The 2nd Annual Lois Weber Film Festival, founded by Gabrielle Rossen, took place on March 30, 2024 to spotlight women in film:  past, present, and future.  Along with female-directed films, there was a special screening of Lois Weber’s Shoes with live accompaniment.  Member Dawn Davis managed the WIFVNE vendor table and many WIFVNE members were in attendance and had their films screened. 

Congratulations to the following WIFVNE members for their award wins!

Best Horror: Cup of Tea | Diana Porter

Best Thriller: Cult | Rachel Thomas-Medwid

Best Ensemble Cast: Candlestick Justice | Mary C. Ferrara

Submissions for the next Lois Weber Film Festival will be open on FilmFreeway in September, 2024.

Photo: (left to right) WIFVNE Board Member Rachel Thomas-Medwid, actor Sheri Lee, WIFVNE Board Member Jaci Kjernander, and Lois Weber Film Festival founder Gabrielle Rossen.

WIFVNE is a proud sponsor of Mass Reality Check, the documentary shorts competition for college filmmakers at Salem Film Fest!

The 2024 Mass Reality Check Winners were: 

1st - Warman, Directed by Pete Sethanant, Suffolk University

2nd - The Weight of Numbers, Madalyn Carr, Bridgewater State University

3rd - The Spontaneous Activity of Children, Directed by Katherine Fitzgerald, Emerson College

Photos by Fae Phoenix Photo. 
Above:  WIFVNE Member and SFF Program Director Emily Abi-Kheirs with students competing for the Mass Reality Check awards; All Winners for the Mass Reality Check; 1st Winner Pete Sethanant.

In a unique tradition of Salem Film Fest, winners in each category were awarded original handmade trophies created by artists based in Salem. These awards not only honor the filmmakers' achievements but also celebrate the collaboration between the film festival and the local art community.  Learn more about other award winners from Salem Film Fest 2024. 

WIFVNE is a proud community partner for the White River Indie Films Festival, which recently took place February 14-18, 2024 in White River, VT.

Each year WRIF has a cohort of Emerging Filmmakers and this year, WIFVNE was pleased to sponsor the WIFVNE Spotlight Award and award it to Mae Nagusky, the filmmaker behind the short dear mom,.Mae Nagusky is a senior film student at the University of Vermont. Her films oftentimes blur the line between self and other as she navigates the messy, beautiful world she is living in. Mae also has a deep love for people-watching and eating mangoes. 

The team at WRIF tells WIFVNE:  "The nearly 70 submissions we received for the WRIF Emerging Filmmakers contest are a peek into who the next generation of North East based, independent filmmakers are and what kind of stories they are interested in telling. Our judges (local artists from diverse disciplines and backgrounds) are not asked to consider filmmakers' identities and judge on the merit of the film first and foremost. This year, 4 out of the 5 phenomenal, Emerging Filmmaker shorts they selected were by women. That really speaks to a rising tide of women filmmakers in New England and beyond who are feeling empowered to tell stories through film. Out of the highly contested shorts we moved through to the final round, Mae's was one that all our Emerging Filmmaker judges unanimously agreed needed to be shared with our audience at WRIF. "dear mom," is a touchingly personal, jarringly honest and creatively crafted documentary that resonates deeply with the current moment of independent filmmaking."

WIFVNE Member Erin Underwood moderated the Finding Allies panel at the Boston Science Fiction Film Festival, held in person February 14-19, 2024 at the Somerville Theater. 

Erin reports having a great time on the Finding Allies panel, where she represented WIFVNE.  The discussion, she says, "was so much more wide reaching than I imagined. We got into what it's like in the industry (for anyone), how to make connections, how hiring works, and the joy that can come with the work - especially when working with colleagues who support you."

Erin supplied the photos below, with the following:  "Please ignore my giant head in the selfie! But check out the weird blurry accidental photo that I took. It's kind of artsy and weird in a fun way.

She adds:  "Thank you for thinking of me [WIFVNE] and Garen Daly (of Boston Science Fiction Film Festival. I really enjoyed meeting my co-panelists Claudia Anahí Ramirez, Giang, and Michelle. Also, thank you to Tyler Knohl for organizing everything onsite, The Burren for hosting us, and all of the audience members who attended."

Calling all student documentary filmmakers*!

WIFVNE is a proud sponsor of Mass Reality Check, the documentary shorts competition for college filmmakers at Salem Film Fest! SFF will present an in-person screening of the selected shorts program, followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers in attendance.  For complete rules and guidelines, visit the website.  Submission deadline is Wednesday, March 1, 2024.  Key points:  

• Submitting is FREE! There is no entry fee

• All forms of documentary are welcome, 25 minutes or less in duration

• Entries must be produced by current students or 2023 graduates who live in Massachusetts OR attend(ed) a Massachusetts college or university

• Films must have been completed in 2023 (or 2024, when the call closes)

• No unauthorized use of copyrighted images or music is allowed

• To submit a film, go here: MASS REALITY CHECK SUBMISSION FORM

High school students take note:  Keeping it Reel is a showcase for Massachusetts high school students to present their short documentary and experimental documentary films. Open to current high school students (individuals or groups) who live in Massachusetts. Entries must be 10 minutes or less in duration.

Want to be more involved with Salem Film Fest?  Consider volunteering!  Learn more and sign up here.

WIFVNE Board member Rachel Thomas-Medwid (left) at the Shawna Shea Film Festival. 

Rachel was one of the winners of the Shawna Spirit Award.

The Shawna Shea Film Festival (SSFF) took place Septemebr 20-23, 2023 with four packed days of films and events. Multiple WIFVNE members took home awards from the festival, which celebrates independent films and the people who make them. Established in 2012 as a program of the Shawna E. Shea Memorial Foundation Inc., SSFF honors Shawna's unique independent spirit by bringing audiences films that share the same quality.

Congratulations to all the filmmakers and screenwriters!  WIFVNE members who were winners are listed below: 

Shawna Spirit Award Winners

Individual

• Rachel Thomas-Medwid

Feature length movie

• Wallie's Gals by Mary C. Ferrara

Short movie

• Ocean Child by Marilyn Swick

Screenplay

• Jaw by Miriam Olken

Best Local Horror Short

• The Devil on Derby Street by Luke St. Germaine

Best Mobile Device

• One Room by Rachel S. Thomas-Medwid

Short Length Screenplay

• Jaw by Miriam Olken

Feature Length Screenplay

• Girl Aloud by Mary C. Ferrara

Congratulations to WIFVNE Members Caitlin McCarthy and Jennifer Rapaport, whose screenplays have been selected for table reads as part of the WIFVNE Showcase Event at Lonely Seal International Film Festival! Excerpts of their scripts will be performed live during the festival at the historic Regent Theater in Arlington, Massachusetts.

Caitlin McCarthy's script is Resistance:

• Logline: The Nazi invasion of Czechoslovakia and the horrors of Auschwitz are seen through the eyes of one girl, forced to grow up quickly as she moves from the school yard to the concentration camp, working for the Resistance along the way.

Jennifer Rapaport's script is Pending:

• Logline: In a conservative Texas suburb in June of 2022, a 40-year-old mother in a teetering marriage discovers she is pregnant and must confront her soon-to-be-ex-husband and the fast approaching Dobbs decision to get the healthcare she needs. 

In addition to the table reads, there will be a member film block and a networking hour with coffee and bagels. Come for the table read, check out some films, and network with writers, actors, filmmakers, and other WIFVNE members!

The WIFVNE showcase will take place on Saturday, October 7, 2023 from 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Light refreshments served. The Regent Theater is a WIFVNE member. 

On August 3, 2023, WIFVNE’s panel discussion, How to Market Your Film, was well-attended at the Woods Hole Film Festival.

Moderator Kristen Falso-Capaldi, WIFVE Board member and RI state chair, spoke with the panelists about topics such as understanding how your end goal informs your marketing strategy, new approaches to marketing in today’s climate, and issues concerning AI.

WIFVNE thanks the panelists for bringing their experience and insight to Woods Hole Film Festival:  (from left to right) Christine Merser, Managing Partner of Blue Shoe Content; Gia Galligani, Executive Producer/Showrunner and Development Executive; and John Edginton, Documentary Film Director/Producer/Executive Producer.

Special shout out and thank you to WIFVNE Member Jill Poisson (on left, Award-Winning screenwriter, director, and editor) who joined Patricia Chica (Film Director, Producer Award-winning filmmaker, speaker, coach, entrepreneur, super-connector + energy influencer and the author of the upcoming book "Empathy is Bullsh!t) for a conversation about supporting and empowering female voices/perspectives in the film industry.

Recap courtesy of WIFVNE Board member Yael Beals:

The Rhode International Film Festival 2023 was a remarkable celebration of storytelling, creativity, and global culture. The festival took place in the heart of Providence, Rhode Island, which provided a charming backdrop. The venues were well-chosen and offered a cozy yet immersive atmosphere. The organizers thoughtfully arranged seating to accommodate both intimate discussions and large screenings, ensuring a comfortable experience for all attendees.

A diverse array of genres, themes, and cultures were showcased. From thought-provoking documentaries to captivating narratives, the range of films was impressive. One of the highlights of the Rhode International Film Festival was the engaging Q&A sessions with filmmakers. These sessions offered valuable insights into the creative process and the stories behind the films.

The festival provided ample opportunities for networking and connecting with fellow film enthusiasts, professionals, and aspiring filmmakers. The festival was meticulously organized, with schedules adhered to rigorously. The staff and volunteers were helpful and approachable, making the entire experience seamless. 

I left the festival feeling inspired. Kudos to the organizers, filmmakers, and everyone involved in making this event a success. I can't wait to see what films the Rhode International Film Festival will bring next year!

Lights, camera, Easthampton!

The Easthampton Film Festival returns May 12 – May 26, 2023, with independent film screenings at Abandoned Building Brewery, E-Media (aka Easthampton Media), Luthier’s Co-op, New City Brewery, and The Marigold Theater in Easthampton, MA.

Tickets are on sale now online at easthamptonfilmfestival.com, and cost $5 per screening. Tickets must be purchased online in advance. Seating is limited, and capacity varies by venue.

And Brace Yourself!  Seriously!  The Horror Shorts program called Brace Yourself starts at 

6:00pm on Sunday, May 14th at New City Brewery.  PENNY, by WIFVNE Board Member Rachel Thomas-Medwid is part of the program (be sure to say hi to Rachel!). 

About the Easthampton Film Festival (EFF): Chris Ferry, the festival’s founder and organizer, has produced and participated in making several independent films. He moved to Easthampton from New York City with his family in 2020. Eager to join the thriving artistic community here, he connected with local filmmakers. The Easthampton Film Festival showcases the work of up-and-coming filmmakers from around the world (Canada, Finland, France, New Zealand, Turkey), with a particular focus on celebrating regional talent and themes (MA: Amherst, Cambridge, Easthampton, Gloucester, Northampton, and Waltham, as well as films from CA, ME, NJ, NY, RI, and SC).

This year’s film selections represent several genres, including: animation, comedy, documentary, drama, and horror. Panel discussions with attending filmmakers will follow screenings. More detail on each screening here.

This year, EFF offers filmmaking workshops in addition to film screenings. Each costs $250; registration and details can be found on the festival’s website.

For media inquiries or to volunteer, please email:  info@EasthamptonFilmFestival.com