Following that screening, we caught the world premiere of Finding Belgrade, a documentary that follows Miodrag Kolaric, a filmmaker from the capitol city of Serbia who decides to go on his first cross-country trek of the US to explore the four Belgrades here – in Maine, Montana, Nebraska and Minnesota. Kolaric hopes to discover more about these four cities and their relationship to his own hometown of Belgrade, Serbia. Along the way, he not only learns the distinct differences between these towns and his own but also finds multiple groups of Americans welcoming him with open arms, taking pride in their hometowns, and sharing their knowledge about Belgrade. It was a fun and light-hearted film that was a fitting ending to our weekend in Maine.

Before leaving, we cast our vote for favorite film among the ones we saw – both of us chose earthwork from Day 2, independent of each other – then headed back to Lowell. And yes, we stopped at Gelato Fiasco again on our way home (yes, it’s THAT good!). Some of our highlights of the weekend included Suzz’s delight upon sitting down at the second screening on Friday night and realizing that the theater chair in which she sat had been donated by none other than Stephen and Tabitha King (Bangor is only about two hours north); enjoying an insightful Q&A with documentary filmmaker Doug Block and his wife Marjorie following the screening of The Kids Grow Up; and spending a few moments with the organizers of the event to share our appreciation of their fest and to tout our own LFC passions. We loved the festival and wished there was a way to spend the rest of the week in Waterville. Alas, responsibilities at home awaited, so we were off on our way. Stay tuned, as we hope to attend more summer film festivals in the near future.

From the MIFF Facebook page - Suzz and I chatting up the organizers

Mostly, though, this weekend has been about the films, and Saturday was chock full of them. We took in four films over the course of the day, and they were all enjoyable in their own unique ways. We started the day off with earthwork, a quiet but captivating indie film that tells the true story of Stan Herd, a farmer who traveled from Kansas to New York in 1994 to create an enormous environmental artwork on land owned by Donald Trump. Herd, played perfectly by John Hawkes, is consumed by his passion to create huge art pieces that can only be viewed from the sky. During his time in New York, he befriends a small band of tunnel dwellers and recruits them as the crew to help with his challenging new project. With unexpected barriers constantly facing him, Herd is pushed to the limit to complete the piece he views as “the one,” and ultimately it’s the lessons he learns about himself and his art that play a bigger part than the earthwork itself.

Suzz and I were both excited to see The Kids Grow Up later in the afternoon, mainly due to the impact that director Doug Block’s previous film, 51 Birch Street, had on us when we watched it last year. Unlike most documentary filmmakers, Block turns the camera on himself and his family, telling very personal stories that often make for even more emotional results. Although it lacks the same emotional punch of 51 Birch Street, The Kids Grow Up is nevertheless a touching story about a father’s struggle to let go of his only daughter and release her into the world via a cross-country move to college. Not surprisingly given his career, Block has been by his daughter Lucy’s side at every stage of her life with camera in hand. Now that she is 17 and preparing for college, he looks back on Lucy’s past via the footage he’s shot, captures the real-life struggles he and his wife face during the year leading up to Lucy’s departure, and offers a very personal yet universal story about family and parenting. A Q&A session with both Block and his wife after the screening provided additional insight that made the viewing even more special.

Later in the afternoon, we decided not to revisit the indescribable experience that is watching House, and opted instead for How to Live Forever, a unique documentary by director Mark Wexler that offers insight into growing old (or not growing old, actually) from a myriad of subjects, including the oldest living people on the planet, scientists and gerontologists, participants at a funeral directors convention and the Ms. Senior America pageant in Las Vegas, and even celebrities like Jack LaLanne, Suzanne Somers, and Phyllis Diller. At the center of it all is Wexler, a successful photojournalist who is questioning his own mortality after the recent death of his mother. How to Live Forever is funny, insightful and delightfully engaging. Following the film, director Wexler provided more stories about his journey via a Q&A with a packed house.

We finished the evening off with Do It Again, a documentary chronicling the story of musician and Boston Globe music reporter Geoff Edgers’ obsessive mission to reunite his favorite band of all time, the Kinks. Almost as famous for the off-stage quarrels of their two main creative forces – brothers Ray and Dave Davies – as they were for their myriad of pop music gems, the Kinks are a band for which the word “reunion” has yet to mean more than standing on stage together for award ceremonies. Edgers has bigger things in mind, however, and in his quest to locate the last surviving members of the band, he interviews a host of rock legends, including Sting, Yoko Ono, REM’s Peter Buck, Paul Weller, and even actress turned singer Zooey Deschanel. He poses the philosophical question to each of them — would a Kinks reunion be possible? — and in most instances manages to play a Kinks song with them after the interview. The film is mostly comprised of this fascinating footage, with glimpses into Edgers’ own story as a frustrated reporter and family man newly entering his 40s. Ultimately, it’s Edgers’ undying love of music that shines through in the film, NOT the outcome (which we’ll keep secret). A Q&A with Edgers, who brought his wife, daughter, and newborn to the event, uncovered still more fascinating facts about his experience.

It was a wonderful, uplifting end to what was already a perfect day of film for us. Clearly the Maine International Film Festival has had many years to perfect this event, and it shows. We have been thoroughly impressed!

We arrived in Waterville, picked up our weekend pass, dropped off our things at the hotel, then made our way over to the Opera House for the opening-night screening of Get Low, a film that promised huge returns thanks to its outstanding cast of Robert Duvall, Bill Murray, Sissy Spacek, and Lucas Black. And huge returns we received – Duvall is absolutely spot-on as Felix Bush, an aging hermit who lives on the outskirts of a small Southern town in the 1930s. With enough local tall tales to keep even the bravest kid from venturing beyond his fence, Bush plays up his larger-than-life mythology, but in truth, he’s got a soft underbelly and a big skeleton in his closet.

When he approaches the local funeral home with an odd request – a funeral party BEFORE he dies with the townspeople who have rejected him for decades invited to attend - the home’s financially-strapped director (Murray) and his assistant (Black) take Bush up on his offer. Among the party’s attendees is widow Maddie Darrow (Spacek), an old friend of Bush’s who is closer to Bush’s hidden secret than even she realizes. Get Low is beautifully shot and perfectly acted, with enough subtle humor to offset its dark story.

Following that screening, we headed over to the Railroad Square Cinema to see Conversations with My Gardener, a wonderful French film that tells the story of a blossoming summer friendship between a successful Parisian artist (played by Daniel Auteuil) and his gardener (Jean-Pierre Darroussin). Discovering upon their introductions that they were childhood acquaintences, the artist and the gardener develop an instant bond, and their summer is spent discussing their passions, their experiences, and their views of the world. In turn, we the audience see their personalities and their complexities, quickly developing an appreciation for both of them as the human beings they are and not the stereotypes so easily assigned to them by their professions. This is a moving and incredible film that captures life as only the French seem able to.

More updates are on the way as we embark on Day 2 of the MIFF, so be sure to check back!

With the summer in full swing and record temperatures blanketing the Northeast, we decided it might be a really neat idea to give everyone an overview of all the fantastic film festivals that are on the horizon here in New England. After all, no one wants to get sunstroke or severely dehydrated after being in triple-digit temperatures for too long. Why not beat the heat in a nice air-conditioned theater watching a marathon of brand new independent and/or foreign films? It works for us!

So, without further adieu, the Lowell Film Collaborative presents you with a list of summer(ish) film festivals that take place in or around Massachusetts, and best of all, they’re in date order, so you can plan accordingly. Enjoy, folks!

FANTASIA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
July 8-28, 2010
Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Yes, Montreal is a 5+ hour drive, but the LFC took in a weekend at the Fantasia Fest last summer, and we feel it is absolutely worth the drive, especially if you are a fan of genre films. First started in 1996 as an Asian cinema and anime festival, Fantasia soon expanded its focus to include genre films from all over the world. Now spanning most of the month of July, it often includes many North American premieres of films (including last year’s Inglorious Basterds). Another awesome component is Fantasia Under the Stars, a series of outdoor films screened as part of the festival. This year’s program includes Subversive Serbia, a spotlight on the new wave of confrontational and edgy Serbian cinema, presentation of a lifetime achievement award for director Ken Russell, which includes a screening of his never-released-on-DVD 1971 cult film The Devils, and a multi-media gala event centered around the screening of the newly restored original cut of Fritz Lang’s Metropolis. Trust us on this one, folks – this is the fest to attend for the best in horror, exploitation and Asian films.

MAINE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
July 9-18, 2010
Waterville, Maine

Founded in 1998, the Maine International Film Festival is a project of the Maine Film Center. During the 10 days of the festival, close to 100 films are screened, many of them created by filmmakers in Maine and New England. In addition, the festival’s Fireflies Program offers children’s films from around the world as well as workshops and related arts events for children and teens. The 2010 festival highlights will include a Mid-Life Achievement Award to screenwriter Jay Cocks, who penned the screenplays for Kathryn Bigelow’s sci-fi epic Strange Days, Martin Scorsese’s Gangs of New York, and the Cole Porter biopic De-Lovely, among others; a special appearance by comedienne and Airplane! star Julie Hagerty; and a block of films screened as part of the American Film Institute’s 20/20 project, an initiative to bridge cultural boundaries through cinema. The LFC will be attending this festival for the first time in 2010, so keep an eye out for updates.

ROXBURY INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
July 29-August 3, 2010
Roxbury, Massachusetts

Created in 1999 as the Dudley Film Festival, the Roxbury International Film Festival has become the primary outlet for enjoying independent films created by filmmakers of color that showcase their experiences. Since its inception, the festival has screened more than 450 films by or about people of color with a mission to support diverse filmmakers and provide an opportunity for audiences to view the works of these filmmakers and experience stories often overlooked in mainstream media.  The Roxbury International Film Festival takes place over 4 days, with workshops and film screenings at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Massachusetts College of Art, Wentworth Institute of Technology, Roxbury Center for the Arts at Hibernian Hall, and other locations throughout Boston. Some of you who attended the first Lowell Film Festival may remember that Roxbury Film Fest Executive Committee member Lisa Simmons was a part of our insightful panel of local film experts on day 2.

WOODS HOLE FILM FESTIVAL
July 31-August 7, 2010
Woods Hole, Massachusetts

Officially the oldest film festival on Cape Cod and the Islands, the Woods Hole Film Festival is now in its eighteenth year and continues to bring the best in independent film to the quaint village of Woods Hole, Mass. Over eight days, the festival screens more than 100 films from around the world. The 2010 festival will include a screening of the Dixie Chicks documentary Shut Up and Sing by 2010 Filmmaker in Residence Barbara Kopple, a screening of The Human Face of Climate Change, a documentary about people all over the world who have been displaced by climatically induced environmental disasters, and a screening of the feature comedy One Too Many Mornings. A PDF link to the 2010 schedule is here.

RHODE ISLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
August 10-15, 2010
Providence, Rhode Island

Another favorite of the LFC, the Rhode Island International Film Festival is ranked as one of the top twelve film festivals in the United States. Now in its 14th year, the RIIF will screen between 175-200 films in 2010 selected from more than 4,000 submissions. One hundred percent of the festival schedule is created from these submissions, and no films are culled from other festivals, making the RIIF a truly dynamic event where regional audiences discover new film and new filmmakers whose work is often overlooked. This is truly an outstanding festival, and it’s only a short drive from anywhere in eastern Massachusetts. Don’t miss it!

MARTHA’S VINEYARD INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
September 9-12, 2010
Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts

Combining the laid back beach style of Martha’s Vineyard with the buzz and excitement of celebrating films from across the globe, the Martha’s Vineyard International Film Festival is four days filled with the best feature and short films from top-notch festivals such as Sundance, Berlin and Cannes, plus great evening events, provocative forums and live world music. The festival’s recurring theme is “Other Places,”  with the purpose of encouraging attendees to think broadly (about how huge the world of film is) and deeply (about the universal concerns and desires that unite all people). About 90% of all film selections are non-US productions, helping to fulfill the festival mission of promoting cross-cultural understanding through film. Best of all, you can’t beat the outstanding beaches for what little “downtime” you might have.

NEWBURYPORT DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL
September 24-26, 2010
Newburyport, Massachusetts

The Newburyport Documentary Film Festival is an annual event held in the beautiful coastal town that spotlights the newest and best documentary films from all over the world. It is presented by the Newburyport Film Society with screenings taking place throughout historic Newburyport, including The Screening Room and the Firehouse Center for the Arts.

TELLURIDE BY THE SEA
September 24-26, 2010
Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Held just up the coast from Newburyport and on the same weekend this year, Telluride by the Sea is another LFC favorite that brings a half-dozen films hand-picked from the Telluride festival in Colorado by organizer (and Portsmouth resident) Bill Pence and his wife to make their New England debuts at the Music Hall, sometimes well in advance of their actual cinema runs. These films are all world-class cinema gems and never disappoint. HIGHLY recommended!

WOODSTOCK FILM FESTIVAL
September 29-October 3, 2009
Hudson Valley, NY

Yes, the Woodstock Film Festival is in New York, but the LFC visited Woodstock for New Year’s Eve this year, and we fell in love with the area, including the wonderful independent theater there called the Tinker Street Cinema. Due to its close proximity to NYC, the Woodstock festival attracts some really big names in the industry, including those on their advisory panel – actor/directors Ethan Hawke, Griffin Dunne, and Liev Schreiber, just to name a few. The LFC plans to attend, and perhaps volunteer, at the 2010 festival, so we’ll keep you posted as the date grows closer.

CAMDEN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
September 30-October 3, 2010
Camden, Maine

Now in its sixth year, the Camden International Film Festival is a documentary festival that selects films based on their ability to arouse discussion on documentary film as an art form, a catalyst for change and as an outlet for the independent voice. The festival takes place at multiple venues throughout three coastal towns in Maine, providing a unique setting to experience the very best in international documentary film. In addition to the film festivities, an important component of the festival is the Points North Forum, a conference program designed around key decision makers in the non-fiction business. Over the course of two special panel sessions, a workshop, several intimate networking sessions and a new live project pitching event, participants can watch and listen as industry experts share their observations and insights. This is a very unique event for filmmakers in New England.

Don't miss "Sugar" this Friday at the Lawrence Film Festival.

The 13th Annual Lawrence Film Festival
Friday, June 25 – Sunday, June 27, 2010
Lawrence Heritage State Park
1 Jackson Street, Lawrence

Film festival season is upon us! There are numerous opportunities to see great film (classic, indie, and otherwise) in the New England area, but we are particularly proud when we can boast about fine film being screened right here in the Merrimack Valley. This weekend, the 13th Annual Lawrence Film Festival comes to Lowell’s sister mill city, right in the heart of downtown at Lawrence Heritage State Park (a close comparison to our own Lowell National Historical Park). It’s great to see that this Fest has survived for thirteen years — survived, AND thrived! Attendance is spectacular and there’s always a wonderful energy in the room. The organizers are passionate cinefiles, as is the audience, so if you’re making the trek, be sure to arrive good and early to grab a seat. Another great thing to mention about the Fest is their sequential schedule, so all you hard core filmies can comfortably take in each and every screening if you so choose.

This year’s lineup of films at the Lawrence Film Festival hail from the Dominican Republic, the U.S., Chile, Mexico, Italy, and Guatemala. Please see below for the full schedule, and we hope to see you in Lawrence this weekend!

Friday, June 25 @ 7PM
“Sugar” (2009)

Saturday, June 26 @ 7PM
“Swept Away” (1974)

Sunday, June 27 starting at 2PM
A lineup of FOUR documentary film shorts from Latin America
2PM: An interview with Chilean writer Isabel Allende
2:30PM: “Frida Kahlo: Portrait of An Artist”
3PM: “The Human Price of Coffee“
3:30PM: “Days of the Dead: A Living Celebration”

Regional summer film festivals are a fantastic way to explore New England, and we are blessed to have many to choose from in the months ahead! Our picks for the upcoming weeks are the Berkshire International Film Festival (BIFFMA) and the Provincetown International Film Festival (PIFF). The BIFFMA, a dynamic Fest taking place in Great Barrington and Pittsfield this weekend, will present almost 100 films over the course of its run. A tribute to the beautiful Patricia Clarkson takes place Friday, June 4, insuring a nice turnout of NYC glitterati. Rub elbows with the stars at numerous parties and panel discussions and marvel at an incredible array of documentaries, feature films, film shorts, and even a kids’ program. This Fest is truly one singular sensation.

About the BIFFMA |  biffma.com
The Berkshire International Film Festival aims to create a world-class festival as an integral part of the cultural fabric of the Berkshires. BIFF will showcase not only the latest in independent feature, documentary, short, and family films but also lively panel discussions and special events focusing on filmmakers and talented artists from both sides of the camera.

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If staying close to the coast is more your style, then plan a trek to beautiful Provincetown for the ALWAYS exciting Provincetown International Film Festival. The Festival lineup is a bonafide 5-day film celebration that includes tributes to  Tilda Swinton and Kevin Smith, ‘film under the stars’ at the Wellfleet Drive-in Theater, and a 50th Anniversary Tribute to Alfred Hitchcock‘s masterpiece Psycho. Breakfast events, director meet-n-greets, a fabulous schooner sailing party, and people-watching in electrifying P-town make this Fest a dynamic must-see.

About the PIFF |  ptownfilmfest.org
The Provincetown International Film Festival is dedicated to showcasing new achievements in independent film and honoring the work of acclaimed and emerging directors, producers and actors. PIFF is equally devoted to expanding the audience for independent film and to serving our Provincetown community by filling the void for annual film programming and reflecting the community’s rich diversity in our selected films and honorees. An integral part of PIFF’s mission is to contribute to the economic and creative vitality of America’s oldest art colony.

For the record, both Fests feature easy-to-use websites and ticketing — something the LFC greatly applauds. Start filling your June film fest calendar today!

Coming soon: The Walpole HS Film Festival!

We at the LFC try to keep our fingers on the pulse of Great New England film news. Here are some juicy nuggets, courtesy of one of our favorite online resources, NewEnglandFilm.com. It’s worth the time to sign up for their e-mail notifications, especially if you’re a local film festival buff — there are film fests aplenty in the New England area!

Keep up to date with industry news at NewEnglandFilm.com, and please share with us any news YOU might hear throughout the spring.

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LOCAL MAY FILM FESTIVALS

Boston’s 26th Annual LGBT Film Festival, May 6 – 16: The Fest kicks off with an opening night screening of Bob Christie’s documentary Beyond Gay: The Politics of Pride. Other films include Is It Just Me?, Play in the Gray, Wild About Harry, and 8: The Mormon Proposition. Several filmmakers will be in attendance at their screenings. Advance tickets are available through the MFA and Brattle Theatre for films showing at those locations; tickets for screenings at Fenway Health can be purchased at the door with cash only. Passes are also available through the MFA Box Office. Visit http://bostonlgbtfilmfest.org/ for the full festival schedule and more ticket information.

23rd Connecticut Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, May 27 – June 5, Hartford, CT: Keep up to date with this Fest at http://www.outfilmct.org/ for updates and volunteer opportunities.

8th Annual Walpole High Film Festival May 16, 18, and 20, Walpole, MA:  The fabulous Fest features student work and finishes with a red carpet event on May 20th. Visit http://www.whsfilmfestival.com/Walpole_High_School_Film_Festival/Welcome.html for more details and contact information.

New Hampshire High School Short Film Festival, May 15, New Hampshire Technical Institute, Concord, NH: This event is free and open to the public, with an awards ceremony to follow! Visit http://www.nh.gov/film/hsfest/index.htm for the full list of films.

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INDUSTRY BUZZ

State budget cuts pose a serious threat to the Vermont Film Commission, reports the Burlington Free Press (http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20100415/ENT02/100414017). The commission’s budget has been reduced by approximately $70,000, and the commission must eventually find new ways of funding itself. The article quotes executive director Joe Bookchin, who says, “If the state stops funding us, I think that would be the end of the film commission.”

The Massachusetts state House of Representatives rejected amendments to prevent another proposed cut to arts and cultural funding through the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC). The final House budget plan calls for $9.1 million the MCC, or roughly $600,000 less than the agency’s current allocation. For more information, visit http://www.massculturalcouncil.org/.

Emmy-award winning Friends producer Kevin Bright is currently working with students at the Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, Massachusetts. Bright, who is also an executive artist in residence at Emerson College, is teaching a filmmaking course to the students, who recently completed their first short film. Read the full story in the Boston Globe: (http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/articles/2010/04/21/blindness_is_no_barrier_in_filmmaking_class/).

Principle Pictures of Plymouth, Massachusetts, has been awarded a Cinereach grant for Beth Murphy’s upcoming documentary What Tomorrow Brings. The film follows a year at a girls’ school in Afghanistan. Principle Pictures is currently in production on the documentary The Promise of Freedom. Visit http://www.cinereach.org/grants/grants-recipients/what-tomorrow-brings for more details.

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FILMMAKER OPPORTUNITIES!

The Camden International Film Festival is currently accepting submissions for their June 15 deadline ($45 fee for feature films, $35 short); Late deadline is July 15 ($55 feature, $40 short); Extended deadline is August 1 ($60 feature, $45 short.) Visit http://www.camdenfilmfest.org/submissions.php for submission form and updates.

Start preparing your submissions for this year’s Boston Film Festival, September 17 – 23. Deadline for submissions is June 11. Visit http://www.bostonfilmfestival.org/ for more details and to complete an application.

 Submissions are currently being accepted for the 12th Annual Williamstown Film Festival, October 15–24. Visit http://www.williamstownfilmfest.com/ for further details!

Three years ago, the folks at the Disposable Film Festival (DFF) began their mission of bringing grassroots filmmaking to audiences as well as giving filmmakers a place to showcase their work. They’re booming now, and why not. Artistic inspiration is all around us, filmmaking included.

Check out the DFF's 2010 Bike-in Movie Screening!

Let’s get to the heart of what the Disposable Film Festival is all about — this, from their website:
“In recent years a new kind of film has emerged: The Disposable Film. It has been made possible by new media (webcams, point and shoot digital cameras, cell phones, screen capture software, and one time use digital video cameras) and the rise of online distribution (YouTube, Google, MySpace, etc.). These films are often made quickly, casually, and sometimes even unintentionally. Everyone has become a Disposable Filmmaker: directors of Saturday night cell phone videos, actors under the eyes of security cameras, and narrators before their webcams. Let’s face it – we live in an age of disposable film. Now it’s time to do something creative with it.”

Incredibly well-said, and TRUE.

So, yes. There may be film-lovers out there who balk at this sort of creativity. To be honest, the only real downside we at the LFC can see is that it adds about several million more films to the universe. And we just don’t want to do the math. Er, how many more minutes in our lifetime will we need now?

Our introduction is done. We now invite you to enter the world of the Disposable Film Festival. And if you’re ready to dive into movie-making, now’s your chance. Audiences await!

BOSTON INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
April 16 – 25, 2010
All films screened at the AMC Theatres Boston Common
175 Tremont Street, Boston

In case you’re looking for some incredible film this weekend, the short trek to Boston from the Merrimack Valley will prove incredibly frutiful as the Boston International Film Festival takes over beantown’s theater district through this Sunday, April 25. If you’ve missed the first week of the Fest, take heart, as there are still 40 films on the slate from tonight through Sunday. For the past several years, the Fest has found a good home at AMC Theatre “towers” right on Tremont Street. If you don’t mind the insanity of the AMC and long for the open sprawl of Boston Common, the BIFF promises incredible afternoons and evenings of emotionally driven film from around the globe.

–>  See the full BIFF lineup HERE

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INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL BOSTON
April 21 – 28, 2010
Various locales in greater Boston

If you’re looking for a slightly different Film Fest feel, the Independent Film Festival Boston will deliver. Spread out over 4 fabulous venues during its 7 day run, the IFF Boston quenches the thirst of indie film lovers who enjoy spotting their favorite mainstream celebs in meatier, lower profile roles. Wonderful shorts, documentaries, and feature length films add body to the schedule and provide audiences with tough choices of hip, edgy selections. The thing we personally love about this Fest is their “Festival Genius” website, created by our good friends and cinematic mentors at b-side. If you’ve never seen b-side’s work in action, visit IFF Boston and see for yourself why it truly is genius. [Check out their "How To Fest" page. Just wonderful.]

—>  See the full IFF Boston lineup HERE

]]> http://lowellfilmcollaborative.org/2010/04/22/the-boston-international-film-fest-the-independent-film-fest-boston-are-here/feed/ 0 lowellfilm Boston International Film Festival International Film Festival Boston http://lowellfilmcollaborative.org/2009/11/06/the-boston-jewish-film-festival-a-21-year-tradition/ http://lowellfilmcollaborative.org/2009/11/06/the-boston-jewish-film-festival-a-21-year-tradition/#comments Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:22:35 +0000 lowellfilm http://lowellfilmcollaborative.org/?p=2069 ]]> The 2009 Boston Jewish Film Festival is looking bigger and better than ever. With almost two weeks worth of film screenings and other exciting related events, the BJFF is once again bringing superior independent film to the Boston area. On a very related note, it is worth shouting off the rooftops that the BJFF was founded in 1989 by none other than filmmaker Michal Goldman, who will be debuting her newest documentary film, At Home in Utopia, right here in Lowell on Thursday, November 19 at the National Park Visitor Center [please see our Upcoming Events page]. We here at the LFC are extremely proud to be a part of that screening and to be welcoming Michal to Lowell!

We encourage everyone to visit the BJFF website and meet the great people who dedicate their time to bringing this important film genre to the region.

See you at the movies!

Visit the Boston Jewish Film Festival