BIFF

Juried Prize and Best of Fest Audience Awards Announced!

June 3, 2019, Great Barrington, MA – Sunday, the Berkshire International Film Festival wrapped a spectacular festival, filled with luminaries such as Martin Scorsese, Kent Jones, William Fichtner, Kim Coates, Karen Allen, Douglas Trumbull and Andrew Slater, among 50 filmmakers in attendance. In addition, the BIFF announced the winners of the annual BIFF Juried Prize Award and the BIFF Audience Award.

In the Juried Documentary category, the winner was HONEYLAND directed by Tamara Kotesvska and Ljubomir Stefanov. Its North American theatrical premiere begins in New York City on June 29, released by Neon.

In the Juried Narrative category the film, PREMATURE, was awarded the prize. The writer and director, Rashaad Ernesto Green, was not at the festival but the producer Darren Dean accepted the award. The film will be released by IFC. The Jury prize is sponsored by GWFF USA and was presented at a brunch Sunday at Number Ten restaurant in Great Barrington. Serving on the BIFF Jury were actors Michel Gill, Peter Riegert and Scott Cohen, Josh Braun of Submarine Entertainment, screenwriter Maria Nation, casting director Gretchen Rennell and filmmaker and New York Film Festival director Kent Jones.

The Audience Award Winner was once again very close with the Narrative Feature going to the hit film from Germany, THE SILENT REVOLUTION directed by Lars Kraume. GAY CHORUS DEEP SOUTH won the Audience Award Winner for best documentary feature. The short film, SUITE NO. 1, PRELUDE directed by Nicholas Ma, won the first Audience Award for best short.

The winner of the 10th annual Berkshire Bank “Next Great Filmmaker Award” was the Norwegian short film FROZEN MEMORIES which tells the story of a father battling dementia and his son who takes care of him. The Norwegian filmmakers Petter Solberg Heum and Guro Strand were on hand to accept the award. After the sold-out screening of the award-winning documentary THE APOLLO about the legendary venue in New York City, BIFF patrons were treated to the opening night party at Trattoria Rustica with an Italian spread, cocktails and live music by Jeb Colewell. The evening was also sponsored by Berkshire Bank.

Highlights of the 4-day festival included the opening night screening of WHAT SHE SAID; THE ART OF PAULINE KAEL, marking the centenary of her birth. The post-screening panel included writers Craig Seligman, Stephanie Zacherek and artist Gregory Crewdson. The film received an enthusiastic ovation to a packed house at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center. The Opening Night party was held under the BIFF tent with dinner, dancing and cocktails underwritten by Main Street Hospitality. Saturday evening in Great Barrington, the BIFF honored Academy Award-winning director, MARTIN SCORSESE for his achievement in film. In conversation with New York Film Festival Director and filmmaker Kent Jones, Mr. Scorsese generously shared with the audience clips from his films and wonderful, engaging stories from his rich and varied career in film including the restoration of old films he is deeply involved in. Immediately following the conversation, BIFF screened his film SILENCE. The tribute evening was generously sponsored by GWFF USA and included a party under the tent with cocktails, dinner and jazz prior to the tribute. A private reception was held after in Mr. Scorsese’s honor.

The BIFF also presented the third year of “TEA TALKS.” This year included 4 talks: THE BIGGEST LITTLE FARM with a panel discussion “Rethinking AG” with farmers and filmmakers; a screening of WEED THE PEOPLE followed by a talk with the filmmaker and CEO of Theory Wellness, the sponsor; THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING with a discussion with film producer Nancy Hult Ganis and BIFF Board Chair Pat Fili-Krushel; ECHO IN THE CANYON screening with filmmaker and producer Andrew Slater and Executive Producer Dan Braun.

Closing out the 14th year, BIFF presented MUSEUM TOWN about the making of Mass MoCA followed by a conversation with director Jennifer Thompson, former Governor Jane Swift, Wilco bassist John Stirrat and Mass MoCA fabrications curator Richard Criddle moderated by BIFF board member Mary Mott.

Other highlights were Karen Allen’s new film COLEWELL, with Ms. Allen in attendance; William Fichtner’s directorial debut COLD BROOK with Mr. Fichtner and his co-star Kim Coates in attendance; Barbara Koppel’s new documentary NEW HOMELAND with Ms. Koppel in attendance; and a new documentary about Doug Trumbull, TRUMBULL LAND with Mr. Trumbull in conversation.

Screening 81 features, documentaries, and shorts during the festival, the BIFF also hosted more than 50 filmmakers and offered free children’s programs, Berkshire filmmakers, and parties in the BIFF throughout downtown Great Barrington and Pittsfield including a delicious filmmaker cocktail party sponsored by the Red Lion Inn on a glorious spring day.

In its fourteenth year, BIFF proudly presented the eighth annual Filmmakers Summit, a two-day industry summit offered to the 2019 film selection filmmakers. A diverse, multi-dimensional program of panel discussions, lectures, and special events, led by known industry professionals, the BIFF Filmmakers Summit is designed to celebrate and support the advancement of filmmakers and recognize film as a relevant and important medium. Highlights of this year’s Filmmaker Summit include a studio visit with Douglas Trumbull, an industry talk with Barbara Koppel, industry panels with Douglas Tirola, producers Darren Dean and Stacey Reiss, Juno Films, Doc Society, Factory 25, A&E entertainment and the keynote address by Josh Braun of Submarine Entertainment and Ryan Harrington of National Geographic.

Premiere Sponsors of the 2019 BIFF include the Triplex Cinema, the Phoenix Cinema Beacon Theaters, GWFF USA, MAX Ultimate Food, The Annie Selke Companies, Studio Two, The Red Lion Inn, Berkshire Bank and Townvibe. Presenting Sponsors include Karen Allen Fiber Arts, Berkshire Mountain Distillers, Stella Artois, Haven Cafe, Stonover Farm, Abbott’s Livery, and Fairfield Inn and Suites. Supporting sponsors included Berkshire Grown, Theory Wellness and the Annie Selke Companies and additional support provided by the Mass Cultural Council.

With nearly 800 film submissions this year, the Berkshire International Film Festival has quickly become a destination festival that filmmakers seek due to the enthusiastic audiences it attracts.

The 15th annual BIFF will be held May 28 – 31, 2020 and passes and submissions will open October 1, 2019.

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THE BERKSHIRE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL WRAPS THIRTEENTH LARGEST FESTIVAL TO DATE

Juried Prize, Audience Awards and Major Representation Deal Announced!

June 4, 2018, Great Barrington, MA – Sunday, the Berkshire International Film Festival (BIFF) wrapped a spectacular weekend with more than 50 filmmakers and industry professionals in attendance—including such luminaries as Rachel Weisz, Kent Jones, Charles Randolph, Gregory Crewdson, and Cynthia Wade. Governor Deval Patrick and Jayne Atkinson introduced a screenplay reading of the Berkshire-based film, MUMBET—a special event that brought a unique and local element to the festival. After the screenplay reading, a major announcement was made that Submarine Entertainment had come to agreement to represent the MUMBET film directed by Alethea Root, and produced by Alethea Root and Kim Waltrip, and executive produced by Octavia Spencer, Jayne Atkinson and Elizabeth Aspenlieder. In a prepared statement, Dan Braun and Josh Braun of Submarine Entertainment stated “we were strongly taken with the potential scope and importance of Mumbet and felt it was a good fit for us. We are thrilled to be working with Alethea and joining her team to help bring this great project into the world.”

The festival presented several awards. In the Juried Documentary category, the winner was THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS directed by Tim Wardle. Its North American theatrical premiere begins in New York City on June 29, released by Neon. The filmmaker had this to say, “I’m honored and thrilled that Three Identical Strangers has won the Documentary award at BIFF. Sorry to not be there to accept in-person. On behalf of the whole filmmaking team I’d like to thank the Jury and everyone who came to see the film in Berkshire. It has been a 5-year labor of love to bring this documentary to the screen, and it is wonderful that it has been received so positively by BIFF audiences.”

The United Kingdom entry, EDIE, was awarded the Juried Narrative prize. Writer and director, Simon Hunter, was on hand to accept the award and gave his thanks to the BIFF and Berkshire audiences for receiving his film so generously. The Jury prizes, sponsored by GWFF USA, were presented at a brunch Sunday at allium Restaurant in Great Barrington. Serving on the BIFF Jury were actors Karen Allen, Jayne Atkinson, Michel Gill, Peter Riegert, and Scott Cohen as well as industry professional Josh Braun of Submarine Entertainment, producers Sid and Nancy Ganis, producer Darren Dean, and filmmaker and New York Film Festival director Kent Jones.

The Audience Award winner was the closest in BIFF’s 13-year history with the narrative feature going to the hit romantic comedy from Switzerland, STREAKERS directed by Peter Luisi. THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS also won the Audience Award for best documentary feature.

The winner of the Berkshire Bank “Next Great Filmmaker Award” was the French short film WITH MY OWN TWO HANDS. The French director Michael Barocas sent the following statement from Paris: “I’m proud and honored to win this prize next to such great filmmakers, and I thank my wonderful cast and crew, and especially my wife who had the original idea for the film.” After the opening ceremony in Pittsfield, BIFF presented a sold-out screening of the award-winning documentary BAD REPUTATION about legendary rocker Joan Jett. The evening was also sponsored by Berkshire Bank.

Highlights of the 4-day festival included the opening-night screening of the Sundance audience hit film AMERICAN ANIMALS. The film received an enthusiastic screening to a packed house at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center. Variety called the film a “crowd pleaser….a wildly entertaining true-crime thriller.” AMERICAN ANIMALS is now in theaters released Friday by The Orchard. The Opening Night party was held under the BIFF tent with dinner, dancing and cocktails underwritten by MAX Ultimate Food of Boston.

Saturday evening in Great Barrington, the BIFF honored Academy Award-winning actor, Rachel Weisz for her Achievement in Film. In conversation with Chief NY Film Critic David Edelstein, Ms. Weisz shared with the audience wonderful and varied stories from her rich and varied career in film and theater. Immediately following the conversation, BIFF screened her new film DISOBEDIENCE directed by Sebastian Lelio and released by Bleeker Films. The tribute evening was generously sponsored by GWFF USA and the dinner party was held at the St. James Place catered by Red Lion Inn.

The BIFF also presented the second year of “TEA TALKS” including 3 talks from Academy Award-winning screenwriter Charles Randolph and award-winning artist Gregory Crewdson; Academy Award-winning director Cynthia Wade and her new film GRIT; and a special sneak-preview screening of DIANE with writer/director Kent Jones, actor Mary Kay Place, and costume designer Carissa Kelly.

Closing out the 13th year to another packed house, BIFF presented the Sundance Festival hit WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? about the incredible life and times of Mr. Rogers. The film was followed by a conversation with producer Nicholas Ma that was moderated by BIFF board member Mary Mott. WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? will release this week by Focus Features.

Screening 80 features, documentaries, and shorts, BIFF hosted more than 50 filmmakers and offered free children’s programs and Bollywood Films at Simon’s Rock, and hosted lavish parties throughout downtown Great Barrington and Pittsfield including a delicious filmmaker cocktail party sponsored by the Red Lion Inn on the Mahaiwe Theater stage.

Its seventh annual Filmmakers Summit, a two-day event attended by the 2018 selected filmmakers, offered a diverse, multi-dimensional program of panel discussions, lectures, and special events led by known industry professionals. This year’s Summit included a studio visit with Special Events legend Douglas Trumbull, panels with Douglas Tirola, Cynthia Wade, Darren Dean, Christopher White, Danielle McCarthy and the keynote address by Dan and Josh Braun of Submarine Entertainment.

Premiere Sponsors of the 2018 BIFF include the Triplex Cinema, the Beacon Cinema, GWFF USA, MAX Ultimate Food, The Annie Selke Companies, Studio Two, The Red Lion Inn, Berkshire Bank and Townvibe. Presenting Sponsors include Karen Allen Fiber Arts, Berkshire Mountain Distillers, Bornman & Associates, Stella Artois, Haven Cafe, Stonover Farm, Abbott’s Livery, Blantyre, The Barrington, Fairfield Inn and Suites and Carlo Huber Selections.

With nearly 800 film submissions this year, the Berkshire International Film Festival has quickly become a destination festival that filmmakers seek due to the enthusiastic audiences it attracts.

BIFF 2019 will be held May 30 – June 2, 2019 and passes and submissions will open October 1, 2018.