Reeling Out Winners, New Hampshire Film Festival honors 80 films from Granite State and beyond

Having scanned through more than 700 films from across the country, judges for The New Hampshire Film Festival are ready to screen 80 favorites, including a packed slate of more than two dozen works either crafted by Granite State filmmakers or filmed in the Granite State.

The yearly festival last year drew a crowd of 6,000, and the ninth annual event, set to take place today, Oct. 15, through Sunday, Oct. 18, in Portsmouth, is expected to garner even greater numbers, festival organizers said.

Screenings will be staggered at four locations throughout the weekend, with most films shown at least twice. Venues include: The Music Hall, 28 Chestnut St.; Moffatt Ladd House, 154 Market St.; Muddy River Smokehouse, 21 Congress St., and The Seacoast Repertory Theatre, 125 Bow St.

“There is much more to the New Hampshire Film Festival than screening a hand-selected batch of excellent independent films,” festival organizers said. “Some of the most fulfilling and memorable experiences happen when the projectors are turned off. After most screenings ... an opportunity is provided for a film’s creator to talk about his or her work and field questions from the audience.

“This is what truly sets the New Hampshire Film Festival apart from the traditional movie-going experience,” festival officials said. “It’s a time to break through the silver screen and learn about what went on behind the scenes in a very personalized way.”

Professional workshops covering aspects of the film industry will be offered. Festival attendees can meet with experts, such as Mark Urman, former head of THINK film, which has released several Oscar nominated films, including “Half Nelson,” “The Story of the Weeping Camel,” “Born Into Brothels” and “Murderball.”

“(The festival) is part of a thriving New England film industry,” said festival spokesman Brian DeKoning. “(It) has become known as a hotbed of film industry networking. Filmmakers looking for crew, talent, writers, directors and producers come here to see who is available.”

The weekend will open today with screenings devoted to New Hampshire films and filmmakers from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Music Hall. This batch of 23 films includes those either produced in the Granite State or by filmmakers with New Hampshire ties. Some of the noteworthy New Hampshire films include:

*“Shooting Beauty,” a documentary by Emmy-nominated filmmaker George Kachadorian about a fashion photographer who puts cameras in the hands of people with cerebral palsy and other significant disabilities and asks them to take pictures from their life perspectives.

* “Mito Kids,” a documentary shot by Portsmouth resident Marc Dole about four sisters who have grown up with Mitochondrial disease, a chronic genetic disorder.

*“Mystery Team,” a full-length comedy about the Oakdale Mystery Team, a band of kid detectives dedicated to solving kid-sized mysteries.

*“Crooked Lane,” starring Brett Cullen in a short paranormal drama based on a story passed down over the years in a New Hampshire town. Portsmouth filmmaker Chase Bailey’s other works include “The Libertine” with Johnny Depp and “The Life Before Her Eyes” with Uma Thurman.

*Ear Whacks,” a dark comedy by Dover filmmaker Alfred Thomas Catalfo, centers on a Las Vegas gambling addict whose best friend, a hit man, lends him an ear on his wedding day. Catalfo’s past films include “The Norman Rockwell Code” and “The Toll.”

Tonight’s festivities will wrap up with an awards ceremony followed by an after party at Flatbread Company, 138 Congress St.

The festival’s executive director, Nicole Gregg, said a highlight of the 2009 celebration will be the presentation of the Van Macleod Award to playwright Ernest Thompson, who wrote the Academy Award-winning screenplay for “On Golden Pond.” Shot in New Hampshire, the celebrated 1981 film starred Katharine Hepburn, Henry Fonda and Jane Fonda.

Other films Gregg encouraged festival attendees to catch are “Serious Moonlight” with Meg Ryan, Timothy Hutton and Kristin Bell, “American Violet” with Michael O’Keefe and “The Continuing and Lamentable Saga of the Suicide Brothers” starring Kiera Knightly.

Individual tickets to the festival can be purchased at the door for $12, while day passes are $35 and weekend passes are $75 or $100. After-party tickets and workshop tickets cost $5 each. For more information, log onto www.nhfilmfestival.com.

The ninth annual New Hampshire Film festival will begin on October 15th and run through October 18th, in Portsmouth, NH. The festival provides an opportunity for people from all over New England to view a wide variety of films as well as mingle with people actively involved in the entertainment industry. A combination of 80 feature films, short films, documentaries and children’s films have been selected from the over 700 submitted for screening over the four days.

The screenings will be staggered throughout the weekend at four locations in Portsmouth. Professional workshops on different aspects of the film industry will be also offered throughout the weekend where attendees can learn more about the film industry and meet with experts, such as Mark Urman, former head of THINK film, which has released several Oscar nominated films.

The weekend will open on Thursday with a New Hampshire day and night. The day will be devoted to works produced either in New Hampshire or by filmmakers with New Hampshire ties. Festival executives selected twenty-three films to be screened. The evening will wrap up with an awards ceremony followed by an after party at Flatbread Company on 138 Congress Street. All 23 films will be shown at the Music Hall starting at 10 AM until 10 PM.

There will be filmmakers, actors and producers on hand after viewings for a question and answer period. Gary Hirshberg, CE Yo of Stonyfield Farm, will speak with guests after the viewing of Food, Inc. on Sunday evening. He will be followed by the closing ceremonies, where several awards will be presented including the Grand Jury award for the best film of the festival. The Grand Jury panel is comprised of prominent names within the film industry, including actress Ann Cusak and Sean Finnegan, Creative Director at Joel Silver production; a Warner Bros. based Production Company.

Award winning participants will receive a Granny, the NH Film Festival’s version of an Oscar. The Grand Jury prize will also include $500 in cash and a screening at the Red River Theatre in Concord, NH. The Audience Choice award winner will also receive an encore viewing at Red River Theatre.

Executive Director, Nicole Gregg, said some of the highlights this year include the Van Macleod Award, which will be presented to the esteemed writer of the movie On Golden Pond, Ernest Thompson. “Our documentary program across the board (is very exciting).” She also encouraged festival attendees to catch features such as Serious Moonlight with Meg Ryan, Timothy Hutton and Kristin Bell, American Violet with Michael O’Keefe and The Continuing and Lamentable Saga of the Suicide Brothers starring Kiera Knightly.

Irving Oil continues to be the top sponsor of the festival, but other large contributors include The Provident Bank, Left Bank Films, Access Sports Medicine, Hilton Garden Inn among others. Individual tickets for shows are available at the door or day and weekend passes are also available. For a detailed schedule of the festival events visit www.nhfilmfestival.com.

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This article originally appeared in newhampshire.com on October 14, 2009.