MNFF7: Wed-Sun, August 25-29, 2021
Browse the films, panels and parties of the 7th Annual Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival.
Screening Venues
THT: Town Hall Theater
MQM: Marquis Theatre – Main Screen
MQS: Marquis Theatre – Screening Room
SHI: Swift House Inn
ROB: Robison Hall @ Mahaney Arts Center
Wednesday 8/25
WED 9am / Films
Town Hall Theater (THT)
Marquis Theatre Main Screen (MQM)
Marquis Theatre Screening Room (MQS)
New Visions Showcase I
Short Program
WED 11:30am / Films
Town Hall Theater (THT)
Marquis Theatre Main Screen (MQM)
Marquis Theatre Screening Room (MQS)
WED 2pm / Films & Special Event
Town Hall Theater (THT)
After the Film | Q&A with Actor Jeremy Holm
House of Cards and Mr. Robot star Jeremy Holm will be hosting this screening of his latest feature narrative film, Silo. Mr. Holm is an Addison County Resident. Moderated by MNFF Producer, Lloyd Komesar.
Marquis Theatre Main Screen (MQM)
Marquis Theatre Screening Room (MQS)
WED / Opening Night
Town Hall Theater (THT)
– Opening Night Ticket Holders Only, Please –
6pm
Doors Open
6:30pm
Introductions and remarks by MNFF Producer, Lloyd Komesar, and Artistic Director, Jay Craven.
After the Film |
Q&A with the Storm Lake Times’ Art Cullen and Directors Jerry Risius and Beth Levison
Moderated by MNFF Artistic Director, Jay Craven.
Swift House Inn
– Opening Night Ticket Holders Only, Please
9:15pm
After Party
The festivities continue outdoors under the big tent at Swift House Inn. Enjoy food, drink and music by Dayve Huckett and mingle with the Inn’s new owners Matthew Robinson and Serena Kim.
Thursday 8/26
THU 9am / Films
Town Hall Theater (THT)
Marquis Theatre Main Screen (MQM)
Robison Hall, Mahaney Arts Center (ROB)
THU 11:30am / Films
Town Hall Theater (THT)
Marquis Theatre Main Screen (MQM)
End of the Line: The Women of Standing Rock
Documentary, 87m
Clio Visualizing History Prize for the Advancement of Women in Film
Filmmaker Attending
Robison Hall, Mahaney Arts Center (ROB)
THU 2pm / Films & Special Event
Town Hall Theater (THT)
Honoree Event | Onstage Conversation with Sam Pollard
Acclaimed director, editor and producer Sam Pollard discusses the making of this signature documentary.
Marquis Theatre Main Screen (MQM)
Robison Hall, Mahaney Arts Center (ROB)
THU 4:30-6pm / Special Event & Happy Hour
4:30pm / Town Hall Theater (THT)
FREE & OPEN TO ALL
Panel | Start The Presses: Journalism As the Connective Tissue of Our Communities
Storm Lake Times Editor Art Cullen joins five distinguished Vermont journalists to discuss the vital importance of local newspapers. Moderated by Jasper Craven.
5pm / Henry Sheldon Museum Garden – IPJ Hospitality Tent
Passholders Only, Please
Festival Thursday Happy Hour
1 Park Street | Enjoy food and beverages from Two Brothers Tavern in a beautiful garden setting.
THU 7:15pm / Films & Special Event
Town Hall Theater (THT)
FREE & OPEN TO ALL
Honoree Event | Onstage Conversation with Sam Pollard
Sam Pollard discusses the landmark documentary that he produced and edited for director Spike Lee.
Marquis Theatre Main Screen (MQM)
Swift House Inn (SHI)
Robison Hall, Mahaney Arts Center (ROB)
THU 9:15pm / Party
Henry Sheldon Museum Garden – IPJ Hospitality Tent
Passholders Only, Please
Thursday Night Party
1 Park Street | Gather for a lovely finale to Festival Thursday. Enjoy food and drink from Two Brothers Tavern and music by Josh Cote and Krishna Guthrie.
Friday 8/27
FRI 9am / Films
Town Hall Theater (THT)
Marquis Theatre Main Screen (MQM)
Robison Hall, Mahaney Arts Center (ROB)
FRI 11:30am / Films & Special Event
Town Hall Theater (THT)
Sugar On The Weaver’s Chair
Documentary, 60m
American-Indonesian Cultural & Educational Foundation Prize (AICEF)
Filmmaker Attending
Special Event | Cross-Cultural Filmmaker Exchange
The American Indonesian Cultural and Educational Foundation (AICEF) has partnered with MNFF and the Bali International Film Festival to create a cross cultural exchange of filmmakers, with an Indonesian filmmaker coming to Middlebury and an American filmmaker going to Bali to screen their respective films. Indonesian filmmaker Harvan Agustriansyah is expected to attend this screening of his narrative film Sugar on the Weaver’s Chair.
FREE & OPEN TO ALL: A reception featuring Mr. Agustriansyah and diplomats from the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia, New York, will follow the screening at Town Hall Theater.
Marquis Theatre Main Screen (MQM)
Robison Hall, Mahaney Arts Center (ROB)
FRI 2pm / Films & Special Event
Town Hall Theater (THT)
Nomad Meets The City
Documentary, 80m
American-Indonesian Cultural & Educational Foundation Prize (AICEF)
Filmmaker Attending
Special Event | Cross-Cultural Filmmaker Exchange
The American Indonesian Cultural and Educational Foundation has partnered with MNFF and the Bali International Film Festival to create a cross cultural exchange of filmmakers, with an Indonesian filmmaker’s film screening at Middlebury and an American filmmaker’s film screening at Bali. American filmmaker Anji Clubb will attend the screening of her film, Nomad Meets the City.
Marquis Theatre Main Screen (MQM)
Robison Hall, Mahaney Arts Center (ROB)
Sophie Jones
Narrative, 85m
Introduced by Orly Yadin, Exec. Dir., Vermont International Film Festival
Film Presented by
FRI 4-6pm / Special Events & Happy Hour
4:00pm / Town Hall Theater (THT)
FREE & OPEN TO ALL
Panel | Available Light: How I Made My Movie In Vermont
A panel of notable Vermont filmmakers discusses the process of getting movies made in the Green Mountain State. Moderated by Jay Craven. This Panel is presented by Vermont Magazine, and will be introduced by publisher Joshua Sherman.
4:30pm / Robison Hall @ Mahaney Arts Center (ROB)
FREE & OPEN TO ALL
Special Event | Vermont Symphony Orchestra Performs The Music Of The Animated Film Two Balloons
Enjoy the simultaneous VSO performance of the Two Balloons score, arranged by Matt LaRocca, Middlebury College ’02, and the screening of this beautiful animated short film, directed by Mark Smith.
Filmmakers and original score composer attending.
5pm / Marquis Theatre Café
Visiting Filmmakers Only, Please
Filmmakers Champagne Reception
An informal opportunity for filmmakers to meet and mingle in one of Middlebury’s iconic film spaces.
5pm / The Alley at Town Hall Theater
Passholders Only, Please
Festival Friday Happy Hour
Enjoy food from Grapevine Grill and beverages from Town Hall Theater in the gathering spot next to the theater. Music by THT Artistic Director, Doug Anderson.
FRI 7:15pm / Films
Town Hall Theater (THT)
Marquis Theatre Main Screen (MQM)
Swift House Inn (SHI)
Mate
Narrative-Animation, 6m
Vermont Symphony Orchestra Award for Best Integration of Music into Film
Filmmaker Attending
Robison Hall, Mahaney Arts Center (ROB)
Honoree Event | Onstage Conversation with Heidi Levitt
Renowned Casting Director Heidi Levitt discusses her role in casting and co-producing this revered drama from director Wayne Wang.
FRI 9:15pm / Party
The Alley at Town Hall Theater
Passholders Only, Please
Friday Night Party
Gather for a lively wrap to Festival Friday. Enjoy food by local favorite Sabai Sabai, beverages from Town Hall Theater and music by the duo Auriant.
Saturday 8/28
SAT 8:30am / Special Event
Middlebury Inn Patio
FREE & OPEN TO ALL
Coffee with Casting Director Heidi Levitt
16 Court Square | MNFF Honoree and celebrated casting director Heidi Levitt joins MNFF Artistic Director Jay Craven for a fascinating conversation over coffee about the chemistry of casting and the high-profile directors she has worked with over the years.
SAT 9am / Films
Town Hall Theater (THT)
Marquis Theatre Main Screen (MQM)
Robison Hall, Mahaney Arts Center (ROB)
SAT 11:30am / Films
Town Hall Theater (THT)
Marquis Theatre Main Screen (MQM)
HollyShorts Showcase
Short Program
Robison Hall, Mahaney Arts Center (ROB)
How the Monuments Came Down
Documentary, 89m
Thaddeus Stevens Prize for Social Engagement
Filmmaker Attending
SAT 2pm / Films
Town Hall Theater (THT)
Marquis Theatre Main Screen (MQM)
Robison Hall, Mahaney Arts Center (ROB)
SAT 5pm / Happy Hour
Middlebury Inn Patio
Passholders Only, Please
Festival Saturday Happy Hour
16 Court Square | Enjoy food and beverages from the Middlebury Inn, an MNFF Lodging and Hospitality Sponsor, and a gracious and relaxing spot in the heart of the town.
SAT 7:15pm / Films & Special Event
Town Hall Theater (THT)
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
Narrative, 115m
40th Anniversary Tribute Screening
Honoree Attending
Honoree Event | Onstage Conversation with Karen Allen
Following a 40th Anniversary screening of the Steven Spielberg classic, enjoy a discussion with the film’s splendid star and MNFF Honoree Karen Allen.
Marquis Theatre Main Screen (MQM)
Swift House Inn (SHI)
Robison Hall, Mahaney Arts Center (ROB)
SAT 9:15pm / Party
American Flatbread
Passholders Only, Please
Saturday Night Party
Marble Works, 137 Maple St | Gather outside under the new pavilion at American Flatbread for the always vibrant Festival Saturday party with great food and beverages and music from local favorites The Balladeer and The Bluesman.
Sunday 8/29
SUN 10am / Films
Town Hall Theater (THT)
Marquis Theatre Main Screen (MQM)
Marquis Theatre Screening Room (MQS)
New Visions Showcase II
Short Program
SUN 1pm / Films
Town Hall Theater (THT)
Marquis Theatre Main Screen (MQM)
Marquis Theatre Screening Room (MQS)
SUN 4pm / Films & Special Event
Town Hall Theater (THT)
Honoree Event | Onstage Conversation with Karen Allen
Following a screening of John Carpenter’s classic 1984 drama, catch the conversation with MNFF Honoree Karen Allen about working with fellow actor Jeff Bridges.
Marquis Theatre Main Screen (MQM)
Marquis Theatre Screening Room (MQS)
SUN / Closing Night / FREE
Town Hall Theater (THT)
FREE & OPEN TO ALL
6:30pm
Doors Open
6:45pm
Closing Ceremony & VTeddy Awards Presentation
Join us for the joyful presentation of the VTeddy Awards celebrating the winners for Best Documentary Short, Best Documentary Feature, Best Narrative Short, Best Narrative Feature, Audience Award – Short, Audience Award – Feature, the Hernandez/Bayliss Prize, the Clio Visualizing History Prize for the Advancement of Women in Film, the Gaia Prize for Environmental Filmmaking, the Shouldice Family Prize for Best Vermont-Made Film, the Vermont Symphony Orchestra Award, the AICEF Prize for Cross-Cultural Filmmaking, the Thaddeus Stevens Prize and the inaugural Ralph Steiner Prize for Poetic Cinema.
7:45pm
The Ants and the Grasshopper
Documentary, 74m
Gaia Prize for Environmental Filmmaking
Filmmaker Attending
After the Film |
Q&A with Director Raj Patel
The Ants & The Grasshopper director Raj Patel closes out MNFF7 with a spirited exchange with MNFF Artistic Director Jay Craven about this extraordinary documentary.