12th Annual Nantucket Film Festival
The 12th Annual Nantucket Film Festival (NFF) officially announces their full lineup of films and events for the 2007 festival, held on-island from June 13 through June 17. During this year’s festival, 30 features with 20 shorts will be shown.
According to co-founder and Executive Director, Jill Burkhart, “We always strive to pack the schedule with great films, insightful panels, and exciting events each year. Our primary goal has always been to provide attendees with a rewarding experience….”
“This year’s festival has a wide range of films, but they all have one common thread: telling a solid story,” said Mystelle Brabbée, NFF Artistic Director. “This year in particular, we were delighted to find that the line-up has a strong representation of female talent, whether it’s an engrossing film from a female director or a film telling the story of an incredible woman.”
With the prominence of women filmmakers at NFF 2007, there was no better time to introduce the previously announced Adrienne Shelley Excellence in Filmmaking Award, which gives a cash prize to an exceptional writer/director female at the festival. “When Andy Ostroy approached us to create a yearly award and scholarship in Adrienne’s name, we were thrilled for this opportunity to recognize exceptional female filmmakers.”
Robert Benton is the 2007 recipient of the NBC Universal Screenwriting Award. Benton will be appearing at The NBC Universal Screenwriter’s Tribute on Saturday, June 16, along with various colleagues and special guests, including Stanley Jaffe, Ron Meyer, Jeff Zucker, Brian Williams, and James Schamus.
While Benton is on-island, he will also be participating in the “In Their Shoes” event on Sunday, June 17, when he will be interviewed by renowned film critic Janet Maslin. The event is a lively forum with encouraged audience participation. It will include clips of the best scenes from Benton’s work as chosen by him. Included as part of NFF”s salute to Robert Benton will be a screening of Places in the Heart, which earned him an Academy Award for Best Screenplay.
Other NFF special events include the annual Late Night Storytelling event hosted by Anne Meara and Peter Farrelly. Participants include five surprise guests as well as audience members. Past storytellers include Jim Carrey, Tina Fey, Mos Def, Rosie Perez, Laird Hamilton, Olympia Dukakis, Paul Rudd, Alan Cumming, and Brian Williams.
Participants in this year’s “Iconoclasts” event will be William Monahan, Donna Giolotti, and Rachel Grady. On Thursday, June 14, the three will interview each other about their lives and work leading up to and after their Oscar nominations and awards. Sharon Swart will moderate.
NFF’s annual staged screenplay reading will be held on Saturday, June 16. This event is designed to emphasize the importance of the script itself by having actors perform it without utilizing locations, costumes, effects, or music. The chosen script for this year is Filthy, Dirty, Twisted Lust by Steven Weber, who will also be directing the performance featuring a surprise cast.
NFF”s Writer/Director Award Jury this year will include William Monohan, Lee Daniels, and Rachel Grady. The Screenplay Competition Jury includes Donna Giolotti, Anthony Swofford and Sharon Swart. Also scheduled to appear at the festival are Canvas stars Marcia Gay Harden and Joe Pantoliano as well as Evening co-writer Michael Cunningham.
The 2007 NFF Opening Night Film is the feature Evening, directed by Lajos Koltai. Based on Susan Minot’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book and starring Meryl Streep, Clair Danes, and Toni Collette, Evening explores the emotional and romantic past of a 65-year-old woman diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Closing Night Film for NFF 2007 is the feature Rocket Science, directed by Jeffrey Blitz. Rocket Science is the debut narrative feature from Jeffrey Blitz and won the coveted Directing Award at Sundance 2007. The film centers a shy high school student with a stuttering problem who tries to win a girls heart by joining his school’s debate team.
