Montclair Film[1] is a nonprofit that organizes the annual Montclair Film Festival (MFF). The festival is held between mid- to late- October in Montclair, New Jersey.[2] The festival showcases new works from American and international filmmakers.[3] Films are programmed based on categories including: Fiction, Non-Fiction, World Cinema, Short, and Student Filmmaking.[4]
 | |
 Wellmont Theatre during the MFF15 | |
| Location | Montclair, New Jersey, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2012 |
| Festival date | Mid- to Late-October |
| Language | International |
| Website | montclairfilm |
Notable advisory board members include J.J. Abrams, Jonathan Alter, Stephen Colbert, Abigail Disney, Olympia Dukakis, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Emma Freud, Laura Linney, Jon Stewart, Julie Taymor, and Patrick Wilson.[5]
History
editThe film festival was founded by WNET-TV Vice President and General Counsel Bob Feinberg. Feinberg hired festival programmer Thom Powers[6] and director Raphaela Neihausen,[7] and developed the Board of Directors composed of Montclair residents. The board includes film and media professionals, philanthropists and community leaders.[8]
Editions
editMFF 2012: Inaugural festival
editThe festival's inaugural event attracted 5,000 - 7,500 attendees and programmed over 45 films. Notable attendees included Oliver Platt,[9] Kathleen Turner,[10] Olympia Dukakis,[11] Patrick Wilson, Michael Moore and author Judy Blume. Film featured included The Oranges, Your Sister’s Sister, 2 Days in New York and Robot and Frank.[12] The MFF won the award for Favorite Film Festival at the 2012 Discover Jersey Arts People's Choice Awards.[3]
MFF 2013
editThe second festival was held across several venues in Montclair and attracted more than 14,000 attendees. It programmed over 80 films and events.[13][14] A favorite film category was established in an effort to provide a platform for established and lesser-known filmmakers from New Jersey.[14][15] Prominent guests included Michael Moore, Harry Belafonte, Darlene Love, Lake Bell, Ice-T, Alex Gibney and New York Times culture columnist David Carr.[citation needed]Films screened included 20 Feet From Stardom, The Attack, Blackfish, Frances Ha, The Act of Killing, The Spectacular Now, Dirty Wars, In A World..., The Kings of Summer, Computer Chess, Still Mine, Stories We Tell and Valley of Saints.
Notable guests included Michael Moore, Harry Belafonte, Darlene Love, Lake Bell, Ice-T, Alex Gibney and New York Times culture columnist David Carr.[16]
MFF 2014
editThe third festival featured the film Chef, with Jon Favreau.[17]
MFF 2015
editThe fourth festival's introductory film was Hello, My Name Is Doris with Sally Field. It additionally featured Time Out of Mind with Richard Gere.[18]
MFF 2016
editThe fifth festival opened with Roger Ross Williams' film Life, Animated. Following the film, a panel discussion was held with Advisory Board Member Stephen Colbert, members of the Suskind family, film creators, and Gilbert Gottfried, who appeared in the film. The festival closed with the film Miss Sharon Jones!, documenting the story of Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings as Jones fought cancer
MFF 2020
editThe ninth festival's opening film was Nomadland. MFF additionally featured One Night in Miami, Ammonite and Derek DelGaudio’s In & Of Itself. Lee Isaac Chung's Minari was selected as the virtual centerpiece film.[19] The festival was postponed and held primarily remotely as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.[20]
Year-Round Programming
editMontclair Film additionally holds educational programs and events for the public.[21] These events are programmed throughout the year. Past events include: the Free Summer Series Under the Stars; the Kidz Shortz Filmmaking Competition and Workshop for youths;[22] free African American Heritage Month screenings; the Underdog Festival at Montclair State University, featuring screenings of Oscar-nominated shorts; the Behind the Screen: Media Career Day for high school and university students;[23] the Festival Poster Competition; networking events for industry insiders and newcomers; a celebrity fundraiser (with Advisory Board Member Stephen Colbert),[24] and an Oscars’ Eve Party.
Past Award Winners
editMontclair Film Festival Fiction Feature Award
edit2019 – Monos, directed by Alejandro Landes
2018 – First Reformed, directed by Paul Schrader
Sinofsky Award for Documentary Feature
edit2019 – Honeyland, directed by Ljubomir Stefanov and Tamara Kotevska
2018 – Hale County This Morning, This Evening, directed by RaMell Ross
The David Carr Award For Truth In Non-Fiction Filmmaking
edit2019 – Mossville: When Great Trees Fall, directed by Alexander Glustrom
2018 – Dark Money, directed by Kimberly Reed
The Inaugural Mark Urman Award For Fiction Filmmaking
edit2019 – Mickey and the Bear, directed by Annabelle Attanasio
New Jersey Films Award
edit2019 – Life with Layla, directed by Ken Spooner and Mike Mee
2018 – Crime Punishment, directed by Stephen Tiang
Audible Storyteller Award
edit2019 – Mickey and the Bear, directed by Annabelle Attanasio
Junior Jury Award
edit2019 – Mossville: When Great Trees Fall, directed by Alexander Glustrom
2018 – American Animals, directed by Bart Layton
See also
editReferences
edit
- ^ "Montclair Film". Montclairfilm.org. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
- ^ "2023 Festival | Montclair Film". montclairfilm.org. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
- ^ a b Tammy LaGorce. "A Film Festival With More of Everything". The New York Times. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
- ^ "Montclair Film Festival 2018". Retrieved 2018-01-25.
- ^ "Advisory Board | Montclair Film". 2020-05-02. Archived from the original on 2020-05-02. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
- ^ "Innovative Filmmaking At The Montclair Film Festival « CBS New York". Newyork.cbslocal.com. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
- ^ Gilmore, Georgette (2013-04-10). "Coffee With...Raphaela Neihausen, Festival Director of Montclair Film Festival - Baristanet | Baristanet". Baristanet.com. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
- ^ "All eyes on Jersey at the debut of the Montclair Film Festival". NorthJersey.com. 2012-05-02. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
- ^ Galant, Debbie (2012-05-02). "Montclair Film Festival, a "Baby Bird," Takes Flight - Baristanet | Baristanet". Baristanet.com. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ "Montclair Film Festival: Welcome home, Olympia Dukakis". NorthJersey.com. 2012-05-04. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
- ^ "THE first MONTCLAIR FILM FESTIVAL in New Jersey concludes on Sunday with a lineup that includes a King and a Boss". The New York Times. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
- ^ Davis, Clayton (2013-04-29). "Top 10 Anticipated Films from 2013 Montclair Film Festival! | The Awards Circuit - By Clayton Davis". The Awards Circuit. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
- ^ a b "In Conversation: Montclair Film Festival filmmakers draw the curtain back". NorthJersey.com. 2013-05-13. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
- ^ "Montclair State University's young filmmakers showcased at Film Festival". NorthJersey.com. 2013-05-03. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
- ^ Gerace, Joseph M. (2014-04-03). "Montclair Film Fest Reveals 2014 Lineup". Montclair, NJ Patch. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
- ^ "MMF14 film lineup". Archived from the original on 2015-04-16. Retrieved 2015-05-05.
- ^ "MM15 Film Guide" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 26, 2015. Retrieved Aug 15, 2019.
- ^ McNary, Dave (2020-09-18). "'Nomadland' to Open Montclair Film Festival, 'One Night in Miami' to Close". Variety. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
- ^ Orel, Gwen. "MFF 2020: Movie lovers gather online". Montclair Local News. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
- ^ George, Liz (2013-08-05). "Behind The Scenes at Breaking Bad | Baristanet". Baristanet.com. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
- ^ "Montclair Film Festival announces second annual Kidz Shortz filmmaking competition". NorthJersey.com. 2012-10-18. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
- ^ "Free day of media seminars for students". NJ.com. 2012-12-07. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
- ^ "Jon Stewart tells Stephen Colbert: I nearly quit 'Daily Show' over 'insane' co-workers". TODAY.com. Retrieved Aug 15, 2019.