The Connecticut Film Festival is no longer June & Ward Cleavers’ film festival. It’s a multi- media extravaganza that would have had Wally and The Beav’s heads spinning from the overload of events and opportunities presented!
The NEW CTFF will stimulate the palettes of the most sophisticated Cinephiles, causing an immediate addiction for want of more screenings, beginning on DAY 1 – Opening Night! with all the fanfare of a NYC or B-Town opening. On June 2nd, The Palace Theater is the place to be or be seen as CTFF rolls out the red carpet at 6:30 pm for the locals and the big shots when Union Savings Banks Presents: the Connecticut Premiere and party of the Tribeca Film Festival Hit, “Timer” staring Emma Caulfield, Michelle Borth, John Patrick Amedori, Desmond Harrington, JoBeth Williams and Kali Rocha, with a Q & A led by Director; Jac Schaefer. Immediately following the show will be Danbury’s hippest party since the 2008 CT Premiere of “The Flyboys”, when once again, Executive Chef Michael Bick of “Some Things Fishy Catering” will treat the party goers to an incredible array of addictive hors d'oeuvres complimented with fine wines and Palm Beer. This newly acquired film-party, party-film habit may require a daily visit to all screenings and festival events. And what’s that, $25 for a film and a party you say…such a deal, how do they do that?
It’s all just begun when the searchlights go dim in the wee hours of Wednesday morning. Just a few hours later it’s time to rise and shine for a full week with 138 films, 70 performances by emerging independent musical artists (in 7 different locations around town), 100 educational workshops, panels, round tables and keynote speakers and over a dozen parties and industry networking events. For those who need a little shut-eye there’ll still be time to take in the first of many musical performances with Sub Rosa Party at Cousin Larry’s featuring the band “Trashed On Fiction.”
There’s more to Tuesday this year than just Opening Night (as if it that wasn’t enough), it’s also the Kick-Off for the CTFF – Writers Guild of America “Writers Unblocked” 5 Day Screenwriters Immersion Program, Co-Sponsored by Writers Boot Camp. CTFF is proud to once again be a trailblazer by producing a unique program unlike those offered at any other festivals. In 5 days, Writers Unblocked allows screenwriters to experience the full path of the creative process from casting agents to having their scripts read by actors to critiques and hands-on coaching in an intimate round table setting. Participants will then take a master class on Friday morning with famous Hollywood screenwriter; James V. Hart (August Rush, Hook, Contact).
On Wednesday afternoon, the curtain rises on 5 additional venues including The Heirloom Arts Theater at Palace Walk, The Danbury Public Library, The Common Council Chambers (makes a nice theater) in Danbury City Hall, All Nations Baptist Church and The WCSU Mid-town Campus Student Center Theater. The festival’s second day will feature more than 20 shows and will be capped off by 2 major screening events. The first, at 6:30 pm, is a fundraiser cocktail reception and screening of the film “No Kidding Me Too” at The Palace Theater hosted by the film's star and director; Joey “Pants” Pantoliano.
Proceeds from the pre-screening party and film screening will benefit Danbury’s two longtime mental health agencies; Interlude and Danbury Catholic Charities as well as Joey’s Non-Profit mental heath organization, NKM2. Immediately following the meet and greet, Joey will start the conversation as he does so well and screen his directorial debut film, “NKM2”.
Then, at 9:15 pm animator/director Nina Paley juxtaposes multiple narrative and visual styles with her entertaining, yet moving vision of the Ramayana. Musical numbers choreographed to the 1920's jazz vocals of Annette Hanshaw feature a cast of hundreds: flying monkeys, evil monsters, gods, goddesses, warriors, sages and winged eyeballs. Paley finds parallels in Sita’s life when her husband – in India on a work project - decides to break up their marriage and dump her via email. Three hilarious Indonesian shadow puppets with Indian accents – linking the popularity of the Ramayana from India all the way to the Far East - narrate both the ancient tragedy and modern comedy in this beautifully animated interpretation of the epic. Roger Ebert said, “Sita Sings the Blues” earns its tagline as "The Greatest Break-Up Story Ever Told. f they don't love it, let 'em sue me”.
On Thursday, June 4th, the festival shifts into 3rd gear beginning at 2:45 pm in the Common Council Chambers with the Shorts Program entitled “Men & Women Collide”, one of 11 shorts programs to play during the week, followed by a full day with more than 2 dozen film screenings and a dozen music performances. During the week, CTFF will unveil Connecticut premier after premier and Thursday is no exception with the showcase of several Connecticut Home Grown films, produced and directed by some of the regions' finest filmmakers.
Thursday will also enter another milestone in the CTFF history books as it launches the Connecticut Interactive Festival & Conference at 11:00 am as part of the 6-day and night film, music, interactive and screenwriting festival. The Interactive events will be hosted at the Danbury Arena and assorted nearby venues. Titled, “Creating and Sharing”, this new educational component will focus on Web, Animation, Advocacy, Gaming and Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) in a non-consumerist mindset. It features an ambitious, 30 technical and general interest workshops for all skill levels, 8 panel discussions, a Juried Digital Arts & Animation Show, Independent Films, Performances, Free Gaming and an Exhibition Area. Presenters, panelists and exhibitors hail from Connecticut, California, Canada, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Ohio and Virginia. The Keynote Address will be given Saturday evening by Eric Zimmerman, founder of Gamelab.
Meanwhile, back in the Common Council Chambers at 5:45 pm, baseball fans will have an opportunity to learn the whole story about one of baseball’s larger-than-life characters; pitching legion, Satchel Paige, in Westport Director Craig Davidson’s documentary film; “Pitching Man”. Immediately following, the showcase continues at 7:00 pm with two back-to- back documentary films by Brookfield director John Maher. The first, “A Georgetown Story”, depicts the history of small town America with the backdrop of Bennett’s Mill in Georgetown (Redding, CT) Connecticut and the ethnic roots of a community and its generations of families immigrating to the United States since the late 1800’s in search of work and a better way of life. Sound familiar? Maher’s second film, “Throw It Down” at 8:30 pm shows the hard work, blood, sweet and tears and dedication it takes to make it to the top in one of America’s most under-recognized physical feats (which should be an Olympic Sport!) with an intimate look into life on the road with a Division 1 drum and bugle corps. You also won’t want to miss “August Rush” at The Palace at 7:00 pm followed immediately by a Q&A led by the film’s writer James V. Hart. Now, just in case your eyes are starting to blur, you might need to test out some of your other senses! Take a break and test your taste buds on some of the great ethnic cuisine just around every corner in Downtown Danbury; then head on over to the Green on Ives Street where 3 independent emerging musical artists will perform beginning with “Talking to Walls”, then “Dylan Connor” and ending with “Paper and Sand”. All three will perform between 6:45 pm – 10:30 pm. After the Green, head on over to The Ale House, Cousin Larry’s or The Heirloom to sample a beverage and check out performances by any number of independent recording artists.
It’s Friday and you’re actually only halfway there! The 3-day ramp up is over and the festival is in full swing. Films, Screenwriting, Independent Music, Interactive and Social Media…where will you start? Maybe pick up your cell phone and tell a friend what they’re missing for starters. Then, start your day with Hollywood Screenwriter James V. Hart and his Master Class which may be the stuff you need to take your script to the next level. Begin your afternoon at 3:15 pm with “Queer Duck”, his gay animal pals Openly Gator and Bi Polar Bear or maybe something of a queerer nature with “A Walk Into The Sea”; the story of filmmaker Danny Williams who dropped out of Harvard to begin a film career at the Warhol Factory and then mysteriously disappeared and was never heard or seen from again. Want to learn more about the industry? Take in a few of CTFF’s film, interactive, music and screenwriting workshops and panels. How about CTFF’s unique “Cinematic Lounge” featuring a panel of Romanian filmmakers to discuss the aesthetics of Romanian Cinematography or, maybe you’re looking for something more mainstream like; “Creative Financing On A Shoestring”, “The Songwriters Roundtable”, “Screenwriting 101” or the Interactive Workshop, “How Animators Cheat at Math”. Before you hit the seats for another fantastic film, don’t forget to register at 5:30pm at Two Steps Downtown Grille for the 24 Hour Cup O’ Joe Filmmaking Competition, where anyone with a video camera can compete to create the CTFF award winning 3-4 minute short—shot and edited with original music, in 24 hours.
Friday night, enjoy the Italian comedy “Dubble” at 6:30, and at 8:30 pm the party continues with “Fados” followed immediately by a “Fados ‘ After Party. Saturday Morning, rise and shine! Best to fill up on a cup of high-test because everything starts a little earlier with our 10:00 am Keynote Address: "THE SIMPSONS BACKSTAGE TOUR" with Mike Reiss - Producer/Writer, The "Simpsons" Movie and TV Show. In case you’re a real early bird, have a nice Vegan Brunch and see the Duckumentary film; “Little Miss Dewie” by producer and director Mira Tweti (pronounced: Tweety, and it is her given name). Proceeds from this fundraiser brunch and screening benefit The New England Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary, tickets are $16.00. Saturday will be the longest day of this year’s festival. There’s going to be some hard choices to make with close to 100 options at your disposal. Music all day and night on the Green and the Library Plaza, more than 50 film screenings and dozens of film, music, interactive and screenwriting educational events. And you thought choosing a brand of toothpaste was hard. Early Saturday evening you won’t want to miss the highly anticipated Awards Ceremony 6:00 pm at The Palace Theater. The ceremony is free and space is on a first come, first served basis.
Saturday Night is Danbury’s Night Out when Union Savings Bank will once again present the feature, 2009 Closing Night Film: “Children Of Invention” immediately followed by the annual Closing Night Insiders Industry Bash where industry and film enthusiasts alike will have a great time rubbing elbows, enjoying great food, music and discussing the week’s events in a New York-style cocktail party setting.
Sunday, CTFF starts to wind down to a comfortable pace more suitable for mere mortals. But, don’t go anywhere. There’s still lots to see and attend and there will be no time for rest until after the 24 Hour Cup-O’ Joe Filmmaker Awards Ceremony at 7:15 pm at The Palace Theater. At 1:00 pm it’s family time at the Palace Theater with the full length animated film “The Magistical” immediately followed by the 2:45 pm FREE to the community screening of the film, “Heart Of Stone”, sponsored by The Robert Young Foundation and The United Jewish Center of Danbury. Tickets are available at the box office and through the UJC. At 5:30 pm the projectors warm up for the last screening of the Danbury festival with one of Sundance Film Festival’s official selections; the Native American-directed film, “Barking Water”.
On behalf of myself and the hundreds of Connecticut Film Festival volunteers, staff members, sponsors and community stakeholders, I thank you from the bottom of our hearts for letting The Connecticut Film Festival entertain, educate and enlighten your life and hope that our thought-provoking films, music, interactive and screenwriting events have inspired you to take action.
Cheers
Tom Carruthers
Executive Director