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CONTENTS: Advisory Board member receives honorary award WFF Souvenirs |
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The Woodstock Film Festival presented a special sneak preview of Fox Searchlight's upcoming release ADAM on Saturday July 11 at Upstate Films in Rhinebeck NY. ADAM, which debuted and won the Alfred Sloan Award at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, is the second directorial effort by writer, director Max Mayer. The film opens at select theaters on July 29. The film focuses on ADAM, a brilliant but lonely and awkward young man with Asperger's Syndrome who develops a relationship with his beautiful young upstairs neighbor, Beth. Adam and Beth's ultimate connection leads to a tricky relationship that exemplifies something universal: truly reaching another person means bravely stretching into uncomfortable territory and the resulting shake-up can be liberating. The audience sat captivated throughout the screening, laughing at all the right places and sighing and sniffling at others. As the credits rolled and Max Mayer approached the front for Q&A, the audience welcomed him with warm applause. During the Q&A, moderated by Woodstock Film Festival's co-founder and executive director Meira Blaustein, Mayer spoke about a variety of issues, from his initial interest in the unique attraction that can be a part of some with Asperger's Syndrome to the process of working with the talented Hugh Dancy (Adam) as they both delved deeper and deeper into Adam's complex and challenging character. Mayer, a seasoned theater director, discussed the difference between directing for theater and film, making comparison between shooting takes for film to theater rehearsals. Mayer and the audience discussed teenagers with Asperger's, astronomy, family, and love, among other things. All in all, everyone loved the film and enjoyed meeting its filmmaker. We thank the owners of Upstate Films for hosting the screening and and we wish both Fox Searchlight and Max Mayer much success with the upcoming release on July 29. |
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RECAP OF THE FARM: 10 DOWN AT 92Y The screening was followed by a lengthy and in-depth Q&A session with filmmaker Jonathan Stack and former inmate Bishop Tanniehill, moderated by WFF's co-founder and executive director Meira Blaustein. Bishop, a devout Christian and skilled preacher who recently walked out a free man after 50 years in prison, shared a passionate and captivating sermon with the audience. His wife, who he met soon after leaving prison, sat in the audience and was as moved as everyone else in the room. Jonathan answered the audiences' various questions, providing his unique insight into a private world that most of us know very little about. Following the packed screening, guests and filmmakers mingled and carried their conversations to the 92Y bar. The event was resounding success. Our thanks to the good folks at the 92YTribeca for hosting us - we look forward to holding more events there throughout the year and beyond! Also, much thanks to all the talented people at Highest Common Denominator Media Group, the production company behind THE FARM: 10 DOWN. Keep up the good work. We'll see you in Woodstock!
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WOODSTOCK FILM FESTIVAL presents Academy Award® winning director/producer Ang Lee and screenwriter/producer James Schamus will be coming to Woodstock on Saturday, August 8th to offer a special sneak peek of their newest film, TAKING WOODSTOCK. TAKING WOODSTOCK will have its advance screening - one show only - at 3pm at Woodstock’s Tinker Street Cinema on Saturday, August 8th. Along with Mr. Lee and Mr. Schamus, Michael Lang, the long-time Woodstocker widely known as the key promoter of the August '69 Woodstock Music & Art Festival and a key character in the film, will be in attendance." A Q&A session will be held at the theater immediately after the screening, followed by a special reception at Oriole 9. The special Woodstock screening is being held in advance of the film’s nationwide release by Focus Features later in the month. Regular tickets sold out almost immediately, but we still have a very limited amount of FRIEND tickets left. “Showing TAKING WOODSTOCK in the community that bears its name and spirit, and having both Ang Lee and James Schamus here, will be an event to remember, especially in this, our 10th Anniversary year,” said Meira Blaustein, co-founder and executive director of the Woodstock Film Festival. “We were fortunate to present our honorary Trailblazer Award last year to James Schamus and have Ang Lee present it to him while in the midst of production on this very film…so having them back here this year to share the completed film with the Woodstock community is a rare opportunity indeed.” James Schamus added, “I’ve always enjoyed returning to Woodstock for the Film Festival, so it will be a joy and a privilege for Ang and I to present our new movie as a summer surprise.” About TAKING WOODSTOCK: The film also stars Dan Fogler, Henry Goodman, Jonathan Groff (as Michael Lang), Eugene Levy, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Imelda Staunton, with Emile Hirsch and Liev Schreiber. |
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WOODSTOCK INTERNATIONAL WALK FOR PEACE Another Woodstock event taking place the weekend of August 8th!! The Woodstock Walk for World Peace will be held August 7th-9th. The schedule includes an elaborate procession through town, the World Peace Prayer Ceremony and the Native American Elders Ancestral Blessing Ceremony, musical performances, and much much more. For a schedule of events, click here. The Woodstock International Walk for Peace is a non-denominational organization founded by Father John Nelson, of the Church of the Holy Transfiguration of Christ-on-the-Mount in Woodstock. A summary of their mission is:"We are for Peace; we are against no one. We are not protesting against anyone or any thing. We invite people from all walks of life, be they liberal, conservative, rich, poor, Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim, atheist or agnostic, etc., to join with us. We believe in ending suffering, hunger, disease, strife; in promoting education, health care, and general well-being for all people. The simple act of people joining together in a walk for peace will make a powerful statement to the world. Join with us in our quest for peace." For more information, visit their blog. |
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THE RECKONING: The Battle for the International Criminal Court On July 14, Skylight Pictures presents the national PBS broadcast of "The Reckoning: The Battle for the International Criminal Court", a documentary film by Pamela Yates, Peter Kinoy and Paco de Onís. Over 120 countries have united to form the International Criminal Court (ICC) — the first permanent court created to prosecute perpetrators, no matter how powerful, of crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide. The Reckoning follows dynamic ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo and his team for three years across four continents as he issues arrest warrants for Lord's Resistance Army leaders in Uganda, puts Congolese warlords on trial, shakes up the Colombian justice system, and charges Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir with genocide in Darfur. Like a deft thriller, The Reckoning keeps you on the edge of your seat. Will the prosecutor succeed? Will the world ensure that justice prevails? PBS broadcast premiere July 14, 10pm, on the P.O.V. series. |
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THE BETRAYAL (Nerakhoon) Screens Tuesday, July 21 at 10pm Filmed over 23 years, THE BETRAYAL (2008 WFF) is the Academy Award-nominated directorial debut of renowned cinematographer Ellen Kuras in a unique collaboration with the film's subject and co-director, Thavisouk ("Thavi") Phrasavath. After the U.S. government waged a secret war in Laos during the Vietnam War, Thavi's father and thousands of other Laotians who had fought alongside American forces were abandoned and left to face imprisonment or execution. Hoping to find safety, Thavi's family made a harrowing escape to America, where they discovered a different kind of war. Weaving ancient prophecy with personal testimony and stunning imagery, The Betrayal is a story of survival and the resilient bonds of family. A Diverse Voices Project co-production with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB); funded in part by the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM). |
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HONORARY VISION AWARD GIVEN TO WFF ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER STEPHEN NEMETH
WFF Advisory Board member and friend of the festival Stephen Nemeth was honored with a Vision Award for Producer of Vision in the Documentary category. The 36th annual Vision Awards were held on June 27th in Beverly Hills. The event is presented by RP International, the non-profit organization, which fights Retinitis Pigmentosa and other blinding eye diseases. Nemeth's producer credits include FLOW: FOR LOVE OF WATER, DOGTOWN AND ZBOYS, FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS, DENISE CALLS UP, PICK UP THE MIC, BESIBOL, TUNER NATION and PROJECT STREET. Besides the Woodstock Film Festival, Stephen also serves on the Advisory Board to Children’s United Nations, Wildlife Ecostation, Wheels For Humanity, Shine On Sierra Leone, and Artists for Amnesty. WFF congratulations Stephen on this much-deserved acknowledgement! |
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WAIT FOR US - NEW MOBY RELEASE Post from Moby... hi. i recorded the album here in my studio on the lower east side(although 'studio' always seems like an overly grand word for a bunch of equipment set up in a small bedroom). in the past i've worked in large and small studios, but for this record i wanted to record everything at home by myself. i have some friends/guests singing on the record. they're great singers, but unless you live in fort greene or washington heights you might not know about them, as they're relatively unknown(because i've found that working with friends is almost always nicer than working with rockstars). Click here to read the entire post or to purchase WAIT FOR US. |
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ALBERTA CROSS The name may sound like a Southern gospel singer, but Alberta Cross is actually a London-formed, Anglo-Swedish rock band based out of Brooklyn, NY. Band founders Peter Ericson Stakee (vocals/guitar) and Terry Wolfers (bass) share a deep affinity for the rootsy folk-rock sounds of vintage Neil Young, Van Morrison and The Band, and those influences permeate the group’s soulful EP, The Thief and the Heartbreaker. Their first full length album Broken Side of Time is slated to be released in September 2009. To listen to Alberta Cross and get their latest tour information, visit http://www.myspace.com/albertacross |
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HUDSON VALLEY FILM COMMISSION NEWS Casting, Crew and Location Notice for Also looking for principal locations in Hudson Valley including Send location photos (suggestions) and crew resumes to filmcommission@me.com |
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2009 WFF SOUVENIRS
10th Anniversary Woodstock Film Festival merchandise is now available for purchase! You can find items on our website or at our office on 86 Mill Hill Road in Woodstock. Woodstock Film Festival souvenirs are also available through these local retailers: *Free Spirit Of Woodstock, 69 Tinker Street, Woodstock, NY. (845) 679-0008 Commemorative posters and t-shirts feature our 10th Anniversary design by legendary graphic maestro, Milton Glaser, creator of the “I (heart) New York” logo and other iconic artwork seen across the globe. The exclusive design ushers in the 10th annual Woodstock Film Festival, which will be held from Wednesday, September 30th through Sunday October 4th. Check out all WFF souvenirs online including posters, tshirts, caps, mugs and more! |
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AUTOGRAPHED TRUE BLOOD MEMORABILIA ON EBAY For all you vampire-lovers out there! An autographed Season II TRUE BLOOD poster, along with the Complete First Season of TRUE BLOOD on DVD, were contributed to the Woodstock Film Festival by HBO in support of our 10th Anniversary. The poster is signed by: Todd Lowe (Terry Bellefleur), Sam Tramwell (Sam Merlotte), Michael McMillen (Reverend Steve Newlin), Michele Forbes (Maryanne), Chris Bauer (Andy Bellefleur), Carrie Preston (Arlene Fowler), Mead Brooks (Eggs), Nelsan Ellis (Lafayette), Stephen Moyer (Bill), Anna Paquin (Sookie), Rutina Wesley (Tora), Deborah Ann Wolf (Jessica), and Anna Camp (Sarah Nawlin). The auction ends July 17, 2009, so act quickly! Happy Bidding! |
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PANAVISION BACK ON BOARD WITH |
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