Vineyard Film Festival Offers Up Quality Alternative Flicks
by Matthew Mariner
It’s been 40 years since Martha’s Vineyard served as the vibrant backdrop for Steven Spielberg’s classic Jaws, but movie magic is still alive and thriving on the island. The Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival is an island organization that is committed to using cinematic arts as a catalyst for discussion, debate and action. Founded in the winter of 2001, Thomas Bena and friends first conceptualized the project to respond to a need for quality films on the island. Bena had the unique idea of creating an alternative film experience that incorporated film, food, music and art. With that, the festival was launched.
The Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival has an exciting line-up of films planned this summer. On Wednesday, July 15, the festival will show Hot Type: 150 Years of the Nation at the Chilmark Community Center. This 2015 documentary examines the current American political and cultural climate by taking a closer look at the pressures of independent-minded journalism. The film is directed by two-time academy award winning documentary filmmaker Barbara Knopple. Knopple will be here in person and will lead a discussion following the presentation of the film. Dawn Porter will be the monitor. Live Music and Dinner by the Kitchen Porch will begin at 6:00pm and the movie showing will begin at 7:30pm.
On Monday, June 20th, the festival will hold a special screening of In My Father’s House at 7:30pm in the Oak Bluffs Union Chapel. In My Father’s House chronicles the life of Grammy Award-winning songwriter Che “Rhymefest” Smith. In the film, Rhymefest finds out that his estranged, alcoholic father is homeless, and living two blocks away from him. There will be a discussion following the film with film subjects Che and Donnie Smith, Brian Tillman and directors Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg. Che “Rhymefest” Smith will also be offering a pre-screening performance.
The festival will present James Baldwin: The Price of the Ticket at the Chilmark Community Center on Wednesday, July 22nd. James Baldwin documents the life of the late writer and activist, and features interviews with Baldwin’s friends including Maya Angelou, Amiri Baraka, and William Styron. Dinner and music will begin at 6:00pm, with the movie showing beginning at 7:30. Director Karen Thorsen and Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. will lead a discussion following the film.
One day later, on July 23rd, the festival will present Consenses: The Story at Owen Park in Vineyard Haven at 8:00pm. This documentary chronicles how 150 artists from around the world chose to interpret each other’s work. The film captures a collective game of artistic “telephone” beginning from a series of 22 images, which captured the essence of Martha’s Vineyard. It ultimately leads to a deeper understanding of human experience. Consenses founder, Sally Taylor, will lead a discussion and performance following the film. Sally Taylor will also lead a free workshop for children called Youth Consenses, a multi-art form experience before the film at 6:00pm.
So if you are ready to experience a cinematic adventure that will leave you feeling inspired and reflective, check out the Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival events. The films mentioned here are only a small sample of the many exciting events that are planned for the summer for all ages. For tickets or more information, visit tmvff.org. Photo courtesy of blog.harbor-view.com.
