematography, The Battle for Laikipia is a heartbreaking story that makes us wonder about the human spirit and how we can survive tragic conflicts created by climate change.
– Sabina Barach
Producer: Toni Kamau, Daphne Matziaraki
Executive Producers: Roger Ross Williams, Geoff Martz, Jody Allen, Jason Hunke, Shari Sant, Shannon Joy, Tiffany Schauer
Co-Producer: Maya Craig
Cinematographers: Daphne Matziaraki, Peter Murimi, Maya Craig
Editor: Sam Soko
Composer: William R Fritch
BLACK BOX DIARIES
Directed by Shiori Itō Japan UK, USA / 2024 / 103 minutes w/ Q&A
The investigators in Shiori Itō’s sexual assault case called it a “black box,” suggesting that the truth will remain elusive because it occurred behind closed doors. Frustrated, Shiori Itō becomes her own investigative journalist in Black Box Diaries, fiercely challenging high-ranking journalist Noriyuki Yamaguchi, who had close ties to former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Black Box Diaries marks Itō’s feature documentary film debut and made its world premiere at Sundance Film Festival 2024. – Monet Massac
Based on Andrew Carroll’s New York Times best seller, Behind the Lines tells the story of Carroll’s life mission to travel the world seeking out war letters. Over the past 25 years, he has preserved more than 200,000 correspondences from troops, veterans and their families, dating from the American Revolution to present day Ukraine, with many of those treasured letters being read here by notable actors like Laura Dern and Gary Cole. – Adam Schartoff
Screenwriters: Andrew Carroll, John B. Benitz, Bryce Cyrier
Producers: Bryce Cyrier, Jason Pamer, Jens Jacob, John Benitz, Andrew Carroll
Executive Producers: Kerry Patton, Dave Lopez
Cast: Annette Bening, Laura Dern, Gary Cole, Kelvin Harrison, Jr, Paul Walter Hauser
Cinematographer: Austin Straub
Editor: Ben Hunter
Composer: David Cieri
Sound Design: Mark Bartels
BORDERLAND | The Line Within
Directed by Pamela Yates
USA / 2024 / 110 minutes w/ Q&A
English, Spanish, Maya-Ixil with subtitles
A massive surveillance, militarized and carceral apparatus has been built to capture, imprison and deport millions of immigrants. But in the shadow of this border industrial-complex, immigrants are building a movement envisioning a future rooted in human rights. BORDERLAND | The Line Within is the new electrifying documentary from filmmaker Pamela Yates, director of the Sundance Awardwinning When the Mountains Tremble and executive producer of the Academy Award-winning Witness to War and Michael Mann’s Ferrari
Screenwriter: Pamela Yates, Paco de Onís, Peter Kinoy
Producer: Paco de Onís
Executive Producers: Paco de Onís, Ken Grossinger, Micheline Klagsbrun
Cast: Gabriela Castañeda, Kaxh Mura’l, Alex Gil, Giovanni Batz
Cinematographers: Juan Hernández, AEC
Editor: Peter Kinoy
Animator: MindBomb Films
Music & Composers: Roger C. Miller, Sara Curruchich
BEYOND THE GAZE: Jule Campbell’s Swimsuit Issue
Directed by Jill Campbell
USA / 2024 / 107 minutes w/ Q&A
Jule Campbell pioneered a groundbreaking feminist fashion feature known as the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition that would change the world. Featuring star studded interviews with Tyra Banks, Christie Brinkley and many more, Campbell fought battles of oppression and solidified herself as one of the most important magazine editors of all time. – Sierra Slaughter
Screenwriter: Jill Campbell
Producers: Jill Campbell, Rob Lyons, Jonathan Gray
Checkpoint Zoo tells the remarkable story of Feldman EcoPark, a zoo on the outskirts of Kharkiv, caught between Russian and Ukrainian forces at the start of the war. This gripping documentary follows the zoo’s daring evacuation of animals amidst the chaos. Joshua Zeman’s film highlights human (and animal!) resilience and compassion, offering a unique ground-level view of a nation under siege. – Monet Massac
Screenwriters: Joshua Zeman, Daniel Lonsbury
Producers: Zachary Mortensen, Joshua Zeman, Ian Davies, Torquil Jones
Executive Producers: Bonamy Grimes, Barry Smith, Catherine Quantschnigg, Gabriel Clarke, John McKenna
Editors: Cy Christiansen, Andrew Ford, Kelly Kendrick, Daniel Lonsbury
Music: Anne Nikitin
ERNEST COLE: Lost and Found
Directed by Raoul Peck
France / 2024 / 105 minutes w/ Q&A
Winner of this year’s Cannes Film Festival’s Golden Eye Award, ERNEST COLE: Lost and Found delves into the heartbreaking story of the South African photographer’s struggle to chronicle the inhumanity of life under apartheid. The stunning beauty of Cole’s photographs, and the elegance of his own words, form a breathtaking counterpoint to the poisonous world he worked tirelessly to bring to light, both in his home country and, later, on the streets of New York. – Peter Wortmann
Screenwriters: Ernest Cole, Raoul Peck
Producers: Tamara Rosenberg, Raoul Peck
Executive Producer: Laurence Lascary
Cast: Lakeith Stanfield
Cinematographers: Wolfgang Held, Moses Tau, Raoul Peck
Editor: Alexandra Strauss
Composer: Alexeï Aïgui
COURTESY OF: MAGNOLIA PICTURES
FOLLOWING THE SCREENING
an extended conversation co-presented by CPW see page 45 for more info
LEFT BEHIND
Directed by Anna Toomey
USA / 2024 / 77 minutes w/ Q&A
Did you know that 1 out of 5 people have dyslexia? How about that 47-50% of incarcerated people have dyslexia? Left Behind gives eye-opening insight into the ways that the public school system ignores the needs of students with dyslexia and, in doing so, contributes to the school-to-prison pipeline. Anna Toomey’s gripping documentary chronicles a group of advocates in their struggle to start New York City’s first public school for dyslexia. – Richie Yeager
Screenwriter: Karen K. H. Sim
Producers: David Beal, Sian Edwards-Beal, Chris Farrell, Mari Keiko Gonzalez, Larry Mullen Jr.
Executive Producers: Lisa Domenico Brooke, Sarah Johnson, Zofia Moreno, Jean Reno, et al.
Co-Producer: Chelsi Bullard
Cinematographer: James Fideler
Editors: Brittany Kaplan, Michael Dowling
Composer: Clare and Olivier Manchon
Music: NAS
FOLLOWING THE SCREENING
an extended conversation . see page 45 for more info
[THE ] INN BETWEEN
Directed by Ondi Timoner
USA / 2024 / 70 minutes w/ Q&A
At once emotionally devastating and deeply heartwarming, Ondi Timoner’s latest documentary follows the day to day lives of the residents at a hospice care center for the unhoused located in Salt Lake City. Crafted with immense compassion, The Inn Between forces us to identify with its subjects, exposing how close any of us really are to the rough living circumstances that thousands of Americans find themselves in. As we see how being unhoused complicates even death itself, we are faced with the unyielding question: can someone ever truly prepare for their own death?
– Daniel Abelow
Screenwriter: Ondi Timoner
Producer: Morgan Doctor
Executive Producer: Ondi Timoner
Cast: Patti Larson, Amos Fox, Kimberly Peterson
Cinematographer: Ondi Timoner
Editor: Ondi Timoner
Composer: Morgan Doctor
A LIFE IN RHYTHM: The Ray Conniff Story
Directed by Jonathan McHugh
USA / 2024 / 63 minutes w/ Q&A
Ray Conniff and the Ray Conniff singers competed with The Beatles and Elvis on the charts during the late 50’s and 60’s. During Conniff’s lengthy 60-year career, he created a lush, innovative sound; never stopped grinding, doing concerts and visiting radio stations; and never settled for mediocrity as long as he was able.
Screenwriter: Jonathan McHugh
Producer: Tamara Conniff
Executive
Producer: The Ray Conniff Foundation
Co-Producer: Patrick Meaney
Cast: Raul Malo, Clive Davis, Seymour Stein, Big Gigantic, Ray Conniff
Cinematographer: Jordan Rennert
Editors: Patrick Meaney, Nico Norgaard
Composer: David Kitay
Music: David Kitay, Ray Conniff
FOLLOWING THE SCREENING
IT’S ALL GONNA BREAK
Directed by Stephen Chung
Canada / 2024 / 94 minutes w/ Q&A
From basement jams to Lollapalooza and Letterman, It’s All Gonna Break unearths intimate behind-the-scenes footage from cinematographer Stephen Chung’s personal archive. This neverbefore-seen footage captures the beginning of what would become one of the most celebrated indie rock bands Canada has ever produced – Broken Social Scene. This is not an expose, but rather a love letter to the city of Toronto, a community of art, and a friendship.
Screenwriter: Andrea Menzies
Producer: Ann Shin, Diana Warmé
Executive Producer: Stephen Chung, Andrea Menzies, Ann Shin, Hannah Donegan
Cast: Featuring Broken Social Scene
Cinematographer: Stephen Chung
Editor: Andrew Beach, Graham Withers
FOLLOWING THE SCREENING
Special acoustic performance by Broken Social Scene’s Kevin Drew and Q&A see page 45 for more info
[A ] NEW KIND OF WILDERNESS
Directed by Silje Evensmo Jacobsen
Norway / 2024 / 84 minutes
English, Norwegian with subtitles
Nic Payne, a British expat living in Norway, is a free spirit, home schooling father and a recent widower struggling with not letting grief undermine his ability to father his four children in Norwegian filmmaker Silje Evensmo Jacobsen’s documentary A New Kind Of Wilderness. But survival means selling the family farm, putting his kids into traditional schools, and what feels like betraying the vision he shared with his late wife Maria.
Producer: Mari Bakke Riise
Cast: Nik Payne
– Adam Schartoff
Cinematographers: Silje Evensmo Jacobsen, Karine Fosser, Fred Arne Wergeland, Espen Gjermundrød, Line K Lyngstadaas, Natalja Safronova
Editors: Kristian Tveit, Christoffer Heie
Q+A and live performance of arrangements of Conniff’s work co-presented by BMI see page 45 for more info
Scientists predict that the Republic of Kiribati, an island nation in Micronesia, will become uninhabitable in less than 10 years. In this transporting, humanistic, stunningly filmed documentary, the people who live on these islands tell their own story. Filled with striking nature and aerial photography and powerful reflections on land, balance, and joy, this is a portrait of an inventive and complex people overcome with love and grief for their home. – Nicky Yeager
Directed by Brendan Bellomo, Slava Leontyev Australia, Ukraine, USA / 2024 / 87 minutes Ukrainian, Russian with subtitles
“Ukraine like porcelain, easy to break but impossible to destroy.” These poetic words are spoken by Slava Leontyev, co-director and one of the three main subjects of Porcelain War. In this heartbreaking yet beautiful documentary, we see firsthand how art making can be a means of surviving the unimaginable violence of war.
– Adam Schartoff
Screenwriters: Aniela Sidorska, Brendan Bellomo, Paula DuPre’ Pesmen, Slava Leontyev
Producers: Aniela Sidorska, Paula DuPre’ Pesmen, Camilla Mazzaferro, Olivia Ahnemann
Executive Producers: Al Hicks, Luke Mazzaferro, Rob Galluzzo, Linda A. Cornfield, David J. Cornfield
Editors: Brendan Bellomo, Aniela Sidorska, Kelly Cameron
Animator: BluBlu Studios
Sound Design: Sam Hayward
Music: DakhaBrakha
PAUL ANKA: His Way
Directed by John Maggio
USA / 2024 / 98 minutes w/ Q&A
From teen idol to chart-topping songwriter, Paul Anka has spent seven decades as one of the most prolific musicians in the world. Part road movie, part living biography, part documentary, Paul Anka: His Way traces the iconic Canadian’s journey through stardom and reinvention in a changing field. Included are archival performances by music legends like Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin, in conversation with footage from Wolf Koenig and Roman Kroitor’s 1962 short, Lonely Boy
Producers: John Maggio, Monica Berra
Executive Producers: Irving Azoff, Lawrence Mestel, Charlie Corwin, Jo Henriquez, Randy Lennox, Dorin Razam, Zachary Herrmann, Sam Sniderman, Laura Michalchyshyn
Co-Producer: Michael Shorris
Cast: Paul Anka
Cinematographer: Justin Zweifach
Editor: Seth Bomse
Animator: Chris King, Logan Cuddemi
Sound Design: Chris Koch
Music: Paul Anka
[THE ] REMARKABLE LIFE OF IBELIN
Directed by Benjamin Ree Norway / 2024 / 104 minutes w/ Q&A Norweigen with subtitles
Mats Steen, a Norwegian gamer, died of a degenerative muscular disease at the age of 25. His parents mourn what they thought had been their son’s lonely and isolated life, when they start receiving messages from his online friends around the world. To their complete surprise, they discover their son’s remarkable and full gaming life, filled with friends, adventures, soul, and love.
Producer: Ingvil Giske
Co-Producer: Hans Andreas Fay
Cinematographers: Rasmus Tukia, Tore Vollan
Editor: Robert Stengard
[A ] PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY
Directed by Rachel Elizabeth-Seed USA / 2024 / 87 minutes w/ Q&A
Sheila Turner-Seed interviewed the world’s most renowned photographers for the well-known series “Images of Man,” but she unexpectedly died while a young mother. This is her daughter Rachel’s story of getting to know the parent she never really had. Through home movies, recordings of interviews that Sheila conducted, and meetings with those who knew her, Rachel slowly becomes united with her mother in this magnificent film that treasures visual storytelling. – Sabina Barach
Cinematographers: Joseph Michael Lopez, Rachel Elizabeth Seed
Editors: Eileen Meyer, Tyler Hubby, Christopher Stoudt
FOLLOWING THE SCREENING
an extended conversation. co-presented by CPW see page 45 for more info
SABBATH QUEEN
Directed by Sandi DuBowski
USA / 2024 / 105 minutes w/ Q&A
English, Hebrew, Yiddish with subtitles
Drag meets Orthodox Judaism. Meet Amichai LauLavie, New York City’s own artist-rabbi extraordinaire and matchmaker of worlds. In this epic, emotional doc spanning 21 years of Lau-Lavie’s life, we are taken on a journey from Israel to Poland to the US, touching on such topics as familial homophobia, the divine feminine, religious tradition versus modernization, the Holocaust, anti-Arab racism, and the Israeli far-right. Amichai’s Transporting story is one to be seen, not told. – Nicky Yeager
Screenwriters: Francisco Bello, Jeremy Stulberg, Sandi DuBowski
Producer: Sandi DuBowski
Executive Producers: Darren Aronofsky, Adrian Salpeter, Jess Jacobs, Jeffrey Solomon, et al.
Co-Producers: Ben Lowy, Simon Mendes
Cast: Amichai Lau-Lavie
Cinematographers: Dan Gold, Wolfgang Held, Nadia Hallgren, Kirsten Johnson, Laela Kilbourn, et al.
Editor: Francisco Bello, ACE, Jeremy Stulberg, Kyle Crichton, Philip Shane
Animator: Yaron Shin
Composer: Joel Goodman
Sound Design: Tom Paul
COURTESY OF: NETFLIX
SECRET MALL APARTMENT
Directed by Jeremy Workman
USA / 2024 / 91 minutes w/ Q&A
In a story you have to see to believe, Providence Artist Michael Townsend and his friends built an apartment in the Providence Place Mall in the early 2000s. Documented by footage from a camera that fit in an Altoid container, this living art project was undetected for 4 years. WFF alum Jeremy Workman’s profoundly moving documentary touches on themes of gentrification, capitalism, ownership, and moral obligation to use unoccupied space creating a positive impact.
– Sierra Slaughter
Producer: Jeremy Workman
Executive Producers: Jesse Eisenberg, Allen Altman, Matthew Spain, Scott Black, Peter Haberman
Cast: Michael Townsend, Adriana Valdez Young, Colin Bliss, Andrew Oesch, James Mercer Cinematographers: Michael Lisnet, Dan Kennedy, Jeremy Workman
Editors: Paul Murphy, Jeremy Workman
Production Design: Suja Ono
Composer: Olivier and Clare Manchon
UNION
Directed by Brett Story, Stephen Maing
USA / 2024 / 104 minutes w/ Q&A
Union dives deep into the story of the Amazon Labor Union and the strategic challenges and interpersonal dynamics at the heart of the historic union drive on Staten Island. Powerfully captured, painstakingly edited, and brimming with tension, this doc crackles with energy. Come for a closer look at one of the biggest labor stories of the decade, and stay for the surprising, nuanced, and politically savvy perspectives these filmmakers bring. – Nicky Yeager
Producers: Samantha Curley, Mars Verrone, Martin Dicicco
Executive Producers: Jenny Raskin, Lauren Haber, Geralyn White Dreyfous, The Villa Family, David Levine
Cast: Christian Smalls, Angelika Maldonado, Connor Spence, Derrick Palmer, Jason Anthony Cinematographers: Martin Dicicco, Stephen Maing
Editors: Blair Mclendon, Malika Zouhali-Worrall, Stephen Maing
Music: Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe
SOMETHING BETTER CHANGE
Directed by Scott Crawford
USA / 2024 / 88 minutes w/ Q&A
Something Better Change tells the fascinating story of Joe Keithley, a hardcore punk legend and front man of D.O.A., who became a dedicated environmentalist and Green Party city councilor in his hometown of Burnaby, British Columbia. Whether you’re a hardcore punk fan or just a civically engaged citizen, Scott Crawford’s film has a little something for everyone as we follow Keithley’s career in music as well as his struggles to affect change. – Daniel Abelow
Producer: Paul Rachman
Executive Producer: Thomas Sadowski
Co-Producer: Jason Thompson
Cast: Joe Kiethley, Ian MacKaye, Duff McKagan, Beto O’Rourke, Jello Biafra
Cinematographer: Jason Thompson
Editor: Maya Mualem
Composer: Michael Hampton
Sound Design: Clean Cuts
Music: DOA, Michael Hampton
VIVA VERDI!
Directed by Yvonne Russo
USA / 2024 / 77 minutes w/ Q&A
Italian, English with subtitles
In his waning days, Giuseppe Verdi realized an unusual ambition: the construction of a retirement home for musicians in need. And so, in 1901, in the heart of Milan, the wildly opulent Casa Verdi opened its doors to musical artists in the “third act” of their careers, creating a haven unique in the world of music, one that thrives to this day, as do its current residents for whom the musical arts are still their lifeblood – performing, teaching, remembering.
– Peter Wortmann
Screenwriters: Yvonne Russo, Christine La Monte
Producers: Christine La Monte, Yvonne Russo
Executive Producers: James Tumminia, Regina K. Scully, Sharron Burgess, Jamie Wolf, et al.
Cinematographers: Jacek Laskus, Federico Rodelli, Maxim Derevianko
Editors: Federico Conforti, Darianna Cardilli
Animator: Nick Fodor
Composer: Nicholas Pike
TROLL STORM
Directed by Eunice Lau
USA / 2024 / 83 minutes w/ Q&A
This is the story of Tanya Gersh, the victim of an unrelenting antisemitic social media campaign.
“The second I decided to fight, I started to heal,” she says in this powerful film. Gersh uses the story of a holocaust survivor as a brutal reminder of where we could end up again if this culture of hate is allowed to continue. The parallel between Europe before the rise of the Nazi party and what is happening today in the United States is frightening. – Sabina Barach
Producers: Brooke Swaney, Zachary Kerschberg, Eunice Lau
Cast: Tanya Gersh, David Dinielli, Stephen Jacobs
Cinematographer: Hiroo Takaoka
Editor: Yasu Inoue
Sound Design: Matt Rocker
Music: Antoine Katz, Aman Khosla
WALK WITH ME
Directed by Heidi Levitt
USA / 2024 / 90 minutes w/ Q&A
How many stories have you heard about Alzheimer’s that filled you with hope and admiration? Heidi Levitt’s documentary, Walk With Me, about her own husband Charlie’s journey with Alzheimer’s highlights the extent to which family, love, and companionship can get people through life’s hardest moments. Heidi’s diligent filming, alongside her and Charlie’s persistent search for ways to understand this disease, makes for a truly inspirational story of love and support.
– Richie Yeager
Screenwriter: Heidi Levitt
Producers: Vanessa Perez, Heidi Levitt
Executive Producers: Alex Gibney, David Guy Elisco, Joe Burga
Cast: Charlie Hess, Heidi Levitt
Cinematographer: Lisa Rinzler
Editors: Simeon Hutner, Toby Shimin
Composer: Lukas Frank, Daniel Meyer O’Keeffe
Sound Design: Frank Gaeta
Music: Lukas Frank, Daniel Meyer O’Keeffe, Olivia Kaplan
Sound Design: Jonathan Miller
Music: Nicholas Pike, Ana María Martínez
Michael Townsend
WORLD PREMIERE
FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
WE CAN BE HEROES
Directed by Carina Mia Wong, Alex Simmons USA / 2024 / 86 minutes w/ Q&A
“But the real conflict is within my soul. Therein lies the true enemy,” narrates one of the main subjects, 15-year-old Dexter. Nestled in the woods of Kingston, New York, a live action fantasy role-playing camp invites teens from all over the country to spend a week role playing, fighting and healing. Directors Carina Mia Wong and Alex Simmons treat each subject with respect, honor, and integrity; all things you will find while attending the Wayfinder Experience. – Sierra Slaughter
Producers: Jennifer Wood, Krista Manis
Executive Producers: Jonathan Silberberg, Nicole Stott, Lizzie Fox, Casey Meurer, Laurene Powell Jobs, Davis Guggenheim, Cristina Costantini, Darren Foster
Cast: Dexter, Cloud, Abby, Miranda, Judson
Cinematographers: Peter Alton, Michael Lockridge, Madeleine Peters
Editors: Alex Simmons, Rebecca Adorno Dávila Composer: Dan Deacon
WISDOM OF HAPPINESS
Directed by Barbara Miller, Philip Delaquis Switzerland / 2024 / 90 minutes w/ Q&A
Wisdom Of Happiness is a profound, new cinematic exploration of the innermost world of the Dalai Lama. In an intimate heart-to-heart, the world’s greatest ambassador of compassion and Nobel Peace Laureate invites everyone along for a journey to the source of happiness. The Dalai Lama reflects on balancing millennia-old Tibetan Buddhist traditions with contemporary values of our globalized society, and shows us that it is possible to build a healthier, happier world for all living beings.
Sound Design: Dieter Meyer, Julian Joseph, Stephan Konken
Music: Ariel Marx
SHORT DOCUMENTARIES with Special Q&A afterwards
DEATH BY NUMBERS
Directed by Kim A. Snyder USA / 2024 / 33 minutes w/ Q&A
Death By Numbers breaks through American society increasingly inured to gun violence and impervious to a nation of traumatized youth.
FOLLOWING THE SCREENING
Special post-screening panel with surviving teachers and student victims of gun violence
I AM READY, WARDEN
Directed by Smriti Mundhra USA / 2024 / 37 minutes w/ Q&A
From Oscar-nominated filmmaker Smriti Mundhra, days before his execution, a Texas death row prisoner seeks redemption from his victim’s son.
FOLLOWING THE SCREENING
Special post-screening panel with director Smriti Mundhra and Sheila Nevins
photo by Peter Alton
A collection of animated shorts for mature viewers, exploring dark and complex themes in diverse animation styles. Not for the faint-hearted! Rated R.
ELON VS MARK
Directed by Hubert Lapointe Canada / 2024 / 5 minutes
Japanese with subtitles
The long-awaited brawl between two billionaire businessmen is finally happening: Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk engage in a merciless battle.
THE BROWN DOG
Directed by
Jamie-James Medina, Nadia Hallgren
USA / 2024 / 14 minutes
A night watchman clocks into a lonely booth, spends nights composing security logs, and is haunted by a mysterious brown dog.
BASHA
Directed by Anirban Paul India / 2024 /21 minutes
Bengali with subtitles
From youthful mischief to awakening, two brothers embark on a journey of redemption.
BABY BRO
Directed by Celia Bullwinkel USA / 2024 /2 minutes
Baby Bro is a dark satire about men’s private spaces, and the ways women are discussed.
IN THE SHADOW OF THE CYPRESS
Directed by Hossein-Shirin Molayemi-Sohani Iran / 2023 / 19 minutes
A captain, suffering from PTSD, lives with his daughter and struggles with a harsh life, when one day something unexpected happens.
GAME SHOW
Directed by Fei Chen
Mainland China / 2023 / 12 minutes
Mandarin with subtitles
In the world of black and white, a red box suddenly appears, and anyone close enters a world of color.
GARDENING
Directed by Sarah Beeby UK / 2024 / 13 minutes
A women must find new paths to healing, after suffering a sexual assault.
THE THREE SISTERS
Directed by Timur Kognov
Cyprus / 2024 / 15 minutes
The slightest reason can destroy life if it is lonely, monotonous and dull on an isolated island.
HUDSY [87 MINUTES]
A selection of animated that will spark the imaginations of all ages.
Rated G
RISE AGE
Directed by Tatjana Theuer Germany / 2024 /5 minutes
Lively critters groove, until their daily crawling routine is turned upside down by the rising seas.
FAN
Directed by Erik Lee
Taiwan / 2024 / 8 minutes
A resilient Taiwanese couple, united by family, transforms their small business into a multinational empire.
NOSTRIL
Directed by Michael Dondero, Shengnan Dong USA / 2024 / 4.5 minutes
Lala is sleep-deprived by her husband’s snoring, when she is quite literally sucked into his nose.
TAHLEQUAH THE WHALE:
A Dance of Grief
Directed by Daniel Kreizberg
Lithuania, USA / 2023 / 15 minutes
After her baby’s sudden death, an orca mother carries her daughter’s body across the Salish Sea.
NUBBINWOOD
Directed by Tim Granberg
USA / 2023 / 8 minutes
A beaver recounts his experiences as an actor pursuing his dream to be in the movies.
BOUND
Directed by Masha Ellsworth
USA, Ukraine, Germany / 2024 / 4 minutes
Amid pastoral beauty, Ivanko and Galya must navigate a maze of miscommunications and pride.
PLAY AGAIN
Directed by Zen Pace
USA, Brazil / 2023 / 12.26 minutes
A virtual race, a real connection.
HIGH DIVER
Directed by Oscar Bittner
Germany / 2024 / 5 minutes
While Tuan and Felix train to become Olympic high divers, their budding love for each other suffers.
AMY AND FROG
Directed by Paul Williams
China, UK / 2023 / 10 minutes
A lonely young girl encounters a mythical being at the park that takes her on an adventure.
MAGIC CANDIES
Directed by Daisuke Nishio
Japan / 2023 / 21 minutes
Japanese with English subtitles
Dong-Dong plays alone with marbles and soon discovers the incredible power of their magic.
HUDSY celebrates the incredibly diverse voices, culture and spirit of the Hudson Valley through the power of film and storytelling on the first streaming video app for the region, HUDSY TV.
SHAKEN & STIRRED: Moonshine
Directed by Rob Harris
USA / 2023 / 37 minutes
Explores our complex relationship with alcohol, delving into its myth, culture, and science.
WE ARE ATHLETES
Directed by Angel Fonseca
USA / 2024 /30 minutes
A girl with cerebral palsy skis with a veteran, showing adaptive sports’ transformative power.
MUNAY WASI
Directed by Angel Fonseca
USA / 2024 / 20 minutes
Gustavo and Natalia founded Indigenous Cultural Center Munay Wasi, where they revitalize traditions.
Showing at BEARSVILLE THEATER
BUFFY AND THE BALLOON
Directed by John Maslowski USA / 2022 / 2 minutes
A dog befriends a special balloon.
WHAT HUMANS DO
Directed by Miranda Javid USA / 2023 / 7 minutes
A macro view of human-actions, as told from within a singular body.
THE SNIP
Directed by Alain Delannoy Canada / 2024 / 9 minutes
Vasectomies—these are the men who made the cut.
THE WILD-TEMPERED CLAVIER
Directed by Anna Samo Germany / 2024 / 7 minutes
Despite the world’s disasters, an artist insists on playing.
ONWARD YE COSTUMED SOULS
Directed by Patrick Smith USA / 2024 / 5 minute
Thy back shalt beest broken, thy soul shalt beest enslav’d.
ROTTEN REPRESENTATIONS:
one-armed go go dancer
Directed by Paula Stuttman USA / 2024 / 2.42 minutes
An exploration of disability representation and a tribute to the one armed go-go dancer..
THERE’S A ROBBERY IN PROGRESS
Directed by Morgan Miller USA, UK / 2024 / 4 minutes
A British policeman, voiced by Brian Croucher (EastEnders), has a meta crisis.
THE BABYSITTER
Directed by Diane Linnet USA / 2024 / 8 minutes
17-year-old Sean is in the middle of his college paperwork when the neighbors bring an odd babysitting situation.
DUCKVILLE
Directed by Bill Plympton USA / 2024 / 7.5 minutes
A young duckling saves duckville from the ravages of evil monsters.
FIRST FRAMES
Directed by Ilie Mitaru Turkey, USA / 2023 / 27 minutes
English, Somali with subtitles
Children in Turkey’s vulnerable communities share stories through photography and film.
LOCK IT UP
Directed by Laura Colella USA / 2024 / 20 minutes
On a troubled film set, ripples become waves that throw the whole crew off course.
DANCING PALESTINE
Directed by Lamees Almakkawy
United Kingdom, Palestine / 2024 / 37 minutes
Arabic, English with subtitles
As the Palestinian identity continues to be threatened, Palestinians turn to their folk dance, the dabke, to assert their existence.
SÜRGÜNLIK (EXILE)
Directed by Jeremiah Dickey USA / 2024 / 2 minutes
The plight of a mother and her children is illustrated during the purge of Crimean Tatars in WWII.
FREE SNAKES
Directed by John Quinn USA / 2024 / 4 minutes
After pulling a lackluster prank, a lonely man finally gets the attention he’s been craving.
20 YEARS OF NOTES TO SELF
Directed by Dustin Grella USA / 2023 / 10 minutes
In his “Notes to Self” project, Dustin has written and mailed himself a letter every day since April 13, 2001.
THE WANNABE
Directed by Daye An USA / 2022 / 2 minutes
A creature’s obsession with imitation leads to chaos, highlighting the risk of self-inferiority.
LAST CLASS
Directed by Pilar Newton-Katz USA / 2023 / 2 minutes
Can you capture the last moment of normalcy before life changes forever?
MARKET OF HATE
Directed by Candy Kugel USA / 2024 / 6 minutes
Who benefits by dividing us through hate and fear?
A deafening shout began on October 7, 2023.
KINDERGARTEN ICE
Directed by Leah Shore USA / 2023 / 1 minutes
Filmmaker Leah Shore asked 9-year-old Elina to pitch them a short film. Leah animated her idea.
TENNIS, ORANGES
Directed by Sean Pecknold USA / 2024 / 11 minutes
Mandarin with English subtitles
A vacuum quits its job at a hospital and sets out to find community.
IN THE QUIET
Directed by Patrick K. Letterii USA / 2024 / 8.58 minutes
Quinn tries to rid himself of his past, but needs to heal by living in the present.
A TWO HEARTED TALE
Directed by Rory K. McHarg, Bret Miller USA / 2023 / 30 minutes
The story of how a trout found its way onto America’s No.1 IPA, Bell’s Two-Hearted Ale.
SAY HI AFTER YOU DIE
Directed by Kate Hollowell
USA / 2023 / 17 minutes
A grieving woman believes her deceased best friend has come back as a porta-potty.
COLUMBARIUM
Directed by Roger Mancusi, Katie Schiller USA / 2023 / 18 minutes
Faced with their grandmother’s dying wish, two brothers are tasked with stealing the cremated ashes of her deceased German shepherds.
GOOD DAD
Directed by: Stacey Angeles USA / 2024 / 25 minutes
Being a stay-at-home dad for his two small children pushed Richard, an unemployed actor, to his psychological and physical limits.
THE DEBUTANTE
Directed by Nat Moonhill, Veronica Moonhill
USA / 2024 / 13 minutes
In a bid to avoid her debutante ball, a girl teams up with a hyena and hatches a murderous plan for it to go to the party in her place. Based on a story by Leonora Carrington, starring Kelly McCormack.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING
Directed by ishkwaazhe Shane McSauby USA / 2023 / 8 minutes
An Indigenous man takes a Happy Thanksgiving wish from a bank teller so personally, his rage drives him to carry out a bizarre revenge plan.
PROBLEMATIC, EPISODES 1 + 2
Directed by Sushma Khadepaun
USA / 2023 / 10 minutes
An unknown writer becomes an overnight media sensation when her public tirade against a finance douche goes viral.
BOB’S FUNERAL
Directed by Jack Dunphy
USA / 2024 / 18 minutes
Searching for the root of generational trauma, the director sneaks a camera into his estranged grandfather’s funeral.
COMING OF AGE [124 MINUTES]
Genuine and heart-wrenching shorts for when we learn all the important truths of being human.
LONG LIVE YOUR RESISTANCE [113 MINUTES]
T HE MAN WHO COULD NOT REMAIN SILENT
Directed by Nebojša Slijepčević
Croatia, France, Bulgaria, Slovenia / 2024 / 13 minutes
Croatian with subtitles
In 1993, a passenger train from Belgrade to Bar is stopped by paramilitary forces in an ethnic cleansing operation.
OBRAZA (RESENTMENT)
Directed by Gleb Osatinski
Lithuania / 2024 / 30 minutes
Ukrainian, Russian with subtitles
Frustrated at not being heard for the adult he thinks he is, 17-year-old Yasha’s self-expression takes a disturbing turn.
A SUMMER’S END POEM
Directed by Lam Can-zhao
China, Switzerland, Malaysia / 2024 / 15 minutes
Chinese - Min Nan with subtitles
Before the end of the summer holidays, a country boy spends his savings on a city hairstyle – with surprising results.
SCHWARZMOLL
Directed by Alessia Mandanici
Germany, USA / 2024 / 19 minutes
Germani with subtitles
A 7-year-old girl sets out to justify the mysterious world of her dementia-suffering grandmother.
SUNFLOWER GIRL
Directed by Holly M. Kaplan USA / 2023 /13 minutes
English, Cantonese with subtitles
When a 13-year-old Chinese-American girl has the opportunity to go skateboarding with her crush, she must abandon her little sister.
MUNA
Directed by Warda Mohamed UK / 2023 / 19 minutes
English, Somali with subtitles
A British-Somali teen navigates a confusing mourning period for a family member she never met.
DON’T BE LATE, MYRA
Directed by Afia Nathaniel Pakistan, USA / 2024 / 15 minutes
Urdu, Punjabi with subtitles
A 10-year-old Pakistani school girl, Myra, is forced to walk home alone, dodging the men harassing her on the road.
MAKAYLA’S VOICE: A Letter to the World
Directed by Julio Palacio USA / 2023 / 23 minutes
Witness the journey of a teenage girl with nonverbal autism, as her parents unveil the depths of her inner world.
THE POEM WE SANG
Directed by Annie Sakkab USA / 2024 /20 minutes
The Poem We Sang is at once deeply personal and fiercely nostalgic, an ode to our lost family home in Palestine.
THE QUILTERS
Directed by Jenifer McShane
USA / 2024 / 31 minutes
A men’s quilting group inside a Missouri prison create personalized quilts for local foster children.
BAD HOSTAGE
Directed by Mimi Wilcox
USA / 2024 / 39 minutes
English, Swedish with subtitles
When captives Patty Hearst and the filmmaker’s grandmother expose the reckless police, a new phrase is born: Stockholm Syndrome.
Choices of personal resistance define the accepted status quo.
A collection of bold, transformative shorts from across the LGBTQIA+ community Also showing at
ALL THE MEN I MET BUT NEVER DATED
Directed by Muneeb Hassan
USA / 2024 / 11 minutes
English and Urdu with subtitles
When love collides with faith, Ali must choose between his heart’s deepest desire and the life he’s always known. In a world where truth is a risk, can love survive the ultimate test of identity and sacrifice?
ALOK
Directed by Alex Hedison
USA / 2024 / 18 minutes
Filmmaker Alex Hedison delivers a compelling portrait of Alok Vaid-Menon, non-binary author, poet, and comedian. This thought-provoking short explores the limitless expression of self, challenges societal norms, and inspires personal freedom. Alok features Dylan Mulvaney, Chani Nicholas and other cultural change makers, and is executive produced by Jodie Foster.
AMMA’S PRIDE
Directed by Shiva Krish
India / 2024 / 21 minutes
Tamil with subtitles
Amma’s Pride tells the poignant story of Srija, a trans woman from South India, as she navigates the complexities of her marriage, fighting for its legal recognition while striving to sustain it—all with the unwavering support of her devoted mother, Valli.
BRAIN FREEZE
Directed by Kelsey Comeau USA / 2023 / 15 minutes
A snapshot of life long friends Carrie and Rae as their relationship crumbles at the seams. Dealing with themes of adulthood, queer identity, female friendship and mortality, Brain Freeze tackles two formative moments in adolescence otherwise overlooked: the friends who fade away.
GRACE
Directed by Natalie Jasmine Harris USA / 2023 / 14 minutes
16-year-old Grace prepares for her baptism in the rural 1950’s South and contemplates her romantic feelings toward her best friend.
IS GAY MARRIAGE NEXT?
Directed by Emily Clark USA / 2023 / 16 minutes
“Is Gay Marriage Next?” artfully navigates the ebb and flow of LGBTQ rights in America through the lens of a 2003 Newsweek cover that changed the director’s life.
SUMMER’S END
Directed by Grant Conversano, Adam Conversano USA / 2024 / 20 minutes
A closeted queer teen avoids his alcoholic family’s beach vacation by going on one-night stands through a hook-up app.
The duality of “democracy.”
GOOD ENOUGH ANCESTOR
Directed by Cynthia Wade
USA / 2024 / 21 minutes
English, Mandarin with subtitles
Taiwanese visionary Audrey Tang reflects on democracy, as 4 billion people vote worldwide in 2024.
THE INVISIBLE ENEMY
Directed by Mark Shapiro, Douglas Brian Miller
USA / 2024 / 14 minutes
Enlisted men and women were exposed to radiation at the world’s largest nuclear test site and fight for healthcare benefits.
BORDER HOPPER
Directed by Nico Casavecchia
USA / 2023 / 14 minutes
English, Spanish with subtitles
A Latinx filmmaker is offered a dream-job abroad and must navigate the US immigration system.
AS LONG AS WE CAN
Directed by Kristy Guevara-Flanagan
USA / 2024 / 11 minutes
A day-in-the-life of an Arizona reproductive health clinic trying to navigate the 2022 Dobbs decision.
MASHED POTATOES
Directed by Suha Araj
USA / 2023 / 13 minutes
When an opinion columnist ruins your relationship.
SINGLE RESIDENCE OCCUPANCY
Directed by Omer Ben-Shachar
USA / 2024 / 10 minutes
A Chinese immigrant living in a Single Residence Occupancy apartment receives news that her family’s application for better housing is denied.
SUPERMAN DOESN’T STEAL
Directed by Tamika Lamison
USA / 2023 / 19 minutes
Based on true events, this coming-of-age story is set in Atlanta in the 70’s during the Atlanta Child Murders.
WILD HOGS AND SAFFRON
Directed by Andy Sarjahani
USA / 2023 / 19 minutes
Filmmaker Andy Sarjahani and his childhood friend Bubba Samuels go on a wild hog hunt in their native Ozarks.
THE GLOBAL MAJORITY [138 MINUTES]
DALY CITY
Directed by Nick Hartanto USA / 2024 / 16 minutes
English, Indonesian with subtitles
An Indonesian boy and his mother attend a church potluck and lie about their dish.
DAWN EVERY DAY
Directed by Amir Youssef Egypt / 2024 / 20 minutes
Arabic with subtitles with subtitles
In 1956, Nabil navigates through new social norms impacting his friend in post nationalized Egypt.
Entrusting. A thematically-diverse selection of narrative and documentary films.
TEA
Directed by Blake Winston Rice USA / 2022 / 12 minutes
Ukrainian, Russian with subtitles
While rehearsing asking out his dream girl, a highly allergic Circuit-Shack employee gets stung in the throat by a hornet.
THE GUY WHO GOT CUT WRONG
Directed by Dana Ben-Ari USA / 2024 / 21 minutes
Soviet-Jewish bestselling novelist Gary Shteyngart delves deep into the trauma caused by his botched circumcision.
THE DRIVER
Directed by Joseph Muszynski USA / 2024 / 28 minutes
A New York chauffeur reckons with his childhood kidnapping and lifelong struggle with addiction.
FRESHMAN. AGAIN.
Directed by Aji Bass USA / 2024 / 20 minutes
Lenny realizes his dream of going to college – at the same university his daughter attends.
IVAN
Directed by Jazz Pitcairn Cayman Islands / 2023 / 9 minutes
Amid a hurricane, one mother’s (Sasha Lane) fight for her family becomes a battle for survival.
A SONG FOR GRACIE
Directed by David Liu USA / 2024 / 13 minutes
Two lovers stop at a rundown gas station in the desert where the past and present blurs.
STEVE MAKES STUFF
Directed by John Huba USA / 2024 / 6 minutes
This short showcases Fabulous Furniture’s Steve Heller’s inventive and eclectic creations.
THE YELLOW
Directed by Maika Monroe, Simone Faoro USA / 2024 / 13 minutes
When Roy and Susanne rock bottom, can a spark of color re-awaken them to wonder?
KATELE (MUDSKIPPER)
Directed by John Harvey Australia / 2022 / 31 minutes
Kala Kawa Ya, English with subtitles
Through a mysterious visitor, Martha is reminded of her island home.
YA HANOUNI
Directed by Lyna Tadount, Sofian Chouaib France / 2024 / 3 minutes
Arabic with subtitles
A competition arises between two parents to make their baby say their first word.
DILATED
PUPILS [95 MINUTES]
Pulse-increasing thrillers and genre films.
45 DEGREES
Directed by Julia Barrett-Mitchell
USA / 2023 / 14.05 minutes
BURN OUT
Prolific artist Brian Nice’s creativity cannot be stopped, not even by a death-defying brain injury.
Directed by Russell Goldman
USA / 2024 / 12 minutes
An assistant will do anything to get a presentation in front of his boss… even set himself on fire.
HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT: Zakiyah Maynard
Directed by Angel Gates
MY SON WENT QUIET
Directed by Ian Singh Bawa
USA / 2023 / 15:00 minutes
Canada / 2024 / 13 minutes
Having grown up 36 foster homes, Zakiyah is determined to find a true home for herself and her daughter.
A South Asian father and his son begin seeing a shadow, who the son believes to be his dead mother.
MUCKVILLE
WOACA
Directed by Jeff Mertz
USA / 2023 / 19:00 minutes
Directed by Mackenzie Davis
UK, New Zealand / 2023 / 14 minutes
A woman practices self-care.
Muckville examines the impact of the mental health epidemic on American farming through the struggles of one onion farmer.
SPEED QUEEN 51
HITCHER
Directed by Sarah Nocquet USA / 2023 / 12 minutes
Directed by Christopher Greffrath USA / 2023 / 13:00 minutes
Alone in a laundromat at night, two strangers realize they’ll never see each other again and decide to trade secrets.
When a young man picks up a hitchhiker, his worst nightmare becomes a reality.
OLYMPIC DREAMS
POST MORTEM
Directed by Angel Gates USA / 2023 / 16:00 minutes
Directed by Maxim Dunn UK / 2024 / 17 minutes
There are two kinds of sacrifice.
Jacob Sanchez, a young, determined Latino figure skating star, sets his sights on the 2026 Olympics.
THE ACCOMPLICES
Directed by Alberto Evangelio Spain / 2023 / 13 minutes
Spanish with subtitles
Valencia, 1998. A desperate woman needs to help her father die and turns to a mysterious people called “the accomplices.”
APOLLO
Directed by Giles Perkins USA / 2024 / 14 minutes
Hanging around his older brother’s friends for the first time, fifteen-year-old Angus must face the harsh realities of manhood.
UNTIL HE’S BACK
Directed by Jacqueline Baylon
Morocco, Spain / 2023 / 40 minutes
Darija, Spanish, French, English with subtitles
Ahmed must find a way to get his son’s remains back home to Morocco.
AND STILL, IT REMAINS
Directed by Arwa Aburawa
UK, Algeria / 2023 / 28 minutes
Arabic with subtitles
And Still, It Remains is a meditation on the afterlife of French nuclear toxicity in Algeria.
Riveting
documentary and narrative films by tomorrow’s filmmakers.
FALLOW
Directed by Quinn Victor USA / 2024 / 14 minutes
To save his sheep, a farmer must make the ultimate sacrifice.
JJIGAE
Directed by Savannah Reese Chun USA / 2024 / 5 minutes
English, Korean with subtitles
Disconnected from her roots, Mi Young reminisces on her mother’s homemade Korean meals.
GHOSTS DON’T VISIT SO I HAVE TO MAKE MY OWN
Directed by Ari Ismail USA / 2023 / 5 minutes
A young person navigates grief in everyday spaces by using absence to recreate presence.
FOREVER CHEMICAL
Directed by Cooper Burkett USA / 2024 / 9 minutes
Cooper was diagnosed with lead poisoning and now he lobbies Albany lawmakers to pass legislation.
DISTANT, YET.SO.CLOSE
Directed by Ziyi Wang China / 2023 / 5 minutes
Chinese with subtitles
Tired of the hustle and bustle of the city, a photographer seeks inner peace. Yet, where can true tranquility be found?
FENT & ME
Directed by Mark Cavanagh, Therese Dunn USA / 2023 / 8.38 minutes
If a 17-year-old girl could talk about her fentanyl use and tragic death, this is what she would say.
BUOY
Directed by William Cherry UK / 2023 / 5 minutes
A young boy takes his first trip on his father’s fishing boat and becomes trapped in the vessel.
THE SOUNDS OF FURY
AND SOLACE
Directed by Connor Wycoff USA / 2024 / 7 minutes
A kid chasing his dream of becoming a professional guitar player begins to slowly lose his hearing, his dreams fading along with it.
FILM SCHOOL SHORTS [110 MINUTES]
Finely-crafted narrative and documentary student shorts that exemplify brave and distinctive storytelling.
FREE THE BUNS
Directed by Blanche Enaka
USA / 2024 / 14 minutes
A trio of high school friends get revenge on their teacher by stealing her emotional support bunny. Things quickly scurry out of hand.
DON’T LOOK AWAY
Directed by Joseph Lingad USA / 2024 / 35 minutes
Born with a rare condition requiring over 50 cranial reconstructive surgeries, Corey searches for normalcy, love, and acceptance in a swipe-left, swipe-right world.
SOME KIND OF BUG
Directed by Andy Fidoten USA / 2024 / 13 minutes
A mysterious environmental illness is turning teenage girls transgender across New England. At least, that’s what their mothers are reading online. Katherine, concerned by her preteen’s increasing symptoms, seeks a cure.
FUTURE IS PANORAMA
Directed by Muschirf Shekh Zeyn Germany / 2024 /15 minutes
German, Arabic with subtitles
Siham learns that the bar where her daughter is trapped is under siege by far-right terrorists. Can Siham save her?
SANCOCHO
Directed by Jason Kim Caicedo Israel / 2023 / 14 minutes
English, Spanish with subtitles
A recent widow cooks a special meal to distract her adult children from going through their father’s belongings. Sancocho is an intimate moment, almost memory-like of a transitional period between mother and children.
WHEN EVERYTHING BURNS
Directed by María Belén Poncio Argentina, USA / 2024 / 12 minutes
Spanish with Subtitles
While ostracized by the fire brigade she belongs to, Isabel faces her loneliness in an encounter that will question the essence of her fight.
A year-round filmmaking program culminating with a three-week summer filmmaking intensive where teenagers produce three short narrative and documentary films.
ART BLOCK
Directed by Oliver Weidemann USA / 2024 / 6 minutes
A narrative film about a teen who’s a painter and struggles with the idea of navigating social media.
THY NEIGHBORS
Directed by Sebastain Alarcon
USA / 2024 / 7 minutes
This documentary film explores the issues of homelessness in Kingston, NY.
SEARCH FOR EXPRESSION
Directed by Josephine Griggs
USA / 2024 / 8 minutes
This short documentary film explores the impact that expressive arts therapy has on folks who struggle with mental health issues and spectrum disorder.
YOUTH FILM LAB [SCREENED FOLLWING
MUSIC SHORTS AND PERFORMANCES
These events have a higher ticket price and are not included with passes
A FEELING OF MUSIC FOLLOWED BY Q&A AND PERFORMANCE BY FLOWER
FACE AND AL OLENDER
A collection of films & videos highlighting the love of music followed by two live performances from indie rising star musicians .
MY BACK PAGES
Directed by Nick Canfield, Paul Lovelace USA / 2024 / 11 minutes
PORTLAND IS THE NEW PORTLAND
Directed by Christopher Scamurra USA / 2024 / 17 minutes
I THINK I’M HERE
Directed by Mattias Evangelista USA / 2023 / 15 minutes
SIGN CRUSHES MOTORIST BY BETTER
Directed by Lin You USA / 2 minutes
SOMETHING BLUE BY BNNY
Directed by Jackson L James USA / 3 minutes
MISSING OUT BY MAYA HAWKE
Directed by Alex Ross Perry 4 minutes
SOLO DE SAX BY LAKNA
Directed by Luca Perrin Switzerland / 3 minutes In French RAG BY PORCHES
Directed by Nick Harwood USA / 3 minutes
LET THE VIRGIN DRIVE BY SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE
Directed by Daniel Patrick Brennan USA / 2024 / 4 minutes
TRAUMA MIC by ARMAND HAMMER FT. PINK SIFU
Directed by Henry Nelson, Tim Blake Nelson USA / 2023 / 2.56 minutes
I’M A MAN BY KIM GORDON
Directed by Alex Ross Perry USA / 5 minutes
IF I BEG YOU BY FLOWER FACE
Directed by Ruby Mckinnon
A Fistful of Stars presents Rivulets: ATTER OF THE HEART BY AL OLENDER
Directed by Wyndham Garnett
GIRLS REALLY LISTEN TO ME
RUBY M cKINNON
A multi-hyphenate artist, Ruby McKinnon is known for creating melancholic folk music with a bedroom pop heart. Taking inspiration from her own vertiginous life experiences, alongside such varied sources as Lemony Snicket’s Series of Unfortunate Events, Jesus Christ Superstar, the oeuvre of Mads Mikkelsen and her dog Ziggy, Flower Face’s musical testimonials recall the jagged emotion of Bright Eyes while conjuring the ethereal ecstasy of a fresh wound.
AL OLENDER
There’s nothing scarier than being honest with yourself. For singer/songwriter Al Olender, facing her fear of the truth has been a cleansing, often cathartic process that’s led to the kind of revelations she had previously thought unobtainable. On her debut full-length album Easy Crier, the Upstate New York based artist asks: what happens if we vow to never tell a lie, ever again?
MATTHEW DANGER LIPPMAN
Matthew Danger Lippman is a musician, actor, & writer living in Brooklyn, as well as the star of Portland Is The New Portland.
A one woman play, written and performed by Eleanor Greene
Eleanor Greene is a graduate of Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, originally from NYC. She wrote and starred in Blame Them and Sunflower Oil which both premiered at the Woodstock Film Festival.
Alex Prescot (Director) directed Sunflower Oil in 2023. He co-wrote/co-directed Runesical. He has directed comedians Claire Parry & Kayleigh Jones . He is an Associate of the National Youth Theatre.
Living on the Upper East Side, 16-year-old Madeline is convinced that her actions have no consequences. But when her new friend goes off-grid after a party, she’s forced to look at the bubble she’s grown up in, in a harsher light.
Directed by Alex Prescot
showing at THE COLONY
Q&A + LIVE PERFORMANCE
of arrangements of Conniff’s work
CO-PRESENTED BY BMI
FOLLOWING THE SCREENING A LIFE IN RHYTHM:
The Ray Conniff Story see page 30
Q&A
Jonathan McHugh, Tamara Conniff, David Kitay
Q&A featuring director Jonathan McHugh, producer and Ray Conniff’s daughter Tamara, and Woodstock based composer David Kitay, moderated by BMI’s Vice President Tracy Mcknight. Afterwards, local orchestral musicians will perform a short set of Ray Conniff’s classic arrangements, directed and conducted by Kitay. The event will close with New York City based DJ Javi performing a brief set of remixed versions of Ray’s songs.
SPECIAL ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCE + Q&A
by Broken Social Scene’s Kevin Drew
FOLLOWING THE SCREENING IT’S ALL GONNA BREAK see page 30
SPECIAL POST-SCREENING PANEL with surviving teacher and student victims of gun violence
FOLLOWING THE SCREENING DEATH BY NUMBERS see page 33
Q&A
Director Kim A. Snyder
Guests
Sam Fuentes, Ivy Schamis, Emma Ehrens, Abbey Clements
Death By Numbers breaks through American society increasingly inured to gun violence and impervious to a nation of traumatized youth.
SPECIAL POST-SCREENING CONVERSATION with director Smriti Mundhra and Sheila Nevins
FOLLOWING THE SCREENING I AM READY, WARDEN see page 33
From Oscar-nominated filmmaker Smriti Mundhra, days before his execution, a Texas death row prisoner seeks redemption from his victim’s son.
SPECIAL EVENTS
SPECIAL Q&A/PANEL
FOLLOWING THE SCREENING OF BEYOND THE GAZE see page 29
IN ATTENDENCE
TYRA BANKS
Director/Producer/Editor
Jill Campbell
Producers
Jonathan Gray, Rob Lyons
Executive Producers
Sharon Cooney Shuttleworth, Carol Alt, Stacey Williams
The audience is invited to a reception and toast in the theater with the film’s team and subjects after the 30 minute Q&A, with wine, cocktails, and sweet and savory catered nibbles.
SPECIAL POST-SCREENING CONVERSATION
CO-PRESENTED BY CENTER FOR PHOTOGRAPHY AT WOODSTOCK (CPW)
FOLLOWING THE SCREENING ERNEST COLE: Lost and Found see page 30
Winner of this year’s Cannes Film Festival’s Golden Eye Award, ERNEST COLE: Lost and Found delves into the heartbreaking story of the South African photographer’s struggle to chronicle the inhumanity of life under apartheid.
For Q&A attendees, check online
SPECIAL
POST-SCREENING
CONVERSATION
CO-PRESENTED BY CENTER FOR PHOTOGRAPHY AT WOODSTOCK (CPW)
FOLLOWING THE SCREENING A PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY see page 31
An intimate portrait of a daughter’s attempt to piece together a portrait of her mother.
For Q&A attendees, check online
SPECIAL POST-SCREENING Q&A
FOLLOWING THE SCREENING LEFT BEHIND see page 30
After the film, a Q&A on the emotional impact of dyslexia within families, and the global issue of the school-to-prison pipeline, will be hosted by Juju Chang, multiple Emmy Award-winning coanchor of ABC News’ Nightline.
Anna Toomey, Juju Chang (moderator)
Amidst the softest distribution market in decades, at the peak of its popularity, documentary filmmaking has reached an inflection point. In this wide-ranging conversation with some of the most prolific filmmakers in the industry, we take a “bird’s-eye” view of the challenges and opportunities. Addressing audience engagement and career sustainability while contextualizing our current climate in broader documentary history, the panel addresses how docs will survive and thrive into the future.
MODERATOR
Jessica Edwards is a Peabody award-winning director, producer, and publicist. In 2010, she launched Film First to produce short and feature-length documentaries. Since then, she’s created and released dozens of projects across all platforms.
PANELISTS
Sandi DuBowski is the director/producer of Sabbath Queen and Trembling Before G-D, producer of A Jihad For Love, and co-producer of Budrus. His award-winning work screened at Sundance, Berlin, Tribeca, Toronto, and he is a doc branch member of the Academy.
Director Yance Ford’s documentary Power premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. His film Strong Island was nominated for an Oscar in 2018 and won the 2019 Emmy for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Film.
Benjamin Ree’s The Remarkable Life of Ibelin received the Audience Award and Directing Award in World Documentary at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. His previous film The Painter and the Thief received a 2020 Sundance World Documentary Special Jury Award.
Barbara Kopple, a two-time Academy Award and Emmy-winning filmmaker, directs and produces documentaries and narrative films. Her latest film, Gumbo Coalition, follows civil rights leaders Marc Morial and Janet Murguia during a pivotal moment in American history.
Produced by JANET GRILLO
Artificial Intelligence is quickly infiltrating many aspects of society, including the creative arts. An exciting and accessible tool, innovative artists are using it to channel wildly imaginative ideas at next to no cost; a dream come true for a DIY indie filmmaker. While the Hollywood industry is already promising to cut costs – meaning jobs, livelihoods and entire careers – by replacing crafts and labor with technology. This lively, candid panel will include the founder of Runway AI, artists who are already using AI to realize their visions, as well as those who forswear it.
MODERATOR
Scott Macauley is a film producer with New York’s Forensic Films and co-founder and editor-in-chief of Filmmaker Magazine. Among his producing credits are The Assistant, Raising Victor Vargas, Gummo, Saving Face, and the Sundance Grand Prize-winning What Happened Was….
PANELISTS
Nicolas Neubert is a member of creative staff at Runway and Independant Creative Director (AI). Nicolas’s contributions to this cutting-edge field have yielded globally recognized AI movies, earning accolades and coverage from prestigious media outlets like Forbes, CNN, Yahoo Finance and VentureBeat.
Philip Shane is an award-winning documentary filmmaker with over 35 years of experience. He has directed and edited films about iconic figures, won accolades at Sundance, and now explores the intersection of AI and documentary filmmaking.
Writer-director Kris Lefcoe’s award-winning films have screened at TIFF, SXSW, Tribeca, Art Basel Miami, and the Sundance Channel. Her eclectic body of work spans network comedies, satirical art films, stop motion animation, and original music.
A former journalist, Eunice Lau’s first independent feature documentary Accept the Call screened at Woodstock Film Festival in 2019, and she is an alumni of WFF’s Filmmakers’ Residency where she developed her film project Son of the Soil. A graduate of New York University’s MFA film program, her TV series inspired by her documentary A-Town Boyz is selected for the 2024 Film Independent Episodic Lab.
A Conversation With AMANDA SEYFRIED
A frank and in-depth conversation with actors Amanda Seyfried focusing on her storied career and her acting craftsmanship. A not-to-be-missed glimpse into the behind the scenes of the career trajectory of award-winning actor.
MODERATOR
Martha Frankel is the Executive Director of Woodstock Bookfest, the host of Woodstock Booktalk, celebrity interviewer, and published novelist.
Amanda Seyfried is an award-winning actress known for her roles in Mank and The Dropout, as well as the beloved Mamma Mia! Her career spans film, television, and stage, with diverse upcoming projects highlighting her versatility.
STATE OF THE INDUSTRY AND HOW TO BREAK INTO IT
Join a group of accomplished veteran filmmakers as they discuss the state of the film industry today, and the projects they are currently working on. Some of the in depth conversation will focus on the why and how their recent projects were getting done – from concept and funding, to production, post production and distribution. The conversation will also focus on the humble beginnings of the panelists’ careers, with an eye towards advising aspiring filmmakers how to get into the film and media industry in today’s ecosystem.
PANELISTS
William Horberg is a producer at Closer Media, a New York-based production company and financier. Bill’s recent projects include Tony Goldwyn’s Ezra, Pawo Dorji’s The Monk and the Gun, Alex Gibney’s In Restless Dreams, and Oliver Hermanus’ The History of Sound, starring Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor.
Blair Breard is a producer with over 30 years of experience. Recent credits include Savant;
While You Were Breeding; Scenes from a Marriage; The Half of It; The Drop.
THE WOMEN IN THE DRIVER SEAT
MODERATOR
Brian Mahoney, is the editorial director for the Chronogram Media family of publications.
Gill Holland is a Spirit Award nominee for Producer of the Year and has worked in various producer capacities on over 150 narrative features, documentaries, music videos, and short films. He also runs sonaBLAST! Records (gives free music to indie filmmakers) and does real estate community development in Appalachia and Outsider Art.
Co-presented by
Today’s women filmmakers are calling the shots, whether with a movie camera on their shoulder, a pen in their hand, an idea in their head, or a computer and a desk at their feet. In this conversation co-presented by New York Women in Film & Television, meet some of today’s most inspiring filmmakers, all current participating filmmakers or alumni of the Woodstock Film Festival, as they discuss the trajectory of their careers.
PANELISTS
Heidi Ewing, filmmaker, The Boys of Baraka, Jesus Camp, 12th & Delaware, I Carry You with Me
Ondi Timoner, filmmaker, Dig!, We Live in Public, Mapplethorpe, Last Flight Home, The Inn Between.
Jared Goldman
Yvonne Russo, filmmaker, Bringing Home Baby, 40 Under 40, Planes Cranes and Rockets, VIVA VERDI!
Nancy Abraham is Executive Vice President and Co-Head of Documentary Programming for HBO.
Christine La Monte, producer/writer, VIVA VERDI!; former studio marketing executive: Universal Pictures, Walt Disney/Touchstone Pictures/Orion Pictures; also EVP of Film Division at Rogers & Cowan.
Rebecca Miller, filmmaker, Personal Velocity, The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, Maggie’s Plan, She Came to Me
MODERATOR
Cynthia Lopez NYWIFT’s Executive Director.
Co-Presented in collaboration with New York Women in Film and Television (NYWIFT)
Co-presented by
INDEPENDENTS DAYS
As the Woodstock Film Festival commemorates 25 years of fierce independence, we are marking our next generation by celebrating the link between today’s trailblazing filmmakers and the pioneers whose passion, ingenuity, and pure love of filmmaking inspired them.
Independents Days is a unique series of talks woven throughout the festival, shining a light on the process of creating brave, distinctive art. The series pairs a new generation of filmmakers with their predecessors, with in-depth conversations between those filmmakers.
A Conversation With HONOREE PAUL SCHRADER & RAMIN BAHRANI
Academy Award-nominated director and screenwriter Paul Schrader’s acclaimed films include American Gigolo, Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters, Affliction, First Reformed, The Card Counter and Master Gardener. He also collaborated with Martin Scorsese, writing Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and The Last Temptation of Christ
Sheila Nevinsis a former Executive Producer for MTV Documentary Films and the former president of HBO Documentary Films and Family Programming for Home Box Office. She has received 32 Primetime Emmy® Awards, 35 News and Documentary Emmys® and 42 George Foster Peabody Awards
A Conversation With CARLA GUTIÉRREZ & ROGER ROSS WILLIAMS
Carla Gutiérrez is an Emmy-nominated documentary director/editor. Her directorial debut, Frida, premiered at Sundance 2024 and she edited the Oscar-nominated films RBG and La Corona. Carla is a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures and the American Cinema Editors.
Academy Award, BAFTA, WGA and Emmy nominee Ramin Bahrani is the writer, director and producer of such films as Man Push Cart, Chop Shop, 99 Homes and The White Tiger.
Sunday October 13th 2024
1st annual culinary fundraiser
10 houses 10 chefs 10 dinners
Mirth and merriment guaranteed
Smriti Mundhra a Academy Award-nominated and three-time Emmy-nominated filmmaker. She created and Romantics; created, directed, and produced Emmy-nominated show, Indian ; and her feature A Suitable , premiered at Tribeca.
Smriti Mundhra is a DGA-winning, Academy Award-nominated and three-time Emmy-nominated filmmaker. She created and directed Netflix’s The Romantics; created, directed, and executive produced the Emmy-nominated Netflix show, Indian Matchmaking; and her debut feature documentary, A Suitable Girl, premiered at Tribeca.
sponsored by
Roger Ross Williams is an Oscar, Emmy, Peabody, and NAACP Image award-winning director, producer, and writer – and the first African American director to win an Academy Award, with his film Music By Prudence.
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR LOCAL BUSINESS SUPPORTERS
Bianca’s Framing Piazza
EJ Chocolates LLC
Euphoria Yoga
The Friends of the Woodstock Library
millie + madge
Village Apothecary
Woodstock School of Art
A Conversation With SHEILA NEVINS AND SMRITI MUNDHRA
Trans Storytelling will feature exciting voices in queer cinema whose authentic visions are shaping the perception of trans communities.
MODERATOR
Kimberly Reed’s trailblazing film
Prodigal Sons won 14 international awards and was the first documentary by a transgender filmmaker to be theatrically released in the US. She was named one of Filmmaker Magazine’s “25 New Faces of Independent Film” and Out Magazine’s “Out 100.” Her films have premiered at Telluride & Sundance, and been released on HBO/Max, Netflix, Amazon & PBS.
PANELISTS
Alex Hedison is an internationally acclaimed photographer, artist, director and actor. Her acting career spans numerous television roles, including a pivotal character in the cultural phenomenon The L Word. A critical voice in both the artistic and LGBTQ+ community, Hedison directed the short documentary film Alok, featuring Alok VaidMenon.
Noah Schamus is an educator and filmmaker. Their first narrative feature Summer Solstice received a New York Times Critics Pick. Their most recent documentary short, The Script can be seen online on The New Yorker and The Criterion Channel.
With a screening of the short film Seat 31: Zooey Zephyr
dir. Kimberly Reed
When Zooey Zephyr was expelled from the Montana House of Representatives for speaking on a bill banning transgender medical care, she made a nearby bench her “office.” Director Kimberly Reed’s cameras land next to Zooey, capturing shocking, funny, and joyous events.
MC: LOUIS ARMISTEAD
AWARDS
Doors Open at 8pm
Best Editing, Narrative
Best Editing, Documentary
Leon Gast Award for Best Documentary
Mark Braunstein Award for Best Short Narrative
Haskell Wexler Award for Best Cinematography
Best Short Documentary
Best Student Short
Best Short Animation
Best Feature Narrative
Ultra Indie Award
The World of HA Change Maker Award
ART OF ACTIVISM
PAMELA YATES & PACO DE ONÍS
Pamela Yates is the senior creative director and film director and Paco de Onís is the executive director and film producer at Skylight, a not-for-profit human rights media organization that combines cinematic arts with the quest for justice to inspire the defense of human rights.
Their current documentary feature film, BORDERLAND | The Line Within, exposes the border industrial complex, the massive apparatus that has been built to capture, incarcerate and deport millions of immigrants from the U.S. at a cost of billions of dollars.
They are best known for their trilogy of films made over 35 years about Guatemala that includes When the Mountains Tremble, Granito: How to Nail a Dictator, and 500 Years; all premiered at Sundance Film Festival and have been shown all over the world in festivals, cinemas, broadcasts and streaming.
At Skylight, Pamela and Paco share their model of catalyzing collaborative networks of artists and activists through the SolidariLabs program.
Photo: Juan Hernández, AEC
HONORARY MAVERICK
PAUL SCHRADER
Acclaimed writer and director Paul Schrader is known for his provocative and bold contributions to both mainstream and independent film. His collaborations with Martin Scorsese – including Taxi Driver (winner of the the Palme D’Or at Cannes Film Festival), Raging Bull (winner of two Academy Awards), The Last Temptation of Christ, and Bringing Out the Dead – are considered some of the most impactful screenwriting of the 20th century. Additional screenwriting credits include Sydney Pollack’s The Yakuza (co-wrote with Robert Towne), Brian De Palma’s Obsession, John Flynn’s grindhouse classic Rolling Thunder (co-wrote with Heywood Gould) and Peter Weir’s The Mosquito Coast.
Schrader was born on July 22, 1946, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He earned his B.A. from Calvin College, then his M.A. from UCLA, while working as a film critic and writing Transcendental Style in Film: Ozu, Bresson, Dreyer. Schrader directed his first film Blue Collar in 1978 starring Richard Pryor and Harvey Keitel.
Schrader’s many directorial credits include American Gigolo, Cat People, Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters, Light Sleeper and Affliction. Schrader was nominated for an Academy Award in 2019 for Best Original Screenplay for First Reformed, which he also directed. His most recent films include The Card Counter; Master Gardener; and Oh, Canada, where he reunites with his American Gigolo star Richard Gere, and is his second adaptation of a novel by Russell Banks (Affliction).
SAT OCT 19 9:00pm
SAUGERTIES `PERFORMANCE ARTS CENTER (SPAF) 169 Ulster Ave, Saugerties, NY
HONORARY TRAILBLAZER
IRA DEUTCHMAN
Ira Deutchman has been making, marketing and distributing films since 1975, having worked on over 150 films including some of the most successful independent films of all time. He was one of the founders of Cinecom and later created Fine Line Features – two companies that were created from scratch and, in their respective times, helped define the independent film business. He was also a co-founder of Emerging Pictures, the first digital projection network in the United States and a pioneer in delivering live cultural events into movie theaters.
Currently Deutchman is an independent producer, and a consultant in marketing and distribution of independent films. He is also Professor Emeritus in the School of the Arts at Columbia University, where he has taught since 1987 and was the Chair of the Film Program from 2011-2015.
His current projects include serving as director/producer of the feature documentary Searching for Mr. Rugoff (opened in theaters in August, 2021), producer of the stage adaptation of Joan Micklin Silver’s Hester Street (opens April 1, 2024), producer of Nickel & Dimed, based on the book by Barbara Ehrenreich and directed by Debra Granik (in pre-production) and executive producer of the mini-series based on the novel Radio Girls by Sarah-Jane Stratford (in development).
In 2017, Deutchman was awarded the Spotlight Lifetime Achievement Award by the Sundance Art House Convergence for his service to independent film marketing and distribution.
• Great Jones Distilling Co. is home to the first legal whiskey distillery in Manhattan since Prohibition.
• Great Jones Bourbon and Rye are crafted from the finest ingredients: corn, barley and rye grain, all grown in the rich black dirt of the Empire State and aged in American oak barrels.
THANK YOU TO OUR 2024 SPONSORS
INDIVIDUALS
MOVIE LEGEND: $15,000+
Laurel Andretta
Mike & Bonnie Hassan
Kevin & Hilary Greene
Sheila Nevins
MOVIE STAR: $10,000+
Nikola Duravcevic & Dana Ben Ari
DIRECTOR: $5000 - $9,999
Stewart Meyers
PRODUCER: $2,500 - $4,999
Susan Alexander
Chris Allieri & Samuel Centore
David Baldwin
Nicole Quinn
Rita Taggart - In Memory of Haskell Wexler
Shira White
Daniel Zamlong & Cammy Grusd
SCREENWRITER:
$1,000 - $2,499
Glass Eye Pix
Gill Holland
Gerald Lanza & Evan Hines
Dorothy Marcic
Lowell G Miller & Gayle Bradney
Ron Nyswaner
Barbara Pokras
Eileen Power - In Honor of Steve Derrickson
Josh Ruben
Thoughtful Productions
Purchasing tickets in advance is highly advised, since there is limited seating capacity at all venues.
There are NO REFUNDS or EXCHANGES on tickets, without exception.
To order tickets, see updated schedules and film descriptions, and find other festival information, visit woodstockfilmfestival.org/tickets.
Passholders must arrive 15 minutes prior to events to guarantee seating.
Driving from Woodstock to:
ROSENDALE takes ± 35 minutes.
SAUGERTIES takes ± 20 minutes.
ONLINE ORDERS
All tickets can be purchased at woodstockfilmfestival.org/tickets.
Tickets must be printed at home or presented digitally at the door.
Online ticket orders can be purchased up until the time an event starts.
BOX OFFICE
The Box Office is open with limited hours, for festival attendees to browse the schedule and order tickets.
We will offer printed tickets for those unable to print their tickets or present them digitally.
Student and senior discounts are available, with ID, at the Box Office.
Tickets are available at the Box Office until two hours prior to the event.
WEEKEND & FULL PASSES
WEEKEND PASS: $550
PURCHASING TICKETS
Tickets
BOX
PLEASE
Confirm venues and times.
Read updated information about screenings, special events, and panels.
*Passholders must arrive 15 minutes prior to events to guarantee seating
Unlimited access to and priority seating* to all of the following on Saturday October 19th & Sunday October 20th: films, panels, parties, hospitality lounge, and Maverick awards ceremony. Includes festival gift bag.
VENUES
DELUXE FULL FESTIVAL PASS: $850
Unlimited access to and priority seating* to all films, virtual screenings, panels, parties, hospitality lounge, and Maverick awards ceremony. Includes festival gift bag.
