LONG DESCRIPTIONS

AUG 26-TUESDAY

7PM DINOSAUR MAN A railway used by a few high school students is on the verge of being shut down until an old man enters the equation. Filmed in Japan. 12m33s

A railway deep in the mountains that is now used only by a few high school students is on the verge of being closed down.

Director Biography - Kazuya Ashizawa

Born in Fukushima (Japan). He worked for a national institution (Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare) from 1980 to 2014.

After retiring, he taught himself film techniques. He is a director of non-profit documentary films. He is currently working vigorously on documentary films.

He owns an independent non-profit production company based in Fukushima called "YELLOW SHEEP FILMS"

7:30 THANK GOD FOR THE DREAMERS Music video celebrates the importance of dreamers and artists. Q&A 4m39s

A song written by Bobby Sahlen & Jay Carney celebrating the importance of dreamers and artists in the world.

8PM THE MARC BLACK I KNOW Local musician follows his path of ingenuity, creativity & passion. He's played with luminaries: The Doors, Van Morrison & Neil Diamond. Q&A

9:20 BILL W. CONSCIOUS CONTACT An invitation to explore AA's founder on transcendental meditation and spiritual rebirth available to anyone. Q&A

Director Biography - Kevin Hanlon is known for Bill W., the Creative Force Behind Alcoholics Anonymous (2016) and Bill W. (2012).

Director Statement

The documentary provides an intimate view of Bill Wilson, one of the great healers of the 20th century and the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous. It focuses on Bill Wilson as a spiritual seeker rather than his public persona, Bill W. For the first time, the film reveals Bill Wilson's exploration of transcendental meditation at the end of his life. It includes an interview with Lincoln Norton, the man who taught Bill Wilson transcendental meditation. The documentary also exposes Wilson as an open-minded pragmatist and features rare recordings, photos, and letters, many of which have never been seen before.

AUG 27-WEDNESDAY

7PM THE ORIGINAL BADASS American innovation with food, music, technology, culture, social causes & sports. 11m15s

A group of award-winning filmmakers have created a powerfully immersive film - The Original Badass. Fast-paced and visually-driven, the short documentary spans numerous decades of American innovation, food, music, technology, culture, social causes and sports, which are so innate to the American experience.

Created to inspire hope, optimism, and bring people together in a nation deeply divided, the film is an urgent reminder that it is our collective responsibility to cherish and preserve the fragile American experiment...

Our film has taken on an especially new significance and urgency after the election, and it is now even more imperative that people watch our film and take the time to absorb its important message.

The film is directed and produced by award-winning filmmaker Simantini Chakraborty (previous film "Joyful" won 18 awards and screened in 22 countries / 6 continents) and is co-directed and co-produced by the legendary filmmaker Godfrey Reggio (creator and director of the Qatsi trilogy, with Koyaanisqatsi being the most well-known). Godfrey's films have been presented by Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas and Steven Soderbergh. His films have premiered over the years in Cannes, Berlinale, Venice Film Festival, TIFF, Locarno, Telluride, New York FF among others, and have screened in Sundance.

The film is edited by a two-time Emmy-winning editor and scored by an Emmy-nominated composer.

The film has received several high-profile endorsements recently:

KEN BURNS: "We get so caught up in the politics of division that we forget what we've accomplished as a people. This short film by Simantini Chakraborty and Godfrey Reggio is an antidote for despair, a reminder of who we are, The Original Badass. Find hope in what we've accomplished."

RICHARD SAUL WURMAN (FOUNDER OF TED): "America has never stopped being great. This short film encapsulates its brilliance and hope in a brilliant, beautiful eleven minutes."

LONNIE ALI (WIFE OF MUHAMMAD ALI): "This is a fabulous film. It says it all about the promise of America and the innovative ingenuity and audacious originality that made and makes this country GREAT! I pray it quickly spreads and people take the time to absorb its message and the gravity of what lies ahead."

Director Biography - Simantini Chakraborty, Godfrey Reggio

Simantini is a documentary filmmaker and a technologist. Her recent film joyful won 18 awards and has screened in 22 countries across 6 continents. joyful has won awards for Best Short Film, Best Editing, Audience Award, Best Cinematography and Best Inspirational Film. It has received international distribution across many channels including Virgin Atlantic fleet wide, SBS Australia, JLTV and many others, and will soon be available on streaming networks around the world.

The film's co-director is Godfrey Reggio. He is an acclaimed filmmaker best known for his groundbreaking trilogy of Qatsi films, with Koyaanisqatsi being the most well-known. Well-known composer Philip Glass collaborated with Godfrey on several films which emphasize the power of the moving image as a catalyst for social and cultural change. Godfrey's latest film Once Within a Time, was produced by Steven Soderbergh (Ocean's 11, Ocean's 13, Erin Brockovich and others). The film had its world premiere at Santa Fe International Film Festival in October 2022 and the festival awarded him the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. Godfrey was awarded the prestigious Dragon of Dragons award in February 2024 by Kraków Film Festival.

The bulk of Godfrey's cinematic records, manuscripts, papers, photographs and film rolls over 40 years have been acquired by Harvard University's Houghton Library, and the Harvard Film Archive. In 2014, Godfrey was recognized by the Museum of Arts and Design in New York with a full career retrospective.

Director Statement

The world has changed inexorably, especially in the past several years. The world now is full of hate, anger and chaos fueled by divisive political rhetoric, socio-economic disparity, rampant misinformation, wide-spread racism and lack of compassion towards fellow humans.

In such a tumultuous time and during such a contentious election year, we wanted to use our voices as filmmakers to bring people together and foster a sense of hope, optimism and shared national pride. We wanted to remind people of how great our country is and how important it is to cherish and preserve the great American experiment.

From the outset, we envisioned making a film that celebrated Americana and the modern American firsts in innovation, ingenuity and influence. As a result, our film has spanned a couple of centuries of modern inventions, technology, music, sports, social causes and food. Also, we wanted our film to evoke the nostalgia of the ubiquitous and popular Life magazine, and we used its thematic orange and white colors throughout the film.

Our extensive research helped us bring to life the various eras in vivid detail: - subtle change in footage color over time (wet collodion in the earlier 1800s, to sepia, to black and white, to color later) - subtle changes in texture with slight grainy feel added to the earlier footage to reflect the vintage history - gradual change in speed to echo the growing progress and changes in society - distinct change in sound to reflect the change in the music through line, as well as its intersection with the new and changing music of the time: jazz, rock n roll, hip hop, grunge and others.

7:28 AFTER LIFE Stunning, transformative film of the cosmos challenges perceptions of life and afterlife. Q&A 2m30s

Exploration of the cosmos challenges our perceptions in a visual symphony of stunning landscapes in time & space. 2m30s

"After Life" is an exploration of the cosmos that takes audiences on a transformative journey through the creation of the universe and the concept of ascension, depicting breathtaking moments of existence and the mysteries of the universe in a captivating visual symphony.

Utilizing a blend of composite photography, advanced AI animation, and original sound design, "After Life" transports viewers through stunning landscapes of time and space that challenge perceptions of life and the afterlife. Each meticulously crafted frame showcases the dynamic beauty of the cosmos, immersing audiences in a narrative that contemplates the transcendence of the eternal over the ephemeral. Ultimately, viewers are encouraged to explore the unknown and engage with the cosmic dance of creation.

Director Biography - Daniel Corey

Daniel Corey is an accomplished writer and Telly Award-winning content creator who has written for various media, including stage, screen, print, and VR. His most notable work to date has been the graphic novels "Moriarty" and "Red City"—both published by Image Comics—and his award-winning AI-created music video "Lift Me Up." He is also an accomplished musician and photographer, serves as an industry expert on Full Sail University's Creative Writing Program Advisory Committee, and has spoken at colleges and pop culture conventions around the country.

Daniel's writing career started in the live theater, and in 2007, he made the move to new media when he created DangerKatt Creative Studio, a company that serves as an umbrella for all of his creative endeavors. In 2009, DangerKatt published "Prophet," a graphic novel written and created by Daniel. Since then, Daniel has produced three additional comic series: "Moriarty," "Red City," and "Bloodworth."

Moriarty would eventually be adapted into a VR comic experience, a project that would earn Daniel the #2 spot on Onalytica's Top 100 Virtual Reality Influencers list. Additionally, Moriarty would also win the Philip K. Dick Film Festival Award for Best Sci-Fi Graphic novel, as well as Best Action and Adventure Graphic Novel from BookFest.

Daniel's work has been featured in Yahoo! Finance, USA Today, Associated Press, The Wrap, Toronto Film Magazine, WhitePaperBy, CinemaWide Magazine, CanvasRebel, The Liftoff Network, VIVEPORT, L.A. Talk Radio, Onalytica.com, and Intellect Books, among other media outlets.

Director Statement

Telly Award-winning AI and visual creator Daniel Corey crafted his experimental film "After Life" using a unique combination of artistic mediums and technology, hoping to evoke curiosity about the mysteries of existence.

Building on his acclaimed "Map of the World" conceptual photo collection, Corey started by creating composite photographs that served as the film's foundation. He enhanced these images using Midjourney, edited them in Lightroom and Photoshop, and animated them with Luma AI Dream Machine. The final composition was crafted in Adobe Premiere, while the immersive score was thoughtfully composed and performed by Corey in Logic Pro X, adding an emotional depth that complements the stunning visuals.

With "After Life," Corey seeks to inspire an exploration of the profound mysteries that lie beyond human comprehension. By depicting the creation of the universe and the concept of ascension, he encourages viewers to reflect on themes of existence and the afterlife. His innovative approach invites audiences to consider their place within the vast cosmos, fostering a sense of wonder about the infinite possibilities beyond our current understanding.

8PM COUNTED OUT What's possible if we change the way we approach math? The future of democracy depends on the language of math. 1h31m24s

Virtually every major public issue - from health care to social security, from international economics to welfare reform - depends on data, projections, and the systematic thinking at the heart of quantitative literacy. As a global pandemic shook the foundations of our society, the public grappled to understand exponential growth—a disaster for disease prevention. And as our world transitions to ever-greater reliance on algorithms and AI, the lack of diversity in STEM fields means that certain perspectives are literally more powerful than others. As Ben Blum Smith, of the Math & Democracy Seminar, notes, "If everything's built on a layer of math, who gets to go into that layer of math and tweak it? Who gets to make engineering choices about the landscape we're all living in? It's supposed to be all of us."

Yet, only 25% of high school graduates are proficient in math. Because math is still being taught like there is only one right answer and either you get it or you don't, we are locking students out of mathematical literacy. We are disenfranchising the future generation by limiting access to higher education, fulfilling careers, and civic participation. And the effects of this fall hardest on those who have already suffered under systemic racism, patriarchy, and the cycle of poverty.

In a mosaic of stories, Counted Out shows us what's at risk if we keep this status quo, and what's possible if we change the way we approach math. We meet Glenn Rodriguez whose parole was blocked by an unfair algorithm, and who got his freedom by crunching the numbers himself. We meet Civil Rights icon Bob Moses, who in some of the last film interviews of his life, shows us how leveling up the math playing field is key to an open democracy. We also meet students overcoming the stigma of being labeled "not a math person" and innovators forging paradigm shifts to make math accessible to all.

Counted Out sounds an alarm on how the future of our democracy depends on all of us speaking the language of math.

Director Biography - Vicki H Abeles

Vicki Abeles is a documentary filmmaker, author, and impact producer. She directed the award-winning documentaries Race to Nowhere and Beyond Measure and brought the films to millions of viewers around the globe. She was the Impact Producer on Chasing Childhood (2021) and High School 9-1-1 (2016), and author of the NYT best-selling book, Beyond Measure: Rescuing an Overscheduled, Overtested, Underestimated Generation (Simon & Schuster). Additional film credits include Associate Producer on the Sundance favorite Miss Representation (2011) and Associate Producer on Plastic Man: The Artful Life of Jerry Ross Barrish (2014).

Director Statement

The origins of Counted Out are personal. I was compelled to make my first film, Race to Nowhere, after the suicide of a child in my community: a student whose parents speculated that mounting anxiety over her eighth-grade algebra class—and a recently failed math test—led her to question her self-worth. Later, talking to hundreds of people across the country about their school experiences, a picture emerged of math's power in our society: granting some entry into prestigious careers, preventing others from getting their high school diplomas, and instilling discomfort and anxiety in most. "I'm not a math person," was a common refrain.

As our society shifted even further into the technological realm and things became more politically polarized and divisive, I came to see that most of our society is in the dark when it comes to math. Most of us can't understand the math at the heart of key personal and political issues; most of us can't access the careers that are literally shaping our world. It became clear to me that if we want a healthier, more equitable society, we need to change the whole way we conceive of math, how we teach and learn it, and who we think can do it.

I was honored to meet Civil Rights leader Bob Moses, one of the greatest inspirations in the ongoing fight to make education equitable. This film includes some of the last interviews of his life when he invites us inside the work of the Algebra Project. Moses advocated for shifting the power dynamics in the classroom, just as he'd done during his voter-registration meetings in the ‘60s. He empowered students, not teachers, to be the ones doing the thinking and leading in their classrooms, and within their larger communities. The results of his work have been transformative. Our film will be dedicated to him.

Making Counted Out has illuminated that in order to create a healthier, more equitable society, we must radically change the way we do math. We have a math crisis, but we also have the potential to solve this problem.

AUG 28-THURSDAY

7PM INSETTI Young girl is overshadowed by talkative mom. Her connection with nature overcomes her limits in an heroic way. 1h31m24s

Eleven years old Adele is on vacation with her mother on the island of Lampedusa, in deep contact with the wild world, with natural treasures hidden in the sand, among the rocks or at the bottom of the Mediterranean sea. She is in harmony with this universe: she is more at ease with it than with the social context to which she does not know how to relate and where she is a shy child, introverted to the point of having no voice. The talkative mother seems to steal all the words from her mouth. But for Adele there are events, to which most remain indifferent, which speak too loudly to her heart and which will give her the courage to rebel. When the little girl witnesses a cruel superficiality at the damage of a defenseless being about to die, she will be able to overcome her limits and find the courage to act despite others. If we can watch in amusement a small life as it agonizes and dies, how long will it take us to be numb in front of a drowning human being? Adele will make a small leap which will free herself from the invisible cage which she was in and she will acquire the strength and joy to be one hundred percent herself.

Greta Zamparini began her career as an actress graduating from the Drama Academy Piccolo Teatro in Milan in 1999. She works in theater, cinema and television directed by Giorgio Strehler, Sophia Coppola, Luca De Filippo, Peter Stein, Eimuntas Nekrosius, Massimo Castri, among others. In 2000 she won the "Gianni Agus" Hystrio Award for vocation to acting.

She directs the theatrical performances "Temporally Yours" at the Teatro Libero in Milan, "As much as you want" at the Tertulliano Theater in Milan, "Italy45" at the Baretti Theater in Turin. She has been the artistic director of the theater seasons "Vogliamo Vivere!" and "Vogliamo vivere! melting point" in Milan.

She collaborates as an acting teacher with Teatri Possibili, Teatro Litta, Area Pergolesi, Teatro Spazio Tertulliano, Accademia 09.

In 2019 and 2020 she studies film writing with the British screenwriter Toby Fell-Holden, an experience that gives birth to her first short film "INSECTS" , which she decides to direct as her first feature.

Director Statement

INSETTI is the story of a little girl who struggles to be 100% herself and who courageously finds her voice. It is a story of sensitivity, love and attention to nature, which humans are so ignorantly mistreating and for which we do not have the care and listening that it deserves. Nature is our soul, divine, beyond good and evil, which must be preserved and saved.

INSETTI speaks of life and the right to live, it is a story for those who can read between the lines and who notice the details, for those who know that there is a wisdom superior to us and that must be respected.

I chose Lampedusa as the setting for this short movie, because it is a promised island for many refugees, a island that speaks of death and of rebirth, but also an island of vacation, of tourism. It is a wild place, with its rocks, its high dry cliffs, its free dogs, its wind, its turtles and its light amusement for travellers. Here Adele will find out who she is and how she wants to be.

7:30 THE SWAN WAY Nostalgic man yearning for ‘good old days' begins a journey of self-healing as he tries to enlighten people. Q&A 01:16:24

Feeling lost in today's society, a nostalgic man, filled with grief and confusion, begins an immense journey of self-discovery and self-healing as he tries to enlighten people, recapture the past, and change his dismal environment back to how it used to be. All in his own bold, yet peculiar way...the swan way.

Director Biography - Raymond Turturro:

Originally from, and lives in Brooklyn, New York, Raymond had many interests growing up, but during high school decided to be devoted to acting, after it called to him. He studied at HB Studios in Manhattan/NYC with teachers such as director Jonathan Lynn (Clue, My Cousin Vinny), Salem Ludwig, and the great character actor/director Austin Pendleton, and went on to being in many independent films, some with moderate success. As time went on, he decided to continue with one of his other interests, writing. After an idea (The Swan Way) came to him one night, and finishing the majority of that idea's script fairly quick, he then planned to make it. It took a while, but it happened, and The Swan Way was created. The Swan Way is Raymond's feature film directorial debut. He continues acting, but is now concentrating more on The Swan Way's future. Thankful, and grateful, he is excited to let The Swan Way glide its way into film festivals. Also, he loves drawing, designing, and collecting comic books from the 1940's to today.

Director Statement

I made, "The Swan Way," for people, so that they can perhaps learn something from it, feel good and be entertained, relate to it, and in some way, to change themselves/the world for the better.

I wrote the script in 2013 after an idea came to me, and never stopped thinking about it, it pretty much consumed/controlled my life since then... I knew I had to make it! It is the truest form of independent film being that I produced it, funded it, directed it, wrote the script, did the casting, did most of the other aspects of it, and acted as the main role in it. A pretty big feat, but somehow, I felt I was able to do it and up for the challenge. After more than a few stressful years later of struggling with all of the parts of pre-production/funds, I never gave up on this idea-something kept telling me to make it- and the time was finally right. I was able to find a DP, cast, locations, and my first feature film, The Swan Way, was underway. I could envision the whole movie playing out, the angles I wanted/felt, the tone, the music, feeling, etc. and followed through. I've also secured the licenses to the songs that came to mind on a whim and fit perfectly in the film, and it all just fell into place. After filming completed, I then worked on all of the aspects of post-production with the editors.

The Swan Way is a combination of and inspired by many things, and also many films- Death Wish, The Natural, Network, and Rocky, being a few, with probably the major inspiration coming from, Taxi Driver...except I wanted to make it different and original, a bit more "realer"/down to earth, quirky, and with more of a loving /nostalgic aspect, while wrapped in an uplifting message. It involves the realities/many universal themes of the human condition. It deals with and explores the effects of grief/losing loved ones (it was written for/in honor of my family) and handling it, while being on a journey of self-discovery and self-healing. There are elements of relevant social issues in it that I wanted to bring to light, while asking the question, what is justice? - (along the lines of The Republic by Plato), and is it wrong, or right? It has an anti-hero/superhero vibe involving a new character that I created- The Swan.

The film has an essence of vengeance, in a real, peculiar way, yet it is a story of love, change, and hope for the future while thinking of the past. It involves nostalgia and sentimental feelings that some people have about missing the "good ol' days"/their "golden days" of childhood. It symbolizes the main character's love for the world, his family and his childhood. It is about society, community, the changing of them, and trying to bring people back together- having empathy, being friendlier, and generally trying to build a better world. It is about questioning your morals and values, ethics, and self-righteousness. It deals with technology taking over us; What is the meaning of it all? What is happening to this world?

There is so much more to say involving this film, the magical and heartbreaking stories from the making of it, and many other details, perspectives, and interpretations, but maybe can do that at the Q&A and interviews. So, I will stop now to invite you to find out and experience it. I, kindly thank you, and truly appreciate you for watching it. Raymond

9:20 A STRANGE TRIP Hippie dad and lawyer son go on a wild trip to Woodstock Museum. 25m25s

Director Biography - Mike L. Hall: I was raised in Mabank, Texas, by my grandparents, and from an early age, I found joy in entertaining people, bringing laughter and smiles to their faces. My acting journey began over twenty years ago in theater, and since then, I've participated in more than 80 stage productions. Notable performances include acclaimed dramas such as "Twelve Angry Men," "The Diary of Anne Frank," and "To Kill a Mockingbird."

I later transitioned into background work in various TV shows and films, making appearances in series like "Dallas," "The Chase," "Prison Break," "Without a Trace," and "Gilmore Girls." My film credits include "Devil's Deal," "Something in the Woods" (which I co-produced), and "Love Land."

Alongside acting, I pursued writing. I created a short film titled "Tough Love: The Movie" and wrote a Buddy Holly-inspired screenplay called "One Night at the Surf." After a friend's encouragement, I went on to write "The Bluesman," which gained recognition and won awards at several festivals. I also have numerous script ideas in progress, including an exciting, scary sci-fi script, a poignant World War II story, and so much more!

Director Statement

A fun twist on my feature film screenplay, "My Dad, Arlo & Me," "A Strange Trip." Is about an aging hippie father and his stiff, uptight lawyer son who hit the road together for a wild trip to the Woodstock Museum in New York. Their cross-country adventure is filled with hilarious mishaps and unexpected detours, but through all the chaos, they manage to reconnect and strengthen their father-son bond. It's a journey of laughter, love, and rediscovery! We were fortunate to have such a skilled crew for this film. Our cinematographer, Larry Wright; sound designer, Hatch Aaron; and editor, Jonas Ramsey, along with the entire crew, were amazing to work with and to watch in action. We also had a fantastic pair of actors in Vincent Weir and Olon McClendon, along with a truly talented cast. We hope you enjoy what we have collectively created.

AUG 29-FRIDAY

7PM THE LAST HOLDOUT An early 20th century building undergoes artistic transformation that has far reaching impact. Filmed in Vancouver. 10m17s

Tucked in Downtown Vancouver's Westend, an early 20th century building undergoes an artistic transformation and has far reaching impact, when Doug takes over as its caretaker. Explore a journey into one of Vancouver's hidden gems, and how it could one day help the city reshape its identity.

Director Biography - Damian Ho. Damian is born and raised in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and relocated in his late teens to Vancouver, BC. He transitioned from his passion in music to film in 2018, and has produced numerous shorts in the genres of horror, drama and dark comedy.

Director Statement

'The Last Holdout' will be an important avenue for the creatives to impact others in addressing the ill effects of gentrification, and ultimately unlock one's inner creative child.

7:30 CVRTime CAPSULE Newburgh Free Academy students build Diesel race car for efficiency; win race. Q&A

8PM 4@60 Four animated vignettes. Includes pixilation, time-lapse and animated rocks. Q&A

Director Biography - Thomas Downs Gasek is a Professor Emeritus at RIT where he taught in the School of Film and Animation for 19 years. He worked as a professional director and animator for 26 years previous to teaching with animation credits that include Aardman Animations' The Wrong Trousers and Chicken Run as well as Laika's Coraline. He operated several small studios of his own including Sculptoons in San Francisco. Gasek is a Fulbright Specialist and wrote the only book on "non-puppet stop motion" for Focal Press. He is currently completing his third edition of the book as well as completing another short independent film, "4 @ 60."

Director Statement

After 4 decades of working at a professional high-level in "puppet-based" stop motion, I decided to make a short animated film in "non-puppet" stop motion techniques. I wrote a book (Frame by Frame Stop Motion) for CRC/Focal Press on the subject, but I had not made a complete film in this area. The book is the only resource of its kind and is now in a third edition. I teach these non-puppet techniques for Maine Media, but I will always be a puppet / performance-based character animator and now with a broader range. 4 @ 60 is a kind of self-portrait - maybe even a glorified home-movie - using non-puppet techniques which includes pixilation, time-lapse, object animation (rocks) and more. I hope you enjoy it.

9:20 FAR OUT: LIFE ON & AFTER THE COMMUNE A group of radical journalists leave New York City for the country where they became pioneers in the back-to-the-land and organic farming movement. 1hr25m8sec

The film traces fifty years in the lives of a group of New England writers, activists and artists. It conveys how the 1960s counterculture, embodied in two rural communes, transformed America. The story begins when a group of radical journalists leave New York for a new life in the country and follows them from the back-to-the-land movement to a new discovery of political commitment.

Director Biography - Charles John Light

Born in 1949 in New York City, Charlie has been involved in the film and video industry since 1973 when he co-founded Green Mountain Post Films (GMP Films), a production and distribution company. Along with partner Dan Keller, Charlie produced and directed many award winning films on nuclear power, the environment, the Vietnam War, art and politics, the cannabis issue, peace issues and other topics. GMP films have been featured at Lincoln Center as part of the New York Film Festival, Madison Square Garden and the Pompidou Center in Paris They have also been broadcast nationally and internationally and shown at theaters, town meetings, colleges, community gatherings, high schools, boardrooms, churches, museums, and Congressional and legislative hearing rooms.

Director Statement

Far Out: Life On & After the Commune

The film traces fifty years in the lives of a group of New England writers, activists and artists. In 1968, in the middle of a left wing faction fight, a group of radical journalists left New York City for the country where they became pioneers in the back-to-the-land and organic farming movement.

In 1973, when a giant nuclear power plant was planned nearby, they became active opponents. In a dramatic act of civil disobedience, Sam Lovejoy, a commune member, toppled a 500 foot weather tower on the site. He turned himself in and after a trial that drew national attention was acquitted.

The group became leaders in the burgeoning anti-nuclear movement. The film tracks the dramatic battles over atomic power in Seabrook, NH and elsewhere. In 1979, they teamed up with Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Graham Nash and other committed rock stars to produce five nights of sold out concerts at Madison Square Garden and a massive rally.

Blending contemporary interviews and a remarkable trove of original archival footage, Far Out is lively, humorous, inspiring and irreverent. The film is vital, telling the history but hewing to the universal themes of how we grapple--over a lifetime--with politics, relationships, morality, spirituality, civic engagement and finding our home.

10:55 THE BALLAD OF PAUL YATES Punk musician and artist explores strange, dreamlike surrealism.

AUG 30-SATURDAY</p>

7:PM ALL I WANT TODAY A 60 yr. old organist going through a divorce attends a rock concert of her 1st love to see if the old flame still burns between them. 7m28s

Director Biography - Magda Adamowicz:

She grew up in the Lubelskie countryside. Director and screenwriter. Graduate of the Speaker's Avenue directing course, where she made her first short film "Everything I Want Today".

7:23 2ND DAY & THE END OF THE WORLD Climate-catastropic universe, powerless loneliness. Hand drawn animation by Sarah Koppel. Adult film. 12m28s

Hyper-Family-Drama about processes of secession, post-traumatic attacks,

tempting body conditions & powerless loneliness in a climate-catastropic universe.

Director - Sara Koppel Started in the Danish Animation Industry at 14 years old. Since 2002 she made her own small independent Animations Studio in Copenhagen Denmark, creating Art as an Animation Artist / Director / Animator, in her beloved field 2D Handrawn on Paper Animation. She makes short films / Experimentals & AR - Exhibitions. Combined with working as a Teacher in Artistic Handrawn Animation at Art Schools & is a function head of ANIS Danish Animation Society. All her work is highly personal, artistic & poetic. She has been a pioneer in the field of Erotic & Body positivity Animation. Her short films has been shown all around the world and she had a lot of AR Exhibition over the last years. In 2021 she became a member of the Oscars Academy.

Woodstock Museum has joyously featured her works over the years.

7:45 SINATRA ETERNITY Before the Rat Pack & before he was Chairman of the Board, he was a crooner. Comeback story. Adult film. Q&A 1h40m

Before the Rat pack, and before he was Chairman of the Board, he was a washed up crooner with the same chances of lasting as an ice cube at a cocktail party; then SHE comes along. An aging Sinatra recounts his greatest love, his greatest loss and the improbable COMEBACK.

AUG 31-SUNDAY

7PM THAT PARADISE PLACE Puppet musical documentary about love, sex & fantasy lives of people with disabilities. Q&A 13m

In 2024 over 60 artists with and without disabilities worked together to create "That Paradise Place". A puppet musical about love, sex and fantasy lives of people with disabilities. Twelve artists boldly shared their deepest desires, which formed the basis of the songs in the show. These are some of their stories.

Director Biography - Tim Griffin Allan

Tim is a first-time filmmaker with over a decade of experience working with people with developmental disabilities. For the past 13 years, Tim has dedicated his career to fostering inclusive communities, including as a camp director in the Catskill Mountains that supports kids with and without disabilities. His work is rooted in the belief that inclusion is not just a value, but a practice that can transform the communities we live in. This passion led Tim to pick up a camera for the first time to create a documentary that centers the voices and stories too often overlooked. This film marks his directorial debut and represents a natural extension of his lifelong commitment to advocacy, storytelling, and equity.

Director Statement

This documentary began as an attempt to capture a puppet show about the sex lives of people with disabilities—but quickly became something deeper. When I first started attending rehearsals, I was struck by a sense of freedom, embodiment, and inclusion that I had spent years trying to build in my own work and personal life—and yet, here it was, fully alive in a way I had never quite felt before.

As a first-time filmmaker, I wasn't sure if this kind of creative freedom was something I could capture on camera—or even if I had the right to try. People were so open, so free, and the last thing I wanted was to disrupt that by pointing a camera and forcing reflection where there had been ease. But I couldn't have been more wrong. What I found instead was a deep eagerness to share. The storytellers wanted to be seen, to have their stories out in the world on their own terms, and they welcomed the camera as a tool for connection.

This film is about disability, sexuality, and performance, yes—but more than that, it's about trust, community, and the power of representation. My hope is that by sharing this documentary, audiences come away with a deeper understanding of the importance of inclusion—not as a checkbox or a buzzword, but as a lived, felt experience that transforms everyone involved. I hope it invites people to reimagine who gets to tell stories, and how much richer the world becomes when more voices are heard.

8:15 THE PANTONE GUY Documentary with the creator who established a universal language for color. 1h22m

At 96 years old, Larry Herbert, known as "The Pantone Guy," is a visionary whose revolutionary idea to standardize color remains largely unrecognized. Growing up in Depression-era Brooklyn, Larry entered the print and manufacturing trade during a time when color was a chaotic and subjective experience. He channeled his unique vision into creating the Pantone Matching System—a groundbreaking invention that established a universal language for color, profoundly enhancing artistic expression and commercial production across all industries. Directed by Patrick Creadon (Wordplay, Hesburgh), this compelling documentary features an exclusive interview with Larry himself, offering an intimate glimpse into the mind behind Pantone and his enduring impact on how we perceive and use color today.

Director Biography - Patrick Creadon Patrick Creadon is an acclaimed American director known for his influential documentary work. His feature directorial debut, Wordplay (2006), which profiles the New York Times crossword puzzle, was a breakout hit at the Sundance Film Festival. It received widespread acclaim and was acquired by IFC Pictures, running in over 500 theaters across the United States, including at least one theater in all fifty states. He followed with I.O.U.S.A. (2008), a documentary about the U.S. national debt that was shortlisted for an Academy Award.

Creadon specializes in stories about unsung heroes, craftspeople, and innovators in American history. His other notable directing credits include: If You Build It (2013), 30 for 30: Catholics vs. Convicts (2018), Hesburgh (2018), and Ski Bum: The Warren Miller Story (2019).

He is a founding member of the Documentary Committee at the Directors Guild of America and currently serves as co-chair of the DGA Documentary Awards Committee, alongside Yance Ford. In 2023, he was invited to become a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Creadon is married to and collaborates with producer Christine O'Malley. They reside in Los Feliz, California, where they are raising their three daughters, Fiona, Grace, and Charlotte, along with two cats and one dog.

Director Statement

In The Pantone Guy, we delve into the life of Larry Herbert, a 96-year-old whose creative spirit, entrepreneurial drive, and tireless work ethic have continually inspired our filmmaking team. Throughout my career, I've been drawn to stories of individuals who, like Larry, have built something extraordinary from their passions. This project is a deep dive into the essence of one such person, capturing his unique journey and the significant impact he has made on the world. Larry's story embodies the very heart of the American Dream and work ethic. Spending extensive time with Larry, engaging with his vibrant mind, quick wit, and rich experiences, has been a privilege. Our goal is to present his story with authenticity, allowing viewers to feel as though they've truly connected with him by the end of the film. If we succeed, this film will resonate with the true spirit of Larry himself.

SEPT 1-MONDAY

7PM MAJI Family bond during a crisis collecting clean safe water. Animation.

"Maji" is the Swahili word for water. Every day, 1000 children die because they do not have access to clean and safe water. For many, the burden of collecting water falls on the women and children who daily collect the life sustaining fluid.

Maji is a testament to the beautiful bonds of family during a crisis.

Lurking beneath the surface of the imagery is the ugly truth about the struggle for this most basic Human Right.

Jimi Hall is a 2-time Peabody Award winner for his work as part of an investigative team in television. The Peabody is considered the Pulitzer Prize of broadcasting. Hall recently was Co-Producer/Editor of the international award winning documentary-Wes Bound: The Genius of Wes Montgomery. Watch it here:

https://weta.org/watch/shows/wes-bound-genius-wes-montgomery

Today, Hall is the Executive Producer of Canary Canard, a French podcast company that also produces short films with a worldview and left of center French sensibility.

Director Statement

Maji is a one minute film that appears very shallow on the surface, but possesses a deadly undertow. Every day 1000 children die because they do not have access to clean water. "Maji" is water in Swahili. Maji is Life… The burden of collecting life sustaining water often falls on the women and children, who daily must provide for their family and communities. Many nursery rhymes are steeped historically in tragedy and given a child's vocabulary to conceal the story's true meaning. I wanted my film to present the most beautiful and tender imagery of how precious the bonds of family can be and the simple task of sustaining life for some is a daily pursuit. The ugly truth, beneath the surface, is that approximately 3.5 million people die every year due to inadequate water supply, sanitation and hygiene. Mother Earth weeps for her children…

7:17: FINE Family mealtime dissolves into chaotic, spectacular performance in war time Israel.

Family meal time goes haywire in this video work created during the current war; ordinary routines dissolve into chaotic, spectacular performance as everything falls apart

Meirav Heiman (1972, Jerusalem) is a multimedia artist. She holds a B.F.A. (cum laude) in Photography from the Bezalel Academy and is finishing an M.F.A. in Film. Heiman has exhibited at the - Herzliya Museum of Contemporary art, Haifa Museum of Art, Tel Aviv Museum, Petah Tikva Museum, the Israel Museum Jerusalem, and The Bass, Miami Beach. Heiman has also shown video and multimedia works at festivals and biennales overseas.

Director Statement

Since October 7th, while the Middle East is in crisis, we struggle to survive as the world we knew collapses around us, grasping desperately at whatever we have - family, friends, everyday routines and rituals. "FINE" presents a moment in time when we are still reeling with shock, and turns it into a choreography of survival amid chaos. The project originated in current tragic reality ,though I believe it goes beyond the local, and connects with such universal themes as family, belonging and survival. The moment in time is both isolated and drawn out: viewers linger over catastrophe with morbid enjoyment, as in reality TV, while the elusive, fleeting moment itself can never be captured and seems to occupy the focus of the frame and of our gaze.

7:22 FELLINI'S Satirical spoof. NYC nightclub with outrageous characters as if they stepped out of a Fellini movie. Q&A

Songwriter's inspiration: In my college years in the 1970's, being heavily into filmmaking and cinema studies, I naturally studied the works of the Italian master Federico Fellini. More recently, comedian Bill Hader's flamboyantly gay NYC night club reviewer "Stefon" on the Weekend Update section of SNL was at once both brilliant and hysterical. Please see examples on YT. The combination of these two life experiences inspired me to write Fellini's, a satirical spoof of an outrageous, over the top New York City night club with crazy characters as if they stepped right out of a Fellini film into a night club called, of course, Fellini's. Federico Fellini liked satirically spoofing the decadent lifestyle of the rich and famous and here my singing/producer/collaborator Adrenax has infused precisely the circus like atmosphere I designed!

Director - Jay Carney

8PM TRANSITION TO GREATNESS Fictitious dialogue between Pres. Trump & homeless New Yorker as pandemic rages & 2020 election looms. 1h48m

Transition to Greatness is a narrative feature film about President Trump's response to the pandemic and the 2020 election.

The film is an invented, thought-provoking "discussion" with President Trump presented as an intricate visual puzzle.

It is an extended fictitious dialogue between a homeless New Yorker and President Trump. They engage in a wide-ranging "conversation" as the pandemic rages and the 2020 election looms.

The film is filled with visual manipulations that insert Trump, the pandemic and 2020 election elements into the picture. The main hero, Mike (Brian Panella), wanders around New York City and interacts with the ubiquitous Trump, who talks to him via city billboards, video screens, wifi stations, bus stops and even pay phones.

The picture has also been manipulated so that, other than Mike and Trump, there is no one else in the frame - an eerie reminder of the isolation in America's most populated city during the height of the pandemic.

Directed, written, and produced by 1212

Starring: Brian Panella

Transition to Greatness - narrative feature film: Drama / Comedy / Adventure - 108 minutes