Archive for the ‘programmer profile’ Category
By chris, December 11th, 2009 in programmer profile | Comments Off
I hadn’t planned to post two programmers from one festival, especially not back-to-back, but Fridays are normally pretty low traffic and I like the different perspectives on the same festival. It is also important to note that there are always several opinions in an organization that matter when it comes to festival programming. So please, Friday readers – enjoy this alternate take on the Atlanta Film Festival from Paula Martinez.
My name: Paula Martinez
My current festival: Atlanta Film Festival
My title: Managing Director/Festival Producer
Other fests I’ve worked for: Out On Film
Movies that best represent my personal tastes: Half-Nelson, Office Space, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, and my guilty pleasure movie – Benny & Joon
When I’m not watching movies I like to: Travel, listen to music.
A movie I recently programmed that I consider to be a great personal discovery: WE FUN. This movie has so much character and I was so excited about it as I was screening it. It has a lot of Atlanta and Athens bands in it, but it’s really transferable to any city – or indie music centric areas.
When filmmakers ask me “What’s different about your film festival?” I say: We’re all inclusive. We include LGBTQ programming each year into our festival (called Pink Peach) and issue an award. We also tend to spotlight a specific program each year. Last year we spotlighted Mexican cinema. This year will be another. Since Atlanta is such an eclectic city, our programming mirrors that. There is truly something for everyone.
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By chris, December 10th, 2009 in programmer profile | 1 Comment
My name: Dan Krovich
My current festival: Atlanta Film Festival
My title: Festival Director
Other fests I’ve worked for: Maryland Film Festival
Three movies that best represent my personal tastes: Three was definitely too few, but I decided to limit myself to 10. (Of course, then I went to 11.) Capturing the Friedmans, Elephant, Funny Games, Harold and Maude, Hukkle, Morvern Callar, Moulin Rouge, Piranha, Primer, Schizopolis, The Unbelievable Truth.
When I’m not watching movies I like to: Who would have thought that this would be the most difficult to answer? I like sports, but I seem to do a lot more watching of them than playing – tennis, football, college basketball. I also like to read, and I seem to be more on a nonfiction kick lately.
A movie I recently programmed that I consider to be a great personal discovery: Make-Out With Violence – What I liked most about it is that I couldn’t easily describe it. It didn’t fall into a simple categorization so it felt very fresh. It had creativity, originality, and the energy of new filmmakers.
When filmmakers ask me “What’s different about your film festival?” I say: We’re a general festival in that we show all genres and types of films, and I feel like we are really democratic across the genres. For example, the competition section will often feature films that might traditionally play in a midnight section at other festivals.
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By chris, December 9th, 2009 in programmer profile | No Comments
My name: Andrew Rodgers
My current festival: RiverRun International Film Festival in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
My title: Executive Director
Other fests I’ve worked for: Sundance Film Festival, Chicago International Film Festival
Movies that best represent my personal tastes: If I were stranded in a North Korean prison with only three movies, I’d want to have All the President’s Men, The Thin Man and The Maltese Falcon with me. Films I seem to find myself watching about once a year include Good Night and Good Luck, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Fog of War and The Red Violin. Other films I love intensely include Citizen Kane, The Third Man, Spirited Away, The Jerk, The Seventh Seal, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg and The Muppet Movie (which was the very first film I ever saw in a theater as a kid). Great films I’ve seen in the last 12 months include Choke, Moon, Dogtooth, The Informant, La Danse, In the Loop and Push.
When I’m not watching movies I like to: Well, I like spending time with my wife, swimming, playing racquetball, cooking healthy food and reading novels from the 1800’s and biographies. But I usually end up neglecting my wife, getting fat on chocolate and fast food and ignoring my stack of books to spend all my spare time trying to raise money for RiverRun.
A movie I recently programmed that I consider to be a great personal discovery: One of the best things about being a programmer is when you stumble across a movie you didn’t know much about and, as it plays, your grin gets wider and wider because you know you’ve found something you want to show. And then, at the end of the credits, you jump out of your chair and do a little dance because you found a gem. It happens so rarely . . . but when it does, it’s what keeps you motivated to watch that fifth horrible film in a row on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. This past year, Brett Ingram’s documentary Rocaterrania was just that sort of film for me. It was a beautifully structured portrait of a quirky and compelling outsider artist.
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By chris, December 8th, 2009 in programmer profile | No Comments
My name: Gary Anthony Williams. (also known as that one black guy from Malcolm in the Middle, Boston Legal and The Boondocks.) I’m Googleable.
My current festival: L.A. Comedy Shorts Film Festival
My title: Artistic Director
Other fests I’ve worked for: Santa Barbara Film Festival as juror for the shorts program.
Three movies that best represent my personal tastes: No can do this. I’m a comedy ho.
When I’m not watching movies I like to: See live performances. Do the daddy thing. Do the friends thing. Laugh at stuff. Play Tennis.
A movie I recently programmed that I consider to be a great personal discovery: At LA Comedy Shorts, the three founders (Myself, Jeannie Roshar and Ryan Higman) program as a group. We can easily name 10 or 20 pieces that would be considered personal favorites from last year’s festival that not many folks have seen. All of which were original and made us laugh out loud. Here are a few of those in no particular order. The Deposition of Lou Bagetta, The Horribly Slow Murderer with an Extremely Inefficient Weapon, A Bit of Counseling, Love on the Line, The Lutheran, Cinderellis.
When filmmakers ask me “What’s different about your film festival?” I say: Hello filmmaker, my name is Gary. The L.A. Comedy Shorts Film Festival is the largest comedy film festival in the USA. It’s dedicated to introducing the newest and hottest comedic talent to the industry in a four-day, fun-packed weekend of screenings, parties, industry panels, and a star-studded red carpet awards event. It’s run by funny folks for funny folks. The founders either currently work in or have worked on stage live and/or in the comedy film and TV industry. Because we’re in the business, we have direct and friendly contact to Celeb-types, production companies, management companies, etc. Also, we hook up our winners (and festival attendees) with interviews and in-room meetings with folks who can really help their career. There is much hob-knobbing and shoulder rubbing to be done at the festival. Good-bye, filmmaker.
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By chris, December 2nd, 2009 in programmer profile | No Comments
My name: Joanne Feinberg
My current festival: Ashland Independent Film Festival, Ashland, OR
My title: Director of Programming
Other fests I’ve worked for: My first programming related job was Assistant to the Programmer at the Bleecker Street Cinema, an “art house” theater in NYC, when I was a student at NYU in Cinema Studies and Film Prod. It was an amazing education in film history. I’m going to date myself here, but this was when you could still see “classic” and “foreign” films on the big screen any night of the week in NY. After that, I worked as a freelance film and video editor for many years, and served on several juries and selection committees in the Bay Area.
Movies that best represent my personal tastes: Check out the AIFF festival programs for the past 5 years for a good representation! My tastes are really diverse, and there are just so many films that I love, for different reasons. Just off the top of my head – some that took my breath away the first time I saw them: Badlands (Terrence Malick), The Times of Harvey Milk (Rob Epstein), His Girl Friday (Howard Hawks), Breathless (Jean-Luc Godard), Do the Right Thing (Spike Lee), Half Nelson (Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden). The film I think I have seen the most times ever, because I have kids, is Iron Giant – it’s wonderful and I’d see it again, anytime!
When I’m not watching movies I like to: I just ran my first marathon a few weeks ago. And I have 3 children. So running on the trails in Ashland, and running trying to keep up with my kids!
A movie I recently programmed that I consider to be a great personal discovery: Ashland does not put an emphasis on premieres. But we do love to program great films that have not been seen widely yet to help build an audience for the film, as that is a large part of what festivals are ultimately about. We love screening short films, and this is a genre where there is lots of opportunity to discover emerging filmmakers. And there is nothing more satisfying then hearing what a great experience they had with our festival, to develop on-going friendships with filmmakers, and then to screen their next short or feature length film.
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By chris, December 1st, 2009 in programmer profile | No Comments
My name: Claudette Godfrey
My current festival: South by Southwest (SXSW)
My title: Film Festival Coordinator / Shorts Co-Programmer.
Other fests I’ve worked for: CineVegas
Movies that best represent my personal tastes: In no particular order – Top Gun, E.T., and Tommy Boy. Those films defined my childhood and I seriously list those three when anyone asks. I remember more than a few times in film school where other students would say something like Citizen Kane or Modern Times and I would pipe up with one of those classics.
More professionally I list films like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Dear Zachary: A letter to a son about his father, A Town Called Panic and Año Uña. Typing that I realize that none of them are entirely conventional, so maybe that’s the way I’d define my personal taste.
When I’m not watching movies I like to: Talk about movies. Eat Mexican food. Swim. Take photos. Go to shows. Dance. Hang out at bars with friends. Edit my project. Hug. Watch HBO/Showtime. Sleep.
A movie I recently programmed that I consider to be a great personal discovery: TRIMPIN: the sound of invention was a World Premiere for SXSW and one of the very first films we accepted last year. A trusted documentary screener and friend got it in his first round of watching really early in our 2009 season. He came in glowing about it so I watched it immediately. Just a month earlier I saw Trimpin’s work for the first time while on a trip to Seattle with my mom. His IF VI WAS IX: Roots and Branches sculpture is installed in the Experience Music Project and I remember hanging out watching it “perform” for quite some time. I was mesmerized. When I watched the film and connected the dots I was instantly hooked. Trimpin himself is such an phenomenal inventor and musician that he easily becomes an interesting and absorbing character. Peter Esmonde’s handling was superb, allowing you a unique window to this melodious joyful world of Trimpin’s. I loved it and lobbied for it. It was an easy yes because it is such a beautifully well crafted film about a true innovator. It struck notes with every arm of our festival and that’s what SXSW is all about.
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By chris, November 24th, 2009 in programmer profile | 1 Comment
My name: Anna “insert clever nickname here” Feder
My current festival: Boston Underground Film Festival
My title: Festival Director/ programmer
Other fests I’ve worked for: Northampton Independent Film Festival, Newport International Film Festival, Global Voices UN Film Festival. I am also the program director in the Visual and Media Arts department at Emerson College and serve on the board of Women in Film and Video of New England.
Movies that best represent my personal tastes: Juliet of the Spirits, Sante Sangre, Donnie Darko, Oldboy, Thirst, What Have I Done to Deserve This?, Trust, Day of the Beast, Picnic at Hanging Rock, Opera, Secretary, Survive Style 5+, Wild at Heart, Hausu
When I’m not watching movies I like to: Sing karaoke, dance to new wave music, and travel to exotic destinations like Toronto, Montreal, Chicago, San Francisco, and Austin (to sit in darkened theaters and watch more movies). Also digging on schlock TV such as Weeds, Dexter, Big Love, True Blood, as well as Britcom The Mighty Boosh, IT Crowd, and The Mitchell and Webb Look.
A movie I recently programmed that I consider to be a great personal discovery: The Last American Freakshow was screened at BUFF 2009 where it had its American premiere. I have a special place in my heart for this doc about a real traveling freak show made by a British filmmaker who had a hard time finding a home for his film. Many festivals turned it down or suspiciously pulled out of planned screenings because they were uncomfortable with the unique way that disability is portrayed. Our audiences responded in a really thoughtful way and made Mr. Butchins feel like he’d finally found a home for his baby.
There are a host of filmmakers that we have built relationships with over the years, giving these folks an open invitation to submit: Steve Balderson, Bill Domonkos, Leah Meyerhoff, Patrick Smith, Ben Levin and Carey Burtt to name a few. We really cherish these relationships as they give our audience something to look forward to and the filmmakers a reliable outlet and audience for their work.
When filmmakers ask me “What’s different about your film festival?” I say: We are committed to discovering films that aren’t likely to find traditional distribution for a variety of reasons. Often this is the case due to subject or the experimental nature of the form or just a lack of “marketability” on a large scale. Underground does not mean poor quality. These are well-made, competent films albeit not always polished and glossy. These are films that won’t be coming to a theater near you and BUFF is likely the only time they’ll be shown on a big screen in the Northeast. We also try to create events around the festival with live music and other performance (belly dance, burlesque, wrestling women, singing transvestite nuns). We really prioritize the festivity at our festival.
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By chris, November 19th, 2009 in programmer profile | No Comments
My name: Sarah Harris
My current festival: DALLAS International Film Festival (DALLAS Film Society)
My title: Senior Programmer
Other fests I’ve worked for: I program year-round events for the DALLAS Film Society (which puts on the DALLAS festival . . . what was formerly called the AFI DALLAS festival). Before that, the Deep Ellum Film Festival.
Movies that best represent my personal tastes: It changes, so a few for today: Raising Arizona, Fargo, Ghostbusters, The Graduate, Clueless (don’t judge!), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Shining, Kill Bill v1, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Riding Giants, It Might Get Loud.
When I’m not watching movies I like to: Hmm…when is that? Go to other film festivals, watch LSU football, read books (yay books!), drink with friends and family, and sit by the lake/ocean/large body of water that is not in North Texas. 
I watch other movies I don’t have to “think” about (ie. Transformers) and shows I’m behind on (Mad Men, The Wire, 30 Rock, the Daily Show). Watching movies is kind of like breathing.
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