Archive for the ‘Past Events’ Category
MFF16 Closing Night!
Filled with incredible performances, laughs, tears and plenty of inspiration, Montclair Film Festival 2016 was thrilled to present Miss Sharon Jones!, last Saturday, May 7th as our closing night film. In 2014, on the eve of Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings launching a new album, Ms. Jones faced her greatest challenge yet; a cancer diagnosis that brought her career to […]
Norman Reedus Conversation
If you’ve seen the footage from The Beatles’ famed appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show — the swaying, spellbound audience shrieking, beaming, quaking, hyperventilating — then you have a pretty good idea of how things went when Norman Reedus joined Montclair Film Festival 2016 for a spirited discussion, part of MFF’s In Conversation series. When moderator […]
Young Voices Conversation
What do young people have on their minds today? The subjects that teens and pre-teens explore when creating films provide fascinating insights into their ideas, hopes, dreams, and deeply felt concerns. Using a selection of submissions to MFF16’s Emerging Filmmaker Competition as a platform for discussion, Young Voices: A Community Conversation held last Wednesday allowed us to talk […]
Rob Reiner Conversation
Montclair Film Festival 2016 was thrilled to welcome the inimitable Rob Reiner last Sunday, May 1, for a laughter-filled and memorable discussion with Late Show host Stephen Colbert as part of our In Conversation series, presented by Audible. THIS IS SPINAL TAP. THE PRINCESS BRIDE. WHEN HARRY MET SALLY. STAND BY ME. MISERY. A FEW GOOD MEN. All Rob Reiner films, […]
Masters of the Score
Montclair Film Festival 2016 hosted an informative, fun and free community conversation, Masters of the Score: Sound Design for Film, Audio, and Games, last Saturday at the Audible Lounge, presented by Audible. The score is a narrative workhorse. It can establish mood, focus attention, illuminate the inner life of characters, and announce structure. In the hands of a […]
Richard Curtis on Love Actually
In Richard Curtis’ LOVE ACTUALLY, nine intertwined stories examine the complexities of the one emotion that connects us all: love. Montclair Film Festival 2016 was privileged to present a special screening of the film last Saturday as Richard and his life partner Emma Freud provided live commentary, sharing stories and secrets from behind the scenes of this […]
Patrick Wilson Conversation
Patrick Wilson is one of our most versatile actors, with many memorable roles on Broadway, including Tony Award nominations for his roles in Oklahoma and The Full Monty and in film and television, including his brilliant, Golden Globe-nominated performance as police officer Lou Solverson on season two of FX’s Fargo. PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, LITTLE CHILDREN, WATCHMEN, INSIDIOUS and THE […]
Margo Martindale Conversation
The incomparable Margo Martindale has been seen in countless notable films of the past two decades including MILLION DOLLAR BABY, DEAD MAN WALKING, NOBODY’S FOOL, LORENZO’S OIL, THE HOURS, PRACTICAL MAGIC, and AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY. Martindale’s work on The Americans most recently won her an 2015 Emmy for “Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series,” and […]
MFF16 Opening Night!
The Montclair Film Festival kicked off its fifth anniversary on Friday, April 29 with the remarkable documentary film LIFE, ANIMATED. Directed by Academy Award winner Roger Ross Williams and based on the best-selling book, Life Animated: a story of Sidekicks, Heroes and Autism by Ron Suskind, the film tells the story of Suskind’s son Owen, an autistic child […]
PRINCESS BRIDE!
Get ready for another great feature in our Summer Series PRINCESS BRIDE Friday, August 14 Church Street Film begins at dusk (approximately 9 PM) Bring chairs and come early to enjoy live music beginning at 8 pm by BIG MAMOU
Mavis!
Mavis Staples joins Stephen Colbert for a Post-Screening Q&A on Friday, May 8th! Directed by Jessica Edwards, MAVIS! is the first feature-length documentary on gospel/soul music legend and civil rights icon Mavis Staples and her family group, the Staple Singers. From the delta-inflected gospel sound she helped pioneer in the 1950s, to the “message songs” of […]
Opening, Closing, Centerpiece Films
Click here for the full press release OPENING NIGHT FILM HELLO, MY NAME IS DORIS Director: Michael Showalter Producers: Daniela Taplin Lundberg, Riva Marker, Daniel Crown, Michael Showalter, Jordana Mollick, Kevin Mann Cast: Sally Field, Max Greenfield, Stephen Root, Jack Antonoff, Natasha Lyonne, Tyne Daly USA/ 95 Min With Michael Showalter in attendance In Michael […]
Sam Green + Yo La Tengo
Tickets are now on sale! Thursday, May 7th at 8 pm The Wellmont Theater 5 Seymour Street, Montclair THE LOVE SONG OF R. BUCKMINSTER FULLER is a “live documentary” by Academy Award-nominated director Sam Green (THE WEATHER UNDERGROUND) featuring a live score by the legendary indie rock band Yo La Tengo. THE LOVE SONG OF R. […]
Please Vote For MFF
We’ve been nominated! Please show your support for MFF and all of the other nominated Montclair arts organizations including: Montclair Film Festival: Film Festival Montclair Art Museum: Art Museum MAM Yard School of Art: Adult Art Classes MAM SummerArts Camp: Art Camp Montclair Jazz Festival: Music Festival Kasser Theater at MSU: Small Performing Arts Center […]
Little White Lie
This special free screening, in celebration of Black History Month, is presented by the Montclair Film Festival in partnership with the Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence and the Montclair Public Schools. Saturday, February 28th Glenfield Middle School 25 Maple Avenue, Montclair, NJ 07042 Doors open at 4:15 pm Film begins at 5 pm (71 min.) […]
Seymour: An Introduction
Please join us for this special screening of Seymour: An Introduction, directed by Ethan Hawke. Monday, February 9, 2015 7:30 PM (84 min) Bellevue Theater Mr. Bernstein will join us for a Q&A following the screening. Seymour Bernstein was a promising concert pianist whose career lead him to transforming himself from performer into one of the finest piano […]
5th Annual Oscars’ Eve Party
This fifth annual celebration of a great year in film promises to be another memorable evening to another sold-out crowd. Don’t miss the fun… Tickets can no longer be purchased online but will be available for purchase at the door.
Stephen Colbert and Steve Carell
PURCHASE TICKETS
Behind the Screen 2014!
Back for it’s fourth year, Montclair Film Festival presents Behind the Screen: Media Careers 101. This popular event will be held on Saturday, November 22nd, 2014 at Montclair State University, 1 Normal Avenue in Upper Montclair and includes a day of FREE panels on careers in filmmaking and media with renowned industry professionals. Advanced registration is […]
MFF Summer Series Film Friday!
Join us for the final film of the season to welcome in the new school year. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off with a special appearance by Big Mamou. Friday, August 22nd Church Street, Montclair Film begins at 9:00 pm Live music by Big Mamou beginning at 8:15 pm In the event of inclement weather, please check back here after 5 […]
2015 Poster Contest
Deadline has been extended to October 30th! Register Now! Entering our 4th year, the Montclair Film Festival is a non-profit organization, existing to nurture and showcase the talents of filmmakers from around the world. Each year, the Festival creates a cultural focal point in the Township of Montclair that unites, empowers, educates and celebrates our […]
MFF Summer Series Film Thursday!
Next up in MFF’s free outdoor summer series… Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs Thursday, August 7th 9 pm Montclair Public Library 50 South Fullerton Avenue, Montclair Come early with your lawn chairs and picnics for live music by Thee Volatiles beginning at 8:15 pm
One on One Features MFF 2014
One-on-One with Steve Adubato has produced four half hour shows with footage and interviews from this year’s festival. Thursday, June 26th: Montclair Film Festival: No No: A Dockumentary 5:30pm on WHYY 7pm on NJTV 12:30am on WNET Tuesday, July 1st: Montclair Film Festival: The Rule 7pm on NJTV 12:30am on WNET Wednesday, July 9th, Montclair Film […]
Summer Series Pics!
Check out these great pics from the outdoor screenings of Hairspray, the Musical, Annie and the Blind Side, part of the MFF’s 5th Annual FREE Summer Series presenting movies under the stars. The next screening will Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Thursday, August 7th at 9 pm, Montclair Public Library, 50 South Fullerton Avenue, […]
5th Annual MFF Summer Series!
Click here for more information
MFF Summer Series is Back!
Montclair Film Festival’s 5th Annual Summer Series begins this Friday, May 30th at the Essex County Presby Memorial Iris Gardens, 474 Upper Mountain Avenue, with Hairspray, the musical. Bring a lawn chair and be ready to sing along to lyrics on the big screen! The Bloom Room gift shop will be open prior to the movie. […]
Montclair Raised Actors Come Home
by Kimberly Cecchini Is it surprising that Montclair, which was ripe for a film festival that has already demonstrated success in its toddler years, was also the childhood home of two more rising stars? Actors, Kristen Connolly , known for her role as a Congressional staffer on Netflix’s House of Cards, and Ben Rosenfield, who […]
Filmmaker Party Video!
Check out our video highlights from MFF’s fab Filmmaker Party!
MFF Filmmakers Party: Place to Be
by Karen Backstein Montclair met Hollywood as the filmmakers who help make the Montclair Film Festival what it is came out to party and socialize with audiences on Saturday night at MFF’s Filmmakers Party at the new Audible Lounge. Throughout the two-story loft-like space, music played, drinks flowed, plates of food got devoured, and people […]
House Party Video!
Check out Montclair Film Festival’s 2014 House Party video featuring highlights from the fab event!
Rodriguez in Concert Tonight, 5/8!
Rodriguez will be performing at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark on Thursday, May 8th at 8:00 PM. Rodriguez was the subject of the Oscar-winning documentary, Searching for Sugar Man. The film follows two South Africans who set out to discover what happened to their unlikely musical hero, the mysterious 1970s rock ‘n’ roller, Rodriguez. Click […]
Wilson and Borle: An Easy Rapport
by Steven Seighman “We have an easy rapport,” joked actor Christian Borle about his friendship with Montclair’s Patrick Wilson, who’d just asked him a question in the voice of famed arts interviewer James Lipton during his Patrick Wilson and Friends at the Montclair Film Festival. In a talk on Sunday afternoon at the Montclair Art […]
Wilson’s Guest is Christian Borle
Patrick Wilson’s guest on May 4th at noon at the Montclair Art Museum will be Christian Borle who starred in the TV show Smash, won a Tony for his role in Peter and the Starcatcher and was Tony-nominated for Legally Blonde: The Musical. New York Times theater critic Ben Brantley described Borle as “a blend of Groucho Marx, Peter […]
MFF 2014 Family Fun Events!
Please join the Montclair Film Festival at these super fun family events! Free Story Hour at the Audible Lounge (544 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair, NJ) – Watchung Booksellers will provide storytelling from movie-themed books on Thurs. May 1st from 2:30 – 3:30 pm. Aimed for kids ages 3 – 7 years old. Milk and cookies will be served! Free […]
Shep in Person for Supermensch
Mike Myers (Austin Powers) makes his directorial debut with this star-packed documentary about the fast-lane life of entertainment-industry legend Shep Gordon, who managed the careers of Alice Cooper, Blondie, Luther Vandross, celebrity chefs, and others. Infused with Myers’s sense of humor, the film surpasses the normal showbiz biography to reflect on bigger questions of life’s […]
MFF 2014: PARTIES
Come party with MFF! You won’t want to miss these fun and special events: Opening Night After Film Party After the screening of Chef, Party ticket holders are invited to join us for an Opening Night Reception inside the Wellmont Theater. Enjoy free-flowing drinks, delicious food, and inspired conversation as we celebrate the return of […]
Free yoga with MFF!
Join the Montclair Film Festival for two free yoga classes at Audible Lounge.
Filmmaking in NJ Panel Enlightens
by Jennifer Fidlon-Bugat What do Boardwalk Empire, Not Fade Away, Hurricane and The Oranges have in common? Their stories are set in New Jersey but the TV series and movies were filmed in New York and Canada, where the tax incentives are much more advantageous for filmmakers. What do Law & Order: Special Victim’s Unit and […]
General tickets on sale now!
Public tickets to MFF 2014 are now on sale. You can view the entire lineup here or the schedule here. The festival kicks off on Mon. April 28th with a screening of the comedy CHEF.
Opening Night Deliciously Delightful!
by Glenn Schuster Monday night’s screening of Jon Favreau’s Chef at the Wellmont Theater kicked off the 3rd Annual Montclair Film Festival in style! The excitement in the packed theater was palpable as Bob Feinberg, the Festival’s founder and chairman, took the stage to thank the sponsors and Festival staff and speak briefly about how […]
MFF 2014 Kicks Off Tonight!
Montclair Film Festival’s Artistic Director Thom Powers’ 5 picks of the day, with guests in person: 1) Our Opening Night Film (please note tickets available for balcony seats only, other tickets sold out), Chef (2014, Jon Favreau) Director Jon Favreau plays a chef who gets fired after clashing with a critic and reinvents himself in a food […]
Leguizamo in Person for Chef
Actor John Leguizamo will appear in person at Montclair Film Festival’s Opening Night screening of Chef on Monday, April 28th. Leguizamo co-stars in Chef along with Jon Favreau and a stellar ensemble cast. Tickets are still available, so don’t delay!
MFF 2014 Line-up Tonight!
Montclair Film Festival’s Artistic Director, Thom Powers, and Executive Director, Raphaela Neihausen, will make their first public presentation of the MFF 2014 line-up at Montclair Art Museum’s Free First Thursday Nights event on April 3rd at 8 PM. The evening also includes: 5-9 pm: Full-service bar, live music, Draw Along […]
Check Out MFF 2014 Trailer!
MFF 2014: OPENING NIGHT
The Montclair Film Festival opens on April 28th with Chef, the new comedy directed by and starring Jon Favreau with an esteemed supporting cast that includes John Leguizamo, Sofia Vergara and Scarlett Johansson, being released nationwide in May. One of our special guest for opening night includes John Leguizamo, so you don’t want to miss it! […]
MFF 2014: FAMILY
Our FAMILY category features three presentations, including a 75th anniversary screening of The Wizard of Oz, with attendees encouraged to dress as their favorite characters. The Horizon Foundation of New Jersey will also be on hand starting at 10:00 am (either on the grounds or inside if poor weather) with face painting and balloon twisting. […]
MFF 2014: CONVERSATIONS
MFF’s popular live CONVERSATION SERIES presents eclectic guests including: Michael Moore & Dangerous Docs. Moore returns to interview a distinguished group of documentary filmmakers whose work is being shown at the festival. Homegrown: A Conversation with Kristen Connolly and Ben Rosenfield, actors who grew up right here in Montclair. Patrick Wilson & Friends. Patrick will be joined on […]
MFF 2014: DOCUMENTARY
Our DOCUMENTARY category features 13 non-fiction films spanning global topics including two US premieres, I Am Big Bird: The Carroll Spinney Story about the 80-year-old puppeteer on Sesame Street; and Advanced Style based on the eponymous New York City photography blog focusing on fashionable older women. Among the 11 NJ premieres are Dinosaur 13, about the legal […]
MFF 2014: DRAMA
We have a stellar DRAMA line-up of 14 narrative films celebrated on the festival circuit, 12 of them New Jersey premieres. Titles include the Sundance Audience Award winner for World Cinema, Difret, set in Ethiopia, with producer Mehret Mandefro attending; Mother of George, set inside a community of Nigerian immigrants in New York City with writer, […]
MFF 2014: COMEDY
Our COMEDY section doubles in size to ten films this year, including the world premiere documentary I Am Road Comic directed by stand-up comedian Jordan Brady who will attend and Intramural, a send-up of sports films, with SNL performer Beck Bennett. Beck Bennett, who was previously announced for Intramural Q&A, will be unable to attend […]
Goldwyn in Person for Golden Age
Television dramas command more serious attention from critics and audiences than ever before. In this Montclair Film Festival Conversation, New Golden Age of Television, which is a free panel to be held on April 30th at 7:30 PM at the Audible Lounge at 544 Bloomfield Avenue, AMC executive Joel Stillerman who oversees series like Mad […]
MFF & NJ Jewish Film Festival
MFF is co-presenting the following two films in the New Jersey Jewish Film Festival: The German Doctor Sunday, March 30th, 7:30pm Senior/Student: $11 General Admission: $13 Kushner Academy 110 S. Orange Ave, Livingston, NJ Patagonia, 1960. A German doctor meets an Argentinean family and follows them on a long desert road to a small town […]
20 Feet from Stardom Wins Oscar!
Congratulations to 20 Feet from Stardom director Morgan Neville and producers Gil Friesen and Caitrin Rogers winners of the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature! The documentary about the trials and tribulations of back-up singers grew from an idea by Friesen, a veteran music executive who enlisted Neville to direct. Friesen died from complications of leukemia […]
Oscar Eves’ Party, Quite the Buzz!
The Montclair Film Festival held it’s 4th Annual Oscars’ Eve Party on Saturday, March 1st celebrating the film industry and our vibrant arts community. Held at Chill on Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair, the party was filled with a slew of fun touches and activities from the “paparazzi” outside, to the “step-and-repeat wall” inside, a performance […]
We Have a Winner and a Poster!
The Montclair Film Festival in partnership with The Montclair Art Museum has named Jennifer Lange of Bloomfield the winner of our 2014 Official Poster Contest. After Lange’s design was chosen, Jesse Bussey embellished and polished the design to it’s final stage resulting in one of a kind imagery for MFF 2014! Lange’s design will be unveiled […]
MFF Mention from Colbert!
Host of Comedy Central’s Colbert Report and Montclair Resident, Stephen Colbert mentions the Montclair Film Festival during his interview with Darlene Love on the show February 25th. Love was featured in the Oscar-nominated documentary, Twenty Feet From Stardom, which premiered at the MFF 2013 opening night gala. The Colbert Report Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Video Archive
The Votes are In!
THE VOTES ARE IN! Thank you for voting for MFF as your “Favorite Film Festival” for the second year in a row in the JerseyArts.com People’s Choice Awards. We can’t tell you how much this honor – and your support – means to us. We look forward to providing another exciting year of programming and […]
Kidz Shortz Winners!
And the 2014 Kidz Shortz winners are… CLICK HERE
Screening of Undefeated, Plus Q&A!
Please note this event was originally scheduled for January 25th, but will be held on Saturday, February 1st! Please join us for this FREE event co-presented with Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence (MFEE). A suggested donation of $10 per ticket is encouraged but not necessary for admission. Reserved seats are not required but are highly recommended to […]
4th Annual Oscars’ Eve Party!
PURCHASE TICKETS To view pics from last year’s party click here!
Kidz Shortz Deadline Extended to Jan. 22nd!
Click here for full details!
MFF 2013 Video Highlights!
Check out this great video montage of the 2013 Montclair Film Festival.
Colbert/Fallon a Laugh Riot at NJPAC
Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Fallon caused a laugh riot on Sunday, November 24th at the lovely NJ Performing Arts Center as they joked, improvised, answered questions, and even sang, at a benefit fundraiser for the 2014 Montclair Film Festival. Read more about Stephen Colbert In Conversation with Jimmy Fallon below: Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Fallon Let Loose […]
Behind the Screen is Back!
Back by popular demand on Saturday, November 23, 2013, Montclair Film Festival presents Behind the Screen: Media Careers 101, a day of FREE panels on careers in filmmaking and media with renowned industry professionals. Click here for full details.
In Conversation: Colbert and Fallon!
MFF is proud to present Jimmy Fallon in Conversation with Stephen Colbert November 24th at 8 PM at NJPAC in Newark, NJ!! Tickets NOW on sale! Click here for full details.
MFF 2014 Poster Contest!
Registration is now open for the Montclair Film Festival 2014 Poster Contest! Your design could be the official poster for our 3rd annual festival. Click here for full details regarding submissions and deadline.
Winners announced Feb. 3rd
Winners will be announced on the MFF website February 3, 2014. The awards Ceremony will be held on February 27, 2014.
Life and Living Features MFF 2013
NJTV will present a three part series featuring exciting interviews and highlights from Montclair Film Festival 2013 on Life & Living with Joanna Gagis. The series will air on the following dates: September 7, 2:30 PM September 14, 2:30 PM September 21, 2:30 PM Click here for more details.
Summer Screening, September 6th
Grab a chair and join us Friday, September 6th at the Bellevue Avenue branch of the Montclair Public Library for the fifth and last film in our line-up of FREE outdoor SUMMER SCREENINGS, Holes. The screening will begin at 9 PM. The Bellevue Avenue branch of the Montclair Public Library is located at 185 Bellevue Avenue. Rain […]
Back in Black at MFF
by Christopher Dixon The Montclair Film Festival continued the 2013 Summer Series with its presentation of 1997’s well-loved comedy, Men in Black. The comedy-thriller was an enormous hit that spawned two sequels. The night was clear as crowds gathered on closed-off Church Street for the start of the film and many eateries were packed as […]
One on One Features MFF 2013
One on One with Montclair’s own Steve Adubato featured Montclair Film Festival 2013 in six segments that you can view by clicking on the links below. Montclair Film Festival 2013: Opening Night Montclair Film Festival 2013: Part 1 Montclair Film Festival 2013: Part 2 Montclair Film Festival 2013: Part 3 Montclair Film Festival: Best Kept […]
Summer Screening, August 16th
Grab a chair and join us Friday, August 16th on Church Street, one of Montclair’s favorite destinations for strolling, eating and shopping for the fourth film in our line-up of FREE outdoor SUMMER SCREENINGS, Men in Black. The screening will begin at 9 PM. Church Street will be closed to vehicular traffic. Rain date is Friday, […]
Still Mine Playing at the Clairidge!
Still Mine, screened at Montclair Film Festival 2013 opened theatrically in Montclair at the Clairidge Cinemas Friday, July 19th. In his first lead role after decades of playing supporting characters, James Cromwell gives a tour de force performance in Still Mine, an exquisitely crafted and deeply affecting love story about a couple in their twilight […]
Twenty Feet Now at Clairidge!
If you missed it at the Opening Night of MFF ’13, it’s back in town! TWENTY FEET FROM STARDOM… opens at the Clairidge Cinema tomorrow, Friday, June 28th! Millions know their voices, but no one knows their names. In his compelling new film 20 FEET FROM STARDOM, award-winning director Morgan Neville shines a spotlight on the untold […]
Summer Screening, July 18th
Grab a chair and join us Thursday, July 18th at the main branch of the Montclair Public Library for the third film in our line-up of FREE outdoor SUMMER SCREENINGS, The Goonies. Come early and enjoy live music from BIG MAMOU! Big Mamou, featuring John Sherman on accordion and vocals and Julianne Fenhagen on vocals is a […]
Summer Screening, June 21st
Grab a blanket or lawn chair and join us Friday, June 21st at the beautiful Van Vleck House and Gardens in Montclair for the second film in our line-up of FREE outdoor SUMMER SCREENINGS, Sleepless in Seattle. The screening will begin at 9 PM. The Van Vleck House and Gardens is located at 21 Van Vleck Street […]
Remember to Forget
by Joyce Kaffel If you’ve ever known someone in the throes of memory loss, First Cousin Once Removed strikes a note, or more of a familiar chord. For those who have had no experience with loved ones unable to remember the pieces of their lives, the film is eye-opening and perhaps disquieting. First Cousin Once […]
Every Day is a Holiday
by Tanya Manning-Yarde After his mother’s passing, a centenarian of wise years and generous heart, my cousin began renovating his Brooklyn childhood home. Pulling up well-lived carpets, he discovers the floor underneath protectively covered by newspapers from 1947, the year his parents purchased the brownstone. Resourcefully, he did not quickly discard the papers, fire hazard […]
Best Kept Secret Enlightens
by Maura Thompson The Montclair Film Festival was host to the New Jersey premiere of Best Kept Secret, a film that had its world premiere at the International Film Festival of Boston where it took home the Audience Award for Documentary prize. After a brief introduction by MFF Artistic Director Thom Powers, Senator Bob Menendez […]
Sourlands, Now and in the Future
by Maura Thompson The Sourlands is a region in central New Jersey surrounding the Sourland Mountains. The land contains the largest stretch of unbroken land in the state, many farms, forests and sustainable energy researchers and start-ups. The movie, Sourlands, takes a close look at each of these communities and their role in the economic […]
Rafea: Solar Mama Sheds Light
by Merve Fejzula It would seem difficult in the era of laptops and cell phones to describe electricity as a luxury of modern technology. However, like many basic necessities industrialized countries often take for granted, there are still places in the world where the power to cook food and heat a home are precious. Rafea: […]
Summer Series Kicks Off with Annie!
Join us at sundown on Fri. May 31st at Presby Iris Gardens for a free outdoor sing-along screening of Annie. Movie will begin at approx. 8:45pm; raindate is June 1. Bring a lawn chair and be ready to sing to lyrics on the big screen! Directed by John Huston, this 1982 classic features a star-studded […]
Girl Rising Resonates
by Lauren “IV Valentine” Tyler Girl Rising a social-issues film produced by 10×10 Productions and directed by Richard E. Robbins captures nine stories about nine girls from nine countries; nine ways to conquer everything from social norms to homelessness. Each story is poetically narrated by some of Hollywood’s finest including Kerry Washington, Salma Hayek, Selena […]
Young Filmmakers Impress
by Jorge Lucas Amid the seasoned and amateur independent filmmakers headlining the Montclair Film Festival’s marquee, young students too had the chance to showcase their films in the Kidz Shortz contest. Challenged to produce a short around a single prompt – “Freedom…to me” – 4th through 12th graders from across the country submitted their unique […]
You Will Be My Son
by Karen Backstein To create a fine wine, you first need what the French call terroir (what the elements of the soil impart to the taste of the grapes), along with cultivation and care. To raise a child, you need much the same thing: the right “growing conditions,” plus affection and attention. While Paul de […]
The Crash Reel Packs a Punch
by Jorge Lucas Of the many hard-hitting documentaries closing out this year’s Montclair Film Festival, only one took us to the extremes of action sports. The Crash Reel addresses the oft ignored dangers of action, or what we call “extreme,” sports through Kevin Pearce, a 2009 Olympics hopeful whose snowboarding career came to a tragic […]
Magic for Moviegoers
by Jessica Gonzalez Moviegoers were greeted on the steps of the Montclair Kimberley Academy by a fire eater in a green kilt and face paint, much to the delight of parents and children alike as they headed in to see Judd Ehlrich’s Magic Camp. Co-presented by Barista Kids, Magic Camp documents one week in the lives […]
The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete
by Lauren “IV Valentine” Tyler Directed by George Tillman Jr. who is also known for films such as Faster, Notorius, and the hit Soul Food, The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete takes us into a Brooklyn, New York housing project and introduces us to best friends, Mister,14 and Pete, 9 as they try to survive alone […]
Inside Gideon’s Army
by Tanya Manning-Yarde Gideon’s Army follows the lives of three new young public defenders. Filmmaker and former litigator Dawn Porter chronicles the trials and tribulations of neophytes Travis Williams, Brandy Alexander, and June Hardwick as they reconcile advocacy of impoverished clients with the harsh reality accompanying it. Each share reasons for becoming defenders and face […]
Concussion is a ‘Hit’
by Christopher Dixon A concussion is a ‘jarring’, or a shaking up of the status quo, and that’s what the movie Concussion did on May 5th as the second Montclair Film Festival drew to another successful close at the Bellevue Theater in Upper Montclair. As I entered the theater 45 minutes early, there was already […]
Life May No Longer Be a Beach
by Christopher Dixon Enjoy the beach while you can, because the ocean seems to be reclaiming what was once its own. The Montclair Film Festival featured the world premiere of Shored Up on Sunday, May 5th at the Montclair Kimberly Academy. The crowds turned out to hear what this important film had to say . . […]
Iceberg Slim: Portrait of a Pimp
by Julian Ambler In a sold out showing, Iceberg Slim: Portrait of a Pimp made its domestic debut at the 2013 Montclair Film Festival. A long line of people waited in a stand-by line to claim what ended up being only a few empty seats in the theater. Iceberg Slim, the nom de plume of the […]
Getting the Big Picture with Slovis
by Christopher Dixon Michael Slovis stopped by the Montclair Film Festival on May 4th to discuss the art of cinematography, his participation with the groundbreaking series Breaking Bad, and just what it meant to be a cinematographer. The audience, a group of diverse people were there for various reasons . . . some there because […]
NJ Shorts: Musical Journeys
by Merve Fejzula In the final scene before the credits roll, the mysterious rock star character of Every Word Handwritten declares, “This, by far, has been the most fun I’ve ever had.” Judging by the reactions of the delighted audience, there was plenty of fun to be had at Montclair Film Festival’s presentation of NJ Shorts: […]
Violet and Daisy…and Fletcher
by Betsy Boesel Sagges Arriving at the MFF screening of his directorial debut, Geoffrey Fletcher, the Academy-Award-winning screenwriter for Precious, was gracious and charming, and eager for the audience to see Violet & Daisy, his first feature film. “Watch it with an open mind,” Fletcher urged. “The film starts and ends in starkly different places […]
Cocktails Anyone?
by Don Feinberg Hey Bartender screened at the Montclair Film Festival last Friday follows the stories of two bars, a struggling suburban corner bar and a thriving NYC hotspot. It portrays the owners and bartenders and what motivated them to do what they do. The history of the bartender since prohibition is examined and the evolution of the […]
‘Valley of Saints’ Vision
by Jessica Gonzalez Writer and director Musa Syeed had never been to Kashmir before the creation of Valley of Saints. During the Q&A session after the film, he admitted with a sheepish grin that he didn’t even speak Kashmiri while growing up in Bloomington, Indiana. Syeed’s family fled Kashmir after his father was held as a […]
Mel Brooks Makes Many Noises
by Joyce Kaffel While a couple of Mel Brooks fans waited in the Claridge Cinema lobby to see Mel Brooks: Make A Noise, their desire for a film filled with the iconic comedian’s shtick was overheard: “I hope we’ll get to see him in action, he makes everything funny,” said one of them. “Well, yes, […]
Gideon’s Army Sold-out Screening
by James Feinberg Montclair native Dawn Porter’s documentary, Gideon’s Army was shown in the first of two sold-out screenings on Tuesday, April 30th. The film follows the dedication, triumphs, and failures of three young public defenders in Georgia and Mississippi. After the screening, Film Festival Executive Director, Raphaela Neihausen interviewed Ms. Porter, as well as […]
Oh, What an Opening Night!
by Glenn Schuster As if our town didn’t already have so much to offer, the Montclair Film Festival’s opening night screening of Twenty Feet from Stardom on Monday, April 29th at Montclair State’s University beautiful Alexander Kasser Theater and after-party has given me reason to love Montclair that much more. From a glimmer in Co-Founder Bob Feinberg’s […]