360 | 365 - Formerly the Rochester High Falls International Film Festival

21 Below, Exclusive Interview with Director Samantha Buck

admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:08:20 +0000

360 | 365 George Eastman House Film Festival New Director Series

21 Below’ is Samantha’s directorial debut. Her television credits include Comedy Central’s ‘Stella’ opposite Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter and David Wain. On ‘Law and Order: Criminal Intent’, Samantha portrayed Detective G. Lynn Bishop opposite Vincent D’Onoforio. She has had recurring roles on ‘Third Watch’, ‘Six Degrees’, ‘Z Rock’ and has appeared on ‘Sex and The City’.

1. Samantha, since you have plenty of experience in front of the camera (both TV and film) what was the biggest thing to wrap your head around in order to direct?

To be completely honest, I never dreamed of making a documentary film and was naive enough to not think about what I should or shouldn’t be doing. This film happened in a very organic way; and was collaborative in the truest sense of the word. Because of the efforts of Jenny Maguire ,Sophia Raab Downs and myself, we were able to capture the story of Sophia and her family.

I felt a tremendous amount of pressure and responsibility to make sure this family was portrayed as truthfully and as fairly as possible. It is a completely different and greater pressure than I have ever experienced as an actor. I was very fortunate to be working with two amazing women and a tremendous group of people who put their heart and souls into the film.

2. How did you and Zeke Farrow meet up and come to work together on a film?

Zeke and I have been friends and teamed up on various projects for years. He is more like family than just a friend at this point.

Working together on this project was a very “New York” story, though. I was in-between sublets, living on his couch, and watching “21 BELOW” raw footage every night. Soon he was joining me and we would stay up for hours talking about the story and the potential film that could be made.

I wanted the film to play like a fiction narrative. The hope was it would allow the audience to more readily put themselves in the family’s shoes. I found that I could learn more watching how family members interacted with each other than in a 2-hour interview.

Zeke is a tremendous writer who comes from a fiction background. I was very lucky that he came onboard. He helped shape the story and was my constant sounding board during the editing process.

We are currently working on another documentary together as well as a pilot script we wrote together. He has also written a screenplay I would love to direct someday.

3. Why this story for your directorial debut? What about it made you say, “I have to tell this story to the world!”?

I did not go hunting for a story. The story found us. here’s what happened:

In the spring of 2004, my mother invited a few friends and I to come to D.C., for The March for Women’s Lives. One of the women I invited was future partner and producer Jenny Maguire.

I had a feeling in my gut that I should bring a camera with me. The women we heard speak that day are what started us on a journey that would eventually lead to Buffalo, NY. We heard Molly Ivins, Ann Richards, and Sarah Weddington. They asked us to enjoy the March—but reminded us is not just about one day but what you do afterward. I read an article about the 30 biggest activists under 30 and decided that we should document their level of activism during the 2004 Presidential campaign.

One of my friends recommended I bring a young woman who lived Upstate on board. She was in production and involved with Women’s Reproductive rights. That is how we met Sophia.

As Jenny, Sophia, and I spent the summer following young women in an effort to put a personal face on the political issues we were investigating, Sophia talked about her problems with her sister. She was in my apartment when she learned her niece Maya had Tay-Sachs disease. By the end of the summer it became clear that the real story lay in Sophia’s family walls.

The story became much more complex than any of us could have realized. We thought we were going to make a film about young women and their reproductive rights; instead it turned out to be a portrait of an American middle-class family in crisis. Our film is still about choice but like most things in life we found it was not so cut and dry.

The relationships we have inside our family walls affect who we are when we walk out the door. Hopefully this film will make people think and reflect on how they communicate, love, and accept one another.

4. What were the most painful and the most rewarding parts of making 21 Below?

We were extremely naive about what it meant for our producer and friend to become our subject. As a filmmaker, I felt obligated to tell the story fairly and honestly. I love Sophia and her family. Exposing every side of them—the beautiful and ugly—proved very difficult.

Sophia’s family did not ask for cameras in their homes, they did it because she asked—and it proved to be an extremely painful process. Trying to wear the hat of filmmaker and friend was not easy to negotiate.

Luckily, Sophia was so brave and trusting: I was given the freedom to tell the story and was never asked to cut anything from the film that could be perceived as “unfavorable”. She has said that the film is painful to watch; but it is fair. That is the best compliment anyone could say about the film, in my opinion.

Anything I would have to say about witnessing Maya’s (Sharon’s sister’s 14 month-old daughter who was given a terminal diagnosis of Tay-Sachs) would be trite. She was a beautiful soul and we were lucky to be part of her life.

The audience’s reaction has been the biggest reward. We have had many heated Q & A discussions. Many people have shared their opinions and personal family stories. We were in Helsinki a month ago and a Finnish woman came up to me in tears after the credits. She had been unable to express herself or cry after a very tragic event in her life. The film allowed her to open up a part of herself that she had cut off. It was a memorable and profound moment.

Another tremendous gift has been our partnership with the National Tay Sachs and Allied Diseases to raise Tay Sachs awareness. Through NTSAD we have been introduced to families who have dealt with this disease firsthand. One man who suffers from Late-Onset Tay Sachs has become a huge supporter of the film and an inspiration to all of us.

The education we have received while making this film has been prodigious.

The Great Film 35 Countdown (3 of 35): Videocracy

admin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:42:34 +0000

The film Videocracy will be showing at the 360 | 365 film festival in May, 2010

What are you going to be doing in May? Coming out to see some great, thought-provoking films at the 360 | 365 George Eastman House Film Festival (we hope)! Here’s a look at another one of the films we have coming to town—Videocracy.

Videocracy defined: The power of the image over society.

Examples:
“Voter-generated-content”, such as videos on Youtube.

In Italy, the election of Silvio Berlusconi as Prime Minister in 1994 was seen by many as a “media coup d’état [and] a drift towards ‘videocracy’”.

Synopsis:
Videocracy is a film that has been gathering momentum. It premiered at the Venice Film Festival in September and has been collecting accolades everywhere it goes from topping Indiewire’s Critic’s Choice Poll for best Documentary at TIFF to winning the Special Jury Award at Sheffield Doc/Fest.

It is a skillful compilation of archive footage describing contemporary Italy as a mirror of prime minister Silvio Berlusconi’s commercial television empire. In the videocracy that is Italy, image is the key to power and Berlusconi is shown as a master of his own image. Prize-winning Italian-born documaker Erik Gandini (“Surplus,” “GITMO”), who now lives in Sweden, presents a persuasive case.
Read more here.

Banned (?) in Italy
Among the journalists to have felt the sting of Italian press censorship is Swedish-Italian filmmaker Erik Gandini, whose revealing documentary on Italian television culture, Videocracy, was banned from coverage in the Italian press.

Government-television conglomerate RAI refused even to broadcast a 30-second trailer for the film, which traces the rise of Berlusconi’s banal, tits-and-ass-style television, implicating it as a form of mind-control machinery that keeps him in power.

Read all about it here.

The Great Film 35 Countdown (2 of 35): Harry Brown

admin — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:49:07 +0000

"Harry Brown" starring Michael Caine

We are going to be posting information about the films coming to the 360 | 365 George Eastman House Film Festival this May. It’s so exciting to us to see the festival beginning to take shape that we want to share the films–and their stories–along the way.

Without further ado, here is the second:
Harry Brown, starring the incomparable Sir Michael Caine

Synopsis:
Set in modern-day Britain, Harry Brown follows one man’s (played by Sir Michael Caine) journey through a chaotic world where drugs are the currency of the day and guns run the streets.

Brown is retired marine and widower who lives alone in a dilapidated housing estate.

When his only friend is murdered by a gang thugs Harry is compelled to act and administers his own brand of justice.

In a bid to, as he sees it, ‘clean up’ the estate he comes into conflict with the police, led by investigating officer DCI Frampton (played by Emily Mortimer) and Charlie Creed-Miles.

Sir Michael Caine on the project
“I waited two years looking for a script that I really wanted to do. I got so used to being at home. I was beginning to take it up as a profession. And then I read the script, and they said, ‘He’s never directed a movie before.’ And I said, ‘That’s great. What’s it about?’ ‘It’s about a vigilante.’ ‘Well, that sounds promising.’ So I read the script, and I loved it.

Interview with Director Daniel Barber
Q. How easy was it to persuade Michael Caine to come out of “retirement”? Because he keeps insisting he’s retired…
Daniel Barber: Really easy… but he loved the part. I think he’s at that age where he doesn’t need to work anymore and he picks and chooses very carefully what he does. But I think he wants to put something back. He is a Briton, and he’s one of our great Britons, and everybody loves him because he’s a real man of the people. He came from a very poor background and has never said how clever he was. He’s just worked, worked, worked… but now he’s upset. He comes from Elephant & Castle, which is where we filmed Harry Brown, and he sees the way his area is now and the way the gangs roam around and is worried. It’s not going to affect him because he lives in a very beautiful place, but it doesn’t mean he’s lost touch and I think he’d like there to be a conversation about what’s going on something can happen. He certainly didn’t make this for the money.

Read the entire interview here.

The Great Film 35 Countdown (1 of 35): The Secret of Kells

admin — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:22:27 +0000

Hand-painted animation

Nominee: Academy Award for Best Animated Feature

‘Kells’ refers to ‘The Book of Kells,’ the ancient Celtic religious text that dates back to 800 AD. The animated images evoke the artwork in the actual ‘Book of Kells,’ which is on display for tourists and scholars alike at Trinity College, Dublin.

Synopsis:

In the movie “The Secret Of Kells,” young Brendan lives in a remote medieval outpost under siege from barbarian raids. But a new life of adventure beckons when a celebrated master illuminator arrives from foreign lands carrying an ancient but unfinished book, brimming with secret wisdom and powers. To help complete the magical book, Brendan has to overcome his deepest fears on a dangerous quest that takes him into the enchanted forest where mythical creatures hide. It is here that he meets the fairy Aisling, a mysterious young wolf-girl, who helps him along the way. As the barbarians close in, will Brendan’s determination and artistic vision illuminate the darkness and show that enlightenment is the best fortification against evil?

The hand-drawn animation echoes the look of ‘The Book of Kells’ itself and proves that animation can be equally informed by both modern graphic design ideas and classic iconography.

Here’s an excerpt from a great interview with the director, Tomm Moore:
Q: The film looks really beautiful, what was the idea behind it?
T: It was based around Irish medieval art, the illuminated manuscripts like The Book of Kells. We looked at things in that world. We wanted to make something really distinct. Because it’s an independent film you might as well do something really different. It’s all like medieval art, really decorative, lots of details. And just the movement to lead the eye and the colour rather than usual theatrical staging. When there’s danger we pull out the colour and throw in some perspective and angles. When the Viking attack it’s more like fascist art, all red and black.
All of the main characters are hand drawn and scanned in. The Vikings and the pagan snake god, Crom Cruich, are CG. Most of the backgrounds are hand painted in Photoshop.
In the Forest we were able to free up. So we did all the triptychs. It is mainly hand painted in our studio in Kilkenny. It had to have a special sound as well. We had French sound designers so we had to make sure that the animal and birds sounded Irish.

Read the full interview here.

The Great Film 35 Countdown

admin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:44:02 +0000

We’re counting down to our festival this year by writing up each festival film as it is confirmed. We’ll be booking 35 films and sharing information about them exclusively with you, our online audiences.

We’ll be revealing the first film very soon. Here is a hint-it’s an Oscar-nominee!

First New Director Series Film Announced

admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:57:03 +0000

360 | 365 and George Eastman House presents first New Director Series featuring Samantha Buck and her Film “21 Below”

On Saturday, March 20 at 8 p.m., 360 | 365 and George Eastman House will present the first screening in our New Director series, featuring director Samantha Buck and her film 21 Below.

The Dryden Theatre is home to our New Director series, a quarterly program which presents the first local screenings of recent works from directors making their first or second feature-length effort.

“We are thrilled to be launching the 360 | 365 George Eastman House New Director series,” said Linda Moroney, managing director of the 360 | 365. “Rochester is, after all, the birthplace of motion picture film–and here is an opportunity for our community to see, firsthand, films by tomorrow’s great visionaries.”

Filmed on location in Buffalo, N.Y., 21 Below tells the compelling and multi-faceted story of one American family in crisis. Pregnant with her first child, Sharon returns to Buffalo in an attempt to repair the relationship between her mother and her younger sister, Karen, who is pregnant with her third child and caring for one daughter dying from a rare, genetic disease. Richly complex and inspiring, 21 Below unfolds as a compassionate portrait of a family coming apart and the compromises required for reconciliation.

“Samantha Buck is a veteran film and television actress who makes a startlingly good directorial debut with this inspiring portrait of a Buffalo family in crisis, revealing their previously hidden emotional dimensions,” said Jim Healy, Director of Programming, 360 | 365 George Eastman House Film Festival.

Buck has acted in Z Rock, Six Degrees, Stella, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent. She will introduce the film and talk with the audience following the screening with a question-and-answer session.

General admission is $7 and $5 for students. Please note, no Take-10 tickets or passes will be accepted at this special event. For more information, please visit www.film360365.com or 585-279-8312.

Tickets are available online at film360365.com/festival/tickets-and-passes

Other parties and events at Sundance

admin — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 11:00:19 +0000

New York State was working very hard to woo filmmakers. From a converted storefront on Main Street, the NY Filmmakers Lounge proved to be a hopping place. The Rochester/Finger Lakes Film & Video Office sent Nora Brown to manage it—and she was very busy! Every morning they offered up bagels (flown from NYC) and coffee (provided by our very own Java’s) to anyone who stopped by.

Afternoons included panels and music. According to Nora, there was a great deal of real interest in NY this year. “Not too many people kicking tires. Most of them were asking specific questions,” she said.

New York held its own party one night in the Park City Museum/Bing Bar. Lots and lots of filmmakers with great energy! The place was packed. I had the chance to meet former football star Jim Kelly who was representing Fifth Year Productions (Based right here in Rochester; they are our festival’s presenting sponsor). Downstairs in the building was a jail museum-and before that, it was originally a mine.

Other events with local ties included the big “Kodak Party” at the Riverhorse (held there for over ten years) with a live band (Voodoo Box) and food. There were lines out the door and into the street. There were lots of Kodak folks I was able to catch up with a little bit.

Most of my time at Sundance was spent seeing films, so I can’t comment on too many parties, but this should give you a flavor of what it was like.

Post-Sundance Wrap, part 1

admin — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 16:37:32 +0000

After viewing nineteen films in five days, even I was tired of theatre seats and found myself longing for something other than popcorn to eat; however, my love for film is undiminished. In fact, experiencing Sundance for the first time without attending as a filmmaker was very interesting. My emphasis was less on schmoozing and more on viewing. I didn’t feel as driven to attend every party I could, but instead I was compelled to take in as many films as humanly possible. (I didn’t manage to best Jim Healy, however; he saw twenty-five films in five days. The man is like an Olympic athlete of the film world!)

Our dedication to you, our loyal film audiences, kept our eyes open when we really wanted to close them and take a nap. So, without further ado, here is some of what I saw and heard during Sundance 2010.

Jack Goes Boating
Fairport native, Philip Seymour Hoffman made his directorial debut with the film Jack Goes Boating. Here is the Sundance write up of the film:
Jack Goes Boating is a tale of love, betrayal, and friendship set against the backdrop of working-class New York City life. Jack and Connie are two single people who on their own might continue to recede into the anonymous background of the city, but in each other begin to find the courage and desire to pursue their budding relationship. In contrast, the couple who brought them together, Clyde and Lucy, are confronting the unresolved issues in their rocky marriage.

The multifaceted Philip Seymour Hoffman makes his directorial debut demonstrating an assured style and grace, both behind the camera and in front of it. He leads a skilled cast, who waltz through their group scenes in perfect counterpoint, each getting what he or she needs from the other. The writing is fiercely authentic as are the performances. Lyrical and lovely, Jack Goes Boating is an offbeat love story that almost forgets to happen.

On another note, the film was originally a play. Here is a little bit about it from Wikipedia:
Jack Goes Boating is a 2007 play by Bob Glaudini. An unconventional romantic comedy set in the midst of working-class New York City life, Jack Goes Boating’s original production was directed by Peter Dubois and starred Phillip Seymour Hoffman as Jack, John Ortiz as Clyde, Daphne Rubin-Vega as Lucy, and Beth Cole as Connie. The show played in Martinson Hall at the Joseph Papp Public Theater [1] for six weeks, and received positive reviews, particularly from the New York Times.

I was lucky enough to be in attendance at the Vanity Fair “10 Directors to Watch” party where Philip received the Acura Indie Impact Award. He received a standing ovation from the audience. He truly is, as they say, a local boy “done good.” The party itself was a very Sundance affair, held in the St. Regis resort in Deer Valley was accessible via a funicular which moved guests up the mountainside in cozy groups of ten at a time. Once inside the resort, we were offered hot chocolate-spiked or virgin. (Funny, I never really considered hot chocolate to be anything but a non-alcoholic beverage). Most of the 300+ attendees were filmmakers celebrating their up-and-coming peers while rubbing elbows. The mood was very energetic as people were excited to meet the celebrated directors. Although the resort is a pretty posh place, most attendees were dressed very casually in parkas and fury boots. I left after the awards ceremony to (you guessed it!) attend a film, but there was a large tent with food and music set up outside to make the event into a real party.

–Linda

360 | 365 Shorts Contest & The Little Theatre Host “Pie in the Face” Screenings and Award Ceremony

admin — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:13:39 +0000

Every three months, 360 | 365 Shorts Contest releases a theme to filmmakers who have roughly 12 weeks to produce a film that is three minutes or less. Contestants are tasked with capturing their interpretation of the theme presented and submitting their film. At the end of the Shorts Contest cycle, all of the films are reviewed by a panel of judges and three winners are selected. The first theme of this year’s Shorts Contest cycle was to have somebody in the film get a “Pie in the Face.”

“We wanted filmmakers to have fun with this theme and to use throwing a pie in someone’s face as an artistic excuse,” said John Richardson, executive director of 360 | 365. “We had twenty films submitted with a high level of creativity and originality–we couldn’t be more pleased.”

Beginning at 5:00 p.m., Monday, February 1st, in The Little Theatre café, guests can treat themselves to dinner, mingle with the filmmakers, and meet some of the 360 | 365 staff. Then, at 6:30 p.m., guests will head into the theatre for a screening of all the entries. Individual tickets are $5 and only available at the door. The first place winner will receive a $1,000 cash grand prize and two All Access 360 | 365 Film Festival passes. The second and third place winners will receive tickets to the festival. All three top films will be shown at the Festival in a special screening.

Linda and Jim, Day Two

admin — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 11:38:07 +0000

After a long time in airport and in the air, Linda and Jim have successfully landed in Park City, Utah for Sundance!

The weather report is sunny with lots of slush to dredge through in Park City. So far, they’ve been riding around on the shuttles with other Festival attendees, ski bunnies, and locals. It’s packed (and although some people get kind of loud on their cellphones), everyone is well behaved…

Linda’s list of films for Friday:
–Nowhere Boy
–The Red Chapel
–Last Train Home
–His & Hers

Jim’s list for Friday:
–Double Take
–Restrepo
–Enemies of the People
–7 Days

Anything could happen–they might be able to fit in even more films or schedules could change but this is the plan for the moment. They also hope to get to Main Street and visit the NY Lounge. To find out how the day REALLY unfolds for them, follow our Twitter account and check in on Facebook too.

Sundance, part two (the parties)

admin — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:01:39 +0000

While Linda and Jim are at Sundance they will have the opportunity to visit several parties and social events.

First of all, did you know that New York State sponsors a lounge during the festival? It features bagels (of course!) and coffee each morning, panels and musical performances later in the afternoon. The New York Lounge is a great place to network and The Rochester Finger Lakes Film and Video Office’s own Nora Brown will be helping to keep things running smoothly.

They will also be attending Variety’s 10 Directors to Watch reception on Sunday. You can follow Variety online for complete Sundance coverage. Also, here’s an article from Vanity Fair previewing the parties and swag…

In addition, Linda and Jim will be sneaking off to Slamdance to see the film, “And Everything Is Going Fine” directed by Steven Soderbergh. The doc concerns the life and work of Spalding Gray, who made a career as a writer, actor, and monologist. Gray and Soderbergh worked together previously on the 1996 film, Gray’s Anatomy, as well as 1993’s King of the Hill .

Also, Linda has commented that seeing Edie Falco would really drop her jaw. We hope she has the opportunity!

Sundance–here we come (part one, the films)

admin — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:52:02 +0000

360 | 365’s very own Managing Director, Linda Moroney, and Director of Programming, Jim Healy, will be heading to Park City for the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. Simply put, their goal is to view as many films as humanly possibly in the search for outstanding work to show during the 360 } 365 film festival in May.

In between all of the film watching, coffee-drinking (to help them stay awake) and popcorn eating, they’ll be connecting with filmmakers and the people behind the films. They’ll also be schmoozing to bring the new name and focus of 360 | 365 onto the radar of people in the business. They want the festival to become a must for filmmakers and distributors to consider. (Linda is also hoping to reconnect with folks from her NYC production days.)

Some of the films that top our personal lists of Sundance must-sees include:

Linda:

The Taqwacores-A film about Muslim punkrockers in Buffalo

His & Hers-A documentary that explores a 90-year old love story through the voices of 70 different women of all ages

The Runaways-The first film by acclaimed music video artist Floria Sigismondi. It focuses on the duo comprised of Joan Jett and Cherie Curry as they broke out of the 1970’s LA music scene

Jim:

The Killer Inside Me-Written by Rochester Native John Curran. The film is based on the legendary pulp novel by Jim Thompson

Jack Goes Boating-Philip Seymour Hoffman’s directorial debut is a lyrical love story that is as offbeat as it is lovely

Jim and Linda will be sending updates via Twitter and Facebook during their time at Sundance. Follow them here:

Twitter

Facebook

Nazareth & 360 | 365 Co-sponsor Rochester Teen Film Festival

admin — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:01:41 +0000

Nazareth College and 360 | 365 are proud to sponsor the 2010 Rochester Teen Film Festival, a collaborative, juried media competition for youth in the Rochester region. The festival is set for Wednesday, August 4, 2010, when the winning films will be shown on the main screen at the Little Theatre in downtown Rochester, and a later showing at the 360 | 365 Film Festival in 2011.

Now is the time for interested teens to submit their creative film work. There is an open call for film and videos in all genres from regional high school students, and the deadline for submissions is June 11, 2010. For more details regarding the competition and work submission, visit www.film360365.com/school or contact Dr. Brian Bailey, assistant professor of education, at (585) 389-2764 or bbailey2@naz.edu or Linda Moroney, managing director of 360 | 365, at (585) 279-8312 or email lmoroney@film360365.com.

Last year, the Teen Film Festival featured 13 titles from 10 different urban, suburban and rural schools around the Rochester area. “Nazareth College is excited to participate with 360 | 365 in this important community event that showcases the stories and talents of Rochester area youth through the moving image,” says Brian Bailey, assistant professor of education at Nazareth College and co-founder of the Rochester Urban Youth Film Festival.

“An integral part of 360 | 365’s mission is education of Upstate New York youth and emerging filmmakers. The Rochester Teen Film Festival and our collaboration with Nazareth College is an excellent step in this direction”, says Linda Moroney, managing director of 360 | 365. In addition to the screening at the Little Theatre and the 360 | 365 George Eastman House Film Festival, finalists will be given free passes to selected films, events and parties.

360 | 365 grew out of the very successful Rochester High Falls International Film Festival. The 360 | 365 George Eastman House Film Festival (May 5 – 10, 2010) captures both the birthplace of the art form and it’s cutting edge evolution. In recognition of it’s history, the 360 | 365 Film Festival focuses a portion of its programming on the achievements of women in filmmaking. However, the new Festival expands its programming with a wide range of films appealing to all audiences, age ranges, and personal tastes. In addition, 360 | 365 is a year-round conversation that includes short- and feature-length emerging filmmakers in its Shorts Contest and New Director Series. 360 | 365 interactively engages filmmakers and our audiences in education, discovery, and celebration through the medium of film in all aspects and directions, 365 days a year. For more information about 360 | 365, visit www.film360365.com.

Founded in 1924, Nazareth College is a coeducational college with undergraduate and graduate studies in the liberal arts and sciences and professional programs in health and human services, education, and management. The College is located on 150 scenic acres near Rochester, New York, and currently enrolls approximately 2,000 undergraduate and 1,000 graduate students. Nazareth has a strong commitment to experience-based learning and civic engagement. In the past decade, Nazareth has produced 18 Fulbright recipients and two Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowships. For more information on the College, visit www.naz.edu.

# # #

Contact: Julie Long (585) 389-2456
Or John Richardson (585) 279-8307

360 | 365 and George Eastman House Announce Film Festival Collaboration

admin — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:48:01 +0000

360 | 365 George Eastman House Film Festival to boast strong international focus and new artistic vision;

Eastman House only major film archive to partner with contemporary film festival

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Two international leaders in film – the 360 | 365 Film Festival (formerly the Rochester / High Falls International Film Festival) and the 60-year-old George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film – today announced an alliance and the creation of the 360 | 365 George Eastman House Film Festival. The 2010 dates for the Festival are May 5 through 10.

The collaboration has grown from a longstanding relationship the Festival has had with George Eastman House, and marks the first time a major film archive has aligned with a contemporary film festival.

“George Eastman House has been involved with this film festival from the beginning and must be involved,” said Dr. Anthony Bannon, director of Eastman House. “And now is the right time to officially join forces to take the festival to even greater levels, two major non-profit organizations, working closely together in both a cultural and business model for Rochester and the nation.”

George Eastman House and Rochester celebrate the legacy of George Eastman, the father of popular photography and motion picture film. The Film Festival was founded in 2001 based on these strong ties to film, and the region’s historic connection, as the home of Susan B. Anthony, to women’s rights.

“This collaboration is a natural progression of a strong, decade-long partnership between 360 | 365 and Eastman House,” said John Richardson, executive director of 360 | 365. “With this alliance, we leverage our strengths and build something much greater, something at once uniquely Rochester yet also rivaling the best festivals in the country.”

The artistic vision for the new Festival will be led by Programming Director Jim Healy, who will also continue in his role as George Eastman House’s curator of motion pictures, a position he has held since 2001. Healy will lead a team of internationally recognized industry leaders for the Film Festival, including Gannett News Service retired national chief film critic Jack Garner and award-winning independent filmmaker Linda Moroney.

The new artistic team will focus on three key pillars of programming for the Festival. In addition to featuring the best of contemporary American independent and international cinema, a portion of Festival programming will remain on the achievements of women in filmmaking. And with Eastman House being one of the world’s oldest and largest motion-picture archives, as well as a world-leader in film preservation, the Festival will feature a selection of preservation screenings.

Healy has programmed more than 300 films annually for the Eastman House’s film program. He previously worked as a film programmer with the Chicago International Film Festival and served on the board of the Rochester/High Falls International Film Festival. Additional festival work includes serving as curator of special programs with the Torino Film Festival in Italy since 2005 and the Moscow Film Festival in Russia in 2008.

“My goal for the 360 | 365 George Eastman House Film Festival is to build a celebration of film and film history, covering as many of its diverse facets as possible,” Healy said. “I’m excited at the opportunity to program a festival event that will celebrate film history, and, by extension, the ongoing work of the Motion Picture Department at George Eastman House.”

Over the course of the annual six-day Festival, programs will include screenings of features, documentaries, shorts, and children’s and young adult programs, as well as master classes and panel discussions in the Eastman House’s Curtis Theatre. Many of the festival’s screenings will take place in the Eastman House’s 535-seat Dryden Theatre (built in 1951), with additional screenings across the Greater Rochester Region, including at the five-screen, art-deco Little Theatre (built in 1929).

About the 360 | 365 George Eastman House Film Festival

The annual 360 | 365 George Eastman House Film Festival, scheduled next for May 5-10, 2010, grew out of the very successful Rochester High Falls International Film Festival, which was established in 2001 and quickly became one of the leading cultural events in Upstate New York. In recognition of its history, the Film Festival will continue to focus a portion of its programming on the achievements of women in filmmaking.

The Festival will continue to grant two longstanding awards to recognize women stars and filmmakers. The “Failure is Impossible!” Award, given in honor of Rochester-area women’s rights leader Susan B. Anthony, is awarded annually to successful women behind and in front of the lens. Past recipients include Rita Moreno, Lynn Redgrave, Christine Lahti, Joan Allen, Sally Kellerman and Angela Bassett. The Faith Hubley “Web of Life” Award, named after its first recipient, Academy Award-winning animator Faith Hubley, recognizes the recipients’ understanding of the power art has to entertain and connect with an audience, and the responsibility that artists have to help make the world a better place. Past recipients include Nancy “Bart Simpson” Cartwright, director Mira Nair and actress Jane Alexander.

The new Festival will expand its programming with a wide range of films appealing to all audiences, age ranges and personal tastes. With Eastman House being one of the world’s oldest and largest motion-picture archives, as well as a world-leader in film preservation, the festival also will feature a selection of preservation screenings. In the spirit of broadening the reaches of the Festival, organizers plan to announce additional awards in coming months.

In addition to collaborating with the Film Festival, 360 | 365 and George Eastman House are also joining forces around a New Directors Series, a year-round educational program that showcases up-and-coming directors of feature-length films. The bi-monthly series includes film screenings and audience Q&A sessions, providing other filmmakers and fans of cinema access to those behind the lens.

For more information about the 360 | 365 George Eastman House Film Festival and New Directors Series, visit www.film360365.com.

Both 360 | 365 and George Eastman House continue to have independent projects and programming outside of the collaboration agreement.

About George Eastman House

Located on the estate of Kodak founder George Eastman, the father of popular photography and motion picture film, George Eastman House is one of the most important motion picture archives in the world and the third largest in the United States. Founded in 1947, the archive houses 30,000 film titles and 4 million pieces of film-related publicity stills, posters, scores, scripts, and pre-cinema artifacts. Eastman House also holds the world’s largest collection of camera technology with 20,000 artifacts. The Eastman House’s L. Jeffrey Selznick School of Film Preservation is regarded as the premier venue of professional training in film preservation, restoration, and archiving. Annually George Eastman House restores more than 500 reels of film. The Eastman House is also the archive in which many filmmakers have chosen to preserve their films, including Cecil B. DeMille, Spike Lee, Ken Burns, and Kathryn Bigelow, as well as Martin Scorsese, who archives his 8,000-title personal collection at Eastman House.

Early Bird Passes Now On Sale!

admin — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:27:48 +0000

All Access, Films Only, and Student Passes are now available for purchase at a reduced rate until January 30, 2010.

The 360 | 365 Film Festival will take place Mary 5 – 10, 2010 at various venues around Rochester. The Film Festival is an annual spring celebration, bringing the finest in independent motion pictures, and film and new media artists to Rochester and Western New York audiences. It’s a film festival built for everyone, the avid movie fan, aspiring and established filmmakers, and those that just want to explore.

Over the course of the Festival, features, documentaries, shorts, children’s and young adult programs are presented, along with the winners of our year-round Shorts Contest. Honoring our past, the Festival focuses a portion of its programming on the achievements of women in all aspects of filmmaking. But the 360 | 365 Film Festival expands that programming with a wide range of films appealing to both sexes, all age ranges, and personal tastes.

This year we are offering three different levels of passes:

ALL ACCESS – is the best way to fully enjoy the 360 | 365 Film Festival, with admittance to every film, party, and panel. The discounted rate is $125 through January 30, 2010. Regular rate = $150.

FILMS ONLY – perfect for those that want to attend as many films as possible but not interested in the late night parties or industry panels. The discounted rate is a mere $99 through January 30, 2010. Regular rate = $125.

STUDENT PASS – is the ultimate gift for the aspiring filmmaker, with admittance to all of the films, parties, and industry panels. (Student will have to present a valid school ID). The discounted rate is $75 through January 30, 2010. Regular rate = $90.

Click on: http://film360365.com/festival/tickets-and-passes to place your order for home delivery of your 2010 pass, and enjoy Rochester’s most exciting annual event.

Open Call For Entries

admin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:24:32 +0000

ABOUT THE 360| 365 FESTIVAL

Over the course of the Festival, May 5 – 10, 2010, features, documentaries, shorts, children’s and young adult programs will be presented, along with the winners of our year-round Shorts Contest. Honoring our past, the Festival will focus a portion of our programming on the achievements of women in all aspects of filmmaking. But the 360 | 365 Film Festival expands the programming with a wide range of films appealing to both sexes, all age ranges, and personal tastes.

Panel discussions and master classes presented by prominent industry professionals give our filmmaking audience unique access to advance their own talents in all aspects of filmmaking. Public parties, private receptions, and informal “Coffee With” events provide casual networking opportunities with visiting filmmakers.

The 360 | 365 Film Festival announces an OPEN CALL FOR WORK for all programs:
* MAIN PROGRAM
* SHORTS PROGRAM
* CHILDREN’s and YOUNG ADULTS PROGRAM

DEADLINES:
* Early-bird: NOVEMBER, 20, 2009
* Regular: DECEMBER 28, 2009
* Late: JANUARY 29, 2010
* Extended: FEBRUARY 22, 2010
BACKGROUND OF FESTIVAL:

The Festival takes place in Rochester, New York, home of George Eastman, Susan B. Anthony, and Kodak. Special recognitions such as the Susan B. Anthony “Failure is Impossible” Award, and the Faith Hubley “Web of Life” Award are presented. Past recipients have included such actors as Lynn Redgrave, Joan Allen, Angela Bassett, Candice Bergen, Christine Lahti, Rita Moreno as well as director Mira Nair, producer Lauren Shuler Donner and others. Previous guests of the Festival included Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Agnieszka Holland, Bill Pullman, Leslie Stahl, Robert Forster, Gordy Hoffman, Jane Alexander, Famke Janssen, Sally Kellerman, Richard Donner, voice-over actress Nancy “Bart Simpson” Cartwright, CCH Pounder, John Curran, Celeste Holm, and Shrek director Vicky Jenson.

Our venues include the world-renowned, state-of-the-art Dryden Theatre at George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film, and the historic Little Theatre.

Fees vary depending on submission type and date. See site for details. www.film360365.com/festival/submit-a-film

Shorts Contest News

admin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:20:41 +0000

FILM IS IN OUR BLOOD AND THIS IS WHERE WE PROVE IT.

Our first Shorts Contest was a smashing success. Congratulations to the winners:

First Place: THE LAKE by Ben Doran

Second Place: COMING HOME by Dave Siriano and Joshua C. Pies

Third Place: ALWAYS EVERYTIME by Velvet D’Amour

You can view all three films here: http://film360365.com/shorts/award-winning-films

NEW THEME ANNOUNCED

The theme for our second Shorts Contest is PIE IN THE FACE. That’s right – if you’ve always wanted to let a pie fly, now you have an “artistic” excuse!! At some point during your short film (3 minutes or less) someone needs to get a pie in the face. Tell us the story, develop the characters, and let fly!

$1,000 Grand Prize

plus a publicized screening at the 2010 360 | 365 Film Festival

Deadline: 11:59 p.m. (US ET) on January 15th, 2010.

Visit http://film360365.com/shorts/submit-films for details on submitting a short film to the contest.

Visit us on

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/film360365

And

Twitter: http://twitter.com/360365

For more information about 360 | 365, visit www.film360365.com

Film Festival Introduces New Brand Identity

admin — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:48:50 +0000

- 360 | 365 Embodies Festival’s Year-Round Celebration of Films for All Audiences -

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Staff, board members and volunteers today announced the new name and logo for a popular Rochester-based international film festival. “360 | 365″ grew out of the successful Rochester High Falls International Film Festival, and represents the organization’s growing year-round presence and appeal to all audiences.

In recognition of its eight-year history, 360 | 365 will continue to focus a portion of its Film Festival programming on the achievements and support of women in all roles of filmmaking. But in addition, the organization will continue with its recently introduced and renamed 360 | 365 Shorts Contest, as well as the 360 | 365 New Directors’ Series.

“It’s important for our name and brand to represent the full breadth of our events,” said John Richardson, 360 | 365 Executive Director. “We are accessible and relevant to all audiences, of all ages and interests – truly 360 degrees of film, 365 days a year. 360 | 365 has evolved to be as much for our film-loving audience as it is for our renowned filmmakers.”

Since its inception in 2001, the Film Festival itself has become one of the leading cultural events in the Rochester region, boosting tourism with attendees who spend an estimated $1 million in and around its festival sites. The 360 | 365 Film Festival will continue to be held annually in May, and will continue to attract a lively mix of emerging and well established talent. Past guests have included famous women and men alike, including Lynn Redgrave, Rita Moreno, Bill Pullman, Robert Forster, Christine Lahti, Angela Bassett, Jane Alexander, Candice Bergen, Joan Allen, Famke Janssen, Sally Kellerman, voice-over actress Nancy (Bart Simpson) Cartwright, producer Lauren Shuler Donner, and Shrek director Vicky Jenson.

The 360 | 365 Shorts Contest, introduced in July 2009, encourages established and amateur filmmakers to submit entries of three-minutes-or-less short films that correspond to different themes. Winners receive cash prizes, VIP tickets to the Film Festival and public screenings of their short films.

The 360 | 365 New Directors Series is a new, year-round educational event that will feature up-and-coming directors. The Series will include film screenings, interviews and audience Q&A sessions, to provide other filmmakers and fans of cinema access to the experts behind the lens.

360 | 365 also enjoys continued support from local partners. Respected branding and advertising agency Partners + Napier helped create the new brand and logo mark; Animatus Studios developed the new website atwww.film360365.com; and Crystal Pix created the intro video for the Shorts Contest.

About 360 | 365

360 | 365 grew out of the very successful Rochester High Falls International Film Festival. In recognition of its history, the 360 | 365 Film Festival focuses a portion of its programming on the achievements of women in filmmaking. However, the new Festival expands its programming with a wide range of films appealing to all audiences, age ranges, and personal tastes. In addition to its established Film Festival, 360 | 365 is a year-round conversation that includes short- and feature-length emerging filmmakers in its Shorts Contest and New Directors Series.

360 | 365 interactively engages filmmakers and our audiences in education, discovery, and celebration through the medium of film in all aspects and directions, 365 days a year. For more information about 360 | 365, visit www.film360365.com.

Film Festival announces finalists of first online short film competition

admin — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:16:15 +0000

First “HF3 Shorts” Contest Winner to be Announced at Filmmaker Celebration Party, Open to the Public –

Monday, Oct. 12, at 5:30 p.m. at One Restaurant & Lounge, 1 Ryan Alley in Rochester’s East End.

Rochester, N.Y. (Oct. 6, 2009) – The Rochester High Falls International Film Festival has announced the names of the top three finalists in its first-ever online short film contest. The contest, introduced in August, offers cash and movie screenings as prizes for unique digital movies three minutes or shorter in length.

An expert panel of contest judges, led by renowned local film critic Jack Garner, reviewed all 19 short-film submissions and chose the top three (listed here in alphabetical order by title):

· “Always Everytime” by Velvet D”Amour

· “Coming Home” by Joshua Pies and Dave Siriano

· “The Lake” by Ben Doran

“We were amazed by the talent and creativity of submissions to the first contest. There were so many perspectives on ”Coming Home,” it was a pleasure to watch them all,” Garner said. “There was significant conversation among the judges to determine the top winners. I”m really looking forward to future contests, to see what else participating filmmakers can create.”

All 19 submitted films – which were based on the contest theme “Coming Home” – will be screened and the top winner announced at a special filmmaker celebration party on Monday, Oct. 12, at 5:30 p.m. at One Restaurant & Lounge, 1 Ryan Alley in Rochester’’s East End.

“The goal of our online short-film contest is to support and encourage new and existing filmmakers year-round,” said John Richardson, the Festival’’s executive director. “It’’s not only about encouraging filmmaking, but offering screenings and social events at which filmmakers can present and discuss their films and the creative process with fans and others in the business.”

The first-place winner of the short-film contest will win $1,000, be screened at the 2010 Rochester High Falls International Film Festival, and receive two all-access passes to the Festival. The second- and third-place films will also be screened at the 2010 Festival, and the filmmakers will receive two all-access passes to the Festival.

More information about the contest, including rules and links to all 19 “Coming Home” submissions, is available at www.RochesterMovieFest.com/shorts

[Note: Original plans had the winning film premiering at Rochester''s 175th Anniversary Gala, which was cancelled by the City.]

The Countdown Begins…

admin — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:34:28 +0000

Tick Tock Tick Tock

Our dates for the 2010 Festival are now locked. Please join us May 5 – 10, 2010 for what will be a brand new festival! The clock is ticking down the time left until we can unveil all of ways in which we will be a more inclusive, modern, and year-round organization. It’s incredibly difficult to not share with you all of the details at this time that are causing this excitement and giddiness, but stay tuned! A new name for the Festival, perhaps? Get ready to be part of what will be a fresh and lively journey!

Live.

Breathe.

Film.

Hf3 Shorts Update

There has been a considerable hum throughout the Greater Rochester Community in regards to our Shorts Contest. We hear it has been the topic of discussion on college campuses, in high school hallways, at filmmakers meetings, on TV and radio, in restaurants, at dinner parties, and even on a few street corners. There is still time to participate in the first contest, COMING HOME: Rochester’s 175^th Anniversary. The deadline to upload entries is September 25^th. Visit www.rochestermoviefest.com/hf3shorts for details and join in on the adventure!

Remember, the winner gets $1,000, a premiere screening at the City’s 175^th Anniversary Gala October3, 2009 and a publicized screening at the 2010 Film Festival.

Fond Farewells

While we are looking ahead with great anticipation to the future of our organization, it is time to bid adieu to some significant colleagues…We thank them for their contributions to past success and wish them the very best in their next chapters!

“I especially want to thank Ruth and Catherine for their contributions to the Festival. They have been with the organization since its inception and have been an integral part of our programming and events. Their good wishes propel us into the next exciting chapters of change. Thanks to you both!” John Richardson, Executive Director.

High Falls colleagues, Executive and Honorary Board members, International Advisory Council, Festival family and friends:

It has been a challenging, exciting and fulfilling nine years since I became the founding Artistic Director of the High Falls International Film Festival. After much thought and reflection, I have decided to resign as Artistic Director and invest my time and energy in my production company. The festival is now taking a new turn. It is also time for me to take one.

It has been a great pleasure to work and learn from all of you. I have always been impressed with the ability and the tenacity of my colleagues in Rochester. I want to especially mention Ruth Cowing, whose taste, judgment and work ethic have been key elements in the success of the festival.

We have accomplished much in our time together. We have produced eight festivals showcasing the work of women in all creative roles behind the camera, a unique mission in the festival world. Each festival provided our public with a broad sampling of the best in current cinema from around the world, and each festival has received almost unbounded critical acclaim.

Four of our first five Audience Award winners, went on to receive the Oscar for Best Foreign Film, attesting not only to our programming savvy, but also to the perspicacity of our audiences.

In the city that Susan B. Anthony called home, we raised the profiles of many talented women who found themselves at a disadvantage in certain areas of the commercial film world. This resonated with women in the industry, and we enjoyed ever-increasing support through their presence and their insights.

It is my pleasure to remain affiliated with the festival as Artistic Consultant. I look forward to the future of this fine institution, and I am proud to have been able to make a contribution to its founding and early years.

Catherine Wyler

Dear friends,

Catherine’s sentiments so eloquently sum up my own — what a privilege it has been to work on this amazing project for the last decade, to watch it grow from a much-discussed idea to an unforgettable first year (2001) to the multi-faceted program it is today. So many talented individuals have graced our stage, have inspired us with their work to be more than we imagined. >From the acclaimed star to the first-time youth filmmaker, welcoming family and friends to the premiere of her short, I have felt honored to be in the presence of it all.

Being Co-Programmer with Ms. Wyler (and Festival Director for several years) has been one of the true highlights of my career, but it never escaped my attention that to be paid to watch films brought with it great responsibility. Our goal was always to find that delicate, “magic” balance in the adult programming, mixing a good dose of entertainment with more serious, thought-provoking work. The idea of film as an effective tool for social change had resonance, bore out by many an audience at a passionate Q&A.

The approach to the Children’s and Young Adult program was much the same — a blending of artistic excellence with stories that provided building blocks for literacy, that incorporated gentle social messages about the differences and commonalities all children experience. It was with great care that this program grew from two films in 2001 to over 100 screenings year-round, with traveling tours in Rochester, New York State, the eastern seaboard, Australia. The addition in later years of the Children’s Animation Workshop with Animatus Studios and the Young Filmmakers Competition with Young Audiences and the Rochester Urban Youth Film Festival gave many at-risk students a chance to tell their own stories for the first time, and to premiere them at an international film festival. Community collaborations with educational, cultural and mental health agencies in town resulted in, respectively, the annual Children’s Film Festival in April and the annual ReelMind Film Series in May/June, the latter of which debuted to packed houses last year.

Exciting changes are ahead for High Falls, and I will always be proud and grateful to have been able to help launch the Festival’s first decade. New challenges beckon however, and it is with great fondness that I say farewell to a 24/7 fest lifestyle that has been lived, loved and shared with so many dedicated people behind the scenes. As I’ve told the folks taking over the reins this year, the good news is the possibilities for future collaborations are endless. For now, I look forward to cheering John Richardson and team on from the audience with the rest of you, popcorn in hand!

With warm regards,

Ruth Cowing

Introducing the Online Short Film Competition

admin — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 00:35:33 +0000

ROCHESTER HIGH FALLS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
INTRODUCES ONLINE SHORT FILM COMPETITION

First “HF3 Shorts” Theme will Celebrate Rochester’s 175^th Anniversary

The Rochester High Falls International Film Festival team is working hard on broadening the organization’s mission and scope. Our first step is establishing a year-round presence with a short film contest, that focuses on a new theme every other month. “HF3 Shorts” will offer cash and movie screenings as prizes for unique digital movies three minutes or shorter in length. “The filmmaking talent in the Rochester region is remarkable,” said John Richardson, the Festival’s executive director. “This new online short-film contest is just one more way we can support and encourage new and existing filmmakers – year-round.”

For the contest’s premiere, the Festival has partnered with the City of Rochester and announced its first theme, “Coming Home: Rochester’s 175^th Anniversary.” Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy is helping to encourage participation via a video running on our website (www.rochestermoviefest.com), and is planning his own short film entry. “The Film Festival’s new contest provides us with the perfect opportunity to ask Rochesterians to share their stories about our home town,” Mayor Duffy said.

Deadline for entries of the first contest is Sept. 25, 2009. The winning film will premiere at the 175^th Anniversary Gala on October 3^rd, and be screened at the 2010 Rochester High Falls International Film Festival. All short films submitted to the contest will be viewable on our website and on YouTube. The winner of each contest will also win $1,000.

For each contest, all entries will be judged by an expert panel led by renowned local film critic, Jack Garner. “The late Orson Wells said, near the end of his life, that the day is coming, thanks to the ease of today’s hands-on technology, when anybody can make a movie. The challenge is to make them good,” Garner said. “That’s your challenge if you’d like to be part of the High Falls Film Festival’s shorts program. I hope entries will cause me to bring my Number-10 rating out of retirement!”

For more information about the contest, including submission rules and contest themes, visit our website www.RochesterMovieFest.com. The contest introductory videos were created by a talented team from Crystal Pix. The website, created by Animatus Studio, will feature video links to all entries of each contest.

Meet Our New Festival Team

As most of you may know by now, we have a new team here at The Festival. We are all impatiently awaiting the exciting new paths this energetic duo will lead us on. In the meantime, here’s their back story…

John Richardson (Executive Director) is a Co-Founder of the Rochester/ High Falls International Film Festival. He served as Board Chair for most of the Festival’s history prior to becoming Executive Director. In a previous life, he was the Director of New York Public Affairs for Eastman Kodak Company. His responsibilities included lobbying and public relations initiatives with the state and local governments, and community-interest groups in the greater Rochester area. John was the company liaison for economic development initiatives, environmental issues, charitable contributions, workforce training, real estate, tax negotiations, and the arts. In prior positions, John was Controller of Kodak’s Lincoln Plant, Manager of Operations for the Federal Systems Division, and Director of the Federal Government Marketing organization where he managed a $250M business selling commercial products to the Federal government. John was also the Marketing Manager for the first digital camera and digital printer. John is active in the Rochester community and currently serves on the Boards of WXXI Public Broadcasting Council, Pathstone Advisory Panel, and volunteers for Junior Achievement.

Linda Moroney (Managing Director) has been active in the independent film community for over 10 years. Films she’s produced have shown theatrically, been broadcast nationally, and screened at numerous film festivals worldwide. Prior to becoming our Managing Director, Linda served at the Technical Director and Shorts Co-Programmer for the festival. In 2007, she was the Curator for Animated Jazz Shorts from The Hubley Studio, which was a Co-presentation by the Rochester International Jazz Festival, Rochester/High Falls International Film Festival, and George Eastman House. Linda cut her filmmaking teeth working with Academy Award winner, Faith Hubley, on six of her animated films. In addition, Linda was the Associate Producer on the independent feature-length documentary, RAM DASS FIERCE GRACE named by Newsweek magazine as one of the five best non-fiction films of 2002, and broadcast nationally on PBS in 2004. Recently, she directed the documentary short, STREET EATS, which debuted at The Kansas City Film Festival. She has also produced several other short films including Emily Hubley’s award-winning SET SET SPIKE (2001), which was an official selection in the 2002 Sundance Festival. Linda is a founding member of Women in Film & Television Rochester. She is currently in pre-production on THE STORYBOOK PROJECT, her first documentary feature film as director.