With a mission to bring the arts to the island during the off-season, the Martha's Vineyard Film Festival presents four days of screenings of films that evoke feelings of joy, sadness, introspection, and shared hope.
“We aim to provide top-notch art in the medium of film, bring current artists in the industry to the island, and give our community the opportunity to interact and learn about them. We're serious about our mission to make the world a better place. Look at their art,” Martha's Vineyard Film Festival Director Mina Oh said.
The festival will run from March 20th to 24th and will screen a selection of 21 feature films, including “Tuesday” starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, as well as vineyard shorts, documentary shorts, and narrative shorts. do.
“What's special about this year's lineup is that I think each movie is some of the best I've ever seen,” Oh said. “There's not a movie that I don't think is great, but that's really difficult.”
Oh and Brian Ditchfield, executive director of Circuit Arts, the nonprofit organization that oversees the festival, said the must-see films are “The Forgotten Kingdom” and “Ghost Light.” , said it was “Luthor: Never Too Much''. “The Forgotten Kingdom'' stands out to Ditchfield in particular because of his live performance accompanying the March 21 screening.
“This is a great representation of what we do at Circuit Arts and what a film festival is all about,” Ditchfield said. “This is a film and live experience. So this is the work of Ukrainian sand animators with the Gai Mendilow Ensemble, and they are responsible for the music and storytelling to go with the film. It's really unique. It's a great experience.”
Aside from some unique screening experiences, many of the film's stars and directors will be in attendance at the festival for a post-screening Q&A. What's special about the Martha's Vineyard Film Festival, Ditchfield said, is that after the event, the audience has the opportunity to speak one-on-one with the filmmakers and subjects as they head to dinner at Grange Hall. That's true. As part of the “Food and Music” initiative, Chef Nina Levin of Stony Hill She Pizza will be serving lunch and dinner to guests throughout the weekend.
“It becomes more than just a distant experience between you and the screen,” he said. “It's you, it's the screen, and then you talk to that person, have dinner downstairs, and then you see them walking around the island.”
In addition to “food and music,” the festival aims to increase attendance and give back to locals through “pay what you can” pricing on tickets. Attendees can purchase tickets for each screening online at competitive prices. The hope is to not only make the festival more accessible, but also to promote film literacy within the community.
“My mission as a film festival director is to ask you to leave, whether you like it or not,” Oh said. “I always say this because when every member of a community has an opinion about a movie, it means they know a lot about it. The worst thing you can do is be indifferent. is.”
For non-islanders, the festival also has an agreement with Mansion House to provide accommodation for the festival.
“I actually think it’s going to be a great weekend getaway for people on the Cape,” Ditchfield said.
As Vineyard residents prepare for a busy summer ahead, the festival hopes to provide area residents and visitors to the island with a few days of movies and fun. In particular, Oh hopes the festival will be a source of inspiration for the community.
“During the winter, we all get stuck in our heads sometimes, she said. “The way to get out of the winter blues is to be inspired. , we believe it will provide you with an inspirational and self-motivating experience… So be inspired and climb out of the hole one step at a time.”
The Martha's Vineyard Film Festival will be held March 20-24 at venues across the island, including Grange Hall, Kapawock Theater and Strand Theatre. For a complete lineup of screenings and to purchase tickets, please visit www./tmvff.org/.
Frankie Rowley covers entertainment and activities. To contact her, frowley@capecodonline.com.
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