50 short and feature films shown all over county
By Alison Rooney
Six years ago, while on vacation in California, Bob Dumont and his wife, Stacy, who live in Brewster, stumbled upon an independent film festival at Big Sur. It consisted of little more than “a screen hoisted between two trees,” he recalled.
When the couple, both film lovers, returned home, they decided to create their own film festival. So began the VOBFF (the Village of Brewster Film Festival), which over the past five years has grown to become a county-wide event. Last year’s festival attracted 700 people, including many of the filmmakers.
Held this year over Labor Day weekend, the festival will screen about 10 feature films and 40 shorts. It opens (as it did last year) at the Chapel Restoration in Cold Spring on Thursday, Sept. 1, and then travels to Brewster, Southeast and Carmel. “Every year we try to add a location,” says Dumont, who is festival chairman. This year’s newbie is Arts on the Lake in Kent Lakes. “The idea is to show them at great places around the county, nice spots to see films at,” he said.
Thursday, Sept. 1
Wine Tasting on the Hudson at Chapel Restoration, Cold Spring
6 p.m. Arts and Crafts, Dead Sharks, Die Formal, Generation Girl, Mousse, Pamoja, Mr. Sunshine (music video)
Friday, Sept. 2
Dinner and a Movie at Bull & Barrel, Brewster
6 p.m. Molly, Frog, Dead Sharks, The Congressman
Saturday Sept. 3
Kids’ Films at Empire Cinemas, Brewster
10 a.m. The Monster in You, Desert Chld, Barker, The Hindu Thread, The Wishgranter, The Lottery, Happy Endings
Screenings at Arts on the Lake, Kent Lakes
1 p.m. Sugar, First Encounter with Authority, Generation Girl, Home, “Women in Film” (panel)
Short Film Festival at Ryder Farm, Brewster
6 p.m. El Noveno Homo, Frog, Le Pardon, Sealed with a Kiss, All-Nighter, The Gift, The Lottery, Mousse, The Wish Granter, Things My Father Taught Me, Mr. Sunshine (music video)
Sunday, Sept. 4
Screenings at Studio Around the Corner, Brewster
11 a.m. 20 Meters of Love in Montmartre, The Deep End, Adoption & Identity, Stuck in Mute, Cavity, Pech River Boys: Tales from Afghanistan, Intertwined
1 p.m. April Zero One, Earworm, Back to Plan A
2:30 p.m. “Overcoming Obstacles in Making Independent Films” (panel)
3:30 p.m. Foreign Films: Orshena, Wise Decision, Tables of IstanbulScreenings at Arts on the Lake, Kent Lakes
12:45 p.m. No Letting Go, “The Film Festival Experience” (panel)
3 p.m. Russian Face, St. Paul, The End of Blessing, Fine Dining, Sound Like Silence, They Will All Die in Space
The festival this year received 150 entries; a panel of 12 judges whittled that down and smaller committees rated the survivors. Those with the highest scores went to the festival board for approval.
The festivities begin at the Chapel Restoration on Sept. 1 with a wine tasting at 7 p.m., followed by a selection of short films. Admission is $20 and includes a bottle of wine to take home. Reservations are recommended.
On Friday, Sept. 2, the festival will host Dinner and a Movie at 6 p.m. at the Bull and Barrel Brew Pub in Brewster with another screening of shorts and the feature, The Congressman, directed by Jared Martin and Robert Mrazek and starring Treat Williams as a disgruntled Maine congressman. The tickets are $50; the event sold out last year.
The morning of Saturday, Sept. 3 is for kids, with a selection of animated and family friendly films from around the world starting at 10 a.m. at Empire Cinemas in Brewster. Tickets are $7 online or at the door (cash only).
A centerpiece of the weekend, the free outdoor Short Film Festival, will begin at 6 p.m. at Ryder Farm in Brewster. Food from the farm will be available for purchase. Check facebook.com/VOBFilmFestival for weather updates.
On Sunday, Sept. 4, an all-day Flick Fest will take place at Studio Around the Corner in Brewster. Starting at 11:30 a.m., the festival will run back-to-back screenings of a feature film and two shorts. Each session is $7 (plus $2 if booked online); reservations are recommended.
Finally, Arts on the Lake will host a number of events on Sept. 3 and 4. On Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. several films will be shown followed by a panel discussion on women in film. Admission is $7. On Sunday, the feature No Letting Go will be screened at 12:45 p.m., followed at 3 p.m. by six short films and a panel, “The Film Festival Experience.”
For a schedule of films and panels and to purchase tickets, visit vobfilmfestival.com. The festival is run by volunteers; if you are interested in helping, email Judy Brewster at [email protected] or call 914-469-6611.
