MNFF9: Wed-Sun, August 23-27, 2023
Browse the films, panels and parties of the 9th Annual Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival.
And feel free to open an entire day’s film and party schedule by clicking on all the down arrows.
Indicates filmmaker(s) will attend MNFF9
Wednesday, 8/23
Marquis Theatre Main Screen (MQM)
Marquis Theatre Screening Room (MQS)
Twilight Hall (TWI)
Marquis Theatre Main Screen (MQM)
Marquis Theatre Screening Room (MQS)
Twilight Hall (TWI)
College Student Shorts: Showcase 1
Town Hall Theater (THT)
–Opening Night Ticket Holders Only, Please–
6pm
Doors Open
6:30pm
Introductions and remarks by MNFF Producer Lloyd Komesar and MNFF Artistic Director Jay Craven, followed immediately by our opening night film.
Q&A with Director Jesse Rudoy
Moderated by MNFF Artistic Director, Jay Craven
Filmmaker Jesse Rudoy chronicles the making of his warm, heartfelt documentary Dusty & Stones.
–Opening Night Ticket Holders Only, Please–
9pm
Opening Night Party
The festivities continue outdoors under the big tent at Swift House Inn. Enjoy food, drink and music, and mingle with the Inn’s owners Matthew Robinson and Serena Kim. Music by Dayve Huckett.
Thursday, 8/24
Town Hall Theater (THT)
Marquis Theatre Main Screen (MQM)
Dana Auditorium (DAN)
Twilight Hall (TWI)
Town Hall Theater (THT)
Marquis Theatre Main Screen (MQM)
Dana Auditorium (DAN)
Twilight Hall (TWI)
Town Hall Theater (THT)
Honoree Screening & On-Stage Conversation with Yoni Brook
Moderated by Jay Craven, MNFF Artistic Director
Peabody Award winning director, producer and cinematographer Yoni Brook discusses the making of his groundbreaking docuseries, Philly D.A.
Marquis Theatre Main Screen (MQM)
Dana Auditorium (DAN)
Twilight Hall (TWI)
4:15-5:15pm / Little Seed Coffee Roasters
Conversation: Casting & Directing
With Risa Bramon Garcia
Moderated by MNFF Producer Lloyd Komesar
24 Merchants Row | Join renowned Casting Director and MNFF Honoree Risa Bramon Garcia for a practical and insightful conversation about assembling your film’s cast, and how to direct your actors, once cast, so that you get the most out of their talent, get your story told the way you envision it and put all that on the screen in the limited time you have to shoot.
4:15-5:15pm / Middlebury Town Office
Panel Discussion: The State of Indie Documentary Filmmaking – Challenges and Opportunities In Today’s Media Landscape
Moderated by MNFF Artistic Director Jay Craven
77 Main Street | MNFF Honorees Barbara Kopple, Beth Levison and Yoni Brook join Vermont-based documentary producer Caitlin Boyle and documentary director Bess O’Brien for a substantial discussion of key aspects of independent documentary filmmaking.
5-6pm / Henry Sheldon Museum Garden – IPJ Hospitality Tent
–Passholders Only, Please–
Festival Thursday Happy Hour
1 Park Street | Enjoy tasty food and beverages from Two Brothers Tavern in a beautiful garden setting. Courtesy of IPJ Real Estate, MNFF Presenting Sponsor.
Town Hall Theater (THT)
Returning Honoree Screening and On-Stage Conversation with Barbara Kopple
Moderated by Producer Caitlin Boyle
Two-time Oscar-winning director and revered documentary filmmaker Barbara Kopple returns to MNFF in person for the first time since 2018 with her outstanding and timely new film,
Gumbo Coalition.
Marquis Theatre Main Screen (MQM)
Honoree Screening & On-Stage Conversation with Risa Bramon Garcia
Moderated by MNFF Producer Lloyd Komesar
MNFF Honoree Risa Bramon Garcia shares insights and memories of her 1999 directorial debut, 200 Cigarettes, which featured many up and coming stars like Ben Affleck, Kate Hudson and Paul Rudd.
Dana Auditorium (DAN)
Twilight Hall (TWI)
Honoree Screening & On-Stage Conversation with Marc Levin
Moderated by Bill Hart, Professor Emeritus of History, Middlebury College
Three-time Emmy Award and Peabody Award winner Marc Levin returns to MNFF with his latest feature documentary It’s Basic, which examines several pilot programs launched in the US that test the effects of giving everyday people an extra $500 to $1,000 monthly, with no strings attached.
Swift House Inn (SHI)
Henry Sheldon Museum Garden – IPJ Hospitality Tent
–Passholders Only, Please–
Thursday Night Party
1 Park Street | Gather for a lovely ending to Festival Thursday. Enjoy food and drink from Two Brothers Tavern in one of the town’s finest spots. Courtesy of IPJ Real Estate, MNFF Presenting Sponsor.
Friday, 8/25
Town Hall Theater (THT)
Marquis Theatre Main Screen (MQM)
Dana Auditorium (DAN)
Twilight Hall (TWI)
Town Hall Theater (THT)
Special Event – AICEF Filmmaker Screening with Director Theogracia Rumansara
Theogracia Rumansara, Indonesian director and writer of Orpa and the AICEF Prize winner selected by the Bali International Film Festival, will attend and screen the U.S. premiere of his award winning first feature.
Marquis Theatre Main Screen (MQM)
Dana Auditorium (DAN)
Twilight Hall (TWI)
Town Hall Theater (THT)
Special Event – AICEF Filmmaker Screening with Director and Producer Alexis Neophytides
Director and Producer Alexis Neophytides, the AICEF Prize winner selected by the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival, presents the Vermont premiere of her new documentary Dear Thirteen. Ms. Neophytides will be going to Bali next June to participate in the 17th Annual Balinale.
Marquis Theatre Main Screen (MQM)
Dana Auditorium (DAN)
Honoree Screening & On-Stage Conversation with with Risa Bramon Garcia
Moderated by MNFF Artistic Director Jay Craven
MNFF Honoree Risa Bramon Garcia discusses the making of this acclaimed Oscar winning film by Oliver Stone from her unique perspective as its Casting Director.
Twilight Hall (TWI)
4-5pm / Wilson Hall, McCullough Student Center, Middlebury College
Fest Pass And Friday Day Pass Holders: No Charge
Walk Up Tickets At The Door: $10
Special Event – Vermont Symphony Orchestra Performance with Screening of
VSO Award-Winning Films
The VSO and MNFF continue their fruitful partnership with a performance of the scores and a simultaneous screening of last year’s winners of the VSO Award for Best Integration of Music into Film: The Social Chameleon, directed by Alex Ross, and Born Under Punches, directed by Gaoyang Ganjin. The VSO’s Matt La Rocca will conduct the arranged scores.
5-6pm / ShireTown Marketplace
–Passholders Only, Please–
Festival Friday Happy Hour
54 College Street | Enjoy the outstanding house made food and delicious beverages in the newly renovated ShireTown Marketplace. Presented by MNFF Sponsor Middlebury College.
5-6pm / Marquis Theatre Café
–Visiting Filmmakers Only, Please–
Filmmakers Champagne Reception
65 Main Street | An informal opportunity for filmmakers to meet and mingle in one of Middlebury’s iconic film spaces.
Town Hall Theater (THT)
Honoree Screening & On-Stage Conversation with Alexander Payne
Moderated by Middlebury College Professor of English Jay Parini
MNFF Honoree Alexander Payne discusses his acclaimed Oscar-nominated and Golden Globe-winning 2002 feature film About Schmidt, starring Jack Nicholson, Kathy Bates and June Squibb.
Marquis Theatre Main Screen (MQM)
Dana Auditorium (DAN)
Honoree Screening & On-Stage Conversation with Beth Levison
Moderated by MNFF Producer Lloyd Komesar
MNFF Honoree Beth Levison is joined by director Alex Rappoport to discuss the making of this excellent new feature documentary that delves into the life of the fascinating and rediscovered painter Peter Bradley.
Twilight Hall (TWI)
Swift House Inn (SHI)
–Passholders Only, Please–
Friday Night Party
Marble Works, 137 Maple St | Wrap up Festival Friday under the beautiful pavilion outside at American Flatbread with great food, beverages and music by Java Sparrow. Presented by MNFF Sponsor Silver Maple Construction.
Marquis Theatre Main Screen (MQM)
Saturday, 8/26
Town Hall Theater (THT)
Marquis Theatre Main Screen (MQM)
Dana Auditorium (DAN)
Honoree Screening & On-Stage Conversation with Beth Levison
Moderated by MNF Producer Lloyd Komesar
MNFF Honoree Beth Levison is joined by directors Anne Alvergue and Debra McClutchy to explore the making of this significant Oscar-nominated film and the road to Oscar night itself that they all navigated.
Twilight Hall (TWI)
Town Hall Theater (THT)
Marquis Theatre Main Screen (MQM)
Dana Auditorium (DAN)
Twilight Hall (TWI)
Town Hall Theater (THT)
Honoree Screening & On-Stage Conversation with Su Friedrich
Moderated by MNFF Artistic Director Jay Craven
Spend time with MNFF Honoree Su Friedrich as she discusses her highly acclaimed film Sink or Swim, inducted into the prestigious National Film Registry of the Library of Congress in 2015.
Marquis Theatre Main Screen (MQM)
Dana Auditorium (DAN)
Twilight Hall (TWI)
4-5pm / Middlebury Inn Patio
FREE & OPEN TO ALL
Afternoon Conversation – A Life in Filmmaking with Director Alexander Payne
Hosted by MNFF Artistic Director Jay Craven
16 Court Square | Honoree Alexander Payne shares his myriad filmmaking experiences in this informal conversation at one of the town’s most convivial outdoor spaces.
5-6pm / Middlebury Inn Lobby & Veranda
–Passholders Only, Please–
Festival Saturday Happy Hour
16 Court Square | Enjoy the lovely food and beverages, presented by the Middlebury Inn, an MNFF Lodging and Hospitality Sponsor.
Town Hall Theater (THT)
Marquis Theatre Main Screen (MQM)
Dana Auditorium (DAN)
Honoree Screening & On-Stage Conversation with Alexander Payne
Moderated by MNFF Artistic Director Jay Craven
Following the screening of his much loved, multi-Oscar nominated film Nebraska, MNFF Honoree Alexander Payne offers his insights and reflections on the film’s creation and its sterling cast.
Twilight Hall (TWI)
Swift House Inn (SHI)
51 Main
–Passholders Only, Please–
Saturday Night Party
51 Main St | Gather at one of the town’s hottest new spots for the vibrant Festival Saturday Night party with terrific food and beverages, presented by MNFF Sponsor Silver Maple Construction.
Sunday, 8/27
Town Hall Theater (THT)
Marquis Theatre Main Screen (MQM)
Marquis Theatre Screening Room (MQS)
College Student Shorts: Showcase 2
Town Hall Theater (THT)
Honoree “Presentation” Screening & On-Stage Conversation with Alexander Payne
Moderated by MNFF Producer Lloyd Komesar
MNFF Honoree Alexander Payne presents and discusses Raising Victor Vargas, an underappreciated 2002 gem of a film by then first time director Peter Sollett.
Marquis Theatre Main Screen (MQM)
Honoree Screening & On-Stage Conversation with Su Friedrich
Moderated by MNFF Artistic Director Jay Craven
MNFF Honoree Su Friedrich offers her thoughts on her most recent film Today and what lies ahead in her storied career.
Marquis Theatre Screening Room (MQS)
Town Hall Theater (THT)
Honoree Screening & On-Stage Conversation with Director John Slattery
Moderated by MNFF Artistic Director Jay Craven
Join MNFF Honoree John Slattery for a robust discussion of his 2014 directing debut, God’s Pocket, featuring Phillip Seymour Hoffman, John Turturro and Christina Hendricks.
Marquis Theatre Main Screen (MQM)
Marquis Theatre Screening Room (MQS)
Town Hall Theater (THT)
FREE & OPEN TO ALL
6:15pm
Doors Open
6:30pm
Closing Ceremony: The VTeddy Awards
Join us for the joyful presentation of the VTeddy Awards celebrating our MNFF9 winners and Honorees!
Our final event of MNFF9, John Slattery joins MNFF Artistic Director Jay Craven for a discussion of his entertaining new film Maggie Moore(s).