MFF 2019 Festival Catalog

Welcome
Dear Friends,
On behalf of Montclair Film’s Board of Trustees, we are proud to welcome
you to the eighth annual Montclair Film Festival! This year’s festival promises
to be our best program ever, with filmmakers from around the world joining
us in Montclair to share their stories with our passionate patrons. It is your
support that has spurred our dynamic expansion these past few years, and
as we continue to grow, we are hopeful that the films, stories, classes, and
special events we bring to Montclair make you proud of what we offer to our
community.
This past year was a busy one at the Investors Bank Film & Media Center,
our home at 505 Bloomfield Avenue in downtown Montclair. Our thriving
education center has driven much of our impact, with scores of popular
classes, workshops, and programs for participants of all ages. From our high
school documentary filmmaking class to our adult improv class, students
trying out filmmaking for the first time in our Filmmaking 1 class, to our
screenwriting and editing classes, Montclair Film continues to build programs
that assist students in developing real-world skills that will translate from the
classroom to the screen.
We have also deepened our focus on storytelling events that give a platform
to members of our community, from high school students seeking to sharpen
their skills to adults participating in our StorySLAM series. These programs
culminate in our annual Storyteller Series, presented by Audible, which includes
our annual Fundraiser at NJPAC, which saw the great Meryl Streep join us for
this special night, an evening that broke all of our fundraising records.
And thanks to your support and participation, our programs are being
recognized. This year saw Montclair Film win a seventh consecutive award
from Discover New Jersey Arts as New Jersey’s Favorite Film Festival,
we’ve seen an expansion in our support from public and private granting
organizations, and we’ve been honored to welcome Governor Phil Murphy at
multiple Montclair Film events.
The 2019 Montclair Film Festival program is filled with unique artists telling
stories that reflect the rich diversity of our community. We hope you will take
the time to explore the program to its fullest, and that you experience the
same joy and excitement in this year’s films that we do in bringing them to
you. We thank you for your enduring support.
Sincerely,
PRESENTS THE
Bob Feinberg
Founder and Chairman
Montclair Film
Evelyn Colbert
President
Montclair Film
19