Gianmarco D’Agostino is an Italian filmmaker whose documentaries underscore the restorative power of art and human kindness.  At MNFF 2017 he screened his film “Camminando Sull’acqua / Walking on Water” for the first time in the USA, a story about Florence’s resurrection from the 1962 flood.   MNFF caught up with Gianmarco and talked about what it’s like to work with older film along with what he is future projects.   MNFF: Tell us how you came upon Beppe Fantacci's story and why you decided to make a film concerning his work?   GD: A good friend of mine, Antonina Bargellini,…

At MNFF 2017, Robin Starbuck’s “The Stag’s Mirror” took home the VSO Excellence in Music Composed for Film Award. As a part of the award, Starbuck is working on a new experimental project with local composer Matt LaRocca. MNFF sat down with Robin to discuss VSO prep, her approach to ethnographic filmmaking and the Popol Vuh. Starbuck will present an excerpt of her new work accompanied by a live performance from the Vermont Symphony Orchestra. This MNFF concert-screening will take place Sunday, August 26 at 1pm in Middlebury College’s Mahaney Center for the Arts.   MNFF: What projects are you…

The Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival is excited to launch its very first Kids & Family Day August 22, just before Opening Night kicks off on Thursday, August 23. Join us at the Middlebury Marquis from 9am -6pm for a fun day chock-full of family-friendly films, awesome hands-on activities and experiments, facepainting and, of course, popcorn! Tickets will be sold at the Marquis. Kids under 8 are admitted for free, tickets for kids 8-18 are $5 and tickets for adults 18+ run $10. Check out the schedule of events and films for Kids & Family Day - we’ve got something for…

“Black Canaries” won the 2016 Vermont Symphony Orchestra “VSO” Award for Best Integration of Music into Film, which is granted to one MNFF film each year. As part of the award, VSO pairs the winning filmmaker with a Vermont composer who scores their next project. Kreitzer worked with local composer Paul Dedell and presented an excerpt of his work accompanied by a live performance from the Vermont Symphony Orchestra. This concert-screening took place at MNFF 2017 in Middlebury’s Mahaney Center for the Arts.   Kreitzer is now expanding on his documentary project, “Caregivers,” which explores the complex networks within Vermont’s…

We are thrilled to announce that Personal Statement, the phenomenal feature documentary from director Juliane Dressner and co-director Edwin Martinez will be the 2018 MNFF Opening Night Film. You can check out the trailer below.  We are further pleased to share that director Julian Dressner will attend Opening Night with Producer (and MNFF3 alumna!) Beth Levison, as well as some special film guests.  In anticipation of the big day, MNFF sat down with Juliane and Edwin to understand their filmmaking process and discuss the college guidance gap.  You can now buy tickets to the Opening Night of MNFF 2018 on our…

The Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival is pleased to announce the screening of Coming Through The Rye at the Brandon Town Hall on July 22 at 7pm. Director James Sadwith of Woodstock, Vermont will attend the screening and participate in an on-stage Q&A with MNFF Producer Lloyd Komesar following the film. Written and directed by Sadwith, Coming Through The Rye is inspired by the filmmaker's own true story. Set in 1969, the film follows a 16 year old boy who is desperate to be a worldly adolescent. After stumbling through disastrous relationships at boarding school, and, accompanied by a local town…

At MNFF 2016, Candice Carella’s “Pony” took home the Audience Award for a Short Film. MNFF sat down with Candice Carella to discuss her current project “Three Days in the Hole,” the experience of working with a child actor and the lucky mishap of a family vacation to Florida.   MNFF: Can you talk about the inspiration behind Pony?   CC: Pony was inspired by a real life incident. My parents took my daughter to Florida on vacation and they were playing on the beach and she discovered a bone, which turned out was a human bone. My dad called…

We are thrilled to announce that the Academy Award winning Production Design duo David Wasco and Sandy Reynolds-Wasco, with Oscars in hand for La La Land, will attend the 4th Annual Festival this August.  MNFF will honor the Wascos with VTeddy Awards at the Festival Closing Ceremonies on Sunday, August 26 at 6:30pm at the Town Hall Theater. David will receive an award for "Sustained Excellence in Production Design" and Sandy will receive one for "Sustained Excellence in Set Decoration." The Wascos are extraordinarily talented and creative people and we are looking forward to having them here in Middlebury for the entire…

Mari Mantela’s “An Autobiography” won the MNFF 2017 Audience Award for a Short Film. MNFF sat down with Finnish filmmaker Mari to check in. We discussed the sci-fi western film she’s working on, her experience as an international filmmaker and the risk of sending a message in a bottle. By the way: You can now check-out “An Autobiography” at the Ilsley Public Library in Middlebury, VT. Mari encourages any new or past viewers to reach out! You can see her Vimeo page here.    MNFF: What are you up to now?   MM: I’m in a really good place right…

  To recognize his continued dedication to documenting stories in the face of grave danger, MNFF is delighted to present Mohammad Ali Naqvi [Mo Naqvi] with the “Courage in Filmmaking Award.”  Mo Naqvi is an internationally recognized documentarian whose groundbreaking work sheds light on governmental and human rights issues in the Middle East, where he often risks his own life to capture exclusive footage. His feature documentary Among the Believers, co-directed with Hemal Trivedi, screened at the 2016 MNFF,  won multiple awards and received a 2017 Emmy nod for “Outstanding Politics and Government Documentary.” Naqvi’s 2006 film, Shame, follows the…

Join us for the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival’s big Saturday Night Party featuring a rousing performance by the legendary Bow Thayer! American Flatbread, located in Middlebury’s historic Marble Works district, is generously hosting the Party once again this year and will provide a wide array of their famously delicious flatbread pizzas along with an extensive selection at the bar. Hailed as “a serious asset to Vermont,” Thayer is based in Stockbridge and has led an impressive career spanning close to three decades. He helped found Seven League Boots in 1990, a rock/reggae band that played alongside Fugazi and Pearl Jam,…