Montclair Film Festival
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| Location | Montclair, New Jersey, United States |
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| Founded | 2012 |
| Festival date | May |
| Language | International |
| Website | montclairfilmfest |
The Montclair Film Festival (MFF) is a community-based film festival in Montclair, New Jersey, that first ran in May 2012. The festival showcases filmmakers from a variety of countries while creating a cultural focal point for the Township of Montclair, surrounding communities and the region. According to The New York Times, MFF, the winner of the Discover Jersey Arts 2012 People’s Choice Awards for favorite film festival, is “A film festival with more of everything".
The idea for a film festival was formed when WNET-TV Vice President and General Counsel Bob Feinberg, a Montclair resident, gave a tour to an associate considering a move to the New Jersey city. Known as a place where arts and culture flourish, his associate asked “Where is the film festival?” Feinberg set out to establish MFF, hiring veteran festival programmers and directors Thom Powers and Raphaela Neihausen and developing a Board of Directors composed of many of Montclair’s prominent residents, including film and media professionals, philanthropists and community leaders.
Modeled after popular film festivals around the country that have revitalized small arts-oriented towns like Montclair, MFF organized to deliver innovative programs to regional film enthusiasts who flocked to its two independent arts cinemas. Relying on the expertise and connections of many industry insiders who reside within the community, and maximizing its impact by collaborating with many of the region's prominent arts organizations, MFF was born. The inaugural festival in May 2012, originally estimated to attract 5,000 visitors, reached 7,500 motion picture enthusiasts, arts patrons and cultural tourists. Over 45 films and XX guests were in attendance including actors Oliver Platt,Kathleen Turner,Olympia Dukakis and Patrick Wilson, filmmaker Michael Moore and author Judy Blume. Early screenings of art house successes included The Oranges, Your Sister’s Sister, 2 Days in New York and Robot and Frank.
According to The New York Times, MFF, the winner of the Discover Jersey Arts 2012 People’s Choice Awards for favorite film festival, is “A film festival with more of everything. Over one week in May 2013, at seven venues across one community, the festival nearly doubled in size and attracted more than 14,000 attendees to 80+ films and events including selected world and New Jersey premieres. The Montclair Times noted, “If last year’s inaugural festival was like an indie hit, then this year’s outing is a glossy sequel.” In addition to offering films by emerging filmmakers, the festival provided opportunities to see some of the year’s most critically acclaimed films first in Montclair with post-screening discussions and conversations with special guests including directors, producers and actors, and occasions to hear from promising new artists from the film industry. A favorite film category, NJ Spotlight, offered a platform for dozens of talented and lesser-known filmmakers from New Jersey to exhibit new work. Prominent guests included a return visit from Michael Moore, Harry Belafonte, Darlene Love, Lake Bell, Ice-T, Alex Gibney and The New York Times’ David Carr.
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