FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 4, 2014
From: Berkshire International Film Festival, Great Barrington, MA 01230
Contact: Kelley Vickery, Executive Director – (413) 528-8030
BERKSHIRE INTERNATIONAL FILM KICKS OFF THE 10TH WITH A ONCE IN A LIFETIME EVENING
(Great Barrington, MA) – The Berkshire International Film Festival presented a spectacular first-ever gala on Friday, August 29, 2014 in celebration of the 10th anniversary season. Under beautiful summer skies, the gala was a huge success, selling out 350 seats at a sit down dinner held at the Great Barrington Airport. The evening honored Governor Deval and First Lady Diane Patrick for their support of the Berkshire arts and community.
The evening took place in the airport hanger where Gala Chairs created the feel of being in the sky with a draped cloud ceiling, blue and white ambient light and a plane suspended from the ceiling. A delicious seasonal 3-course dinner was catered by MAX Ultimate Food of Boston. A special BIFF video produced for the 10th Anniversary was unveiled by Doug Trumbull Studios and Kim and James Taylor sent a special video congratulating the Patrick’s and the BIFF before embarking on the QE2 for England. The live auction presented four unique and exciting auction items including a trip to le Sereno on St. Barth’s, a trip to Ecuador to Hacienda Cusin and Casa Gengotena, a luxurious New York City weekend and a BIFF Producer package. The excitement began to build when at the last minute, Governor and First Lady Diane Patrick offered a dinner party for 8 people at their Richmond home prepared by the Governor. The auction item went for thousands of dollars and was given out twice. To end the celebratory evening, the patrons danced the night away on the tarmac under the stars to live music by the Rhythm Dogs from New York City.
The gala was chaired by Jacqueline and Al Togut, and co-chaired by Dan Mathieu and Tom Potter, Kate and Hans Morris and Annie Selke and Mark Dove. The event was sponsored by Drouhin Wine Cellars, Berkshire Mountain Distillers, Stella Artois, and MAX Ultimate Food.
BIFF 2015 will be held May 28 – 31, 2015 in Great Barrington and Pittsfield. Film submissions and festival passes go on sale October 1, 2014. For more information, please visit www.biffma.org.