Reporting by Paul Sladkus
Post by Leah
When: October 13 – October 17, 2011
What: Now entering its 19th year, The Hamptons International Film Festival (HIFF) was founded to provide a forum for independent filmmakers from around the world to express their vision. The Festival is in theatre venues from Montauk to Southampton and attracts roughly 18,000 visitors annually.
At least twenty countries are represented in the slate of roughly 100 films that are showcased each year, with an awards package worth over $200,000. The festival continues to play a part in the awards season, with the 2010 edition earning a total of 30 Academy Award nominations (The King’s Speech, Black Swan, 127 Hours, Toy Story 3). The 2010 edition also featured eventual Best Picture winners of the Academy Award (The King’s Speech), Golden Globe (The King’s Speech) and Independent Spirit Award (Black Swan).
In addition to short films (for which HIFF is an Academy-qualifying festival), documentaries and narratives, the Festival offers special presentations such as; a Breakthrough Performers program, which showcases up-and-coming acting talent (past participants include Rooney Mara, Emmy Rossum, Emily Blunt, and Blake Lively); “A Conversation With…”, an intimate Q&A session with a film luminary (past participants include Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Sharon Stone, Steve Buscemi, Alan Alda, Vanessa Redgrave, Frances McDormand, Sidney Lumet, Julian Schnabel, Isabella Rossellini, Gena Rowlands, Robert Altman, and Marty Bregman); and Films of Conflict & Resolution, which utilizes the power of cinema to increase understanding of the human realities of war and conflict.
Where: Main festival venue is United Artist Theater in East Hampton, New York, with additional venues in Sag Harbor, Southampton, Montauk and Westhampton.
(source: Hamptons International Film Festival)
Interview with Carol Schnittlich, General Manager of The Hedges Inn, 74 James Lane, East Hampton, New York, www.thehedgesinn.com
