NewEnglandFilm.com

Now in its 25th year, the IFP Market has clearly grown up. The fall 2003 event brought out its usual commendable list of industry attendees – HBO, Sony Pictures Classics, Sundance Channel, ITVS, and Independent Film Channel, to name just a few. As well, it screened an impressive variety of completed and in-progress documentaries, narratives and shorts.

However, I have to admit – I missed the frenetic, albeit immature, vibe of old Market’s crowds, costumes and confusion. But the fact is that IFP Market is not a circus, it’s a civilized industry event. And as such, the new atmosphere fits perfectly. Distributors no longer have to hide their badges to prevent filmmakers from swarming them. And since there are significantly fewer films in the market, filmmakers don’t have to resort to humiliating themselves to get their screening’s attendance up.

"Interestingly enough [the Market] didn’t seem that different to me," said Nora Jacobson whose narrative film "Nothing Like Dreaming," screened at the IFP Market as a work-in-progress. "I know it was more competitive and there were fewer films. But it still felt crazy to get people to come and see the films."

That may be attributed to the fact that although there were fewer films shown, there were also fewer attendees to watch those films. According to a post-Market report in indieWIRE, the Market organizers estimated a 30 percent reduction in attendees due to the poor economic climate.

One difference that Jacobson did notice was the significantly fewer narrative films at the Market. "It’s very much a documentary market now," Jacobson said. "They only accepted about 20 narrative films, which made me think, ‘Wow, they must have really liked our film.’ But because there are so many docs, it seems that the buyers are there looking for documentaries, not narrative film."

Jacobson’s film went on to obtain a nomination for the IFP Market’s work-in-progress completion award, which gave her access to more intimate pitch sessions with festival directors, film buyers and industry attendees.

In addition, several other terrific New England films distinguished themselves at the Market. Laurie-Kahn Leavitt’s documentary "Tupperware" about Earl Silas Tupper and Brownie Wise and the remarkable invention and success of Tupperware, screened to a packed house, and will be featured on PBS’s American Experience early next year. Connecticut filmmakers Gretchen Berland and Mike Majoros won the $10,000 documentary completion award for their film "Rolling," a film shot by three people over 18 months from the vantage point of their wheelchairs.

Also, the local film "American Lynching," a participant in the No Borders section of the Market and the first feature-length documentary about the tragic phenomenon of lynching in America, screened twice and resulted in "a plethora of meetings with potential buyers and interested parties with a goal of securing adequate completion funds," according to the co-producers James M. Fortier and Gode Davis. The film announced after the Market, that the film officially advanced to Phase III Review of the Independent Television Service (ITVS) Open Call for Autumn 2003.

All in all – there’s no doubt about it – when it comes to indie filmmakers hooking up with distributors, TV execs, and festival directors – the IFP Market is where it’s at.

Bringing together an unusually distinct collection of films from "Elf" with Will Ferrell to the French film "Le Bison," the Hamptons International Film Festival (HIFF) certainly aims high. What’s impressive is that it achieves its goal. Executive Director Denise Kasell carries a wonderful energy for the festival that catches on with the attendees.

One of the highlights from my brief journey to the festival was the "A Conversation With…" Each year, the festival presents a discussion between a distinguished moderator and a surprise guest. Past guests have included Steven Spielberg, Isabella Rossellini and Harvey Keitel. This year, the surprise guests were some of the grand dames of American cinema – Betty Comden, writer of "Singin’ in the Rain" and "Auntie Mame"; actress Patricia Neal from "A Face in the Crowd" and "The Fountainhead"; and actress Fay Wray who at 96 years old is a rare living link to silent film. These women shared their experiences with such honest warmth and humor, and it was a tribute to them as well as the festival that they were there. The festival also featured the women in the documentary which screened "Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There."