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Film Industry News: August 2016
New England film industry news including happenings, industry buzz and calls for films.
Written by Casey Stirling | Posted by: NewEnglandFilm.com
Upcoming events at ITVFest, Camden International Film Festival, fellowship opportunities with Karen Schmeer organization and MacDowell Colony, winners announced from Woods Hole and Rhode Island International Film Festival, and more. To submit a blurb for industry news, email news@newenglandfilm.com.
Happenings
Vermont hosts the second annual Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival August 25–28. Films screen at Town Hall Theater, Marquis Theater, and Middlebury College’s Dana Auditorium. For a schedule and list of films, visit middfilmfest.org.
The Boston Jewish Film Festival presents a screening of the new film Ben Hur on August 18th at 6:30 pm. The film screens at AMC Loews Boston Common 19, followed by a discussion with producer Joni Levin and screenwriter Keith Clarke. Learn more at bjff.org.
Movies on the Block returns to Grant’s Block (260 Westminster Street) in Providence, Rhode Island on Thursday evenings at sundown. Screenings are free and weather dependent. Watch Clue on August 18th, and Days of Heaven on August 25th. For the full schedule and updates, check out moviesontheblock.com.
Industry Buzz
Writer Amber Russell of Cape Elizabeth, Maine was awarded the 2016 NewEnglandFilm.com Fellow to the Stowe Story Labs for her script Margaret, a biographical drama, a timely look at the rise and times of Margaret Chase Smith, the Maine Senator who ran for President. Read more about Russell and the fellowship on NewEnglandFim.com.
ITVFest announced its official selections for the 2016 festival, to be held in October in Dover, Vermont.
Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) announced the Award Winners from its 20th Festival, on Sunday, August 14th at the annual Awards Ceremony held at The Metcalf Auditorium, RISD Museum in downtown Providence, RI. The winners of RIIFF’s Best Narrative for The Dogcatcher directed by Daria Woszek from Poland; Best Animation for To Build a Fire directed by Fx Goby from France; and Documentary Short Frame 394 directed by Rich Williamson from Canada all become the Festival’s nominees for Academy Award consideration. For more information, visit RIIFF’s website.
The Massachusetts House and Senate recently voted to restore $7.7 million in funding for the Massachusetts Cultural Council. The vote came after Governor Baker cut funding for the MCC last month. Read more here.
Starring Jack Black, the feature The Polka King films across Rhode Island this summer. The comedy is written and directed by Maya Forbes and Wallace Wolodarsky, whose previous film Infinitely Polar Bear was also made in Rhode Island.
Massachusetts filmmaker Daniel Cojanu was recently awarded Best Cinematography Short Film at the Woods Hole Film Festival for his work Black Canaries. Read more about Daniel Cojanu at his website. Check out the full list of Woods Hole Film Festival winners here.
Early bird season passes for this year’s DocYard series are available through September 5th. DocYard screenings and conversations take place at Cambridge’s Brattle Theatre. For more information, visit thedocyard.com.
Opportunities
Filmmakers, TV producers and web series makers have an opportunity to network and pitch with Hollywood and NY executives at ITVFest in Dover, Vermont in October. Learn more about the festival passes.
The Karen Schmeer Film Editing Fellowship is now open for submissions. The fellowship honors the late editor Karen Schmeer, who died in 2010. Deadline is September 30th. For guidelines and more details on how to apply, click here.
Camden International Film Festival and the Points North Institute will host numerous screenings, workshops and pitch events in Camden, Maine in September. See their website or read the NewEnglandFilm.com article about the now year-round Points North Institute.
The MacDowell Colony is now accepting submissions for winter/spring 2017 fellowships. Artists in architecture, film/video arts, interdisciplinary arts, literature, music composition, theatre, and visual arts are encouraged to apply. Deadline is September 15th. For guidelines, visit the MacDowell website.
The Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study is currently accepting applications for 2017-2018 fellowships. Individual deadline for creative arts, humanities, and social sciences is September 15th. Learn more here.
