2013 Montclair Film Festival Announces Lineup Of Over 80 Films & Events Set For April 29-May 5

FOR RELEASE, THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2013
Contact

Stu Zakim             732-754-9051            stu@bridgestrategic.com
Abbe Harris         908.233.7990              abbe@caramar.net

2013 MONTCLAIR FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES LINEUP OF
OVER 80 FILMS & EVENTS SET FOR APRIL 29-MAY 5

Over 100 special guests to attend including Darlene Love (Twenty Feet From Stardom); Lake Bell (In a World…); Montclair director Stacie Passon (Concussion); plus in-depth live conversations with Ice-T, Alex Gibney and Michael Moore

(Montclair, 4/4/13)  – Nearly doubling its size from last year’s premiere event, The Montclair Film Festival (MFF) today announced the lineup for its 2013 edition. The announcement was made by Artistic Director Thom Powers and Executive Director Raphaela Neihausen.

The festival opens on April 29 with Twenty Feet From Stardom, the acclaimed film about backup singers behind some of the greatest musical legends of all time (many who have New Jersey roots). Director Morgan Neville and Darlene Love will be Opening Night’s special guests. The festival Centerpiece on May 4 is In a World…, a comedy about movie-trailer voice-over artists, with writer/director/star Lake Bell in person. May 4 also features a Filmmaker Party where festival goers can mingle with visiting talent. Closing night on May 5 features Concussion, shot extensively in Montclair, about a suburban lesbian mom seeking new thrills, with an appearance by director Stacie Passon. Rapper and TV star (“Law and Order SVU”) Ice-T will appear at a screening of the documentary he produced, Iceberg Slim: Portrait of a Pimp on May 4 and at an “In Conversation” event on May 5. All four films are making their New Jersey premieres.

Two other “In Conversation” events round out the program on May 5. The New York Times’ David Carr and acclaimed documentarian Alex Gibney (Taxi to the Dark Side; We Steal Secrets: The Story of Wikileaks) discuss “Getting the Story,” and Michael Moore leads a discussion with other filmmakers on “Dangerous Docs.”

“We set out to curate a festival that is unique to this community,” said Artistic Director Thom Powers. “Montclair and northern New Jersey are home to many media professionals from the fields of news, music, comedy and family entertainment. We’re fortunate to tap accomplished locals to participate and have them as an influential audience.”

Other highlights of this year’s festival include:

Drama section: 15 narrative films celebrated on the festival circuit and making their New Jersey premieres, such as The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete about two kids navigating Brooklyn’s housing projects, with director George Tillman, Jr. in person; as well as international titles such as You Will Be My Son, about challenging family dynamics on a French vineyard, with director Gilles Legrand in person.

Documentary section: 16 nonfiction films spanning global topics making their New Jersey premieres. Titles include Dirty Wars, about America’s shadowy program of drone attacks, with director Richard Rowley (winner of the Sundance cinematography prize) in person; and The Trials of Muhammad Ali, about the boxer’s battles outside the ring — over religion, politics and Parkinson’s — with Oscar-nominated director Bill Siegel in person.

Comedy section: Four films having New Jersey premieres plus a one-time-only event exclusive to MFF called “The What-Is-It” that features key team members from The Daily Show with Jon Stewart — executive producer Rory Albanese, co-executive producer Adam Lowitt, and writer Elliott Kalan — doing live stand-up comedy and riffing off esoteric film clips.  Other titles include American independent The Kings of Summer, about three teenagers who build their own house in the woods, with writer Chris Galletta in person.

New Jersey Spotlight: Six films with New Jersey connections: Shored Up (World Premiere) looks at the devastation of Hurricane Sandy; Best Kept Secret (New Jersey premiere) profiles Montclair resident Janet Mino who teaches autistic teenagers in Newark; Gideon’s Army (New Jersey premiere), by Montclair-based director Dawn Porter, follows public defense lawyers in the south, and won the Sundance editing prize and the Miami International Film Festival’s jury and audience prizes. All the directors will be in person for their screenings. Additionally, Fall to Grace focuses on New Jersey’s ex-Governor Jim McGreevey as he attempts to become an Episcopal minister. That screening will be followed by an extended conversation with McGreevey and director Alexandra Pelosi interviewed by New York Times reporter Kate Zernike.

New Jersey Shorts: Over 20 short films with New Jersey connections will screen in six thematic programs. Actor Federico Castelluccio, known for his role as Furio on The Sopranos, directs the short thriller Checkmake, Keep Your Enemies Closer, and appears in person, as part of the shorts program titled “The Unexpected.”

Family section: Three films are featured, including the 1950 animated classic Cinderella for a rare appearance on the big screen, thanks to a special arrangement with Disney. Additionally, this section showcases a presentation of the winners of MFF’s Kidz Shortz film contest featuring short films by young directors in grades 4-12.

African-American stories: In keeping with Montclair’s African-American heritage, MFF takes a special interest in black stories and filmmakers throughout all sections of the festival. Directors in attendance include Shola Lynch (Free Angela and All Political Prisoners), George Tillman Jr. (The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete), Marta Cunningham (Valentine Road), and Oscar-winner Geoffrey Fletcher (Violet & Daisy). They will all be guests for a celebration of black cinema on May 3 called “House Party,” co-presented by the Blackhouse Foundation and the online film news site Shadow & Act.

New sections: This year, MFF adds three new sidebar sections. “Culinary Cinema” features four films on food and drink including Hey Bartender, about the resurgence of cocktail culture, with director Douglas Tirola in person. “Movie Love” showcases two documentaries about filmmaking: Casting By and Love, Marilyn with the directors in person; plus a restoration of the silent classic The Thief of Bagdad; and “Christian McBride Presents” with the revered jazz bassist introducing Bullitt (1968), a film by Peter Yates with a classic jazz score. “Music on Film” presents Muscle Shoals, a new documentary about the famed Alabama recording studios, plus three classic titles by Morgan Neville director of the Opening Night feature Twenty Feet From Stardom.

Free Panels: Three free panels take place at the Montclair Public Library on May 4.  “Race & Film” brings together three top critics, Pulitzer Prize-winner Wesley Morris (Grantland), David Edelstein (New York magazine) and Scott Foundas (Variety) to discuss how they write about race. “Michael Slovis on Cinematography” showcases the work of the acclaimed director of photography (Breaking Bad, 30 Rock), who discusses his craft. “Docs-in-Progress” presents three accomplished nonfiction film teams previewing new works along with Nancy Abraham of HBO Documentary Films.

MFF Tickets & Membership: Tickets are $12.50 for films and conversations, $10.50 for MFF Members and go on sale Thursday, April 4 for Montclair Film Festival members and Sunday, April 7 for the general public at www.montclairfilm.org. Special ticket prices for The Opening Night Gala film and reception, Friday Night House Party and Saturday Night Filmmaker Party.  Panels are free.  During the Festival, tickets are also available at the Festival’s Downtown and Uptown Headquarters and at the box office of each venue.  See the website for specific locations.
MFF venues: Venues include the Clairidge Cinema, Bellevue Theater, Montclair Art Museum, Montclair Public Library, Montclair Kimberley Academy Upper School and Montclair State Univerity Alexander Kasser Theater.

About MFF’s Festival Directors
MFF’s artistic director Thom Powers and executive director Raphaela Neihausen are a husband-wife team highly respected in the festival world. In addition to MFF, they also run New York City’s largest documentary festival DOC NYC in November and the weekly Manhattan screening series Stranger Than Fiction, both based at IFC Center. Last year Powers and Neihausen moved from Manhattan to Montclair. In addition, Powers is a senior programmer for the Toronto International Film Festival in September and the online digital distribution platform SundanceNOW, curating its monthly Doc Club.

About MFF
Montclair Film Festival (MFF), which takes place April 29-May 5, 2013, is a community-based organization that produced its first multi-day, multi-venue film festival in May 2012.  MFF was created to nurture and showcase talented filmmakers from around the world while creating a cultural focal point for the Township of Montclair, surrounding communities and the region. For information about MFF, visit www. montclairfilm.org/.  The Montclair Film Festival is a non-profit, tax-exempt (501(c)(3) organization whose 2013 event is made possible through generous support from Audi, our Signature Sponsor, as well as from Chubb, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage (Official Realtor), Investors Bank, Neuberger Berman, RBC Wealth Management, Clara Maass Medical Center, Egan & Sons (Official Restaurant), Heineken (Official Beer), The Room at TechnicolorPWNY, Whole Foods Market (Official Grocer), Xerox, and Zyr Russian Vodka. The festival is also supported, in part, by a Grant from the New Jersey Department of State, Division of Travel & Tourism. Thanks to Media Sponsors NJTV, WNET, WNYC and Yelp, Friends of the Festival and Festival Partners Montclair Art Museum, Montclair Public Library, Montclair Kimberley Academy and Montclair State University. Audi and the County of Essex are Official Sponsors of Cinema Montclairismo and American Express is the Official Sponsor of Kidz Shortz.

PRESS RELEASE ADDENDUM APRIL 4, 2013:

Pre-Fest Event – (April 28, 3:00 pm, NJPAC)

Sing Your Song (2011, Susanne Rostock) Harry Belafonte appears in person for this special NJPAC screening of the acclaimed documentary about his life. In Person: Susanne Rostock, producer Gina Belafonte & film subject Harry Belafonte

Opening Night – (April 29, 7:00 pm, MSU Alexander Kasser Theater)

Twenty Feet from Stardom (2013, Morgan Neville) Director Morgan Neville and star Darlene Love appear in person for this joyous film that pays tribute to the backup singers behind the greatest musical legends of all time.  In Person: Morgan Neville & Darlene Love

Centerpiece – (May 4, 7:00 pm, Montclair Kimberley Academy Upper School)

In A World… (2012, LakeBell) LakeBell writes, directs and stars in this hilarious film set in the world of Hollywood movie-trailer making. In Person: LakeBell

Closing Night – (May 5, 7:15 pm, Bellevue Theater)

Concussion (2013, Stacie Passon) Filmed in Montclair, this funny and sexy drama follows a fortysomething lesbian mom who takes on a double life as a high-end escort. In Person: Stacie Passon

Comedy

American Masters Mel Brooks: Make a Noise (2013, Robert Trachtenberg) Comedy giant Mel Brooks, normally private, opens up for this lively profile. In Person: Robert Trachtenberg & Susan Lacy (April 30, 7:00 pm, Clairidge Cinema)

Computer Chess (2013, Andrew Bujalski) In this deadpan comedy set in the 1980s, computer software programmers gather for a weekend chess tournament to assess man versus machine. (May 2, 7:00 pm, Bellevue Theater)

Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me (2013, Chiemi Karasawa) At age 87, Elaine Stritch, known for her 30 Rock role and one-woman shows, connects her past to the present in this candid and comic portrait. In Person: Chiemi Karasawa  (May 5, 4:00 pm, Clairidge Cinema)

The Kings of Summer (2013, Jordan Vogt-Roberts) Three boys escape their parents and build a house in the woods in this funny and poignant coming of age tale. In Person: Writer Chris Galletta (May 3, 7:00 pm, MontclairKimberleyAcademyUpperSchool)

The What-Is-It Three writers and producers from The Daily Show with Jon Stewart perform live, riffing off esoteric film clips. In Person: Rory Albanese, Adam Lowitt, Elliott Kalan  (May 4, 9:45 pmMontclairKimberleyAcademyUpperSchool)

Twenty Million People (2013, Michael Ferrell) Shot in New Jersey, this plucky romantic comedy takes aim at the concept of living “happily ever after.” In Person: Michael Ferrell and producers/actors Chris Prine & Devin Sanchez  (May 4, 9:15 pm, Bellevue Theater)

Culinary Cinema

 

Haute Cuisine (2012, Christian Vincent) In this comic French drama, a provincial chef is summoned to cook for the President.  (May 5, 7:00 pm, Bellevue Theater)

Hey Bartender (2013, Douglas Tirola) Featuring the world’s most renowned bartenders and providing access to the most exclusive bars in New York City, this is the story of the comeback of the cocktail. In Person: Douglas Tirola, producer Susan Bedusa and subjects Steve Schneider & Stephen “Carpi” Carpentieri  (May 3, 7:15 pm, Bellevue Theater)

More Than Honey (2012, Markus Imhoof) With dazzling nature photography, Oscar-nominated director Markus Imhoof looks at endangered honeybees. (May 5, 9:00 pm,  Bellevue Theater)

Sourlands (2012, Jared Flesher) Giving insight to the local food movement, Sourlands looks at the struggles of New Jersey farmers. In Person: Jared Flesher (May 4, 4:40 pm,  Bellevue Theater)

Documentary

A Girl and a Gun (2012, Cathryne Czubek) A weapon associated with masculinity is seen from a feminist perspective. In Person: Cathryne Czubek (May 4, 3:15 pm, Clairidge Cinema)

After Tiller (2013, Martha Shane & Lana Wilson) A profile of the only four doctors who still perform third trimester abortions in the U.S. In Person: Nancy Northup, President of the Center for Reproduction Rights (May 4, 7:00 pm, Bellevue Theater)

Alias Ruby Blade: A Story of Love and Revolution (2012, Alex Meillier) A young Australian activist adopts the alias Ruby Blade while working for the underground Timorese resistance in Indonesia. In Person: cinematographer Shane Sigler (May 4, 1:00 pm, Clairidge Cinema)

Blackfish (2012, Gabriela Cowperthwaite) An investigation into why an Orca whale at SeaWorld killed a trainer. In Person: Gabriela Cowperthwaite (May 4, 12:15 pm, Clairidge Cinema)

Dirty Wars (2013, Richard Rowley) Bestselling author and reporter Jeremy Scahill travels to remote areas to uncover the shadowy world of drone attacks. In Person: Richard Rowley (May 4, 9:00 pm, Bellevue Theater)

First Comes Love (2012, Nina Davenport, HBO Documentary Films) Candid and funny, filmmaker Nina Davenport documents her efforts to get pregnant as a single woman over 40. In Person: Nina Davenport (May 3, 12:00 pm, Bellevue Theater. May 4, 4:15 pm, Clairidge Cinema)

First Cousin Once Removed (2013, Alan Berliner, HBO Documentary Films) Acclaimed filmmaker Alan Berliner profiles his cousin, the poet Edwin Honig as he grapples with Alzheimer’s. In Person: Alan Berliner  (May 2, 7:00 pm, Clairidge Cinema)

Free Angela and All Political Prisoners (2012, Shola Lynch) Angela Davis reflects on the tumultuous period in the 1970s when she was hunted by the FBI. In Person: Shola Lynch (May 3, 4:30 pm, Bellevue Theater)

God Loves Uganda (2012, Roger Ross Williams) American missionaries in Uganda wage a crusade against homosexuals that turns deadly.  (May 5, 5:00 pm, Bellevue Theater)

Iceberg Slim: Portrait of a Pimp (2012, Jorge Hinojosa) Producer Ice-T and director Jorge Hinojosa uncover the real life of the legendary author of Pimp. In Person: Jorge Hinojosa & Ice-T (May 4, 7:00 pm, Clairidge Cinema)

Rafea: Solar Mama (2012, Mona Eldaief &Jehane Noujaim) Winner of the DOC NYC audience award, Rafea: Solar Mama follows an illiterate woman attempting to become a solar engineer. In Person: Mona Eldaief & Jehane Noujaim (May 5, 12:00 pm, Clairidge Cinema)

Stories We Tell (2012, Sarah Polley) Director Sarah Polley (Away From Her) makes her first documentary about her own family’s secret. (May 3, 9:30 pm, Bellevue Theater)

The Act of Killing (2012, Joshua Oppenheimer, Anonymous, Christine Cynn) Indonesian death squad leaders reenact their crimes in the style of American movies. (May 5, 6:15 pm, Clairidge Cinema)

The Crash Reel (2013, Lucy Walker, HBO Documentary Films) This cautionary tale about extreme sports focuses on snowboarder Kevin Pearce who was an Olympic hopeful before a devastating crash. In Person: Lucy Walker (May 5, 2:45 pm, Clairidge Cinema)

The Trials of Muhammad Ali (2013, Bill Siegel) Oscar-nominated director Bill Siegel documents Muhammad Ali’s fights outside the ring, over religion, politics and Parkinson’s. In Person: Bill Siegel (May 5, 8:00 pm, Clairidge Cinema)

Valentine Road (2013, Marta Cunningham, HBO Documentary Films) A timely look at a school shooting motivated by homophobia. In Person: Marta Cunningham (May 4, 5:15 pm, Clairidge Cinema)

Zipper: Coney Island‘s Last Wild Ride (2012, Amy Nicholson) Coney Island’s Zipper ride becomes embroiled in a battle over real estate. In Person: Amy Nicholson (May 4, 12:00 pm, Bellevue Theater)

Drama

Dead Man’s Burden (2012, Jared Moshe) This classic western is infused with the young talent of Clare Bowen (ABC’s Nashville) and David Call (Tiny Furniture). In Person: Jared Moshe (May 1, 9:30 pm, Bellevue Theater)

Frances Ha (2012, Noah Baumbach) Director Noah Baumbach (The Squid and the Whale) casts Greta Gerwig in a comic exploration of a Brooklyn twentysomething. (May 3, 9:30 pm, MontclairKimberleyAcademyUpperSchool)

Hannah Arendt (2012, Margarethe von Trotta) Ideas come to life on the screen in this fictional portrait of the German-Jewish philosopher Hannah Arendt. In Person: Roger Berkowitz, Hannah Arendt Center & Gary Rosen, editor Wall Street Journal Weekend Review (May 5, 12:00 pm, Montclair Kimberley Academy Upper School)

Love Is All You Need (2013, Susanne Bier) Oscar-winning director Susanne Bier casts Pierce Brosnan is this grownup romantic comedy. (May 2, 9:15 pm, Clairidge Cinema)

Midnight‘s Children (2012, Deepa Mehta) Oscar-nominated director Deepa Mehta adapts Salman Rushdie’s epic novel set in India. (May 5, 11:45 am, Bellevue Theater)

Still Mine (2012, Michael McGowan) When an elderly man (James Cromwell) wants to build a house for his ailing wife (Genevieve Bujold), he runs into bureaucratic trouble.  (May 4, 6:45 pm, Bellevue Theater)

The Artist and the Model (2012, Fernando Trueba) Director Fernando Trueba (Belle Epoque) tells the story of an older artist inspired by a young model. (May 5, 4:45 pm,  Bellevue Theater)

The Attack (2012, Ziad Doueiri) An Israeli-Palestinian surgeon, living in Tel Aviv, seeks to discover why his wife undertook a suicide bombing. (May 2, 9:00 pm, Bellevue Theater)

The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete (2013, George Tillman Jr.) Two boys try to survive without parents in Brooklyn’s housing projects in this film with a powerhouse cast including Jennifer Hudson. In Person: George Tillman Jr. (May 3, 7:00 pm,  Clairidge Cinema)

The Patience Stone (2013, Atiq Rahimi) A woman in an unnamed war-torn Middle East country exacts revenge on her abusive husband. (May 3, 9:45 pm, Clairidge Cinema)

The Spectacular Now (2013, James Ponsoldt) A high school senior and budding alcoholic falls in love with a “good girl” for an unlikely romance that won a prize for acting at the Sundance Film Festival. (May 5, 5:30 pm, MontclairKimberlyAcademy)

Valley of Saints (2012, Musa Syeed) A Kashmiri boatman falls in love with a visiting environmentalist in this romance that won the Sundance audience award. In Person: Musa Syeed & producer Nicholas Bruckman  (May 1, 7:00 pm, Clairidge Cinema)

Violet and Daisy (2012, Geoffrey S. Fletcher) Oscar-winning writer Geoffrey Fletcher (Precious) directs this whimsical story of two teen assassins and their mysterious target played by James Gandolfini. In Person: Geoffrey S. Fletcher  (May 3, 9:00 pm, Bellevue Theater)

Wasteland (2012, Rowan Athale) This British heist thriller has touches of Ocean’s Eleven and The Usual Suspects. (April 30, 9:30 pm, Bellevue Theater)

You Will Be My Son (2012, Gilles Legrande) Set in the world of French winemaking, a domineering vineyard owner resists the possibility that his loyal son may one day succeed him. In Person: Amy Nicholson (May 4, 2:00 pm, Bellevue Theater) 

Family

Cinderella (1950, Clyde Geronimi, Hamilton Luske, & Wilfred Jackson) This rare chance to see the 1950 animated classic on the big screen is made possible by a special arrangement with Disney. (May 4, 2:45 pm, Bellevue Theater)

Girl Rising (2013, Richard Robbins) Girls from nine countries in the developing world act out stories from their lives. In Person: Executive producer Tom Yellin & producer Holly Gordon (May 4, 12:15 pm, Bellevue Theater)

Kidz Shortz (2013) Young filmmakers from grades 4-12 screen the winning entries from MFF’s Kidz Shortz contest. In Person: Several filmmakers (May 5, 12:45 pm, Clairidge Cinema)

Magic Camp (2012, Judd Ehrlich) Magic-obsessed kids gather at Tannen’s Magic Camp, following in the footsteps of David Blaine and David Copperfield. In Person: Judd Ehrlich & magician Daniel GreenWolf  (May 4, 11:30 am, MontclairKimberleyAcademyUpperSchool)

Free Panel

Free Panel: Docs-In-Progress: Acclaimed NJ filmmakers Dawn Porter (Spies in Mississippi); Julie Winokur (Bring It to the Table); Marylou Tibaldo-Bongiorno & Jerome Bongiorno (The Rule) share clips; along with Nancy Abraham of HBO Documentary Films (May 4, 4:00 pm, Montclair Public Library)

Free Panel: Michael Slovis on Cinematography Cinematographer Michael Slovis (Breaking Bad, 30 Rock, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation) discusses his approach to the art of image making. (May 4, 2:00 pm, Montclair Public Library)

Free Panel: Race & Film Three esteemed film critics from Grantland, New York magazine & Variety discuss how they approach race when writing about film. (May 4,  12:00 pm, Montclair Public Library)

In Conversation

In Conversation: Ice-T Ice-T, visiting MFF as the producer of Iceberg Slim: Portrait of a Pimp, talks in a free-ranging conversation about his career spanning music, film and publishing.  (May 5, 12:00 pm, MontclairArt Museum)

In Conversation: David Carr & Alex Gibney on Getting the Story. The New York Times reporter and acclaimed documentarian (Taxi to the Dark Side; We Steal Secrets: The Story of Wikileaks) discuss “Getting the Story.” (May 5, 2:00 pm, MontclairArt Museum)

In Conversation: Michael Moore & Dangerous Docs Oscar-winning director Michael Moore interviews a distinguished group of MFF doc makers: Lucy Walker (The Crash Reel), Bill Siegel (The Trials of Muhammad Ali) and Dawn Porter (Gideon’s Army). (May 5, 5:00 pm, MontclairArt Museum)

Movie Love

 

Casting By (2012, Tom Donahue, HBO Documentary Films) Focusing on the career of casting director Marion Dougherty, this documentary will change the way you look at films. In Person: Tom Donahue, producers Ilan Arboleda & Kate Lacey, editor Jill Schweitzer (May 5, 11:30 am, Bellevue Theater)

Love, Marilyn (2012, Liz Garbus, HBO Documentary Films) Drawing on Marilyn Monroe’s never-before- seen personal papers, Oscar-nominated director Liz Garbus brings new insight to this icon. In Person: Liz Garbus (May 1, 7:00 pm, Bellevue Theater)

Christian McBride Presents “Bullitt” (1968, Peter Yates) Revered jazz player Christian McBride presents Bullitt, a film with a classic jazz score. In Person: Christian McBride  (May 5, 5:15 pm, Clairidge Cinema)

The Thief of Bagdad (1924, Raoul Walsh) This restored 1924 silent film features lavish sets, special effects and a swashbuckling performance by Douglas Fairbanks. (May 5,  1:45 pm, Bellevue Theater)

Music On Film

Johnny Cash’s America (2008, Morgan Neville & Robert Gordon) Interviews with Johnny Cash’s family, friends and admirers such as Bob Dylan, Al Gore and Snoop Dog deepen our appreciation of his music and life. In Person: Morgan Neville (April 30, 9:15 pm, (Clairidge Cinema)

Muscle Shoals (2012, Greg ‘Freddy’ Camalier) A history of the recording studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama told by the people who made it famous. (May 4, 4:15 pm,  MontclairKimberleyAcademyUpperSchool)

Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story (2007, Morgan Neville and Robert Gordon) The ups and downs of the great soul music label Stax are explored in this insightful documentary. (May 1, 9:15 pm, Clairidge Cinema)

Troubadours (2011, Morgan Neville) Carole King, James Taylor and others reflect on how the Los Angeles club The Troubadour gave rise to the singer-songwriter. (May 5,  8:45 pm, Clairidge Cinema)

Shorts

 

NJ Shorts: Fighters Three shorts explore the importance of not giving up. In Person: Several members of the filmmaking teams (May 4, 7:30 pm, Clairidge Cinema)

NJ Shorts: Musical Journeys Three shorts take us on musical journeys. In Person: Several members of the filmmaking teams (May 3, 7:30 pm, Clairidge Cinema)

NJ Shorts: New Visions from MSU Student filmmakers studying at MontclairStateUniversity showcase their work. In Person: Several members of the filmmaking team (May 3, 7:00 pm, Bellevue Theater)

NJ Shorts: Passions Four documentaries delve into various passionate pursuits. In Person: Several members of the filmmaking teams (May 4, 9:15 pm, Clairidge Cinema)

NJ Shorts: The Unexpected Six fictional shorts deliver twists and surprises. In Person: Several members of the filmmaking teams (May 3, 9:15 pm, Clairidge Cinema)

NJ Shorts: We Are New Jersey Two documentary shorts look at people in New Jersey living with disabilities. In Person: Several members of the filmmaking teams (May 5, 2:00 pm, Clairidge Cinema)

New Jersey Spotlight

 

Best Kept Secret (2013, Samantha Buck) Montclair’s Janet Mino teaches autistic high school students in Newark and helps them figure out what comes next. In Person: Samantha Buck, producer Danielle DiGiacomo, director of photography Nara Garber & film subject Janet Mino (May 4, 1:45 pm, MontclairKimberleyAcademyUpperSchool)

Brothers Hypnotic (2013, Reuben Atlas) Director Reuben Atlas, who grew up in Montclair, follows the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, composed of eight blood brothers. In Person: Reuben Atlas (May 4, 9:30 pm, Clairidge Cinema)

Every Day Is a Holiday (2013, Theresa Loong) Director Theresa Loong probes the secret past of her father who survived as a prisoner of war before moving to New Jersey. In Person: Theresa Loong, film subject Paul Loong, executive producer Bill Einreinhofer & editor Kristen Nutile (May 4, 11:15 am, Clairidge Cinema)

Fall To Grace (2013, Alexandra Pelosi, HBO Documentary Films) New Jersey’s ex-Governor Jim McGreevey starts a new chapter in life as a minister in this film followed by a live conversation. In Person: Alexandra Pelosi & film subject Jim McGreevey (May 4, 2:30 pm, Clairidge Cinema)

Gideon’s Army (2013, Dawn Porter, HBO Documentary Films) Three idealistic Public Defenders struggle against the odds in the Deep South in this Sundance award-winning doc by Montclair-based director Dawn Porter. In Person: Dawn Porter, producer Julie Goldman, co-producer Summer Damon, editor Matt Hamachek, office manager Amanda Goscinsk & assistant editor Tim Kauffeld (April 30, 7:00 pm, Bellevue Theater. May 5, 2:45 pm, Bellevue Theater)

Shored Up (2013, Ben Kalina) Set partly in New Jersey in wake of Hurricane Sandy, this documentary is a call to action in the face of rising sea levels. In Person: Ben Kalina, editor Marc D’Agostino, cinematographer Jen Schneider & executive producer Brian Newman (May 5, 3:00 pm, MontclairKimberleyAcademyUpperSchool)

Special Presentations

Filmmaker Party Join the party with people from behind the films you’ve enjoyed at the festival. (May 4, 9:00 pm – 1:00 am, (Egan & Sons)

House Party Named with a wink to the 1990 hit film, “House Party” celebrates achievement in black cinema. (May 3, 9:00 pm – Midnight, The Loft)

The New York Times’s Op-Docs (2011-2013, Various) Sample the work and meet the  filmmakers behind the New York Times Op-Docs series of short documentaries. In Person: Jason Spingarn-Koff (Series Producer), Andrew Rosenthal (Editorial Page Editor), filmmakers (May 4, 4:45 pm, Bellevue Theater)