2018 Arlington International Film Festival Kick-Off
‘An Homage to the Armenian Community in the Greater Boston Area’
JOIN US FOR THE BOSTON PREMIERE
Crows of the Desert – A Hero’s Journey through the Armenian Genocide (62 min)
Marta Houske, Award-winning/Writer/Director/Producer | USA | Doc
Executive Producer, Paul G. Turpanjian
Music, John Massari
#AIFFCROWSMOSESIAN2018
SUNDAY, October 7, 4:30 PM
Mosesian Center for the Arts | 321 Arsenal Street | Watertown
Q&A following the screening with Levon Parian, re-nowned photographic artist and grand-son of the subject Levon Yotnakhparian. Parian’s work will be on exhibit in the lobby of the Mosesian Center.
The Arlington International Film Festival (AIFF) is proud to announce their first-time partnership with the Mosesian Center for the Arts to present this award-winning film in commemoration of the Armenian Genocide and an homage to our Armenian community. This event, the 2018 AIFF Kick-Off, will roll out the red carpet for the 8th annual film festival November 1 – 4 at Arlington’s Capitol Theatre.
Marta Houske
CROWS OF THE DESERT – A HERO’S JOURNEY THROUGH THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE is a documentary based on the memoirs of Levon Yotnakhparian. The film recounts the incredible true story of one man’s desperate struggle to not only stay alive but to help save his people from near extinction in the 20th Century’s first genocide.
World War I was raging in the Middle East, as the British fought side by side with the Arabs against the Ottoman Empire. In the midst of the chaos, Levon would lead a small expeditionary group on a daring mission to rescue the scattered, destitute survivors of the Armenian Genocide. Along the way, they would risk their lives countless times, endure unimaginable hardships, and cross paths with some of the 20th century’s most legendary figures – like Prince Faisal and Lawrence of Arabia.
Extraordinarily rare film footage and photographs, as well as recently rediscovered documents, have been gathered from archives around the world to reveal a harrowing journey that is at once heart-wrenching and inspirational.
Reception and Q&A with Levon Parian following the screening
Tickets $15 at the door or online: https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe/10327894
“The Armenian genocide was the ruthless slaughter of millions of Armenians by the Turks of the Ottoman Empire. In 1915, during World War I, leaders of the Turkish government set in motion a plan to expel and massacre Armenians. By the early 1920s, when the massacres and deportations finally ended, between 600,000 and 1.5 million Armenians were dead, with many more forcibly removed from the country.”
Levon Parian
Levon Parian has been referred to as a philosopher and poet of the camera, a renowned photographer whose work encompasses the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. His experimental style pushes the boundaries of photographic self-expression and has been collected by private individuals as well as museums, and universities. He was honored with his artistic colleagues by Foreign Policy Magazine as being “among the 100 leading global thinkers of 2015.” The award was for “preserving the history of a genocide” through the innovative, larger-than-life public installation “iwitness,” showcasing portraits of Armenian genocide survivors created in commemoration of the 100th anniversary. The installation was the first of its kind in Los Angeles’ landmark Grand Park and led to the first permanent memorial in the city of Los Angeles to the Genocide of 1915. Parian has taken his grandfather’s memoirs, editing and translating his memories to give us this first-hand account of the genocide.
Film Festival Alliance
AIFF Joins Film Festival Alliance, Network of Regional Film Festivals Connecting the Industry
The Arlington International Film Festival is grateful to be a part of the Film Festival Alliance (FFA) and join their network of film festival professionals from all over the globe. The FFA is the only organization working to connect the greater filmmaking community by developing and fostering collaboration between mission-driven film festivals from all around the world. AIFF is so excited about joining the FFA and their goal to create a sustainable ecosystem for film festivals and the people who run them.
AIFF was invited to participate in FFA’s second Regional Roundtable, which took place at the Woods Hole Film Festival on July 27-30. The first Regional Roundtable was held at the Seattle International Film Festival in May of this year, and two more will be held in the fall of 2018. The FFA’s Regional Roundtables are gatherings of festival professionals to network, share ideas, and work together to shape the future of the industry. This series of conferences also works to better connect filmmakers with festival organizers, and therefore builds greater transparency between these two groups.
Photo: Courtesy Woods Hole Film Festival
The FFA is creating a space that has never before existed to unite individuals over their shared passion of films and festivals, and therefore work together to help one another succeed. AIFF is thrilled to be a part of this community and support the FFA’s mission to celebrate and support the art of film.
Our Mission: Originally founded in 2010 as a program of IFP, Film Festival Alliance (FFA) was established in 2015 as an independent
HUMANITAS Prize partners with AIFF, First time working with Independent Film Festivals in 44 Years
The Arlington International Film Festival is honored to be invited to participate in the 44th Annual HUMANITAS Prize event taking place in February 2019 in Los Angeles, CA. For the first time in the organization’s 44 years, HUMANITAS is including independently produced festival films in their Prize event.
For the past decade, HUMANITAS partnered solely with The Sundance Film Festival. Executive Director Cathleen Young says the decision to include independently produced festival films in this year’s Prize is to “expand our reach in order to expand our impact.” Since its founding in 1974, HUMANITAS has been dedicated to empowering writers to tell stories through film and television that convey the human experience. Especially in today’s political climate, HUMANITAS recognizes the importance of supporting up-and-coming filmmakers “for the health of our democracy.”it is critically important to support up-and-coming filmmakers for the health of our democracy.
The winner of the HUMANITAS INDEPENDENT FEATURE FILM AWARD will receive a trophy and a cash award of $10,000. Past winners have included MATT RUSKIN - Crown Heights, RYAN COOGLER - Fruitvale Station, DAMIEN CHAZELLE - Whiplash, CHERIEN DABIS - Amreeka, PARIS QUARLES - A Raisin in the Sun, and SALVATORE STABILE - Where God Left His Shoes.
The Arlington International Film Festival is thrilled to partner with HUMANITAS for their 44th Annual HUMANITAS Prize event, and we encourage our filmmakers at AIFF 2018 to apply for this prestigious award. Submissions will be accepted beginning September 1, 2018. For more information about the HUMANITAS Prize, please visit their website.
Dear Filmmaker,
Here is a short clip of the 43rd Annual HUMANITAS Prize Awardshttp:// https://vimeo.com/271563949
Click here for their call for entries and to submit your script for consideration: https://www.humanitasprize.org/the-humanitas-prize/
Movie Nights in the Park (East Somerville)
Last Fridays in Aug and Sept @ Chuckie Harris Park (3-17 Cross Street)
Films start at dusk / Music and drinks start one hour before
All movie nights go from 7:00 - 10:00pm
More info on the films, visit this link!
AIFF Poetry Slam Brings Out the Poet in US All!!!
Bikers, families, and pedestrians passing through Uncle Sam's Plaza on Saturday, July 14th were awestruck at the unusual sight of old-fashioned typewriters set up on tables on this breezy summer day. As bikers slowed and families stopped to see what all of the commotion was about, enchanted passers-by wandered over to sit at one of the ancient machines. The clickety-clack of keys being pressed by curious fingers was the song that played on which set out to do what was written in this first poem, "This Scarey Guy," and that is, to bring out the artist in us all:
At it's core, the Arlington International Film Festival is more than just a showcase of cinematic talent and storytelling from around the world: it is a celebration of the arts. The AIFF Poetry Slam, which is taking place again this coming Saturday, July 21st from 11:00am-1:00pm at Uncle Sam's Plaza, is meant to encourage Arlingtonians to celebrate the magical world of film through the powerful art of poetry. With Arlington Poet Laureate Cathie Desjardins in attendance, prompts are given to help inspire writers to start typing and telling their movie stories. Here are some of our favorites written from this past Saturday!
Some poets decided to write about their favorite movie snacks:
Others decided to write about their favorite movie scenes:
For some of our poets, they were inspired by the memories of movies at a specific theater, whether it be the drive-in, local cinemas, or our beloved Capitol Theater!
Poems were read aloud by authors and readers, sharing with one another every individual voice who took the time to write with us. Among these voices were poems of different cultures and languages, celebrating and emphasizing the international element of the film festival, uniting stories from all over the world. A pair of sisters wrote a beautiful poem called "Bombay Dreams," and one young woman seamlessly switched between typing her piece in English and French!
Watching people come and go, sit and write, as the pounding of keys and waft of popcorn filled the air, there is something so special being fostered in this outdoor oasis of creativity. It is truly best-summed up by volunteer Linda Vaitkus' poem, "My Moment":
We hope you'll join us this Saturday to type up your own movie-magic inspired poem!
Arlington Community Media, Inc (ACMi)
Yourarlington.com
https://yourarlington.com/arlington-archives/residents/ideas-fun/arts/14652-poems-071818
Arlington Advocate
Poetry Slam | Uncle Sam's Plaza, Arlington Center
Join AIFF and Arlington Poet Laureate Cathie Desjardins at Uncle Sam's Plaza
Saturdays July 14 & July 21 from 11:00-1:00.
TOPIC: ARLINGTON AT THE MOVIES
Love movies?
What’s your favorite moment in a Star Wars movie?
Remember double features?
Ever have a crush on a movie star?
Been to the Capitol or Regent Theaters way back when?
What have you LOVED about going to the movies in Arlington?
Come by and type up your memories and thoughts on real (gasp) typewriters!
#AIFFPOETRYUNCLESAM
Supported by:
AIFF - ACMi - ATED - Cambridge Typewriter Co - Cafe Nero - Food Link - La Victoria Taqueria - Not Your Average Joe's - Lexington Venue -
Yourarlington.com
https://yourarlington.com/arlington-archives/residents/ideas-fun/arts/14652-poems-071818
FRIDAY NIGHT MOVIES UNDER THE SUMMER STARS
Free sundown outdoor summer screening series hosted by East Somerville Main Streets, SCATV, and films provided by AIFF. East Somerville Main Streets' mission is to improve the life of our community by building investment, connection, and pride in our main street.
July 27 | Honk & Fiddlesticks
HONK: Festival of Activist Street Bands by Patrick Johnson | 7 min | Doc | 2016 | USA
Honk! is a festival of activist street bands who reclaim public spaces with their brash sound, political messages, and outrageous community oriented performances. Originating in Somerville Massachusetts and celebrating its 10th anniversary, the festival has spread to cities throughout the world. Watch as these bands work to change the world through their music and activism, and learn about their cultural impact from festival organizers and participants.
Fiddlesticks (80 min)
Veit Helmer, Director | Germany | 2014 | Narrative
A colorful children's adventure opened the “New German Films” section at the Marche du Film of the Cannes Festival in 2015. Director Veit Helmer says of his film, “it is a classic live-action adventure for young and older children between the ages of four and 144,” who grew up with the Little Rascals by Hal Roach and the adventures of Pippi Longstocking. “Nowadays, the majority of movies for young children are animated films. I wanted to do something different.” In fact, Helmer would like children to question authority. “It is important that kids have a healthy suspicion because adults are not always in the right.”
Chuckie Harris Park | 3-17 Cross Street | East Sommerville
“SUITED” – A Free Pride Month Film Screening
HBO
“SUITED” – A Free Pride Month Film Screening. SUITED tells the story of Bindle & Keep, a Brooklyn-based tailoring company that specializes in clothing for people who are LGBTQ, gender-nonconforming, or nonbinary. Clothier duo Rae and Daniel take a holistic approach to their work, considering each client’s personal narrative, which becomes inextricable from the creation of the perfect custom-made suit. From Derek’s emotional journey as he prepares for his wedding to Everett, a law student in a conservative environment, or Melissa, who simply wants to look good for a 40th birthday party – the need for well-fitting garments represents deeper issues of identity, empowerment, and the importance of feeling happy in one’s body.
June 28th, 6:00pm (DOORS) | 6:30pm (SCREENING) | 8:00pm (PANEL) | Somerville Theatre | 55 Davis Square, Somerville, MA 02144
TICKET: Free but first come, first serve (arrive early)
A panel discussion on “Sexual Orientation, Inclusion, and Gender Identity” will follow the documentary with panelists: Bennet Hazell: Somerville High Student & Gay Straight Alliance member | Matt Storm: a Multidisciplinary Artist based in Washington D.C. | Hannah Simpson: a Transgender Writer and Activist based in NYC
https://www.somervillemedia.org/suited/
Media Sponsors: The Rainbow Times: https://www.therainbowtimesmass.com/suited-a-free-pride-month-film-screening/
ARTSBOSTON: https://calendar.artsboston.org/event/suited-fashion-has-no-gender/
The Boston Calendar: https://www.thebostoncalendar.com/events/suited-fashion-has-no-gender
Fostering youth leadership and cultural understanding through Film.
Make Me Dance | Tatyana Bronstein, Director | 65 min | Doc | USA | 2017
Make Me Dance is a documentary that takes an in-depth look at one of the most prestigious dance schools in the United States, The Boston Conservatory. World-renowned choreographer, Darrell Grand Moultrie, has chosen to hold a residency at the Boston Conservatory to craft his new work, “Winds of Now” for young students. The film documents Moultrie’s choreography and preparation for his piece from conception through rehearsals, culminating in opening night at BoCo Theater.
Mosesian Center for the Arts | Watertown | Friday, June 1st | 7:00 pm | 321 Arsenal St Suite 1, Watertown, MA 02472 | | http://www.mosesianarts.org/ | (617) 923-0100
AIFF Poster Contest, an Opportunity to Create a Portfolio
The Reception officially kicks-off this year’s Arlington International Film Festival, scheduled for November 1 – 4 at the Capitol Theatre in East Arlington.
This year’s winning design was created by Rico St Paul, a junior at Mass College of Art & Design, a native of Everett, MA. The gifted art student was recognized by the esteemed jury: David Ardito, Jennifer Cheng DesAutels, Marc Gurton, Erica Licea-Kane, and Niloufer Moochhala. Rico was awarded a cash prize of $500.
Rico St Paul said, “Yearning for spring, I approached this piece to commemorate the birthing of a new digital age. Using both traditional and digital materials, from micron pen to found branches to photoshop blending modes, I intended to communicate a directed unison of these methods of creation, both in the future of illustration and cinematic age.”
The Festival Organizers recognize that graphic design is more than a mere discipline; it is a powerful tool to transform and communicate. Congratulations to artist, Rico St Paul on a very compelling design that will become the international face of the 2018 Festival. Photos Javier Castillo | Arlington High School
yourarlington.com | https://www.yourarlington.com/arlington-archives/residents/ideas-fun/film/13950-aiff-18
AIFF Conversation with Commission of Arts & Culture
AIFF An Evening of Celebration of the Arts
The festival aims at promoting cultural, global and artistic competition among students from Mass college of Art | Design and Illustration Department. It is unique opportunity to brings students from different social background to compete for the 8th annual AIFF Award
Javier Vivas - Graduated from Berklee College of Music in Jazz Composition, Javier Vivas, originally from Colombia is a composer, clarinetist, and multi-instrumentalist who currently lives in Boston MA. Vivas has been an active performer with more than eighteen years of experience, including tours around the US, Mexico, and Europe with recognized musical groups.
Siwen Jiang, as an international artist, choreographer and dance teacher. Her choreography was enriched and inspired by the different cultural environment and dance materials. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance from Tianjin Normal University and continued her study in the Master of Fine Arts program at the College at Brockport: The State University of New York.
Cheryl Hamilton has devoted her career to advancing immigrant integration, and more recently storytelling. A resident of Medford, she serves as Director of Partner Engagement at the International Institute of New England where she created and curates the popular "Suitcase Stories" series honoring refugees and immigrants. She is also the co-coordinator for Mass mouth, a local non-profit that promotes the timeless art of storytelling.
Plus conversation about the future of arts & culture in Arlington as Arlington Cultural District
Make My Dance | Director Tatyana Bronstein
Join us FRIDAY, JUNE 1st , 7 pm | MOSESIAN CENTER FOR THE ARTS | Watertown, MA 02472 |
2018 AIFF CULTURAL & MEDIA Partners
Arlington Community Media, Inc
The A-Town Teen Video Festival is the Arlington area's only homegrown festival for youth filmmakers. Last year's contestants came from Arlington, Lexington, Cambridge, and Lowell, and we expect even broader participation this year. Come experience the breadth and variety of creative imagination on display from our area youth! http://acmi.tv/atown/
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Arlington Friends of the Drama
8th Annual Poster Contest Awards | Thursday, April 26th, 7 pm
Arlington Friends of the Drama, now known as AFD Theatre, was founded in 1923 and is one of the ten oldest continually operating community theater groups in the United States. Incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation in the early 1930s, Arlington Friends of the Drama, Inc. outbid the Odd Fellows and came in with the highest bid for the St. John's Episcopal Church building, now our theatre.
With pride, we can say that AFD Theatre is among the finest community theaters in Massachusetts for actors, directors, production designers, and audiences to produce and enjoy live theater. We design and produce a season of four shows every year, usually including comedy, drama, and two musicals.
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Asian Cultural Center in Cambridge MA
Established in 1999, the Asian Cultural Center, an affiliated member of the Asian Culture & Media Group is a cultural exchange and communication organization committed to presenting and spreading the traditional Chinese culture, promoting the popularization of the Chinese language and facilitating cultural exchange between China and the United States. ACC is headquartered in Manhattan, New York and has offices in Boston, Washington D.C. and Chicago. Since its establishment, ACC has successfully held cultural and educational exchange programs such as performances, exhibitions, lectures, academic forums and summer camps across Eastern and Central United States with the joint participation of renowned experts, scholars, and artists from China and local arts and cultural organizations.
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Cambridge Typewriter Co
Cambridge Typewriter Co., Inc. has been in business since 1973 and is located at 102 Massachusetts Avenue in Arlington, MA 02474. The owner, Tom Furrier, has been a typewriter repairman for 38 years and specializes in sales and repairs of all typewriters. Over the last fifteen years, we have seen a strong resurgence in typewriters, especially with younger people showing an interest in older vintage manual typewriters. We still repair lots of office typewriters for the many companies that still use typewriters in the metro Boston area. Because we are one of the last typewriter shops left in New England, people from all over the Northeast travel to our shop looking for that perfect vintage typewriter that will help inspire them to write stories, poetry, music, journaling or anything else they can think of.
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Boston Irish Film Festival
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East Somerville Main Streets
Movies Under The Stars in The CHUCKIE PARK | East Somerville.
It is a free outdoor summer screening series hosted by East Somerville Main Streets, SCATV and the Arlington International Film Festival the last Friday in July, August and September.
Dates and films
July 27, East Somerville Main Streets | Chuckie Harris Park | AIFF Film Program
August 31st, East Somerville Main Streets | Chuckie Harris Park | AIFF Film Program
September 28, East Somerville Main Streets | Chuckie Harris Park | AIFF Film Program
East Somerville Main Streets' mission is to improve the life of our community by building investment, connection, and pride in our main street. Join us today, become a supporter!
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Fugitive Production in Acton
EDGAR ALLAN POE: Buried Alive | Thursday, April 12th 7, pm | The Gallery At Villageworks | 525 Mass Ave | West Acton MA
“Stories make us more alive, more human, more courageous, more loving.” — Madeleine L’Engle
We are hard-wired, perhaps at a genetic level, to tell and listen to stories. Stories pass a legacy between generations and are a way in which we form relationships in the here and now. While storytelling is entertainment, it is so much more. It is an art form as old as humanity. It is the primary way that we relate to each other to create kinship and community. Storytelling is a way in which we give a bit of ourselves to others and a way in which we feel less alone. Humanity's earliest stories were about survival, hope, loss, love, and courage. Today’s stories echo the same themes.
STORYTELLING IN WEST ACTON, ARLINGTON & FRAMINGHAM
Fugitive Stories presents “Moth-inspired True Stories Told life“ — non-competitive storytelling events in Acton, Arlington, and Framingham. Fugitive Stories was founded by producer David Gerratt and storyteller Rose Saia to bring the craft of true stories told live to suburban audiences. In each location, we bring featured storytellers to tell a true tale alongside people just like you who may never have told a story on a stage but are inspired by one of our themes. Fugitive Stories featured tellers captivate our audiences — they are some of the best in the country. We also invite audience members who are interested in telling a short story on our theme to drop their name in our hat — we pull a name or two after intermission. Each night is unique and they never fail to entertain.
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Mosesian Center for the Arts
Make My Dance | Tatyana Bernstin | Friday, June 1st, 7 pm
Located in just six miles from Downtown Boston, The Dorothy and Charles Mosesian Center for the Arts (formerly the Arsenal Center for the Arts) is a vibrant multi-disciplinary community arts venue located in Watertown, Massachusetts. This 30,000 sq. ft. former US Army arsenal is home to the 380-seat Main Stage Theater, a 100-seat Black Box theater, Exhibition Galleries, 2 Rehearsal Halls, Education Classrooms, and Resident Artist Studios. Offerings include visual and performing arts productions, classes, and workshops for all ages, literary/art discussions, and world-class theatrical and musical performances. The Center is home to the award-winning Watertown Children’s Theatre as well as New Repertory Theatre, Professional Theatre Company in residence.
The Dorothy and Charles Mosesian Center for the Arts is to open doors to excite and inspire diverse audiences and artists to create, appreciate, participate and grow through the arts.
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Morningside Music Studio
April 26-29 | Arlington JAZZ Festival
The mission of the Arlington Jazz Festival is to raise awareness and appreciation of jazz through the confluence of top performers, local rising ensembles, and student groups while fostering a sense of community and helping to make Arlington and surrounding towns a cultural destination. www.morningsidemusicstudio.com
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Robbins Library & Fox Library, Arlington
- January 30th, screening SUITED, HBO, Medford Film Collaborative, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, Robbins Library | LGBT + YOUTH Community
- Fox Library | AIFF Youth Filmmakers Reception
- Mystic LGBTQ+ Youth Support Network works to ensure a safe and supportive environment for LGBTQ+ youth by providing programming, coordinating with community agencies and advocating in schools.
- SCATV - Somerville | SUITED || June 28th | Somerville Theatre |
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Drift
Planning a vacation is often frustrating, but it doesn’t have to be. Why can’t there be a site that helps you find the “fun” in locations near and far? Even better, the “fun” should be tailored to your specific interests. License to Drift® is designed to help our Drifters plan vacation and leisure experiences that will last a lifetime. https://licensetodrift.com/
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HUAPLUS FILM FESTIVAL
Partners for the second year film festival
Established in July 2016, HUAPLUS is the largest overseas Chinese online video platform. It showcases fascinating culture and lives of overseas Chinese, covering a user network of 1.5 billion users. HUAPLUS has released over 200 videos, with an average of 300,000 views per video, and an overall views of 30 million, it is the most influential overseas Chinese online video platform. Headquartered in New York, HUAPLUS has production teams in 12 countries and 22 regions including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, and Italy. In 2017, HUAPLUS established the HUA International Short Film Festival (HISFF), it is the first and only international short film festival for filmmakers of Chinese descent. HISFF aims to showcase and support short film productions about the global Chinese community. It plays a vital role in identifying emerging overseas Chinese filmmakers and connecting them with audiences worldwide. Through short film productions, HISFF is dedicated to promoting Chinese cultures around the globe.
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ReelAbilities Film Festival Boston
Join us for the 7th Annual ReelAbilities Film Festival Boston March 21-29, 2018! Films, special events, and guest speakers. Screenings of Sanctuary, Unrest, Keep the Change, Off the Rails, and more. ReelAbilities strives for inclusion of all people and is dedicated to promoting the awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories, and artistic expressions of people with different abilities from a variety of communities. http://www.reelboston.org
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- 2018 Boston Palestine Film Festival Partner |
- 2018 Boston Latino International Film Festival |
- 2018 Boston Jewish Film Festival
- Women in Film & Video/New England
- 2018 FILM FESTIVAL PARTNER : Established 1995 with 175 000 subscribers http://Filmfestivals.com, has been serving and documenting relentless the fest community; offering 85.000 articles of news, free blog profiles and functions to enable festival matchmaking with filmmakers.
Yourarlington.com
Imagine Magazine
The Immigrant Learning Center, Malden MA
8th Annual AIFF Poster Competition
Promoting Cultural – Global & Artist Design
The Poster Competition aims at promoting cultural, global, and artistic competition among students from Mass college of Art & Design's Illustration Department. It is a unique opportunity to brings students from different social backgrounds to compete for the 8th annual AIFF Award.
-- A reception will be held on Thursday, April 26th at the Arlington Friends of the Drama whereupon Arlington International Film Festival's (AIFF) organizers will celebrate the 8th annual Poster Competition. AIFF is more than a film festival …it is a celebration of the arts as this special evening promises. The reception will celebrate several art forms from an exhibition of all poster illustrations, live music, poetry, dance, and story-telling, bringing together the art students with their professor, the contest judges, artists and appreciators of the arts. We will also host a discussion with Adria Arch, the Co-Chair of the Commission for Arts & Culture in Arlington on the challenges of promoting the arts in 2018. The evening will conclude with the winning poster being unveiled and the artist awarded with a cash prize of $500.
The reception will kick-off this year’s international film festival, scheduled to be held November 1 – 4, 2018 at the Capitol Theatre.
With the founding of AIFF in 2010, the first project to spin-off connecting film with the arts was the Poster Contest. This is the second year that the offer to participate in the Competition went out exclusively to Robert Maloney’s Experimental Illustration class at Mass College of Art & Design. It has been a successful partnership where junior and senior level students have had the opportunity to create a beautiful portfolio piece that could help them in launching their careers.
Professor Robert Maloney is a Massachusetts native with a Masters of Fine Arts from Massachusetts College of Art & Design. His recent work focuses on the connections between the temporary materials of our man-made, urban structures and how these fragile forms relate to the erosion of memory. His work has been featured in Creative Quarterly Magazine, Cloth Paper Scissors Magazine, The Pulse of Mixed Media, Art Revolution and Artscope Magazine. Maloney’s work is held in the collection of Wellington Management, Liberty Mutual and private collections with his exhibitions, commissions and publications being numerous.
We will celebrate Music, Dance, Storytelling and Poetry with the following professionals:
MUSIC - The N&P Colombian Duo are string harpist Nicolas Castaneda Lozano and violinist Pilar Zorro Pilar Zorro, both native Colombians. They set out to translate Colombian traditional music through nontraditional instrumentation, violin and Colombian harp. With the use of contemporary instrumental techniques for these instruments, their goal is to expose Colombian music in a new and exciting way and share it worldwide.
Nicolas Castañeda Lozano is an outstanding llanera harp performer from Colombia who has received numerous awards as a solo harpist and composer. He currently resides in Boston after coming to the city to attend Berklee where he majored in jazz composition. His music is based on the creation of new sounds, mixing Colombian traditional rhythms with contemporary music styles as heard on his album " HYPERLINK "https://nicolascastaneda.bandcamp.com/" HYPERLINK "https://nicolascastaneda.bandcamp.com/"
Javier vivas - Graduated from Berklee College of Music in Jazz Composition, Javier Vivas, originally from Colombia is a composer, clarinetist and multi instrumentalist who currently lives in Boston MA. Vivas has been an active performer with more than eighteen years of experience, including tours around US, Mexico and Europe with recognized musical groups.
DANCE - Siwen Dance Group presents "Dream" featuring artists Siwen Jiang, Yidan Chang, Siyuan Yin, Yifan Wu, Yutong Wei, Xinlu Zhang, Wenjing Ding, and Siyu.
Siwen Jiang is an international artist, choreographer and dance teacher. Her choreography is enriched and inspired by different cultural environments and dance materials. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance from Tianjin Normal University and continued her study in the Master of Fine Arts program at the College at Brockport: The State University of New York.
In 2009 she joined the International Dance Competition as a guest artist, her choreography “Peacock” and modern dance “Untitled” separately received the first champion of dance performance award and second champion of choreography award. In 2013, her choreography, titled “Shall We Talk”, was performed on the New York stage and received many positive responses from the audiences. In 2014, she worked as an organizer, teaching assistant, and translator in American Dance Festival in China. She also organized a project for the celebration of the 35th anniversary of Sino-US diplomatic relations and participated in its final performance in New York City. In 2005, her choreography “Sacrifice for Paradise” was selected by Brockport Alumni Dance Showcase, and was preformed at the Dixon Theater Place in Manhattan. This performance was reviewed by China Press and the English Channel of Sino TV.
STORYTELLING - Cheryl Hamilton
Cheryl Hamilton, a resident of Medford, serves as Director of Partner Engagement at the International Institute of New England. In 2015, Cheryl became a co-coordinator for Massmouth, a local non-profit that promotes the timeless art of storytelling. In her role, Cheryl is responsible for curating the national television show 'Stories from the Stage' in partnership with WGBH and World Channel. She also created and curated the popular 'Suitcase Stories' series honoring refugees and immigrants.
Since graduating from Clark University, Cheryl has devoted her career to advancing refugee protection and immigrant integration, and more recently communications and storytelling. Prior to joining IINE, she served as Associate Director for External Relations at RefugePoint, National Coordinator for RefugeeWorks (now Higher Advantage), and Director of the New Migration Project at the Center for Preventing Hate. Between 2001-2003, Cheryl helped manage the unexpected migration of 2,500 Somali refugees to her hometown in Maine. She documented this experience in her one-woman show entitled Checkered Floors. A relentless storyteller, Cheryl routinely appears in storytelling productions throughout New England, including on The Moth MainStage, Soundbites, The Corner, and with Massmouth.
AIFF + Arlington Friend of the Drama:
commitment to developing the next generation of theater artists and Graphic Designers #AIFFWINNEER2018
The Arlington International Film Festival is pleased to announce that 8th Annual Award Reception for the winner of 2018 Poster Competition will be this year at the Arlington Friends of the Drama. This year partnership with AFD, will provide a full-service information about one of the oldest theater within Arlington Community and the United States.
It’s honor for AIFF in its 8th year of production to partner with one of the most reputable and recognized organization in town. Known in New England for its productions throughout the years, directors, actors, producers, designers and audiences and for their high quality of theater.
About Arlington Friends of the Drama
Arlington Friends of the Drama, now known as AFD Theatre, was founded in 1923 and is one of the ten oldest continually operating community theater groups in the United States. Incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation in the early 1930s, Arlington Friends of the Drama, Inc. outbid the Odd Fellows and came in with the highest bid for the St. John's Episcopal Church building, now our theatre.
With pride we can say that AFD Theatre is among the finest community theaters in Massachusetts for actors, directors, production designers, and audiences to produce and enjoy live theater.
We design and produce a season of four shows every year, usually including comedy, drama, and two musicals.
We are currently engaged in our 95th season of community theater. Our upcoming show, “9 to 5: The Musical,” runs March 9 through 25, 2018.
The regional and national awards garnered by our productions are many, but we are most proud of the fact that year in and year out we entertain thousands of people, encourage local development and appreciation of the theatre arts, and provide a home for some of the most creative directors, designers and performing artists in New England.
s we advance in our own experience we have stepped up our commitment to developing the next generation of theater artists and audiences. We are doing this in several ways, among them: the selection of productions in which youth may participate, both backstage and occasionally onstage; an annual scholarship donation to a worthy student at Arlington High School; and providing students the opportunity to attend final rehearsals of our productions at no charge. afdtheatre.org
AFD Theatre is located at 22 Academy Street in Arlington Center, near Arlington Town Hall.
2018 AIFF Welcomes New Colleagues to the Team
Arlington International Film Festival (AIFF) honored to announce the addition of several new colleagues joining the team for the 2018Festival
We welcome Nicolle Renick and her creativity as the festival’s Graphic Designer. Nicolle is a native of Iowa, Nicolle grew up visiting family in Boston and Connecticut, and made New England her home in 1998. She graduated from Eastern Connecticut State University in 2005 with a B.A. in Graphic Design. Since then she has won two Creative Excellence Awards and was a finalist in a contest to design a Facebook cover photo for the artist P!nk. She is also an Adjunct Faculty member at Suffolk University and a high school Basketball and Track Coach. In her spare time, she is an avid runner and enjoys traveling.
Erica Licea-Kane
Erica Licea-Kane has been a working artist since the early 1980’s and a college studio art instructor for over 30 years. She received her BFA at the Parsons School of Design, NY, and her MFA at the Massachusetts College of Art, MA, earning both degrees in the field of fine art textiles. Licea-Kane has exhibited her work extensively throughout the United States and abroad and she is currently a member of the Kingston Gallery in Boston’s South End. Recent exhibitions of Licea-Kane’s work include Site: Brooklyn, NYC, NY, Able Baker contemporary, Portland, ME, Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton, MA, Andrews Art Museum, Andrews, NC, Danforth Museum of Art, Framingham, MA and the Attleboro Museum, Attleboro, MA. She has been the recipient of several grants and fellowships including the A.R.T Grant from the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, and a Regional Fellowship from the New England Foundation for the Arts of the National Endowment of the Arts. Her work has been reviewed in several publications with recent coverage in the Portland Phoenix, the “Take” section in the Boston Globe, The Portland Press Herald and Take Magazine as well as past reviews in the Boston Globe Magazine, The Boston Herald, Surface Design Journal and several of the Lark Publications Fiberarts Design series of books. Licea-Kane currently teaches studio courses at Wheelock College in Boston, MA, where she is an Associate Professor and the Director/Curator of the Towne Art Gallery. www.licea-kane.com
Phil Pritchard
Born in Epsom, Surrey in England, Phil graduated from Mountview Theatre School in London. He appeared in the title role in the film 'A Kitten For Hitler' (2007) directed by the legendary British Film director Ken Russell and in 'The Scouting Book for Boys' (2009) directed by Tom Harper (Woman in Black: Angel of Death) starring Thomas Turgoose & Holiday Grainger. On stage he appeared in the West End production of 'A Little Night Music' directed by Trevor Nunn at The Garrick Theatre and as Henry Higgins in 'My Fair Lady' at the Cambridge Arts Theatre. After UK national tours of 'Lark Rise to Candleford' and 'To Kill A Mocking Bird' (York Theatre Royal) he was cast in the International Tour of Beatles Biopic 'Backbeat' (2013) written by Ian Softley (Trap for Cinderella) and Stephen Jeffries (The Libertine, Diana) and directed by 5-time Tony Nominee David Leveaux. Produced by Karl Sydow and Paul Elliot the West End show toured to Toronto & Los Angeles. In the USA he appeared as Detective Raymond Davis in the TV Series 'Tabloid' (2014) narrated by Jerry Springer and the film 'Tattooed Love' (2015) with Edy Ganem (Devious Maids) Laura Flannery (American Horror Story), Marlon Moreno (El Capo).
Kate Bernhardt
Accomplished, innovative and creative marketing and communications professional with deep experience in content creation and management, marketing innovation, brand strategy, broadcast and Internet media, marketing campaigns, client and stakeholder management, event planning, team management and development, and translating industry best practices to build brands and drive business success. Consensus-building leader with an energetic work style, strategic as well as tactical. A unique ability to successfully blend industry knowledge with management and content expertise
NUNO de Sá PESSOA COSTA SEQUEIRA
Nuno de Sá Pessoa Costa Sequeira was born on May 7, 1987 in Lisbon, Portugal,
Nuno began his studies at Universidade Moderna Lisboa enrolling in the Cinema and Television course, determined to expand his horizons he went to Denmark where he graduated from The European Film College, upon graduation he went back to Portugal, where he directed his first independent work. Two feature length documentaries followed, in which he did both cinematography and editing, the latest took him for more than once to California where he edited a total of three feature length documentaries directed by Kenneth Payton.
It was also in California that he did the cinematography for a documentary series, a project which got him to know the state as few have a chance to. He eventually invited his former colleagues Kris Skovmand and Samuel Anderson to move to Portugal from their native countries, Denmark and USA respectively, and together founded Skookum Films.
Bernice Schneider
Bernice Schneider is an award-winning documentary film editor. She received her Master of Science in Visual Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Media Lab under the direction of Richard Leacock. Bernice has edited numerous films for PBS’s American Experience, Frontline, Nova Science Unit, American Masters, and Independent Lens. She edited the feature-length independent documentary film, Rebel, about the politics of national memory as viewed through the lens of the secret life of a Latina confederate soldier. Another feature, Angkor’s Children, focuses on a grassroots movement to reinvigorate the arts in post-genocide Cambodia. Angkor’s Children has screened nationally and internationally, including within Cambodia at the Bophana Film Center. She edited Alice Bouvrie’s film A Chance to Dress, winner of the Arlington International Film Festival’s Best Short 2015. She also completed A Perfect Crime: the Leopold and Loeb Story for American Experience in 2016. Most recently, she completed editing Laurel Chiten’s documentary, Just One Drop which premiered in London in 2017. Her films have screened at prestigious museums, both nationally and internationally. Bernice also worked in the field with national correspondent Charlene Hunter-Gault for PBS’s NewsHour in Kenya, South Africa, Haiti and Somalia, where she edited stories on political and cultural change in the developing world.
She has received honors and awards for her work including a Wallis Annenberg scholarship for women filmmakers, a CINE Golden Eagle, the Biographical Video Award, and an N.E.A. Regional Fellowship. Bernice also teaches editing at Emerson College.
Yahia Zakaria
Yahia Zakaria is a Film / TV Producer and project Manager. Have a bachelor’s degree in Cinema directing from the Art academy in Egypt. In all the companies had worked it for, he was dealing and reporting to the owners directly and working step by step with them from scratch till we deliver the projects. Yahia, has more than ten years’ experience as a filmmaker and supervised production and post production for Feature films, documentary, TV commercials, TV shows, short film and TV reality Shows and Video Clips.
He last job was Head of Production at Era Media (Digital Agency) in Kuwait and established and supervised Era Media Cairo office were currently is freelancer looking for new challenges.
Cheryl Hamilton
Cheryl Hamilton has devoted her career to advancing immigrant integration, and more recently storytelling. A resident of Med ford, she serves as Director of Partner Engagement at the International Institute of New England where she created and curates the popular "Suitcase Stories" series honoring refugees and immigrants. She is also the co-coordinator for Mass mouth, a local non-profit that promotes the timeless art of storytelling.
Cheryl Hamilton joined the International Institute of New England in 2015 as the Director of Partner Engagement. Since graduating from Clark University, Cheryl has devoted her career to advancing refugee protection and immigrant integration, and more recently communications and storytelling. Prior to joining IINE, she served as Associate Director for External Relations at RefugePoint, National Coordinator for RefugeeWorks (now Higher Advantage), and Director of the New Migration Project at the Center for Preventing Hate. Between 2001-2003, Cheryl helped manage the unexpected migration of 2,500 Somali refugees to her hometown in Maine. She documented this experience in her one-woman show entitled Checkered Floors. A relentless storyteller, Cheryl routinely appears in storytelling productions throughout New England, including on The Moth MainStage, Soundbites, The Corner, and with Massmouth. In 2015, Cheryl became a co-coordinator for Massmouth, a local non-profit that promotes the timeless art of storytelling. In her role, Cheryl is responsible for curating the national television show 'Stories from the Stage' in partnership with WGBH and World Channel. She also created and curated the popular 'Suitcase Stories' series honoring refugees and immigrants.
Alice Markowitz
Alice is currently consulting in communications, visual storytelling, and social marketing for mission-driven companies and non-profit organizations. A three-time Emmy Award winner, Alice’s career began in broadcast journalism--producing, directing and writing PBS documentaries for national broadcast on multiple series including NOVA, Blackside's This Far by Faith, and Healing and the Mind with Bill Moyers.. Alice earned a bachelor’s degree from Vassar and a Masters in Education from Harvard before becoming a Henry Luce Foundation Scholar in Asia.
The AIFF Organizers are extremely proud to be working with such a professional team that is dedicated to our mission of offering a unique opportunity for cross-cultural education by promoting understanding of the many cultures represented in our town and beyond, recognizing that such diversity enriches our community. We all believe that our annual international film festival highlights core values and aspirations we share with our culturally diverse neighbors and with all members of the global human family.
Capitol Theatre | November 1 - 4, 2018 | 204 Mass Ave | East Arlington MA
Oscar's Nominations 2018
Nominated for 4 Oscars, including Best Picture.
CALL ME BY YOUR NAME, the new film by Luca Guadagnino, is a sensual and transcendent tale of first love, based on the acclaimed novel by André Aciman. It’s the summer of 1983 in the north of Italy, and Elio Perlman (Timothée Chalamet), a precocious 17- year-old American-Italian boy, spends his days in his family’s 17th century villa transcribing and playing classical music, reading, and flirting with his friend Marzia (Esther Garrel).
Best Picture and Lead Actress nominee
THE POST, Katharine Graham is the first female publisher of a major American newspaper -- The Washington Post. With help from editor Ben Bradlee, Graham races to catch up with The New York Times to expose a massive cover-up of government secrets that spans three decades and four U.S. presidents.
Nominated for 3 Oscars. Winner of 1 Golden Globe.
I, TONYA. Based on the unbelievable but true events, I, TONYA is a darkly comedic tale of American figure skater, Tonya Harding, and one of the most sensational scandals in sports history. Though Harding was the first American woman to complete a triple axel in competition, her legacy was forever defined by her association with an infamous, ill-conceived, and even more poorly executed attack on fellow Olympic competitor Nancy Kerrigan.
Nominated for 5 Oscars, including Best Picture. Winner of 2 Golden Globes.
In LADY BIRD, Greta Gerwig reveals herself to be a bold new cinematic voice with her directorial debut, excavating both the humor and pathos in the turbulent bond between a mother and her teenage daughter. Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson (Saoirse Ronan) fights against but is exactly like her wildly loving, deeply opinionated and strong-willed mom (Laurie Metcalf), a nurse working tirelessly to keep her family afloat after Lady Bird's father (Tracy Letts) loses his job.
Nominated for 6 Oscars, including Best Picture.
Phantom Thread. Set in the glamour of 1950’s post-war London, renowned dressmaker Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day-Lewis) and his sister Cyril (Lesley Manville) are at the center of British fashion, dressing royalty, movie stars, heiresses, socialites, debutants and dames with the distinct style of The House of Woodcock. Women come and go through Woodcock’s life, providing the confirmed bachelor with inspiration and companionship, until he comes across a young, strong-willed woman, Alma (Vicky Krieps), who soon becomes a fixture in his life as his muse and lover.
Nominated for 13 Oscars, including Best Picture. Winner of 2 Golden Globes.
THE SHAPE OF WATER. From master story teller Guillermo del Toro comes THE SHAPE OF WATER - an other-worldly fable set against the backdrop of Cold War era America circa 1962.
In the hidden high-security government laboratory where she works, lonely Elisa (Sally Hawkins) is trapped in a life of isolation. Elisa’s life is changed forever when she and co-worker Zelda (Octavia Spencer) discover a secret classified experiment.
Choice Movie Award for Best Editing and Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture
DUNKIRK. In May 1940, Germany advanced into France, trapping Allied troops on the beaches of Dunkirk. Under air and ground cover from British and French forces, troops were slowly and methodically evacuated from the beach using every serviceable naval and civilian vessel that could be foun
Nominated for Visual Effects.
KONG: SKULL ISLAND. Scientists, soldiers and adventurers unite to explore a mythical, uncharted island in the Pacific Ocean. Cut off from everything they know, they venture into the domain of the mighty Kong, igniting the ultimate battle between man and nature. As their mission of discovery soon becomes one of survival, they must fight to escape from a primal world where humanity does not belong.
Nominated for Academy Award Best Picture and MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance
GET OUT. Now that Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) and his girlfriend, Rose (Allison Williams), have reached the meet-the-parents milestone of dating, she invites him for a weekend getaway upstate with Missy and Dean.
uropean Film Award for Best Animated Feature Film, Golden Eagle Award for Best Foreign Language Film
LOVING VINCENT. Mystery surrounds the death of famed painter Vincent van Gogh in 1890 France
2018 AIFF Partners and Upcoming events
- January 30th, screening SUITED, HBO, Medford Film Collaborative, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, Robbins Library | LGBT + YOUTH Community
- Thursday, March 22nd, 7 pm, Regent Theatre, A TOWN TEEN VIDEO CONTEST
- March 22nd to 25, Boston Irish Film Festival | Somerville Theatre | Davis Square
- April 4th, Somerville Access TV, Somerville Public Library Screening SUITED
- April 12, Acton | Fugitive Production | Screening Edgar Allan Poe: Buried Alive by Eric Stange
- April 26-29 | Arlington JAZZ Festival |
- April 27th, Awards Reception | 2018 Poster Contest Winner | Arlington friend of the Drama, 6:30 pm
- June 1st, Mesosian Center for the Arts, Watertown | Make Me Dance by Tatyana Bronstein
- Under The Stars: Movies in The CHUCKIE PARK | East Somerville.
- It is a free outdoor summer screening series hosted by East Somerville Main Streets, SCATV and the Arlington International Film Festival the last Friday in July, August and September.
- Dates and films
- July 27, East Somerville Main Streets | Chuckie Harris Park | AIFF Film Program
- August 31st, East Somerville Main Streets | Chuckie Harris Park | AIFF Film Program
- September 28, East Somerville Main Streets | Chuckie Harris Park | AIFF Film Program
- Boston Irish Film Festival
- 2018 Boston Palestine Film Festival Partner
- 2018 Boston Latino International Film Festival
- 2018 Boston Jewish Film Festival
- 2018 FILM FESTIVAL PARTNER : Established 1995 with 175 000 subscribers http://Filmfestivals.com, has been serving and documenting relentless the fest community; offering 85.000 articles of news, free blog profiles and functions to enable festival matchmaking with filmmakers.
Partners of 2017
AIFF Celebrates its 7th of Production
For the past 7 seasons, the Arlington International Film Festival (AIFF) has curated a festival in October that celebrates the very best of new local, national, and international independent films for audiences to enjoy. AIFF’s Selection Committee watches hundreds of submissions each year and is delegated with the task of choosing films that represent the creative in storytelling and technical execution while holding to the festival’s mission of fostering appreciation for different cultures by exploring the lives of people around the globe through independent film. Each year brings forth amazing visions of filmmakers that we are honored to bring to Greater Boston.
This year, the judges have selected a film that will kick-off the 2017 Festival, an homage to our Serbian community, which represents the vision and passion of the French as well as the Serbian communities.
THE PROMISE by director Zeljko Mirkovic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7Z1so5jN7A
THE PROMISE will be screened on Saturday, October 21, 7:30 PM at St. Sava Cathedral, 41 Alewife Brook Pkwy, Cambridge. The Director will be present for a Q&A. Tickets are $20: Reception following with music – wine – hors d’oeuvres.
Synopsis: A century ago Rogljevo, a remote village in the far eastern corner of Serbia, was incredibly prosperous, one of the top five wine regions in Europe. The wines of Rogljevo were to be found at exhibitions in Bordeaux and Paris. But today this region is poor and deserted. In ‘cinema verite’ style, this documentary follows the extraordinary experience of a French family who moved into the village to make wine, believing they had discovered a promised land. Their arrival sparked high hopes with some villagers and great resistance and mistrust with others. Can Europeans from two opposite sides of the continent come together to revive the ancient glory of this forgotten wine region? Winner of the Best Documentary at the Mediterranean Film Festival in Italy and Eugene International Film Festival, Oregon.
The Arlington International Film Festival (AIFF) runs from Thursday, October 26 through Sunday, October 29 at the Capitol Theatre in East Arlington. AIFF will be screening feature narratives and documentaries as well as programs of short narrative, documentary and animation. Please visit www.AIFFest.org after September 20th for program details.
AIFF feature Student Filmmaker’s Program, VOICES OF OUR YOUTH will be screened on Saturday, October 28 at 12 noon whereupon voices of Arlington/Greater Boston will converge with the voices of youth across the country and around the world; i.e. Australia, Canada, China, India, Mexico, Netherlands, and Portugal. Watching High School student films is a process of discovery. Come, sit back, and wait for the unexpected. This year’s shorts address topics ranging from social justice, fictional exploration, depression, equality for women, disabilities, relationships, and artistic aspirations.
Independent films chosen this year by our Selection Committee range in topic from social justice, art, dance, music and marriage.
We are honored to open this year’s festival with a dynamic US premiere Thursday, October 26, 7 PM, Shadowgram by acclaimed Italian director Augusto Contento. An astonishing documentary about the African-American community in Chicago, it captures the memories of African-Americans living in the USA - 50 years after the abolition of the ignominious Jim Crow Laws… what has changed? Did anything really change? Who does remember how it was? Has there been an evolution of the African American community? Their hopes, their dreams, their will? The film features a cross-section of people - a psychiatrist, an administrator, a teacher and a hip-hop artist to name a few -, who reminisce about their childhoods, reflect on the hopes of generations gone by and their influence on current daily life.
Shadowgram, was scheduled to screen at the United Nations meeting of the High Commission on Human Rights in Geneva in March of 2017 organized by US, European, South American, and Asian diplomats. Unfortunately, this screening event that was supposed to take place on the Worldwide Day in Defense of all Human Rights, was canceled by the US Embassy in Geneva upon request of the Trump administration. SHADOWGRAM was being screened officially in front of the whole diplomatic community and what truth were people going to discover about US African-American integration (or dis-Integration) that is not already known?
The short that will be screened with this feature is Honk: A Festival of Activist Street Bands by director Patrick Johnson featuring Boston’s own local international jazz musician, Ken Fields. There will be a Panel Discussion followed by an After-Party/Reception at Bistro Duet Restaurant in East Arlington.
Marriage and its relationship to love is examined from the perspectives of conservative Christians, Jews, Indians, and Indonesians in the films A Courtship (documentary), Kosher Love (documentary), Rattled (narrative), and Pria (narrative) respectively.
Set for wide release in 2017, CHASING TRANE is the definitive documentary film about an outside-the-box thinker with extraordinary talent whose boundary-shattering music continues to impact and influence people around the world. This smart, passionate, thought-provoking and uplifting documentary is for anyone who appreciates the power of music to entertain, inspire and transform. Written and directed by critically-acclaimed documentary filmmaker John Scheinfeld (The U.S. vs. John Lennon and Who Is Harry Nilsson…?) the film is produced with the full participation of the Coltrane family and the support of the record labels that collectively own the Coltrane catalog. Scheinfeld brings his strong story-telling skills to the creation of a rich, textured and compelling narrative that takes the audience to unexpected places
The Settlers by filmmaker Shimon Dotan takes a look at Jewish settlers in the West Bank and their allies - Jewish and non-Jewish alike - in Israel, America and Europe. The origins of the settler phenomenon, which reach back almost half a century, are explored in this documentary along with a look at who the settlers are today and how they impact the Middle East peace process.
Phil’s Camino, a short documentary film that has officially been submitted to the 89th Academy for Oscar nomination consideration, tells the story of free spirit Phil, a man living with Stage 4 cancer and dreaming of walking the 500-mile spiritual pilgrimage Camino de Santiago across Spain. Inspirational!
Cannes Short Film Competition nominated Lunch Time for the Palm d'Or. Shot in Iran, this narrative follows a 16-year-old girl who has the responsibility of identifying the body of her mother. It is a story that speaks to the issues of a harsh bureaucracy and gender inequality.
Let’s watch a narrative comedy that will keep you laughing, Have a Nice Flight! Yes, the airline personnel generally wish us a nice flight but what happens to a Vietnamese man needing to return to his country on a family emergency as he prepares to leave a US airport encountering rules of culture and language that are foreign to him, causing a lot of confusion and laughter, ending in appreciation and love.
Everyone Knows Elizabeth Murray, is a tribute to a dynamic artist Elizabeth Murray, an intrinsic figure in New York’s contemporary art landscape scene from the 1970s until the early 2000s. This documentary highlights her struggle to balance personal and family ambition with artistic drive in a male-dominated art world. It also addresses her later battle with cancer, at the peak of her career. Director, Kristi Zea is a two-time Oscar-nominated production designer and filmmaker and has designed classic films such as Silence of the Lambs, Goodfellas and Revolutionary Road. This films screens on Saturday afternoon and is followed by a Q&A/Reception at 13Forest Gallery.
Make Me Dance
Make Me Dance is a documentary that takes an in depth look at one of the most prestigious dance schools in the United States, The Boston Conservatory. World-renowned choreographer, Darrell Grand Moultrie, has chosen to hold residency at the Boston Conservatory to craft his new work, “Winds of Now” for young students. The film documents Moultrie’s choreography and preparation for his piece from conception through rehearsals, culminating in opening night at BoCo Theater.
Closing night features the US premiere of The Man Who Wanted to Change the World by director, Mariëtte Faber from the Netherlands. In the nineties, African-born artist Peter Westerveld claimed he had developed a solution to combat desertification and ultimately climate change. His designs for restoring the water cycles in Africa are unlike any organization has embarked on before, let alone a single man. But in Peter's mind there is no doubt that he can heal the land. He is quarrelsome and his ideas are controversial. Despite being ridiculed he relentlessly pursues his dream for a green and drought-resistant world. Panel Discussion to follow.
We invite you to join us for amazing independent films at the Capitol Theatre October 26 – 29!
KICK-OFF of the 2017 AIFF
An Homage to the Serbian Community in Boston
For the past 7 seasons, the Arlington International Film Festival (AIFF) has curated a festival in October that celebrates the very best of new local, national, and international films for audiences to enjoy. AIFF’s Selection Committee watches hundreds of submissions each year and is delegated with the task of choosing films that represent the creative in storytelling and technical execution while holding to the festival’s mission of fostering appreciation for different cultures by exploring the lives of people around the globe through independent film. Each year brings forth amazing visions of filmmakers that we are honored to bring to Greater Boston.
This year, the judges have selected a film that will kick-off the 2017 Festival that is an homage to our Serbian community, representing the vision and passion of the French as well as the Serbian communities.
THE PROMISE by director Zeljko Mirkovic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7Z1so5jN7A
In a remote village in the north of Serbia, once known as a prosperous wine region, something unexpected has happened. A French family has moved into the poor village now nearly deserted. They believe they have found a promised land for growing grapes and winemaking. But they have found only old people in the village, distrusting people, with old habits. A new challenge awaits them back home in France – how to persuade sommeliers that superior wine can be made in an unknown and problematic region? Can they awaken hope and breathe a new life into the old village?
Thus, THE PROMISE is born!
We invite you to join us as we kick-off this year’s Festival with
The New England Premiere of
The Promise by Director Zeljko Mirkovic
France, Belgium and Serbia | Doc | 74 min | 2016
Saturday, October 21, 7:30 PM
St. Sava Cathedral | 41 Alewife Brook Pkwy, Cambridge
Tickets $20
Celebrate the cultural encounter of…
Film – Wine – Hors d’oeuvres
Sponsors of this event:
- International School of Boston | http://www.isbos.org/ | 45 Matignon Road, Cambridge, MA 02140| 617 . 499.1451
- French consulate Boston
Not JUST a Film Festival…but a Celebration of the Arts!
Our thanks to the artists that participated in this year’s celebration. They are…
Kevin Duffy, sculptor, has made his home in Arlington for the past 28 years. A graduate of Montserrat College of Art, Beverly MA and the Academie Beeldende Kunsten, Rotterdam, Netherlands, Kevin works with stone repair and conservation of stone monuments in public spaces and cemeteries as well as designing/fabrication of custom memorials, garden/architectural accents, raised lettering, replication of missing or damaged carved stone elements as well as public art projects. His public art projects and exhibitions can be seen throughout New England.
Daniel Fox, Arlington resident, Principle of Mornigside Music Studio, and Director of the Arlington Jazz Festival is a musician that has toured the US, Europe and Japan with a number of acclaimed acts; i.e. Herb Pomeroy, Paquito D’Rivera, and The Cadillacs. Venues include the Newport, Monterey, and Beantown Jazz Festivals. As an educator, he has given clinics and educational performances everywhere from elementary schools to universities. In addition to offering lessons, Morningside offers ensembles to adults who want to keep music as part of their lives. www.morningsidemusicstudio.com www.ArlingtonJazz.org
Astrid Erickson, is a 15 year old photographer who loves to snap photos for her personal enjoyment. She enjoys photographing people she loves or objects and scenery that catch her eye. She is at present in the process of experimenting with different cameras and lenses to discover what type of photography she likes the most. She uses film as well as digital cameras. A selection of her photographs were displayed for the month of September 2016 in the Mystic Coffee Roaster in Medford Square and for the month of May 2017 at the Beebe Estate in Melrose. Her work will also be included in two shows this fall. She lives in Medford. You can see more of Astrid's work at www.astaeria.wixsite.com/astaeria.
Vicki L Heller, MD grew up in Detroit, Michigan and studied Ceramics and Painting at the University of Michigan. Following graduation, she moved to Florence, Italy, where she focused her artistic activity on ceramic architectural pieces. Upon her return to the US, she decided to pursue a dual career in Medicine, graduating in 1982 from Harvard Medical School. For the next three decades, she practiced Obstetrics and Gynecology maintaining an active clinical practice at the Brigham Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Dr. Heller joined the Radcliffe Pottery Studio in 1978, [now the Harvard Ceramics Program] where she continues to work. In 2013, she left full-time private practice to allow greater focus on her ceramic sculpture. She is currently an Independent Artist at the Harvard Ceramics Program in Allston. Dr. Heller maintains an active interest in Women’s Health and particularly Global Women’s Health with a recent visit to rural Rwanda consulting on provision of reproductive health services in low resource settings. Dr. Heller created the sculptures for this year’s AIFF awards.
GayatriSundar, is producing videos, is about bringing unheard voices to the forefront. From my introduction to film with my documentary on the Neolithic Revolution in the Middle East to my most recent biographical segment about Culture Shock, I strive to find the best way to tell a story. Simply put, videos are about stories and stories are about people - neither can exist without the other. As a senior at Arlington High School, a Carnatic violinist, and a leader of Speech & Debate, Mock Trial, and Focus Media, I have centered my high school experience on people and stories. Growing up with videos as an outlet for my imagination and thoughts, I continuously incorporate lessons from my high school classes into my videos. I’ve found that each piece I produce for Arlington Community Media Inc (ACMi) is as much for me as it is for my audience. For me, each segment, show, or interview is a learning experience and an opportunity to uncover something deeper about what we value as a society and as individuals. I sincerely thank you for inviting me back to host the upcoming AIFF Youth Awards. I hope to meet even more filmmakers this year who want to make a difference with their work.
William Turville, is an Arlington resident, sculptor and architect. His work ranges from festival sculpture and installations for the Revolving Museum, Somerville Arts Council and First Night Boston to commissioned work for institutions and corporations and unique work for themed shows, causes and charities, such as his Brickbottom Gallery installation on landmines and children, a FishBike artbike for Bikes Not Bombs and art furniture for the Mass. Homeless Coalition. Mr. Turville has done installation art and curated outdoor sculpture shows with Reclamation Artists, Bedford Center for the Arts, Emerson Umbrella and the Concord DPW. A Pratt Institute graduate, he also studied at Mass College of Art and The DeCordova Museum and has had several residencies at the Vermont Studio Center. williamturvillesculptor@verizon.net
CELEBRATING A SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP WITH Mass College of Art & Design
At a reception held on April 28th at the Old Schwamb Mill Museum, Arlington International Film Festival (AIFF) organizers celebrated the seventh annual Poster Contest Competition. Not just a film festival…the reception was a celebration of many art forms from an exhibition of the poster illustrations, live music, poetry and story-telling, bringing together the art students with their professor, the contest judges, artists and appreciators of the arts. The chosen poster was unveiled, the winner, Joshua Chace was announced and awarded a cash prize of $500 by the festival’s sponsor, Watertown Savings Bank. The reception was the launch of this year’s international film festival, scheduled to be held October 26-29 at the Capitol Theatre.
With the founding of AIFF in 2010, the first project to spin-off connecting film with the arts was the Poster Contest. This year the offer to participate in the Competition went out exclusively to Robert Maloney’s Experimental Illustration class at Mass College of Art and Design. It has been a successful partnership where junior and senior level students have had the opportunity to create a beautiful portfolio piece that could help them in launching their careers.
Professor Robert Maloney was the guest speaker at the reception. A Massachusetts native, Robert has a Masters of Fine Arts from Massachusetts College of Art and Design. His recent work focuses on the connections between the temporary materials of our man-made, urban structures and how these fragile forms relate to the erosion of memory. His work has been featured in Creative Quarterly Magazine, Cloth Paper Scissors Magazine, The Pulse of Mixed Media, Art Revolution and Art scope Magazine. Maloney’s work is held in the collection of Wellington Management, Liberty Mutual and private collections with his exhibitions, commissions and publications being numerous.
MEET the WINNNER: Joshua Chace is a senior at Mass College of Art and Design. His artist statement for his submission is: “The imagery of the film reel and flags over a colorful painted surface lets the viewer know about the art and creativity that happens at this international film show”. Joshua said he is better at computer art than drawing, and leaned on his Photoshop skills to create the final product. Surprised to be named the winner, he thinks producing another poster would be fun.
MEET the STUDENTS and READ THEIR REMARKS:
BAILEY BURGESS: “I wanted to try to convey both the subject of the festival (film) while simultaneously nodding to the international element and keeping it graphic and simple.”
TYLER BETTENCOURT: “I decided to create an image that related to the festival but also had my own personal spin on it. I centered my image around the façade of the Capitol Theatre itself and then added a UFO-like ship above in the shape of a film reel, bringing a fun and unique approach to the scene.”
KIEL EVINS: “My approach was to depict the Capitol Theatre in Arlington as if it was a set of a production. Using a laser cutter, I created a miniature model that I later photographed to make this small world come to life.”
KARA MACKIE: “I wanted to depict the global nature of the festival very literally, and the marquee was a fun way to incorporate both type and cinema.”
ERIN McCARTHY: “I really wanted to illustrate the diversity that this event holds so close to their hearts. Showing a diverse garden of flowers from around the world flourishing together with creativity and passion!”
MICHELLE NUTTER: “With this poster, I wanted to highlight the celebratory nature of the Arlington International Film Festival. Bringing all different cultures and countries together through film.”
V. OLIVEIRA: “Using video components as experimental material, I collaged a “backstage scene” while utilizing the element of surprise by channeling unexpected art making.”
ERIC SORENSEN: “This piece was meant to explore the concept of intercontinental connection by personifying an amalgam of different landscapes from all over the world. I used cut book board to build up a multi-layered surface and give the work a three-dimensional quality.”
JACK TURNBULL: “This poster borrows heavily from the Newspaper Illustrations of Nell Brinkley, who focused on female protagonists in various settings. To put an emphasis on the International element of the festival, I depicted my figures in a variety of races and genders. it is an homage to movie romance; sensual, passionate, elegant.”
2017 AIFF Judges Statements
“There were several very outstanding concepts, which speaks very highly of the thoughtfulness with which the artists approached the project. In addition, all of the pieces showed sophistication of technical ability in each artist’s chosen media. I placed strong weight on the way each design potentially fulfills its purpose: To be displayed ‘on the street’ to motivate the general public to learn more about AIFF and buy tickets. Because of this, I looked for a clear concept that could be interpreted from a viewing distance ranging from about 5 feet to across a street. I also judged the entries at face value. Other than typography, I assumed (as in previous years) that each submission must be evaluated as-is, rather than for their potential. In other words, although a design could be altered to improve upon it, reworking the design is not an option, even if the concept is strong and the image is intriguing.”
Jennifer Cheng DesAutels, EdM – Illustrator – StudioJCD.com | Coordinator, Medford Children's Art Showcase
“This year’s work was very enjoyable to review. The conceptual abstraction of the illustrations from Mass Art students was exciting to consider, and the different stylistic applications made it is a spirited judging process!”
Nilou Moochhala – Principal – NYMDesign - www.nymdesign.com
“I appreciated the obvious effort that all students gave to this poster design contest. The challenge was really three-fold: to create an impactful design, to communicate specific information about the AIFF and to underscore the international aspect of the film festival.
The discussion included weighing the literal against the more abstract and the design’s “readability” up close vs. from a distance. It was difficult to choose just one winner. Congratulations to all students for their creative effort. It was a pleasure working with the other judges. The give and take during the judging was robust and deliberative”.
David Ardito - K-12 Director of Visual Art, Arlington Public Schools - Visual Artist and Former recent member of the Art Education Faculty at Mass College of Art and Design
Music, Storytelling and Poetry:
Carl Romeo, originally from Chile moved to San Francisco, CA and in 1979, he joined the Guitar Institute of Technology (GIT) in Hollywood, CA, now the Musicians Institute. For many years, Romeo worked with a Latin promoter that managed famous Latin singers among them Armando Manzanero and Paloma San Basilio. His career has included working with orchestras as well as lead electric guitar and rhythm guitar player for big bands and groups as well as a session studio musician.
Brendyn Schneider, Storyteller extraordinaire! Professional story spinner, published writer, performance instructor, and TedX Coach, Brendyn Schneider has been a featured storyteller at Emerson College, Coolidge Corner Theater, Improv Boston and other fine venues across New England. Making frequent appearances with Mass Mouth and the Moth, Brendyn takes his audiences on story-trips of wit through the follies of growing-up and the everyday slog.
Shirley Gerald Ware is the author of eight books and the publisher of a worldwide magazine that publishes teens and adults locally and worldwide. She is widely known for her engaging poems and short stories; many of her poems have been nominated for awards. Ware was recently named Author of the Month by “Eye on Magazine.”
"Text AIFF to 77948 to donate to Arlington International Film Festival"
FESTIVAL PASSES On Sale!
Planning to attend the Arlington International Film Festival October 26th – 29th?
Now is the time to buy your discounted Festival Pass!
AIFF invites you to purchase your Festival Pass ($85), now discounted to $65 through August 31st. Visit our website, www.aiffest.org to purchase your pass now!
A Festival Pass entitles you to all film screenings and after-parties as well as the Special Opening Night Screening and Reception.
*Please note that passes will not be mailed but available for pick-up at the
Capitol Theatre Lobby AIFF table on October 26th at 5pm and through-out the Festival.
The Arlington International Film Festival is much more than just a film festival; it is a celebration of cultures as well as being a platform for recognizing the common global human experience. Please come and share these experiences with us.
So what are you waiting for? Buy your Festival Pass now and
we’ll see you at the Capitol Theatre in October!
Arlington International Film Festival
October 26-29 | Capitol Theatre | 204 Mass Ave | East Arlington
Join us today, and become supporter !!!
"Text AIFF to 77948 to donate to Arlington International Film Festival"
MEET the ARTISTS
Illustrators from Mass College of Art
SAVE THE DATE!!
7th Annual Poster Contest
Press Announcement and Reception
Friday, April 28th, 7:00 PM
Old Schwamb Mill Museum
14 Mill Lane, Arlington MA
Exhibition of Posters - Live Music - Storytelling - Poetry Reading
Hors d’oeuvres & Beverages Served
Come and celebrated the 7th Edition of the AIFF Poster Contest
7th Annual AIFF 2017 FESTIVAL PASS On Sale!
Planning to attend the Arlington International Film Festival October 26th – 29th?
Now is the time to buy your discounted Festival Pass!
AIFF invites you to purchase your Festival Pass ($85), now discounted to $65 through August 31st. Visit our website, www.aiffest.org to purchase your pass now!
A Festival Pass entitles you to all film screenings and after-parties as well as the Special Opening Night Screening and Reception.
*Please note that passes will not be mailed but available for pick-up at the
Capitol Theatre Lobby AIFF table on October 26th at 5pm and through-out the Festival.
The Arlington International Film Festival is much more than just a film festival; it is a celebration of cultures as well as being a platform for recognizing the common global human experience. Please come and share these experiences with us.
So what are you waiting for? Buy your Festival Pass now and
we’ll see you at the Capitol Theatre in October!
Arlington International Film Festival
October 26-29 | Capitol Theatre | 204 Mass Ave | East Arlington www.AIFFest.org
AIFF and PURPLE ARROW FILMS
Seek to Pave New Avenues in the Film Industry
The Arlington International Film Festival (AIFF) today marks the formal launch of the international partnership between AIFF and PURPLE ARROW FILMS. We are proud to announce this partnership and celebrate the joint effort of ‘connecting filmmakers to the world’. www.purplearrowfilms.com
Established in 2016, Purple Arrow is a company that holds down the forte for film festival consultancy as well as distribution of films across the world. A name that symbolizes progress and prosperity with a touch of royalty, Purple Arrow is built on the philosophy of progression and creativity through human intervention.
Founded on the principles of technological advancements, human effort and dedication, Purple Arrow is a brand which enforces the traditional forms of film making along with the importance of a film festival in the overall cycle of a film.
From traditional film making reels to digitization of the shoot, from single screen showcase to film festival showcase, Purple Arrow has been striving to achieve a great feat in imbibing the art of film making from all around the world and impart this valuable knowledge to film makers.
Purple Arrow Films is a film festival consultancy agency with a knowledge base of the best film festivals that take place across the globe with every intricate detail taken care with utmost dedication. Their team is driven to provide meaningful and beneficial consultancy solutions to help films flourish on screen, holding fast to their mission to empower filmmakers.
AIFF is an award-winning Festival with its mission being to foster appreciation for different cultures by exploring the lives of people around the globe through independent film. With its annual festival in October, AIFF takes movie-goers on cinematic journeys, transporting them to lands far away and back home again. Featuring an annual poster contest competition, kick-off and various events through-out the year, AIFF includes numerous expressions of the arts from fine art exhibits, international dance and musicians.
AIFF not only celebrates the arts but believes that the arts are here to connect us, to communicate across boundaries and touch our common humanity. As part of its mission of nurturing the next generation, AIFF screens a special category of shorts by High School Filmmakers.
AIFF Celebrates a New Media Partnership with
IMAGINE MAGAZINE
The Arlington International Film Festival (AIFF) is exceptionally pleased to partner with IMAGINE Magazine. In its 19th year of publication, IMAGINE is a magazine emphatic about taking art to the public and providing readers with an understanding of the process, while also reviewing local and international artists exhibiting/screening throughout the Northeast. www.imaginenews.com
IMAGINE Magazine, in print and online, covers the business of Film, Television and New Media Production in New England. Introducing Film Tax Credits to New England in 2002, it has heralded the passage of tax credit initiatives passed in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut, bringing major motion picture, television and commercial projects to our region. IMAGINE is more than a magazine; it is a movement that has developed an economic engine creating a new industry for our states and towns, and spawned job creation and industry business incubation that could not have been perceived before the magazine’s inception in 1998.
Each month IMAGINE distributes its copies in New England, New York, LA, and at major Industry Events. The electronic edition is available online immediately and is archived. IMAGINE attends Sundance/Slamdance Film Festivals, NATPE, AFM, NAB, AFCI’s Locations Trade Show, Tribeca Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival & Market, The Nantucket Film Festival, New York Film Festival, and almost every film festival in and around New England.
Alberto Guzman, Organizer of AIFF, and Carol Patton, Publisher of Imagine Magazine, have been working together for more than 5 years to bring an intimate and personal experience to readers that feature conversations with independent filmmakers, local and international, as well as reaching out to producers, actors, writers, students, professors and business leaders in the film industry who are creating a market place for ideas in visual communication.
AIFF is an award-winning Festival with its mission being to foster appreciation for different cultures by exploring the lives of people around the globe through independent film. With its annual festival in October, AIFF takes movie-goers on cinematic journeys, transporting them to lands far away and back home again. Featuring a poster contest competition, kick-off and closing events with fine art exhibits, international dance companies and musicians, AIFF celebrates the arts and believes that the arts are here to connect us, to communicate across boundaries and touch our common humanity. As part of its mission of nurturing the next generation, AIFF screens a category of shorts by High School Filmmakers.
IMAGINE Magazine shares a common vision with AIFF, supporting the work of independent filmmakers, bringing industry to our region, thereby enriching our community. IMAGINE is about new processes for the new business world. AIFF is about fostering appreciation for diversity through films that are brought to Boston and adding value to their viewing through Q&As and/or panel discussions, providing an opportunity for a multi-dimensional experience.
AIFF offers a unique opportunity for cross-cultural education by promoting understanding of the many cultures represented in our town and beyond, recognizing that such diversity enriches our community. We believe that our annual international film festival highlights core values and aspirations we share in common with our culturally diverse neighbors and with all members of the global human family.
AIFF Announces its Partnership with ORIGINAL LIVING MAGAZINE
The Arlington International Film Festival (AIFF) today marks the formal launch of the local and national partnership between AIFF and Original Living Magazine. We are proud to celebrate this as our first media partnership with a Hispanic magazine.
Original Living Magazine, in print and online, is a lifestyle publication, showcasing a world of talent domestically and internationally. Printed quarterly, Original Living is distributed in Boston, New York and Miami, providing the ultimate insider experience, an original provocative approach to fashion, beauty, society, art, culture travel and entertainment. Original Living is a high-quality and ready for consumption magazine that welcomes readers of all races and cultures to enjoy what the magazine offers.
“La misión es rescatar y promover artistas en todos los campos y estilos de vida resaltando el arte y el talento con apoyo mutuo el cual nos permite alcanzar y
mantener la calidad de imagen y producción en cada edición”, Isabel Lopez directora y editora.
AIFF’s special partnership with Original Living will provide wide distribution to the Latin American people in the Greater Boston Area, New York and Miami, reporting on news and events related to the Festival, including the films selected for screening in October at the Arlington’s Capitol Theatre, as well as related pre-festival events.
AIFF takes great pride in its collaborations and its commitment to building vibrant partnerships with organizations, businesses, education, arts, and cultural institutions in New England, building community to bring an artistic experience that is unforgettable. The Festival is honored to serve the town of Arlington, living up to its name as a true cultural destination. The combination of nationally recognized and home-grown independent filmmakers presented during the Festival is establishing Arlington as not only a dining destination, but as a place for a uniquely fun, informative and stimulating movie-going experience.
AIFF is a creative and cutting edge boutique film festival offering a unique opportunity for cross-cultural education by promoting understanding of the many cultures represented in our town and beyond, recognizing that such diversity enriches our community. We believe that our annual international film festival highlights core values and aspirations we share in-common with our culturally diverse neighbors and with all members of the global human family.
AIFF Welcomes New Colleagues to the Team
Arlington International Film Festival (AIFF) is pleased to announce the addition of several new colleagues joining the team for the 2017 Festival.
John Dellanno is a senior at Arlington Catholic High School and has taken on the role of Social Media Manager/Guru. His bright future is ready to be written.
Carolina Marion joins this year’s team as the Submissions Coordinator. Having graduated from Northeastern University in 2013, earning a degree in Communications/Cinema Studies, she recently accepted a position with Spotify in New York City. Carolina has a background in IT and Project Management which makes her a perfect fit for the administration of this year’s film submissions. Jordan Michael joins this year’s Selection Committee. Having been in the industry for over ten years, Jordan has worked in roles such as consumer products, motion picture literary, production and development with industry brands; i.e. the Weinstein Company, Focus Features, New Line Cinema, Gersh Agency, Warner Bros., Nickelodeon, and TalentWorks. He completed his undergraduate education at the School of Visual Arts in New York City and earned a Master’s Degree in Producing for Film from the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. He joins veteran judges: Lawrence Benedict, Rick Beyer, Alice Bouvrie, Barbara Costa, Paul Dervis, Elizabeth DiNolfo, Charles Schuerhoff, Sophie Seifried, Eric Stage, Marga Varea, and Brynmore Williams in the selection and awards of films that will be screened in the upcoming Festival, October 26 - 29.
We welcome Rachael Sullivan and her creativity as the Festival’s Graphic Designer. Rachael hails from New England and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts and Graphic Design from University of Connecticut. Over the last fifteen years, she has enjoyed working in an industry that continuously marries creativity and constructs whilst living in the amazing cities of Boston and Chicago. A Visual Designer with a passion for clean, fresh and interesting design, Rachael continuously showcases strong creativity, meticulous design prowess and technical savvy resulting in a varied and substantial portfolio. She possesses a talent for creative problem solving, a strong desire to maintain client identity and brand integrity. Her clients include Rounder Records, Bela Fleck, and Berklee School of Music.
As part of its mission of nurturing the next generation, AIFF screens a category of shorts by High School Filmmakers. Gonzalo Veloz will join Michael Mahan and Kevin Wetmore on the Selection Committee that reviews all student submissions, and decides on official selections and awards that will be screened in the Student Program. Originally from Caracas, Venezuela, Gonzalo studied communications and film in Venezuela, Colombia and the U.S. Gonzalo has worked on various projects for film and TV, documentaries and music videos to name a few. Recently working close with startups of industries from around the world, Gonzalo has participated in roles direction, production, editing, and photography. His resume includes working for CNN, Forbes, and NBC's "The Today Show". Besides his freelance work, he manages video production for U.S. based initiatives for Mass Challenge.
The AIFF Organizers are extremely proud to be working with such a professional team that is dedicated to our mission of offering a unique opportunity for cross-cultural education by promoting understanding of the many cultures represented in our town and beyond, recognizing that such diversity enriches our community. We all believe that our annual international film festival highlights core values and aspirations we share with our culturally diverse neighbors and with all members of the global human family.
AIFF Welcomes ‘global culinary experiences’ to Arlington
BISTRO DUET Restaurant
The Arlington International Film Festival (AIFF) proudly announces its 2017 partnership with BISTRO DUET Restaurant where the French culinary experience comes alive in Arlington, home of many of the best restaurants in greater Boston.
The Arlington International Film Festival is readying the red carpet for Opening Night on October 26th at the Capitol Theatre. Festival Pass and VIP ticket-holders will receive priority seating at the Capitol Theatre and are invited to attend the After-Party hosted at Bistro Duet restaurant. Mark your calendar for the event that promises to be enjoyable from start to finish… quality film, stimulating conversation followed by delicious hors d’oeuvres inspired by the many regions in France… and more conversation at Bistro Duet.
A native of Dracut, Massachusetts, Wayne Duprey is Bistro Duet’s General Manager. Duprey has managed restaurant and bar operations in the U.S., Europe and Asia. Most recently, he was the Assistant Director of Food & Beverage at the Four Seasons Resort, Hualalai in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Previously, he was Director of Bars at the InterContinental Boston.
Executive Chef, Cyrille Couet, is a native of the Loire Valley who started cooking in his uncle’s restaurant at the age of 13. Since then, he has worked behind stoves in Europe, the West Indies and the U.S. Chef Cyrille was inaugural chef of Miel Brasserie at the InterContinental Boston and, most recently, was Executive Chef of the Questrom School of Business at Boston University. Couet will oversee all aspects of Bistro Duet’s culinary operation, including catering.
We welcome Bistro Duet to Arlington and as a sponsor of the Arlington International Film Festival!
190 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA | http://www.bistroduet.com/#modern-french-cuisine
AIFF will be screening narrative and documentary features and shorts plus a special category of short submissions by local and international high school students. There will be provocative conversations with filmmakers/producers, academics, and the business community after special Festival screenings. Join in the fun and keep abreast of the Festival developments by visiting the website, AIFFest.org