The Martha's Vineyard Independent Film Festival has become, for many, the most anticipated weekend of the Vineyard winter. Since 2000, the March festival has spotlighted independent films, documentaries, and other interesting offerings that fall somewhere off the mainstream.
A multi-media celebration that features music, ethnic food and original art installations, the festival will, once again, take over the Chilmark Community Center for the weekend of March 14-16. People hang out before and after the films, enjoying treats from the Scottish Bakehouse and funk, hip-hop and soul spun by Philadelphia DJ Deep Note, while chatting with filmmakers and off-island visitors.
This year the Festival will feature a separate children's program on Saturday and Sunday. Kids can check out films from all over the world at the neighboring Chilmark Library for free, while their parents enjoy some more PG or R rated fare next door.
The 2008 Festival Visiting Director, Brad Westcott met founder, producer and director Thomas Bena last winter, when Bena was shopping for films and Westcott was booking films for festivals for Magnolia Pictures in New York. Bena extended an invitation to Westcott, who had never been to the Vineyard, to join the staff this winter and he's been helping out since January.
The NYU grad, who has a master's degree in Cinema Studies, says he "brings a film geek's critical approach to film" to the MVIFF. One of this year's offerings that Westcott is excited about is John Turturro's Romance and Cigarettes, which he calls "very daring filmmaking." The film deals with sex and relationships, and features singing and dancing to songs from the sixties.
Speaking of sixties music, the Film Festival kicked off this year with a special film/concert package on Thursday, March 6th. A screening of Pete Seeger: The Power of Song at the Capawock was preceded with music by local favorites Willy Mason and Colin Ruel, and a folk session followed the screening at Che's Lounge.
As the hardiest buds and bulbs start to break free of their winter bonds, the festival itself represents the island's reawakening, with a celebration of stimulating cinema, conversation and culture - Vineyard style. Check it out.
Schedule for the 8th Annual Martha's Vineyard Independent Film Festival.
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