Montclair Film

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Montclair Film Festival
Montclair Film Festival logo
Montclair.Film.Festival..JPG
At the Wellmont Theatre during MFF15
LocationMontclair, New Jersey, U.S.
Founded2012
Festival dateLate April, early May
LanguageInternational
Websitemontclairfilm.org

Montclair Film[1] is a nonprofit most well known for organizing the annual Montclair Film Festival (MFF) usually held in late April, early May in Montclair, New Jersey. The festival showcases new works from American and international filmmakers, and has year-round events.[2] The festival features a program of films in the Fiction, Non-Fiction, World Cinema, Short and Student Filmmaking categories.[3]

Notable advisory board members include J.J. Abrams, Jonathan Alter, Stephen Colbert, Abigail Disney, Olympia Dukakis, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Emma Freud, Laura Linney, Jon Stewart, Julie Taymor and Patrick Wilson, among others.[4]

History[]

The film festival was founded by WNET-TV Vice President and General Counsel Bob Feinberg, a Montclair resident, who hired festival programmer Thom Powers[5] and director Raphaela Neihausen[6] and developed a Board of Directors composed of many of Montclair's prominent residents, including film and media professionals, philanthropists and community leaders.[citation needed][7]

Editions[]

Inaugural festival, May 2012[]

Originally estimated to attract 5,000 visitors, the event reached 7,500 motion picture enthusiasts, arts patrons, and cultural tourists. Over 45 films were presented. Notable attendees included Oliver Platt,[8] Kathleen Turner,[9] Olympia Dukakis,[10] Patrick Wilson, Michael Moore and author Judy Blume. Early screenings included The Oranges, Your Sister’s Sister, 2 Days in New York and Robot and Frank.[11] MFF was the winner of the Discover Jersey Arts 2012 People's Choice Awards for the favorite film festival.[2]

Second annual festival, May 2013[]

Held at seven venues across one community, the festival attracted more than 14,000 attendees to 80+ films and events including selected world and New Jersey premieres.[12][13] A favorite film category was established to offer a platform for dozens of established and lesser-known filmmakers from New Jersey to exhibit new work.[13][14] Prominent guests included a return visit from Michael Moore, Harry Belafonte, Darlene Love, Lake Bell, Ice-T, Alex Gibney and New York Times culture columnist David Carr.[citation needed]

Films screened included 20 Feet From Stardom, The Attack, Blackfish, Frances Ha, The Act of Killing, The Spectacular Now, Dirty Wars, In A World..., The Kings of Summer, Computer Chess, Still Mine, Stories We Tell and Valley of Saints.

Third annual festival, May 2014[]

MFF14 presented among others the Chef with Jon Favreau.[15]

Fourth annual festival, May 2015[]

MFF15 opened with Hello, My Name Is Doris with Sally Field and showed among others Time out of Mind with Richard Gere.[16][citation needed]

Fifth annual festival, May 2016[]

MFF16 opened with Roger Ross Williams' film Life, Animated. Following the film, a panel discussion was held with Advisory Board Member Stephen Colbert, members of the Suskind family, film creators, and Gilbert Gottfried, who appeared in the film. Other films shown included ... The festival closed with the film Miss Sharon Jones!, documenting the story of Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings as Jones fought cancer

Ninth annual, October 2020[]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic opening film Nomadland, closing film One Night in Miami and spotlight films Ammonite and Derek DelGaudio’s In & Of Itself will be screened at a drive-in. Minari was selected as the virtual centerpiece film.[17]

Year-round programs[]

Montclair Film also presents a schedule of educational and public programs[18] and events for audiences across the region including: Free Summer Series Under the Stars; Kidz Shortz Filmmaking Competition and Workshops for youth ages 9–18[19] Free African American Heritage Month screenings; The Underdog Festival at Montclair State University featuring screenings of rarely seen Oscar-nominated shorts; Behind the Screen: Media Career Day for high school and university students;[20] Screenings with industry insiders and up-and-coming stars; Festival Poster Competition; Community-wide art projects for youth; Networking events for industry insiders and newcomers; Celebrity Fundraiser (with Advisory Board Member Stephen Colbert),[21] Oscars’ Eve Party, Trivia Night and more.

Past Award Winners[]

Montclair Film Festival Fiction Feature Award[]

2019 – Monos, directed by Alejandro Landes

2018 – First Reformed, directed by Paul Schrader

Sinofsky Award for Documentary Feature[]

2019 – Honeyland, directed by Ljubomir Stefanov and Tamara Kotevska

2018 – Hale County This Morning, This Evening, directed by RaMell Ross

The David Carr Award For Truth In Non-Fiction Filmmaking[]

2019 – , directed by

2018 – Dark Money, directed by Kimberly Reed

The Inaugural Mark Urman Award For Fiction Filmmaking[]

2019 – Mickey and the Bear, directed by Annabelle Attanasio

New Jersey Films Award[]

2019 – , directed by Ken Spooner and Mike Mee

2018 – Crime + Punishment, directed by Stephen Tiang

Audible Storyteller Award[]

2019 – Mickey and the Bear, directed by Annabelle Attanasio

Junior Jury Award[]

2019 – , directed by

2018 – American Animals, directed by Bart Layton

References[]

  1. ^ "Montclair Film". Montclairfilm.org. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Tammy LaGorce. "A Film Festival With More of Everything". The New York Times. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
  3. ^ "Montclair Film Festival 2018". Retrieved 2018-01-25.
  4. ^ "Advisory Board | Montclair Film". 2020-05-02. Archived from the original on 2020-05-02. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  5. ^ "Innovative Filmmaking At The Montclair Film Festival « CBS New York". Newyork.cbslocal.com. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
  6. ^ Gilmore, Georgette (2013-04-10). "Coffee With...Raphaela Neihausen, Festival Director of Montclair Film Festival - Baristanet | Baristanet". Baristanet.com. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
  7. ^ "All eyes on Jersey at the debut of the Montclair Film Festival". NorthJersey.com. 2012-05-02. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
  8. ^ Galant, Debbie (2012-05-02). "Montclair Film Festival, a "Baby Bird," Takes Flight - Baristanet | Baristanet". Baristanet.com. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
  9. ^ [1][dead link]
  10. ^ "Montclair Film Festival: Welcome home, Olympia Dukakis". NorthJersey.com. 2012-05-04. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
  11. ^ "THE first MONTCLAIR FILM FESTIVAL in New Jersey concludes on Sunday with a lineup that includes a King and a Boss". The New York Times. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
  12. ^ Davis, Clayton (2013-04-29). "Top 10 Anticipated Films from 2013 Montclair Film Festival! | The Awards Circuit - By Clayton Davis". The Awards Circuit. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
  13. ^ Jump up to: a b "In Conversation: Montclair Film Festival filmmakers draw the curtain back". NorthJersey.com. 2013-05-13. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
  14. ^ "Montclair State University's young filmmakers showcased at Film Festival". NorthJersey.com. 2013-05-03. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
  15. ^ "MMF14 film lineup". Archived from the original on 2015-04-16. Retrieved 2015-05-05.
  16. ^ "MM15 Film Guide" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 26, 2015. Retrieved Aug 15, 2019.
  17. ^ McNary, Dave (2020-09-18). "'Nomadland' to Open Montclair Film Festival, 'One Night in Miami' to Close". Variety. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  18. ^ George, Liz (2013-08-05). "Behind The Scenes at Breaking Bad | Baristanet". Baristanet.com. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
  19. ^ "Montclair Film Festival announces second annual Kidz Shortz filmmaking competition". NorthJersey.com. 2012-10-18. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
  20. ^ "Free day of media seminars for students". NJ.com. 2012-12-07. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
  21. ^ "Jon Stewart tells Stephen Colbert: I nearly quit 'Daily Show' over 'insane' co-workers". TODAY.com. Retrieved Aug 15, 2019.

External links[]

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