Five reasons not to miss the Montclair Film Festival
It can be easy to experience festival overload this time of year. We totally get it; in the spring and summer, it seems like every weekend brings another gathering of like-minded individuals in celebration of arts, entertainment and culture.
But trust us, the Montclair Film Festival is something special. Simply put, this event, now in its fourth year and running May 1 to 10 at venues throughout Montclair, is bringing some of the brightest talents in the industry to the city. To get the scoop on why you should be there, we chatted with Tom Hall, executive director of the festival. Here's what he said:
It's getting bigger and better
Over its brief life, the festival has grown from seven to 10 days, and this year's schedule boats a narrative centerpiece screening of Alfonso Gomez-Rejon's acclaimed "Me and Earl and the Dying Girl," executive produced by Nora Skinner of Montclair, 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 9, at the Montclair Kimblerly Academy Upper School, 6 Lloyd Road.
"I think the appetite's there for the festival to grow," Hall said, "and I see a lot of growth in the coming years for us."
The Colbert Connection
Among the constant celebrity boosters of the festival is Montclair's own Stephen Colbert, former host of "The Colbert Report" and future star of "The Late Show."
Colbert is on the festival's advisory board while his wife, Evelyn, is the vice-chair of the festival's board of trustees. During the 2015 festival, Colbert will moderate a conversation with Richard Gere, in town with his film "Time Out of Mind," at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 2, at the Wellmont Theatre, 5 Seymour Street.
Colbert also will moderate a question-and-answer session with soul legend Mavis Staples following the 8 p.m. screening on Friday, May 8, of the new biographical documentary, "Mavis!" at the Wellmont.
Having Colbert's support at the festival, Hall said, "is a huge gift. He and his wife Evelyn ... I think they come from families that have traditionally supported the arts. And the fact that they've come into this organization as a couple and a family and given so much to us is incredible."
Ideal destination
There are a number of factors, Hall said, that make Montclair an ideal host city for a film festival. There's the city's reputation as a shopping and dining destination, the number of film and media professionals who call the municipality home (in addition to Colbert, there are the likes of "Watchmen" star Patrick Wilson and his wife, author and actress Dagmara Dominczyk), plus the sophisticated and diverse audience that Hall said come out for the festival screenings and events.
A festive homecoming
The festival will open with a screening at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 1, at the Wellmont of "Hello, My Name is Doris." Starring Academy Award winner Sally Field and an honoree at this year's SXSW festival, the picture is the latest offering from Princeton native auteur Michael Showalter, who will be in attendance for the screening.
"We're very excited about the movie. It was the audience award winner at SXSW and it's a real crowd-pleaser," Hall said. "One of the things we always try to do is put a focus on New Jersey filmmakers past, present and future, and to have Michael coming with the film speaks to that."
Starring Field as an unassuming office worker who finds inspiration from a self-help guru, "Hello, My Name is Doris" reportedly blends laughs and plenty of heart.
"It's just exactly the type of movie you want to have on opening night," Hall said. "It's light, it got some gravity to it, but it's the kind of film where you walk out and you think, 'I can't wait to see what's next' for both Michael Showalter and for the festival."
Docu-rock
It wouldn't be a New Jersey happening without some killer live music, and this festival has something very special planned: Hoboken-native alt-rock trio Yo La Tengo will join Oscar-nominated director Sam Green for a presentation of the "live documentary" known as "The Love Song of R. Buckminster Fuller" at 8 p.m. Thursday, May 7, at the Wellmont.
Green's film examines the career of Fuller, a futurist, architect, engineer, author and inventor, and the piece will be making its New Jersey debut.
"Basically, it's never the same twice," Hall said of the experience. "Sam interacts with the film as it plays, so he'll be on stage, giving live narration or stopping and starting the movie or telling stories. There are a million possible digressions or changes. And the band plays a live score to the film at the same time, which is a really beautiful piece of music."
THE MONTCLAIR FILM FESTIVAL
WHEN: May 1 to 10
WHERE: Venues throughout Montclair, including:
• Bow Tie Clairidge Cinema, 486 Bloomfield Ave.
• Bow Tie Bellevue Cinema 4, 260 Bellevue Ave.
• Montclair Art Museum, 3 South Mountain Ave.
• Montclair Film Festival Office, 494 Bloomfield Ave.
• Montclair Kimberley Academy Upper School, 6 Lloyd Road
• The Wellmont Theater, 5 Seymour St.
• The Audible Listening Lounge, 544 Bloomfield Ave.
ON THE WEB: For ticket options, a full schedule and more, visit http://montclairfilmfest.org.