BIFF

HOWIE ARKANS EXPLORES THE WORK OF NOAH BAUMBACH IN THIS FINAL DISCUSSION OF THIS POPULAR FREE SERIES
THURSDAY, APRIL 22 | 4PM
DETAILS AND REGISTRATION BELOW

BIFF’S ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FOCUS PRESENTS A VERY
SPECIAL SCREENING AND PANEL DISCUSSION
SATURDAY, APRIL 24 | 3PM

Join us on Saturday, April 24th at 3PM as we kick-off BIFF’s popular Environmental Film Focus Series with an inspirational film and exciting panel discussion. We will be screening the film together on that day followed by an engaging discussion and Q&A with our panel of experts.

This event is proudly and generously sponsored by
The Whitehead Foundation and FREE TO ALL!

Watch the trailer (https://vimeo.com/ondemand/gather)
GATHER is an intimate portrait of a growing movement among Indigenous Americans to reclaim their spiritual and cultural identities through obtaining sovereignty over their ancestral food systems, while battling against the historical trauma brought on by centuries of genocide.

GATHER follows Nephi Craig, a chef from the White Mountain Apache Nation (Arizona), opening an indigenous café as a nutritional recovery clinic; Elsie Dubray, a young scientist from the Cheyenne River Sioux Nation (South Dakota), conducting landmark studies on bison; and the Ancestral Guard, a group of environmental activists from the Yurok Nation (Northern California), trying to save the Klamath river.

Following the screening, we have organized a lively panel discussion led by Lillian Lennox, that includes the film’s director Sanjay Rawal; Danielle Hill, founder of Heron-Hill LLC; and Jen Salenetti, co-founder, farmer and Director of Education & Community Engagement at Woven Roots Farm & Education Center.

Register Now (https://kinema.live/events/gather-97bmjc)

** Sanjay Rawal
————————————————————

A James Beard Award-winning filmmaker, Sanjay made FOOD CHAINS (EP Eva Longoria, Eric Schlosser) which chronicled the battle of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, a small group of Oaxacan and Chiapan indigenous farmworkers in Florida, against the largest agribusiness conglomerates in the world. The film was released theatrically in a number of countries (Screen Media in the US) and won numerous awards—including citations from the US Conference of Mayors, the Clinton Global Initiative and the White House. The film was also a Winner (shared) of the 2016 BritDoc Impact award and several festival prizes.

Sanjay’s last film 3100: RUN AND BECOME won several festival prizes, had a robust theatrical release in the US in 2018 and is opening in traditional theatrical engagements across Europe and Australia in 2020 and 2021.
Danielle Hill

Danielle Hill, founder of Heron-Hill LLC holds an MPA in Sustainable Development from the World Learning Graduate Institute and in 2018 established her consulting business Heron-Hill LLC. She works in various capacities for Tribal governments, Tribal Organizations and Native American non-profits consulting on a variety of Indigenous issues. Danielle is also a student midwife and Doula and is passionate about reviving indigenous birthing practices, promoting food sovereignty, indigenous farming and maintaining Eastern Woodland traditions. Danielle is also co-owner of the Wampanoag Trading Post and Gallery and a member of the Wampanoag Nation Singers and Dancers

Jen Salenetti

Jen Salinetti (she/her) is a co-founder, farmer, and the Director of Education & Community Engagement at Woven Roots Farm. For over 15 years, Jen has offered workshops and courses that develop relationships to land, build skills of resilience, promote traditional growing practices, and amplify pathways to social justice in the local school system, for the Northeast Organic Farming Association, and other regional organizations. She was recently selected as one of the Berkshires’ 25 most dedicated, influential, and creative people.

BIFF thanks The Whitehead Foundation for their generous sponsorship of the Environmental Film Focus Series, now in its fourth year!

** FINAL AMERICAN AUTEUR SERIES!
Thursday, April 22 | 4PM
Howie Arkans discusses the Work of
NOAH BAUMBACH
YOUR HOMEWORK BEFORE THE DISCUSSION WATCH:
THE SQUID AND THE WHALE and FRANCES HA
————————————————————

THE SQUID AND THE WHALE: Follows two young boys dealing with their parents’ divorce in Brooklyn in the 1980s.
Rent THE SQUID AND THE WHALE here (https://www.amazon.com/Squid-Whale-Jeff-Daniels/dp/B07L4R77TS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=27NJNHU2RS939&dchild=1&keywords=the+squid+and+the+whale&qid=1615501860&s=instant-video&sprefix=THE+SQUID%2Cinstant-video%2C160&sr=1-1)

FRANCES HA: A New York woman (who doesn’t really have an apartment) apprentices for a dance company (though she’s not really a dancer) and throws herself headlong into her dreams, even as the possibility of realizing them dwindles.
Rent FRANCES HA here (https://www.amazon.com/Frances-Ha-Greta-Gerwig/dp/B00FVYSZ20/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=FRANCES+HA&qid=1615502025&s=instant-video&sr=1-1)
Register Here (https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMofuurpzIoHNIdVTu3u_psDfvRqTTR_ous)
The concept of the auteur—of the filmmaker as an artist and author of his or her works—began in Paris in the late 50s to 60s, where filmmakers and critics reacted to the industrialized of filmmaking in the United States and Europe.

The French word auteur literally translates to the English, “author.” Within the context of cinema, the word auteur is used to describe a director who exerts a high level of control across all aspects of a film. Auteur directors generally have a distinctive style from film-to-film and often fill other roles besides directing including: writing, editing, and sometimes acting in their own films.

Howard Arkans BA, MD, Stanford Howie has had a keen interest in film since his grandmother took him to see THE JAZZ SINGER remake in 1952. He has taught Tuesday at the Movies for OLLI at BCC for the past 12 winters and has been a BIFF REEL Friend for years.

Our 2019 Filmmakers

============================================================
Copyright © 2020 Berkshire International Film Festival, All rights reserved.

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can ** update your preferences (*|UPDATE_PROFILE|*)
or ** unsubscribe from this list (*|UNSUB|*)
.

WITH A VERY SPECIAL SCREENING AND PANEL DISCUSSION
SATURDAY, APRIL 24 | 3PM

Join us on Saturday, April 24th at 3PM as we kick-off BIFF’s popular Environmental Film Focus Series with an inspirational film and exciting panel discussion. We will be screening the film together on that day followed by an engaging discussion and Q&A with our panel of experts.

This event is proudly and generously sponsored by
The Whitehead Foundation and FREE TO ALL!

Watch the trailer (https://vimeo.com/ondemand/gather)
GATHER is an intimate portrait of a growing movement among Indigenous Americans to reclaim their spiritual and cultural identities through obtaining sovereignty over their ancestral food systems, while battling against the historical trauma brought on by centuries of genocide.

GATHER follows Nephi Craig, a chef from the White Mountain Apache Nation (Arizona), opening an indigenous café as a nutritional recovery clinic; Elsie Dubray, a young scientist from the Cheyenne River Sioux Nation (South Dakota), conducting landmark studies on bison; and the Ancestral Guard, a group of environmental activists from the Yurok Nation (Northern California), trying to save the Klamath river.

Following the screening, we have organized a lively panel discussion led by Lillian Lennox, that includes the film’s director Sanjay Rawal; Danielle Hill, founder of Heron-Hill LLC; and Jen Salenetti, co-founder, farmer and Director of Education & Community Engagement at Woven Roots Farm & Education Center.

Registration for this special event and more details to follow, but Save The Date today!

————————————————————

Sanjay Rawal

A James Beard Award-winning filmmaker, Sanjay made FOOD CHAINS (EP Eva Longoria, Eric Schlosser) which chronicled the battle of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, a small group of Oaxacan and Chiapan indigenous farmworkers in Florida, against the largest agribusiness conglomerates in the world. The film was released theatrically in a number of countries (Screen Media in the US) and won numerous awards—including citations from the US Conference of Mayors, the Clinton Global Initiative and the White House. The film was also a Winner (shared) of the 2016 BritDoc Impact award and several festival prizes.

Sanjay’s last film 3100: RUN AND BECOME won several festival prizes, had a robust theatrical release in the US in 2018 and is opening in traditional theatrical engagements across Europe and Australia in 2020 and 2021.

Danielle Hill

Danielle Hill, founder of Heron-Hill LLC holds an MPA in Sustainable Development from the World Learning Graduate Institute and in 2018 established her consulting business Heron-Hill LLC. She works in various capacities for Tribal governments, Tribal Organizations and Native American non-profits consulting on a variety of Indigenous issues. Danielle is also a student midwife and Doula and is passionate about reviving indigenous birthing practices, promoting food sovereignty, indigenous farming and maintaining Eastern Woodland traditions. Danielle is also co-owner of the Wampanoag Trading Post and Gallery and a member of the Wampanoag Nation Singers and Dancers

Jen Salenetti

Jen Salinetti (she/her) is a co-founder, farmer, and the Director of Education & Community Engagement at Woven Roots Farm. For over 15 years, Jen has offered workshops and courses that develop relationships to land, build skills of resilience, promote traditional growing practices, and amplify pathways to social justice in the local school system, for the Northeast Organic Farming Association, and other regional organizations. She was recently selected as one of the Berkshires’ 25 most dedicated, influential, and creative people.

BIFF thanks The Whitehead Foundation for their generous sponsorship of the Environmental Film Focus Series, now in its fourth year!

NEXT UP ON THE AMERICAN AUTEUR SERIES:
Thursday, April 22 | 4PM
Howie Arkans Discusses the Work of NOAH BAUMBACH – THE SQUID AND THE WHALE and FRANCES HA
————————————————————

THE SQUID AND THE WHALE: Follows two young boys dealing with their parents’ divorce in Brooklyn in the 1980s.
Rent THE SQUID AND THE WHALE here (https://www.amazon.com/Squid-Whale-Jeff-Daniels/dp/B07L4R77TS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=27NJNHU2RS939&dchild=1&keywords=the+squid+and+the+whale&qid=1615501860&s=instant-video&sprefix=THE+SQUID%2Cinstant-video%2C160&sr=1-1)

FRANCES HA: A New York woman (who doesn’t really have an apartment) apprentices for a dance company (though she’s not really a dancer) and throws herself headlong into her dreams, even as the possibility of realizing them dwindles.
Rent FRANCES HA here (https://www.amazon.com/Frances-Ha-Greta-Gerwig/dp/B00FVYSZ20/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=FRANCES+HA&qid=1615502025&s=instant-video&sr=1-1)
Register Here (https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMofuurpzIoHNIdVTu3u_psDfvRqTTR_ous)
The concept of the auteur—of the filmmaker as an artist and author of his or her works—began in Paris in the late 50s to 60s, where filmmakers and critics reacted to the industrialized of filmmaking in the United States and Europe.

The French word auteur literally translates to the English, “author.” Within the context of cinema, the word auteur is used to describe a director who exerts a high level of control across all aspects of a film. Auteur directors generally have a distinctive style from film-to-film and often fill other roles besides directing including: writing, editing, and sometimes acting in their own films.

Howard Arkans BA, MD, Stanford Howie has had a keen interest in film since his grandmother took him to see THE JAZZ SINGER remake in 1952. He has taught Tuesday at the Movies for OLLI at BCC for the past 12 winters and has been a BIFF REEL Friend for years.

Our 2019 Filmmakers

============================================================
Copyright © 2020 Berkshire International Film Festival, All rights reserved.

BIFF’S NEW FREE FILM SERIES
CONTINUES THURSDAY, MARCH 25
————————————————————
Join us Thursday, March 25 at 4PM for the second in a series of monthly discussions with Howie Arkans. We kicked-off with a wonderful discussion about Jim Jarmusch, and next up is Wes Anderson on March 25th. We will wrap this 3-part series with Noah Baumbach on Thursday, April 22nd. All films in the series are available to stream on Amazon Prime Video. (Rental fees may apply.)

** American Auteur: Wes Anderson
————————————————————

Thursday, March 25 | 4PM to 5:30PM
Wesley Wales Anderson was born in Houston, Texas. His mother, Texas Ann (Burroughs), is an archaeologist turned real estate agent, and his father, Melver Leonard Anderson, worked in advertising and PR. He has two brothers, Eric and Mel. Anderson’s parents divorced when he was a young child, an event that he described as the most crucial event of his brothers and his growing up. During childhood, Anderson also began writing plays and making super-8 movies. He was educated at Westchester High School and then St. John’s, a private prep school in Houston, Texas, which was later to prove an inspiration for the film RUSHMORE (1998).

Anderson attended the University of Texas in Austin, where he majored in philosophy. It was there that he met Owen Wilson
. They became friends and began making short films, some of which aired on a local cable-access station. One of their shorts was BOTTLE ROCKET(1993), which starred Owen and his brother Luke Wilson. The short was screened at the Sundance Film Festival, where it was successfully received, so much so that they received funding to make a feature-length version. BOTTLE ROCKET (1996) was not a commercial hit, but it gained a cult audience and high-profile fans, which included Martin Scorsese.

Success followed with films such as RUSHMORE (1998), THE LIFE AQUATIC WITH STEVE ZISSOU (2004), THE ROYAL TENNENBAUMS (2001) and an animated feature, FANTASTIC MR. FOX (2009). The latter two films earned Anderson Oscar nominations.
To participate, stream GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL and MOONRISE KINGDOM through the links below BEFORE Thursday, March 25. Howie will propose questions, share clips and lead a discussion of the films, answering questions and criticisms. BIFF is very pleased to be presenting this fun, engaging and educational series and we are grateful for Howie’s time and expertise!
Register Here (https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_WPzuEr4sTxS-hm01jpW9WA)
Your Homework

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL: A writer encounters the owner of an aging high-class hotel, who tells him of his early years serving as a lobby boy in the hotel’s glorious years under an exceptional concierge.
Rent THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL here (https://www.amazon.com/Grand-Budapest-Hotel-Ralph-Fiennes/dp/B00JB3AOEY/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2LT09XCKBQ07B&dchild=1&keywords=grand+budapest+hotel+prime+instant+video&qid=1615501630&s=instant-video&sprefix=grand+bud%2Cinstant-video%2C171&sr=1-1)

MOONRISE KINGDOM: A pair of young lovers flee their New England town, which causes a local search party to fan out to find them.
Rent MOONRISE KINGDOM here (https://www.amazon.com/Grand-Budapest-Hotel-Ralph-Fiennes/dp/B00JB3AOEY/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2LT09XCKBQ07B&dchild=1&keywords=grand+budapest+hotel+prime+instant+video&qid=1615501630&s=instant-video&sprefix=grand+bud%2Cinstant-video%2C171&sr=1-1)

** NEXT UP! NOAH BAUMBACH on APRIL 22
————————————————————

** THE SQUID AND THE WHALE and FRANCES HA
————————————————————

THE SQUID AND THE WHALE: Follows two young boys dealing with their parents’ divorce in Brooklyn in the 1980s.
Rent THE SQUID AND THE WHALE here (https://www.amazon.com/Squid-Whale-Jeff-Daniels/dp/B07L4R77TS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=27NJNHU2RS939&dchild=1&keywords=the+squid+and+the+whale&qid=1615501860&s=instant-video&sprefix=THE+SQUID%2Cinstant-video%2C160&sr=1-1)

FRANCES HA: A New York woman (who doesn’t really have an apartment) apprentices for a dance company (though she’s not really a dancer) and throws herself headlong into her dreams, even as the possibility of realizing them dwindles.
Rent FRANCES HA here (https://www.amazon.com/Frances-Ha-Greta-Gerwig/dp/B00FVYSZ20/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=FRANCES+HA&qid=1615502025&s=instant-video&sr=1-1)

Register here for Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach!
Wes Anderson—March 25 (https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEucuCvpzkvG9NY12_ztLlSh-bhgvv8kxpv )
Noah Baumbach—April 22 (https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMofuurpzIoHNIdVTu3u_psDfvRqTTR_ous)
The concept of the auteur—of the filmmaker as an artist and author of his or her works—began in Paris in the late 50s to 60s, where filmmakers and critics reacted to the industrialized of filmmaking in the United States and Europe.

The French word auteur literally translates to the English, “author.” Within the context of cinema, the word auteur is used to describe a director who exerts a high level of control across all aspects of a film. Auteur directors generally have a distinctive style from film-to-film and often fill other roles besides directing including: writing, editing, and sometimes acting in their own films.

Howard Arkans BA, MD, Stanford Howie has had a keen interest in film since his grandmother took him to see THE JAZZ SINGER remake in 1952. He has taught Tuesday at the Movies for OLLI at BCC for the past 12 winters and has been a BIFF REEL Friend for years.

Our 2019 Filmmakers

============================================================
Copyright © 2020 Berkshire International Film Festival, All rights reserved.

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can ** update your preferences (*|UPDATE_PROFILE|*)
or ** unsubscribe from this list (*|UNSUB|*)
.

BERKSHIRE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL CELEBRATES WOMEN IN FILM ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
The Berkshire International Film Festival is proud to celebrate women in film on International Women’s Day. Throughout our 15 years, BIFF has highlighted an extraordinary number of talented, brave, compassionate, brilliant, funny and passionate female filmmakers, so we thought we would share them with you today! We have been honored to bring their stories to our community and we praise them for enriching our lives. Cheers to strong women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them. #internationalwomensday #womenempowerment #womeninfilm
Greta Gerwig in FRANCES HA, 2013
2006
Sarah Watt, LOOK BOTH WAYS
Amy Seplin, 51 BIRCH STREET
Barbara Willis Sweete, FIVE DAYS IN SEPTEMBER
Anne Makepeace, RAIN IN A DRY LAND
Nina Rosenblum, ZAHIRA’S PEACE
Kimberlee Aquero, Stacy Sherman, GOD SLEEPS IN RWANDA

2007
Zoe Cassavetes, BROKEN ENGLISH
Stacy Cochran, DROP BACK TEN
Dana Vavrova, THE LAST TRAIN
Cathryn Davis Zommer, FULLY AWAKE: BLACK MOUNTAIN COLLEGE
Melanie Perkins, HAVE YOU SEEN ANDY
Nuria Olive-Belles, INVISIBLE WINGS
Andrea Ulbrick, NERVES OF STEEL
Faith Morgan, THE POWER OF COMMUNITY
Barbara Willis Sweete, FALLING DOWN STAIRS, A TALE OF TANGLEWOOD: PETER GRIMES REBORN
Meena Nanji, VIEW FROM A GRAIN OF SAND
Andrea Nix Fine, WAR/DANCE
Jessica Daniels, Corinne Kelly, CYCLE UNKNOWN
Lori Benson, DEAR TALULAH
Julia Kots, NATURALIZED

2008
Krisztina Goda, CHILDREN OF GLORY
Courtney Hunt, FROZEN RIVER
Florence Vignon, THE GROCER’S SON
Dee McLachlan, THE JAMMED
Amy French, JUAN FRANCES LIVE
Birgit Moller, VALERIE
Nicole Kassell, THE WOODSMAN
Nanette Burnstein, AMERICAN TEEN
Karen Gehres, BEGGING NAKED
Irena Salina, FLOW: FOR LOVE OF WATER
Sara Lukinson, GARRISON KEILLOR: THE MAN ON THE RADIO IN THE RED TENNIS SHOES
Kim Shively, WESLEY WILLIS’S JOYRIDES
Susan Cinoman, LOVE AND CLASS IN CONNECTICUT
Treva Wurmfeld, OYSTER
Arlene Cullum, BULB
Fioina Kissane, CHERRIES

2009
*Emily Kunstler, Sarah Kunstler, WILLIAM KUNSTLER: DISTURBING THE UNIVERSE
Anne Fontaine, THE GIRL FROM MONACO
Uma Thurman, Minnie Driver, MOTHERHOOD
Gina O’Brien, ONCE MORE WITH FEELING
Dia Sokol, Lauren Veloski, SORRY, THANKS
Alexandra Weltmeer, ALONE IN FOUR WALLS
Cynthia Wade, FREEHELD
Melissa Hubbard, THE GLASS HOUSE
Lexy Lovell, THE GOOD SOLDIER
Wendy Keys, MILTON GLASER: TO INFORM AND DELIGHT
Tana Ross, Freke Vuijst, POET OF POVERTY
Jennifer Grausman, PRESSURE COOKER
Pamela Yates, THE RECKONING
Melora Donoghue, PRETTY DEAD FLOWERS
Julia Kots, FORGET MY NAME
Melissa Auf der Maur, OUT OF OUR MINDS
Isabel Munoz, EN TRANSITO
Marie Benito, EN DESEO

2010
*Ricki Stern, Annie Sundberg, JOAN RIVERS: A PIECE OF WORK
Patricia Clarkson, Honoree
Rubba Nådda, CAIRO TIME
Suzi Yoonessi, DEAR LEMON LIMA
Shari Springer Berman, THE EXTRA MAN
Barbara Alberti, I AM LOVE
Sophie Deraspe, LES SIGNES VITAUX
Sarah Watt, MY YEAR WITHOUT SEX
Melanie Dimantas, OLHOS AZUIS
Cheryl Dunye, THE OWLS
Catherine Spear, SHINE OF RAINBOWS
Emily Abt, TOE TO TOE
Lucy Walker, COUNTDOWN TO ZERO
Tamra Davis, JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT: THE RADIANT CHILD
Anne Again, MY NEIGHBOR, MY KILLER
Laura Poitras, THE OATH
Jenny Stein, PEACEABLE KINGDOM: THE JOURNEY HOME
Sandy Cioffi, Jill Friedberg, Leslye Wood, SWEET CRUDE
Anne Linsel, TANZTRAUME
Cathryn Collins, VLAST
Lucy Walker, Karen Harley, WASTE LAND
Stephanie Wang-Breal, WO AI NI MOMMY
Ellen Weisbrod, Melissa Powell, A WOMAN LIKE THAT
Miranda Nation, TRAMPOLINE
Lindsay Goodall, ARCHIVE OF DREAMS
Julia McLean, FINGER TRAP
Julie Tortorici, MILESTONE
Julia Kots, Jessica Provenz, NOTHING HAPPENED
Maggie Kiley, SOME BOYS DON’T LEAVE
Jessica Daniels, Dasha Snyder, SPEED GRIEVING

2011
*Kate Novack, PAGE ONE: INSIDE THE NEW YORK TIMES
Cindy Meehl, Julie Goldman, BUCK
Allie Dvorin, A NOVEL ROMANCE
Marja-Lewis Ryan, FOUR-FACED LIAR
Anne Sewitsky, HAPPY, HAPPY
Alethea Root, PART TIME FABULOUS
Pamela Yates, GRANITO
Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Jessica Congdon, MISS REPRESENTATION
Laura Israel, WINDFALL
Lyn Hershman Leeson, !WOMAN ART REVOLUTION
Susan Edwards, THE WORK OF 1000
Cynthia Wade, BORN SWEET
Rory Kennedy, KILLLING IN THE NAME
Karen Goodman, STRANGERS NO MORE
Anne Makepeace, WE STILL LIVE HERE
Jana Prchalova, MONDO’S SEARCH FOR THE SUN

2012
*Rory Kennedy, Sheila Nevins, Nancy Abraham, ETHEL
Sheila Nevins, Nancy Abraham, MARINA ABRAMOVIC: THE ARTIST IS PRESENT
Julie Delpy, 2 DAYS IN NEW YORK
Heide Schwochow, CRACKS IN THE SHELL
Jennifer Bevoldere, THE DAY I SAW YOUR HEART
Brigitte Marie Bertele, Johanna Stuttmann, DER BRAND
Sarah Koskoff, HELLO I MUST BE GOING
Susan Jacobson, THE HOLDING
Ry Russo-Young, Lena Dunham, NOBODY WALKS
Anne Emond, NUIT #1
Lynn Shelton, YOUR SISTER’S SISTER
Alison Klayman, Julie Goldman, AI WEIWEI: NEVER SORRY
Sascha Rice, Laura Nix, Julia Mintz, Hilary Armstrong, Erin O’Malley, Katherine Ripley, Zora A. Wolter CALIFORNIA STATE OF MIND
Susan Froemke, ESCAPE FIRE: THE FIGHT TO RESCUE AMERICAN HEALTHCARE
Bess Kargman, Rose Caiola, Besss Kargman, Jennilyn Merten, FIRST POSITION
Tracie Holder, Karen Thorsen, Julia Mintz, JOE PAPP IN FIVE ACTS
Beth Levinson, Laura Brownson, LEMON
Lauren Greenfield, Danielle Renfrew Behrens, Rebecca Horn Black, THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES
Karin Hayes, Victoria Bruce, WE’RE NOT BROKE
Sarah-Violet Bliss, PRICELESS THINGS
Daria Belova, BALLET STORY
Saba Riazi, WIND IS BLOWING ON MY STREET
Cynthia Wade, MONDAYS AT RACINE
Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy- SAVING FACE
Lucy Gray, GENEVIEVE GOES BOATING

2013
Greta Gerwig, FRANCES HA
Hannah Fidell, A TEACHER
Julie Delpy, BEFORE MIDNIGHT
Eliza Hittman, IT FELT LIKE LOVE
Ursula Meier, SISTER
Audrey Ewell, 99% – THE OCCUPY WALL STREET COLLABORATIVE FILM
Lana Wilson, Martha Shane, AFTER TILLER
Judith Lit, AFTER WINTER, SPRING
Gabrela Cowperthwaite, BLACKFISH
Lucy Walker, CRASH REEL
Chiemi Karasawa, ELAINE STRITCH: SHOOT ME
Anna Fitch, GENIUS OF MARIAN
Kathy McCabe, Jess Lawson, GOOD OL’ FREDA
Lotti Pharriss Knowles, Taryn Teigue, I AM DIVINE
Farihah Zaman, Ilene Kahn Power, Jessica Rogers, REMOTE AREA MEDICAL
Ashley Chiles, TEXAS HUNTRESS
Sarah Cook, TRANSCENDING FEAR
Marta Cunningham, Sasha Alpert, Sheila Nevins, VALENTINE ROAD
Maiken Baird, Michelle Major, VENUS AND SERENA
Genevieve Clay, Robin Bryan, THE INTERVIEWER
Ana Lily Amirpour, Jalina Dyrschka, A LITTLE SUICIDE
Jude Roth, Heather de Michele, Reena Dutt, EL DOCTOR
Ainslie Henderson, IT’S ABOUT SPENDING TIME TOGETHER, I AM TOM MOODY
Kate Marks, Tzipora Kaplan, Kathleen Reinbold, PEARL WAS HERE
Lauren Ambrose, THE RIVER
Suha Araj, Lydia Khoury, THE CUP READER
Jenni Gold, CINEMABILITY
Lynne Cherry, LONGING FOR A LOCAL LUNCH
Anna Martemucci, PERIODS.

2014
*Cherien Dabas, MAY IN THE SUMMER
Juliana Lembi, Nancy Schafer, BATTERED BASTARDS OF BASEBALL
Sarah-Violet Bliss- FORT TILDEN
Julia Morrison, FRANK AND ASHA
Kat Candler, HELLION
Leigh Janice, HONEYMOON
Megan Griffiths, Caroline Sherman, LUCKY THEM
Valeria Golina, MIELE
Gillian Robespiere, OBVIOUS CHILD
Reem Kherici, PARIS OR PERISH
Laurie Aubanel, PAULETTE
Catriona McKenzie, SATELLITE BOY
Pamela Yates, DISRUPTION
Cindy Meehl, DOGS IN THE INSIDE
Katy Shevigny, Marilyn Ness, Sierra Pettengill, E-TEAM
Iva Radivojevic, Laura Poitras, EVAPORATING BORDERS
Kate Geis, PAUL TAYLOR CREATIVE DOMAIN
Abby Ginzberg, SOFT VENGEANCE: ALBIE SACHS AND THE NEW SOUTH AFRICA
Farihah Zaman, THIS TIME NEXT YEAR
Jennifer M. Kroot, TO BE TAKEI
Stephanie Wang-Breal, TOUGH LOVE
Beth Harrington, Amy Harrington, Nancy Harrington, THE WINDING STREAM
Mischa Jakupcak, THE HERO POSE
Hazuki, Aikawa, REFLECTION
Elizabeth Lennard, EDITH WHARTON: THE SENSE OF HARMONY

2015
*E. Chai Vasarhelyi, MERU
Lisa Immordino Vreeland, Bernadine Colish, PEGGY GUGGENHEIM: ART ADDICT
Karen Allen, BAD HURT
Anne Fontaine, GEMMA BOVERY
Rania Attieh, H.
Alexis Durand Brault, Sophie Lorain, Catherine Leger, LE PETITE REINE: DOWNFALL OF A CHAMPION
Sarah Adina Smith, THE MIDNIGHT SWIM
Anna Muylaert, THE SECOND MOTHER
Leslye Headland, SLEEPING WITH OTHER PEOPLE
Maria Ripoli, Anna Soler-Pont, TRACES OF SANDELWOOD
Roberta Grossman, Sophie Sartain, ABOVE AND BEYOND
Cheryl Furjanic, Karen K. H. Sim, BACK ON BOARD: GREG LOUGANIS
Madeleine Grant, ThE BACKWARDS CLASS
Anne Birkenstock, BELTRACCHI- THE ART OF FORGERY
Julie Goldman, BEST OF ENEMIES
Laura Gabbert, CITY OF GOLD
Alexandria Bombach, FRAME BY FRAME
Sharon Shattuck, Brooke Brewer, FROM THIS DAY FORWARD
Alexandra Shiva, HOW TO DANCE IN OHIO
Crystal Moselle, THE WOLFPACK
Clare Seckler, HUMPTY
Bigna Tomschin, BLUE BLUE SKY
Ainslie Henderson, MONKEY LOVE EXPERIMENTS
Suha Araj, PIONEER HIGH
Sharon Liese, Cynthia Wade, Samantha Hake, THE GNOMIST
Marina Zurkow, MESOCOSM
Sarah Tale, Lisa F. Jackson, GRAZERS: A COOPERATIVE STORY
Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Jessica Congdon, THE MASK YOU LIVE IN
Pamela Tanner Boll, Nancy Kennedy, A SMALL GOOD THING
Lena Dunham, Jenni Konner, Stacey Reiss, IT’S ME, HILARY: THE MAN WHO DREW ELOISE
Kelly Carty, THE PAPER TRAIL

2016
*Caitrin Rogers, MUSIC OF STRANGERS: YO-YO MA AND THE SILK ROAD ENSEMBLE
Karen Allen, A YEAR BY THE SEA
Anna Rose Holmer, Saela Davis, Lisa Kjerulff, THE FITS
Sara Isabella Johnson Vedde, GOLD COAST
Elisabeth Sharang, JACK
Marie Belhomme, MUSICAL CHAIRS
Leena Yadav, PARCHED
Catherine Tambini, ART AND HEART: THE WORLD OF ISAIAH SHEFFER
Kirsten Jonhson, Marilyn Ness, Abigail Disney, Gini Reticker, CAMERAPERSON
Kristi Zea, EVERYBODY KNOWS…ELIZABETH MURRAY
Kim A. Snyder, NEWTOWN
Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady, NORMAN LEAR: JUST ANOTHER VERSION OF YOU
Penny Lane, NUTS!
Pamela Yates, REBEL CITIZEN
Dawn Porter, TRAPPED
Anaelle Morf, JEWISH BLIND DATE
Lisanne Sartor, SIX LETTER WORD
Brenda Ray, BIG T
Betsy Hershey, TODAY IS THE DAY
Lisa Kenner Grissom, TATOO YOU

2017
*Amanda Lipitz, STEP
Alicia Slimmer, CREEDMORIA
Maysaloun Hamoud, BAR BAHAR
Stephaine Di Giusto, Sarah Thibau, THE DANCER
Gillian Robespierre, Elisabeth Holm, LANDLINE
Dominique Abel, Fiona Gordon, LOST IN PARIS
Anne Emond, Nelly Arcan, NELLY
Amanda Kernell, SAMI BLOOD
Delphine and Muriel Coulin, THE STOPOVER
Lisa Ohlin, Karina Dam, WALK WITH ME
Mindy Elliot, A PLASTIC OCEAN
Laura Dunn, LOOK AND SEE: A PORTRAIT OF WENDELL BERRY
Catherine Bainbridge, RUMBLE: THE INDIANS WHO ROCKED THE WORLD
Neasa Ni Chianain, SCHOOL LIFE
Lara Stolman, SWIM TEAM
Joan Kron, TAKE MY NOSE…PLEASE!
Barbara Kopple, THIS IS EVERYTHING: GIGI GORGEOUS
Anne Makepeace, TRIBAL JUSTICE
Jennifer Kroot, THE UNTOLD TALES OF ARMISTEAD MAUPIN
Jennifer Brea, UNREST
Sabaah Folayan, WHOSE STREETS?
Gloria Cheng, MONTAGE: GREAT FILM COMPOSERS AND THE PIANO
Heather Condo, MY FATHER’S TOOLS
Helene Moltke-Leth- RUNNING THROUGH LIFE
Kat Coiro, WIG SHOP
Eileen O’Meara, PANIC ATTACK
Karen Allen, A TREE, A ROCK, A CLOUD
Kristi Zea, A DOMESTIC DILEMMA

2018
*Katherine Butler, Mary Jane Skalsi, AMERICAN ANIMALS
Rachel Weisz, Honoree, DISOBEDIENCE
Alethea Root, MUMBET
Caryn Capotosto, WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?
Cynthia Wade, Sasha Friedlander, GRIT
Natalia Beristain, THE ETERNAL FEMININE
Roxy Toporowych, JULIE, BLUE
Hannah Fidell, THE LONG DUMB ROAD
Susanna White, WOMAN WALKS AHEAD
Elan Bogarin, 306 HOLLYWOOD
Susan Bedusa, BREWMASTER
Kimberly Reed, DARK MONEY
Dana Adam Shapiro, Carra Greenberg, Stacey Reiss, DAUGHTERS OF THE SEXUAL REVOLUTION:THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE DALLAS COWBOY CHEERLEADERS
Kate Novack, THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ANDRE
Lorena Luciano, IT WILL BE CHAOS
Lisa Dapolito, LOVE, GILDA
Cornelia Ravenal, MOVING STORIES
Alexandria Bombach, ON HER SHOULDERS
Susanna Styron, OUT OF MY HEAD, HOUSE OF TEETH
Alexandra Shiva, THIS IS HOME: A REFUGEE STORY
Jeannie Donohue, GAME
Julie Neumann, DEPORTING MYSELF
Celine Held, BABS
Megan Miller, SURVIING NEW YORK
Michela Smith, FLY LADY FLY
Madeleine Ours, COOLPOOL
Kristen Davila, EMERGENCY
Lisanne Sartor, HEMLICH
Rebecca Panian, YOU’RE WELCOME
Karen Turner, THE SILENT
Susan Bay Nimoy, EVE
Veena Rao, REBULDING IN MINIATURE
Olympia Stone, Joy Becker, DOUBLE TAKE: THE ART OF ELIZABETH KING

2019
Julie Bertuccelli, CLAIRE DARLING
Lulu Wang, THE FAREWELL
Claire McCarthy, Semi Chellas, OPHELIA
Stacey Reiss, THE PERFECTION
Ani Simon-Kennedy, THE SHORT HISTORY OF THE LONG ROAD
Brittany Poulton, THEM THAT FOLLOW
Nicole Taylor, WILD ROSE
Julia Reichert, AMERICAN FACTORY
Cindy Meehl, DOG DOC
Bonnie Hawthorne, DREAMING OF A VETTER WORLD
Jenifer McShane, ERNIE AND JOE
Tamara Kotevska, HONEYLAND
Barbara Kopple, NEW HOMELAND
Nanfu Whang, Jialing Zhang, ONE CHILD NATION
Abby Epstein, WEED THE PEOPLE
Emilie McDonald, CHURROS
Samantha Sanders, BALLHAWKS
Andrea Pallanza, NOWHEN
Yasmin Rai, MY MOTHER TOLD ME
Brenda Zlamany, Laure Sullivan, 100/100
Sarah T. Schwab, “A” MY NAME IS
Taylor Nagel, Julia Lindon, LADY LIBERTY
Joan Stein Schimke, SAAED
Michela M. Smith, TECHNICALLY IN LOVE
Guro Elvik Strand, FROZEN MEMORIES

*Opening night film

The 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World 2020, Presented by FilmFreeway

BIFF was named one of the 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World 2020. Read about it here (https://www.moviemaker.com/the-25-coolest-film-festivals-in-the-world-2020-presented-by-film-freeway/) .
Presented by FilmFreeway

============================================================
Copyright © 2021 BIFFMA, All rights reserved.
www.biffma.org

Our mailing address is:
40 Railroad Street
Great Barrington, MA 01230

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can ** update your preferences (*|UPDATE_PROFILE|*)
or ** unsubscribe from this list (*|UNSUB|*)
.

*|IF:REWARDS|* *|REWARDS_TEXT|* *|END:IF|*

BIFF’S NEW FREE FILM
SERIES BEGINS
Thursday, February 25!

This February, March, and April, BIFF is sponsoring a FREE monthly discussion of films by American auteurs. Howie Arkans will curate a discussion of two films by the auteur on the fourth Thursday of each month.

We kick-off in two weeks, with Jim Jarmusch on February 25th, followed by Wes Anderson on March 25th, and wrap the series with Noah Baumbach on April 22nd. All films in the series are available to stream on Amazon Prime Video. (Rental fees may apply.)

** FIRST UP…
American Auteur: Jim Jarmusch
————————————————————

Thursday, February 25 | 4PM to 5PM

Jim Jarmusch came to New York City from Akron, Ohio to study at Columbia and NYU’s film school. He would also study film at the Cinematheque Francaise in Paris. He worked as an assistant on LIGHTNING OVER WATER (1980), a film by Nicholas Ray and Wim Wenders, before making his first film, PERMANENT VACATION (1982), made for roughly $15,000. After much hustling, he found a German producer by the name of Otto Grokenberger, who stayed out of his way and provided him with complete artistic control. The result was the highly stimulating STRANGER THAN PARADISE (1984), a film he structured around Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ song, “I Put A Spell On You”, and which would go on to win the Camera D’Or at the 1984 Cannes Film Festival.

To participate, stream NIGHT ON EARTH and BROKEN FLOWERS through the links below. Howie will propose questions and lead a discussion of the films, answering questions and criticisms. BIFF is very pleased to be presenting this fun series to help us get through the winter and we are grateful for Howie’s time and expertise!
Register Here
Your Homework

NIGHT ON EARTH: An anthology of 5 different cab drivers in 5 American and European cities and their remarkable fares on the same eventful night.
Rent NIGHT ON EARTH here.

BROKEN FLOWERS: As the extremely withdrawn Don Johnston is dumped by his latest woman, he receives an anonymous letter from a former lover informing him that he has a son who may be looking for him. A freelance sleuth neighbor moves Don to embark on a cross-country search for his old flames in search of answers.
Rent BROKEN FLOWERS here .

** NEXT UP! WES ANDERSON ON MARCH 25.
————————————————————

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL: A writer encounters the owner of an aging high-class hotel, who tells him of his early years serving as a lobby boy in the hotel’s glorious years under an exceptional concierge.
Rent THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL here.

MOONRISE KINGDOM: A pair of young lovers flee their New England town, which causes a local search party to fan out to find them.
Rent MOONRISE KINGDOM here.

Save your spot for Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach!
Wes Anderson—March 25
Noah Baumbach—April 22
The concept of the auteur—of the filmmaker as an artist and author of his or her works—began in Paris in the late 50s to 60s, where filmmakers and critics reacted to the industrialized of filmmaking in the United States and Europe.

The French word auteur literally translates to the English, “author.” Within the context of cinema, the word auteur is used to describe a director who exerts a high level of control across all aspects of a film. Auteur directors generally have a distinctive style from film-to-film and often fill other roles besides directing including: writing, editing, and sometimes acting in their own films.

Howard Arkans BA, MD, Stanford. He has had a keen interest in film since his grandmother took him to see The Jazz Singer (remake) in 1952. He has taught Tuesday at the Movies for OLLI at BCC for the past 12 winters. He has been a REEL Friend of BIFF for years.”

============================================================
Copyright © 2020 Berkshire International Film Festival, All rights reserved.

.

On behalf of everyone at BIFF, we want to take a moment to wish you all a safe, happy and healthy holiday season. We look forward to seeing each other in a lighter, brighter and stronger 2021!

While you are home this holiday season, Lauren, Laura and I wanted to share with you what we have been watching…holiday movies, inspirational films and of course, a few good love stories!

LAUREN
When the snow is piling up outside and with the holiday season upon us, watching classic films in their original black and white format is what I really enjoy as I nestle under a blanket with the lights off and popcorn in hand. Frank Capra was the most prominent filmmaker of the 1930’s winning three Academy Awards for best director during that time. His film IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE was based on the short story The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren Stern. The tale of Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey and the certain truths in this film…the importance of friends, family and neighbors, that we are all in this together and can’t do it alone really strikes a cord as we wind down this difficult year. The next film that not many people are familiar with is THE BITTER TEA OF GENERAL YEN starring Barbara Stanwyck. The first time I watched this I cried, and to me, it’s one Capra’s most interesting films, very different from his lighter films that made is reputation. Strange and unusual for the 1930’s,
this film touches upon interracial romance and is about a young fiancée of a missionary in China who is kidnapped by a general with whom she eventually falls in love. Very progressive, dark and mysterious, this film is a gem that you don’t want to miss.

LAURA
I get very sentimental around the holidays and usually only have time for old favorites. The silly but sweet ELF is one of them. Will Ferrell is never funnier, especially when he is “playing” with the “naughty” James Caan, Papa Elf Bob Newhart, and Ed Asner as one of the best Santa’s ever. I laugh out loud through the whole movie but the “Jack-in-the-Box” scene is my favorite and results in multiple rewinds. (Buddy’s duet with Zooey Deschanel is a close second). I love that this movie is for most ages and that Christmas spirit saves the day in the end. WHITE CHRISTMAS is another favorite that I never miss—because it just wouldn’t be the holidays without Bing Crosby singing White Christmas. Edith Head’s costume design and Bob Fosse’s uncredited choreography are the best—plus I always love a story about sisters. The tear-jerker ending gets me every time. People coming together to honor and celebrate a hero reminds me that there are heroes all around us—especially in these challenging times.

KELLEY
Between the COVID pandemic, the tumultuous political season and the hardships we have all experienced or read about, the kids and I were looking for some inspiration, something that made us feel good, and that gave us hope. We certainly found two documentaries that fit that high mark! The first was the wonderful documentary BECOMING, based on Michelle Obama’s autobiography of the same name. The film follows the admirable Mrs. Obama on her 2019 book tour, giving the audience a very intimate look at her hopes, her journey and her incredible connection to people of all backgrounds. She is not only inspirational and graceful, but also funny and down to earth. So why stop there? We followed it up with THE WAY I SEE IT about the former Chief Official White House Photographer to Reagan and Obama, Pete Souza. The film is extraordinary as it takes you deep into the journey of the Obama presidency with top-secret clearance and total access to the US President. We were moved to tears, more than once,
by Obama’s dignity, grace and respect for the duties of that office. Told through Souza’s incredibly moving lens, we are given the gift of laughter, hope and humanity. A must see! Lastly, I need to throw in an oldie but goodie, LOVE ACTUALLY. Can anyone really every tire of that film which captures everything of this holiday spirit in one film?

We also want to take the time to thank you all for supporting us this summer by attending our “pop up” Berkshire Drive-In. It was wonderful to see many of you in a socially engaged, but physically distanced way, while watching and supporting our independent filmmakers! We are planning a creative and engaging festival for 2021 as well as some winter/spring virtual programs, so look for more details in January! If you are able to, we kindly ask that you think of us when it comes to your year-end giving as any amount helps BIFF survive and thrive!

Wishing you lots of light, good health and good wishes! HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!

Warmly,
Kelley, Laura and Lauren

Dear BIFF Film Lover,

Last March just days before the pandemic hit and everything changed, BIFF had finalized our 2020 programming of nearly 70 independent narrative, documentary and short films. We were so excited to share this wonderful selection of films that we had been curating from near and far for the last 6 months. Even though we were not able to share all the films we programmed, we were thrilled to present nearly half of the films during our Berkshire Drive-In  and through our Next Great Filmmaker Award . Since independent filmmakers work hard and spend years of their lives and money to bring their beautiful stories to the big screen, we thought it would be appropriate and respectful to share with you the full line-up of films programmed for our 2020 season. The BIFF programming committee is back at work and viewing films to curate for our 2021 season, and from those films in our 2020 selection that have not been released, we will add them to our 2021 season. Please find the complete list here and look for them on the various streaming platforms and again, congratulations and thanks to the incredible filmmakers who shared their wonderful work with us this past year!

Documentary Features
*AI WEIWEI: YOURS TRULY
ASSASSINS
*BEETHOVEN IN BEIJING
*BEYOND THE VISIBLE: HILMA AF KLINT
*DESERT ONE
DISCLOSURE
FOUR WINTERS
*HOY BOYS
*ICONICITY
LARRY FLYNT FOR PRESIDENT
LINO TAGLIAPIETRA
LOOPERS: THE CADDIE’S LONG WALK
MEDICATING NORMAL
*ORCHESTRATING CHANGE
*PLAYING WITH FIRE
*RUNNER
*SPACESHIP EARTH
THE AUSTRALIAN DREAM
THE CURRENT SEA
*THE DONUT DOLLIES
THE ELEVENTH STEP
THE FIGHT
*THE PRISON WITHIN
URSULA VON RYDINGSVARD
*WOMEN IN BLUE

Narrative Features
A BUMP ALONG THE WAY
*ALICE
ALL ABOUT YVES
*CRESCENDO
EMA
GULLY BOY
HEROIC LOOSERS
INEZ & DOUG & KIRA
LILLIAN
LITIGANTE
*LUCKY GRANDMA
MASTERS OF LIE
RICORDI
SPIDER
SURDINE
THE EXCEPTION
*THE KEEPER
THE PERFECT CANDIDATE
THE TRIP TO GREECE
THOSE WHO REMAINED
WIPE OUT
WHEN HITLER STOLE PINK RABBIT
WHITE LIE

Short Films
ANNA
*BABY KATE
*DOUBTS
DRIVING LESSONS
*EXTRA INNINGS
*GOOD CONVERSATION
HELD FOR A MOMENT
*IRON GRANDMOTHER
*NICE GUY
TALKING PICTURES
THE NEIGHBOR’S WINDOW
*THICK AS THIEVES
*KIDS FLIX
*PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL ANIMATED SHORT FILMS

*Shown virtually with the Triplex, at the Berkshire Drive-In or on-line as the Next Great Filmmaker Award.

I also want to thank you all for your generous spirit and donations this year. BIFF is strong because of YOU and BIFF will survive because of YOU! Please consider making a year-end, charitable gift of any amount here (https://biffma.org/support-us/become-a-reel-friend/) . We promise to come back even stronger bringing the best of independent film from around the world to the Berkshires and supporting the stories of independent filmmakers. Fingers crossed, we WILL all gather together in 2021, and I thank you in advance for helping BIFF survive and thrive!

Founder and Artistic Director

P.S. BIFF was a part of a video with other cultural institutions to the Berkshire community and the world, promising to bring the Arts Back to the Berkshires. Watch it here!

BIFF was named one of the 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World 2020. Read about it here.
Presented by FilmFreeway

============================================================
Copyright © 2020 BIFFMA, All rights reserved.
www.biffma.org