NewEnglandFilm.com

Happenings

Brattleboro, Vermont hosts the Women’s Film Festival March 11–20. The longest-running women’s film festival in New England includes filmmaker Q&As, the Family Film and Food Event, a high school video contest, and closing night reception. Festival passes are available. For more information, check out http://www.womensfilmfestival.org/.

Salem, Massachusetts hosts the 4th annual Salem Film Fest March 4–10. The festival kicks off with a special opening night screening on March 3rd at the Peabody Essex Museum. The Salem Film Fest is the biggest documentary festival in New England. For ticket information and the full festival schedule, visit http://www.salemfilmfest.com/.

Celebrate the Maine Jewish Film Festival March 26–31. Opening night kicks off with a party at Portland’s Greenhut Galleries; highlights include a Women Filmmakers Forum, panel discussions, and receptions. For more details and a full list of films, visit http://www.mjff.org/.

Celebrate the 14th Annual Green Mountain Film Festival March 18–27 in Montpelier, Vermont. Highlights include panel discussions, a 48-hour Film Slam competition, and special guests. Festival passes are available. Visit http://www.greenmountainfilmfestival.org/ for a full festival schedule and to purchase tickets.

The Oscars are over, but not all the awards have been given out: the Brattle Theatre hosts two special events this month. Boston’s Chlotrudis Society honors the best independent films of 2010 on March 20th. Read more about the films and nominations at http://chlotrudis.org/. Then, on March 24th, the Brattle hosts the Boston Cinema Census, a festival that honors local emerging filmmakers. Check out http://www.bostoncinemacensus.org/ for more information. Details for both events can be found at http://brattlefilm.org/.

Gloucester Lights shine this month at the Cape Ann Community Cinema as it continues its Charlie Chaplin retrospective (21 Main Street, Gloucester, MA). The cinema screens a different Chaplin film every Sunday this month — Modern Times on March 6th, The Great Dictator on March 13th, Monsieur Verdoux on March 20th, and Limelight on March 27th. For more details and showtimes, go to http://www.CapeAnnCinema.com/.

Travel the world this month at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts. The “New Latin American Cinema” series screens March 2–9 as part of this month’s MFA Siesta. Catch screenings of The Joy, Crab Trap, Lucia, and Noberto’s Deadline. Switch over to French March 11–17 for the Québec Film Festival and March 17–25 for the Francophone Film Festival. Visit http://www.mfa.org/programs/film for showtimes and ticket information.

Talamas Broadcast Equipment hosts an ARRI Alexa workshop on March 11th and 12th (145 California Street, Newton, MA). The seminar will cover the challenges and benefits of using the Alexa, and will be taught by Digital Picture Company owner Michael Bravin. The workshop is free. Visit http://www.talamas.com/page/TB/PROD/arri-alexa-workshop to register.

The Coolidge Corner Theatre hosts a screening of the new documentary Orgasm Inc. on March 24th. Director Liz Canner will be in attendance for Thursday night’s screening; the film opens on Friday. Visit http://www.coolidge.org/node/2892 to purchase tickets.

“Experimentally Ill 4: DIY Film Fest” hits Massachusetts this month. The film showcase, created by producers Mike Phelan O’Toole and Lawrence Hollie, celebrates alternative, low budget films. Screenings will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. on March 16th and 18th at the Somerville Theatre, March 24th at the Coolidge Corner Theatre, and March 31st at Brookline Access Television. Check out http://experimentallyill.com/ to learn more.

Immerse yourself in the “bizarre and insane” at the Boston Underground Film Festival March 24 – 31 at the Kendall Square Cinema (1 Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA). Check http://bostonunderground.org/ for updates.

Industry Buzz

There were a few New England connections at the recent Academy Awards. Aaron Sorkin won Best Adapted Screenplay for The Social Network (partially filmed in Massachusetts) and paid tribute to current Boston resident Ben Mezrich, who wrote the original source material for the film. The Social Network also won Best Editing and Best Original Score. For their roles as real-life Lowell residents in The Fighter, Melissa Leo won Best Supporting Actress and Christian Bale won Best Supporting Actor. Read more at http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/oscars/articles/2011/02/28/the_kings_speech_rules/.

ABC debuts its new show Body of Proof on March 29th at 10 pm. The show, starring Dana Delany, films in Rhode Island.

New Hampshire’s a713production is currently in production on the new film Trouble, which recently shot in Portsmouth, NH. The film is directed by Mark Constance. Read more at http://www.a713production.com/.

Filmmaker Cheryl Eagan-Donovan from Controversy Films heads to Venice in May to film on location for the new feature length documentary Nothing is Truer than Truth. See www.controversyfilms.com for more information.

Tippingpoint Studios has opened an HD studio in Newton, MA. The studio features a kitchen set, appliances, and an edit suite/control room. Visit http://studio.tippingpointlabs.com/ to learn more.

Opportunities

The Massachusetts Film Office and the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism invite you to enter their Massachusetts Oscar contest. Enter one of three categories for a chance to win a prize. Entries must be submitted by 4 p.m. on March 9th. You must be a legal resident of Massachusetts 18 years or older to enter. Visit http://www.mafilm.org/ to learn more.

The Flaherty Film Seminar encourages New England filmmakers to apply for the LEF New England fellowship. Four fellowships will be awarded and will cover the entire seminar registration fee. This year’s seminar, “Sonic Truth,” will be held June 18–24 in Hamilton, New York. The LEF New England fellowship application deadline is March 8th. Students and previous LEF fellowship winners are not eligible to apply. Learn more at http://www.flahertyseminar.org/.

The Nantucket Film Festival is currently accepting submissions. Regular submission deadline is March 7th, late submission is March 25th, and the extended deadline is April 4th. Visit http://www.nantucketfilmfestival.org/ for submission fees and to download an application.

The Green Mountain Film Festival is looking for volunteers for this month’s event (read more above in “Happenings.”) Visit http://www.greenmountainfilmfestival.org/ to learn how you can help.

In partnership with Video & Vision of Newport, the Compassion Film Festival is currently seeking entries. Filmmakers are encouraged to submit entries of 5 minutes or less that address the theme of compassion. The submission deadline is March 15th. Films must be submitted on DVD and include title of film, length, director, cast, and short bio or description. Mail entries to Video & Vision, Attn: Compassion Film Festival 2011, 94 William Street, Newport, RI 02840. The festival will take place April 8th at the Jane Pickens Theatre in Newport, RI.

Connecticut’s Farmington Valley Film Commission is currently accepting student submissions for the Farmington Valley Promotional Ad Video Contest. Middle and high school students are encouraged to create a 30–90 second that promotes Farmington Valley. Several prizes will be awarded. The deadline is April 22nd. Visit http://www.farmingtonvalleyfilm.org/ to learn more and download a submission form.

Bangor, Maine’s Kahbang Film Festival is currently accepting entries for this August’s festival. Categories include “Gen-Next,” “LMFAO,” and “MaineStream.” Check out http://www.kahbang.com/film/submit-your-film to learn more.

The Tunxis Community College Media Club of Farmington, Connecticut is accepting entries for its 2nd annual Short Film Contest. Submit short films by April 1st. Learn more and view the submission form at http://www.ct.gov/ecd/lib/ecd/Tunxis-Film_Festival_010.pdf.