2009 AUGUST NEWSLETTER

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CONTENTS:

FULL PASS INFO
THE MESSENGER to open 2009 WFF
Woodstock Festival 40th Anniversary
TAKING WOODSTOCK Recap
SAINT MISBEHAVIN' news
Killian Mansfield's SOMEWHERE ELSE
Kidstock
Eric Schaeffer workshop

WFF Souvenirs - New Location!
Advertise with WFF




join us on

The best way to take advantage of everything the festival has to offer is by purchasing a Full Festival Pass.
Each pass includes guaranteed admission for one to all screenings and panels—with priority seating up until
15 minutes prior to the event; access to all panels and parties, and souvenirs,
including a T-shirt, cap and limited edition Milton Glaser Poster. Passes as $750 each.
To purchase, email tickets@woodstockfilmfestival.com or call the box office at (845) 810-0131

THE MESSENGER
TO OPEN 10TH ANNIVERSARY WOODSTOCK FILM FESTIVAL

East Coast Premiere of award-winning powerhouse drama marks directorial debut of award-winning screenwriter Oren Moverman (I'm Not There) and features two past Woodstock Film Festival honorary Maverick Award recipients.

Hailed for its riveting performances by Ben Foster, Woody Harrelson, Samantha Morton and Steve Buscemi, the East Coast Premiere of Oren Moverman's THE MESSENGER will kick off the 10th Anniversary Woodstock Film Festival, Thursday night, October 1, at the Tinker Street Cinema in Woodstock, followed by a Q&A and reception with the director and select cast.

Woody Harrelson was WFF's 2003 honorary Maverick Award Recipient. Steve Buscemi received the honorary Maverick Award in 2005 and director Oren Moverman co-wrote the Bob Dylan bio-pic I'm Not There, which closed the 2007 Woodstock Film Festival.

Reviewed as "a moving and elegant film that is an elegy of our time," the film embodies Woodstock's independent, political spirit, and dedication to excellence in filmmaking, according to WFF Executive Director and co-founder Meira Blaustein.

Read the entire release online

HAPPY 40th ANNIVERSARY, WOODSTOCK!

The weekend of August 15th marked the 40th anniversary of the original 1969 Woodstock Festival, creating a plethora of opportunities throughout the month of August to celebrate the Woodstock Nation. And then of course, right around the corner is another important Woodstock anniversary - the 10th anniversary of the Woodstock Film Festival!

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts held a sold-out Heroes of Woodstock concert featuring groups Jefferson Starship, Ten Years After, Canned Heat, Mountain, Levon Helm, and others whose members performed at the festival on Aug. 15 to 17, 1969. If you missed it, there is still Woodfest '09 in Oklahoma, a Woodstock Tribute in Illinois, West Fest in San Francisco, and even the Spirit of Woodstock '09 festival in Mirapuri, Italy!

Besides these various musical tributes, keep reading for more reasons to celebrate Woodstock.

TAKING WOODSTOCK IN WOODSTOCK RECAP

On Saturday August 8th the Woodstock Film Festival presented a special sneak preview of Ang Lee's TAKING WOODSTOCK. Based on the memoirs of Elliot Tiber, the comedy stars Demetri Martin as Elliot, who inadvertently played a role in making 1969’s Woodstock Music and Arts Festival into the famed happening it was.

Director Ang Lee, writer / producer and Focus Features CEO James Schamus and Woodstock original promoter and long time town of Woodstock resident Michael Lang (portrayed in the film by Jonathan Groff) attended the wall-to-wall sold out event. You could tell this was Woodstock when Michael Lang's character stepped off the helicopter for the first time and the whole house erupted in loud applause... Laughter and applause continued to accompany the film throughout the screening as audience members watched with obvious enjoyment.

At the Q&A following the screening, Meira Blaustein, co-founder and executive director of WFF, recalled that nearly a year ago James Schamus attended the Woodstock Film Festival to receive the honorary Trailblazer Award. Ang Lee, who was on the tail end of production for Taking Woodstock at the time, came down from location to the festival to present the award to Schamus. Michael Lang attended the Awards as well and the three were seated together. Fast forward 10 months later and the three were back in Woodstock, sitting together on stage and giving their behind the scenes insight on the making of TAKING WOODSTOCK.

At one point during the Q&A, Schamus confessed that he was nervous before showing the film to Lang for the first time, to which Lang responded quickly that he couldn't have been as nervous as he was! Discussing the preparation for the production, Lee and his ADs created a "Hippie Camp" for the hundreds of extras, designed to teach them '60's hippie mannerism. "Young people today are quite different than their counterparts of the '60s," Lee said, describing how he issued a "hippie guide" to get actors into the spirit. He also had to be certain the actors were "the right body type," since young people today "tend to be thinner" than those in the '60s. Asked why the concert was named Woodstock even though it had to be moved from Woodstock to Walkill and from Walkill to Bethel, Lang replied that it would have been terrible if it became known as "the Walkill generation...", adding that the event was inspired by and named after the "Woodstock Nation."

Following the Q&A, many went on to Oriole 9 restaurant for a reception where Lang, Lee and Schamus continued to converse with attendees while mingling with the likes of Philippe Petit (Man on Wire), Leon Gast (When We Were Kings), Ron Nyswaner (Philadelphia, The Painted Veil) and more.

We thank Focus Features for their generous participation and Oriole 9 for the gracious hospitality. TAKING WOODSTOCK will hit theaters August 26th. Click to view trailer.

SAINT MISBEHAVIN': THE WAVY GRAVY MOVIE

Beginning with Woodstock ‘99, director Michelle Esrick spent ten years documenting the life of Wavy Gravy. SAINT MISBEHAVIN’ journeys from the hills of California to the Himalayan Mountains to reveal the life of this one of a kind servant to humanity. The film will be showing in New York and LA, August 14th - 20th at the IFC Center in NYC and the ArcLight Hollywood Theater as part of Docuweeks.

In SAINT MISBEHAVIN’, Wavy is revealed more than the tie-dyed entertainer and ice-cream flavor namesake that often defines him in the popular imagination. Audiences will come to know the activist, the optimist, and the healer who reaches beyond political, economic, and cultural divisions in his commitment to social change and the alleviation of human suffering. Wavy’s life is his message, serving as deeply needed inspiration that we can change the world and have fun doing it. Satirist Paul Krasner describes Wavy as “The illegitimate son of Harpo Marx and Mother Theresa, conceived one starry night on a spiritual whoopie cushion,” to which Wavy has replied, “Some people tell me I’m a saint, I tell them I’m Saint Misbehavin’.”

MUSIC NEWS

KILLIAN MANSFIELD - SOMEWHERE ELSE

SOMEWHERE ELSE is the dream project of Killian Mansfield, a 15-year-old ukulele wizard from Woodstock who is battling a rare form of cancer. Eclectic, uplifting, fun and funky, SOMEWHERE ELSE is a mix of songs performed by Killian with critically acclaimed singers and musicians including Dr. John, Kate Pierson, John Sebastian, Todd Rundgren and Levon Helm. Proceeds benefit the Killian Mansfield Foundation, which supports and promotes Integrative Therapies for children with cancer.

About the cause he champions, Killian says, "Cancer is just a disease. It doesn't get to decide who I am or how I deal with feeling sick. Conventional medicine does what it can to cure cancer and other diseases but sometimes the cure feels brutal and elusive. Integrative therapies are important because these practices are safe and available now to help make people feel better. Like integrative therapies, making this album with Ralph and all the other musicians has brought me 'somewhere else' - beyond all this cancer business."

Produced and engineered by Ralph Legnini (former studio sidekick for Todd Rundgren and Nile Rodgers), SOMEWHERE ELSE includes world class rock, jazz, blues, country and folk musicians doing a lot of genre hopping (picture B-52's Kate Pierson with renowned country fiddler Jay Ungar!) There is truly something for everyone on this remarkable CD.

KIDSTOCK

Commemorating the 40th anniversary of the original Woodstock Festival, Uncle Rock, the Belleayre Music Conservatory and original festival co-producer Michael Lang of Woodstock Ventures bring you KIDSTOCK®! Doors open at 12 noon, Sunday August 23rd. KIDSTOCK is a free family concert and interactive festival to benefit Friends of Snuffy's Food Pantry Program. Attendees are asked to bring a pet food donation for our furry and feathered friends in need.

Family music troubadour Uncle Rock will host and kick off the festivities at 1pm. Following Uncle Rock will be special guests, Paul Green's School of Rock All-Stars. Ranging in age from kindergarten to high school, this band is the cream of the world-renowned Paul Green's School of Rock, the real-life inspiration behind the Jack Black movie. Their “Tribute to the Music of Woodstock” will close the day.

Festivalgoers of all ages are encouraged to dress in the style of their favorite musical era or musician. Everyone will get an eyeful at the Rock & Roll Fashion Show, which will feature small fries strutting the stage in everything from punk to hip hop to glam fashions.

ERIC SCHAEFFER FILM SCHOOL

Eric Schaeffer went from driving a cab in New York city to writing, directing, producing and starring in 6 feature films (including If Luce Fell with Sarah Jessica Parker and Ben Stiller), and 2 television series (FX's Starved and Showtime's I Can't Believe I'm Still Single). Now Eric is sharing the secrets of his success in the film and television industries!

Eric's one day seminar will be held Saturday, August 29 from noon to 11 pm at the Lycian Centre for the Performing Arts in Sugar Loaf, NY (less than an hour from New York City).
Call 845.469.ACTS (2287) or visit http://www.lyciancentre.com for tickets ($75.00 in advance, $90.00 at the door).

For more information on the Eric Schaeffer Film School, visit his website or email jackie@ericschaefferfilmschool.com

2009 WFF SOUVENIRS AT NEW LOCATION

10th Anniversary Woodstock Film Festival merchandise is available for purchase!
In addition to our online shop, you can now peruse merchandise at our newly opened BOX OFFICE at 13 Rock City Road, across from the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce building.
Come check out our brand new tie-dye t-shirts, available in mens and womens sizes.

Select Woodstock Film Festival souvenirs are also available through these local retailers:
*Free Spirit Of Woodstock, 69 Tinker Street, Woodstock, NY. (845) 679-0008
*Pleasures, 45 Tinker St, Woodstock, NY. (845) 679-2085

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!

ADVERTISE WITH WFF

Last chance to advertise in the Woodstock Film Festival 10th Anniversary Commemorative Program! The deadline for sending in your advertisement is August 20th. The full-color 124+ page program will be widely distributed starting in late September through October 2009.

Although advertisements in the Commemorative Program are generally reserved for sponsors, a limited number of ads are available to non-sponsors on a first-come, first-served basis. Your ad will be seen by thousands in print and hundreds of thousands online. The printed edition is available as an online flipbook for approximately one year with web links.

A few FACTS about Woodstock Film Festival and WFF patrons:

• The Woodstock name is internationally recognized and associated with independent, and creative ventures.
• Woodstock Film Festival patrons are discriminating, educated, cultural leaders and trendsetters on the cutting edge of creative and technological advancement. They are ready to take a chance and follow their own paths. They are not afraid of standing out in a crowd.
• The Hudson Valley Catskills have long been home to a rich concentration of eclectic residents and upscale second-homers associated with New York’s financial markets, the high-technology community, and the creative arts.
• Specialty programming includes Exposure, Focus on Music, Youth Initiatives, World Cinema, and more.
• The area is also home to a high profile celebrity community from the worlds of film, theater, dance, fashion, and the visual arts.
• Over 20-million business professionals, legislators, students, artists and potential visitors live within 2--hours of festival venues throughout the Hudson Valley Catskills in participating towns that include Woodstock, Kingston and Rhinebeck.
• Mid-Hudson Valley hot spots run the gamut from simple rusticity to sophisticated chic, exquisite dining, elegant spas, music clubs, spiritual retreats, galleries, recording studios, historical splendor, natural beauty and intimate B&Bs.
• The Woodstock Film Festival attracts students from local colleges including Bard, Marist, Vassar, SUNY New Paltz, Mt. Saint Mary, SUNY Albany, Skidmore, and others.

If you are interested in booking an advertisement, you can purchase it and fill out all necessary information online by clicking here.