News and Press
Dec
31
Snowball effect: Four films keep festival’s momentum going
Rutland Herald Article By Patricia Minichiello Staff Writer | December 31,2015 Back in 1988, Lloyd Komesar, a young television exec working for the Walt Disney Company, began what he calls “a long love affair with Vermont.” He would drive from Burlington to southern Vermont, evenacross to White River Junction, pitching films and TV programming and taking in the idiosyncrasies of small-town life along the way. “I became very fond of Vermont as a result of those travels,” he said. Often he found himself exploring Green Mountain State beyond work obligations. “I was in Montpelier,” he said. “And I remember thinking, 'Montpelier…
Dec
12
Middlebury film festival plans winter offerings
MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival (MNFF) was a hot ticket during its inaugural run this past August, and organizers want to make sure the enthusiasm for the event does not cool off during the frigid Vermont winter. To that end, MNFF officials on Tuesday confirmed a 2016 Winter Screening Series featuring four films that will be shown at Middlebury’s Town Hall Theater from January to April. “Our goal is continuity,” MNFF Producer Lloyd Komesar said through an email exchange. “Even though the 2nd Annual MNFF is still some months away, we want to keep our commitment to new…
Sep
23
Addison Independent: Film festival draws raves in its debut
MIDDLEBURY — If the first-ever Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival (MNFF) were to be judged by the rating scale coined by the late movie critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, it would certainly earn “two thumbs up.” Way up. The festival, which ran last Thursday…
Sep
2
2015 VTeddy Awards
Congratulations to the winners of the VTeddy Awards at the inaugural Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival. Short Films John The Baptist Directed by Rodrigo Meireles [Brazil] [Documentary] My Gal, Rosemarie Directed by Jason Tippet [Documentary] Obsolete Directed by Jay Perry [Australia] Foureyes Directed by Conor Byrne Parallel Chords Directed by Catherine Dudley-Rose Stunned Directed by Gerard Pautonnier [France] Minimum Wage Directed by Joey Ally Feature Films OMO Child: The River and the Bush Directed by John Rowe [Documentary] The Sound and the Shadow Directed by Justin Miller Romeo Is Bleeding Directed by Jason Zeldes [Documentary] Figurine Directed by Hans Olson [Canada]…
Jul
29
Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival announces 2015 selections: Vermont edition
Middlebury, Vermont. . . The Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival is pleased to announce its initial lineup of films with connections to Vermont that will be screened at this summer’s inaugural event. With more than 320 films submitted– three times the number originally expected—the selection process was energizing but challenging. The films profiled in this press release are all connected in some way to Vermont, either created by local artists, about Vermonters, or shot in the state. We are pleased to share these notable films with you, and to announce that our local community will be well represented at this international…
May
21
Film festival gets a ‘beary’ good sponsor
MIDDLEBURY — Organizers of the first-ever Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival (MNFF) have signed up a major new sponsor and have thus far received almost 200 film submissions for a four-day event that’s expected to attract upwards of 1,000 people to Addison County’s shire town for four days this August. The new sponsor is Vermont Teddy Bear Co., which will, among other things, be providing custom-made VTeddy Award statuettes that will be presented to the winning filmmakers before the curtain comes down on the MNFF on Aug. 30. “We are thrilled to have Vermont Teddy Bear lending its wonderful creative talents…
Feb
12
Woodchuck Cider: Calling All Filmmakers
From Woodchuck Ciders recent blog post: For years, Woodchuck Cider has not only been making Real Cider from a Real Place™, but we’ve also been fostering the passion to create and blaze your own path with those in our Woodchuck® Community. In the past, through festivals and our own cidery events, we’ve been bringing cider and music together. Now it’s time to take a little dive into films… We’re proud to announce our sponsorship of the inaugural Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival (MNFF)! Set for August 27th – 30th, 2015, the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival will provide an opportunity for first…
Jan
20
Woodchuck® Hard Cider signs on as lead sponsor for inaugural year of Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival
Middlebury, Vermont—Woodchuck Hard Cider is proud to announce its sponsorship of the inaugural Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival (MNFF), set for August 27-30, 2015, in Middlebury, Vermont. The Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival was created to support, promote and exhibit the dynamic and imaginative efforts of new filmmakers. This partnership unites the Festival’s exclusive emphasis on first and second time filmmakers with Woodchuck’s core values of innovation and creativity. “We are absolutely delighted to have Woodchuck onboard as our presenting sponsor for this first edition of the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival,” Lloyd Komesar, festival producer, said. “This exciting collaboration gives the festival…
Jan
12
Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival launches website and film submissions process
Leicester, Vermont... The Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival (MNFF), set for its inaugural event on August 27-30, 2015, has launched its website and film submissions process. The website, www.middfilmfest.org, contains a wide array of information including the Festival's purpose and its commitment to new filmmakers, a video message from festival Artistic Director Jay Craven, specific details for submitting a film, an opportunity to make a tax-deductible donation, and a guide to buying Festival passes and opening night tickets. Dedicated solely to the work of first or second time filmmakers, MNFF will open its window for submitting films on January 15th and keep…
Jan
9
Addison Independent: Sponsors, venues gel for Middlebury film festival
Article By: John Flowers, Addison Independent, Published January 8, 2015 MIDDLEBURY — Organizers of the first annual Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival (MNFF) on Tuesday confirmed they have secured a lead sponsor for the four-day event and they’ve launched a new website that will assist those wanting to enter and/or attend the event, expected to draw upwards of 1,000 people to Addison County’s shire town on Aug. 27-30. It was last July that MNFF co-organizers Lloyd Komesar and Jay Craven announced their preliminary plans for a festival that they hope will become a signature Middlebury event while affording aspiring filmmakers an…
Jul
10
Addison Independent: Duo plans new film festival in Middlebury next summer
Article By: Phoebe Lewis, Addison Independent, Published July 10, 2014 MIDDLEBURY — If all goes according to plan, in August of 2015 Middlebury will host the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival — a project that promises to be an exciting addition to Middlebury’s cultural scene as well as a significant opportunity for budding filmmakers across the country. Vermont filmmaker Jay Craven and recently retired Disney executive Lloyd Komesar have joined forces to help create a unique opportunity for moviegoers and directors alike with a three-day festival that could preview as many as 60 films, including shorts, full-length features and documentaries. Perhaps…
© Copyright 2014 Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival
Middlebury, Vermont
EIN: 47-1462141
Middlebury, Vermont
EIN: 47-1462141