Blog post written by Amber Thibault, Cinema and Photography ’15, FLEFF Intern, Lewiston, Maine.

Repetition.

This is the idea behind Tomanari Nishikawa's film "Tokio-Ebisu" which explores the movement and repetition of people and trains on the Yamanote Line.

Nishikawa share with me his recollections of taking the Yamanote Line, the busiest train in Tokyo. This train runs on a loop and and arrives at a train station every two to three minutes. It is in observing this that he notice the repetition that inspired his film; a train would come every couple minutes and stopped in the exact same spot. He also observed that everyone on the platform knew exactly where it was going to stop so they would line up accordingly.

But the technical elements of filmmaking are more compelling to Nishikawa than the storyline.

Nishikawa: "You can tell a story through multiple ways, writing or speaking but film is unique in what you can do with it."

He experimented with exposing the camera to observe what was happening in front of it. Get shot was exposed 30 times! It is this that makes me excited to see it. I can't actually wrap my mind around what that would look like.

Nishikawa's love for the medium of film was apparent in our conversation and contributes to his style. Some of his works can be seen at his website, www.tomonarinishikawa.com

Cinemapolis will be screening his film "Tokio-Ebisu" as part of the Upstate Filmmaker's Showcase this Sunday, April 7th at 4pm.

This is Nishikawa's first time being a part of FLEFF and he was pleasantly surprised to find out FLEFF does not feature just environmental documentaries but has a a selection of non-narrative films as well.

What was your first impression of FLEFF?

Blog post by Chloe Wilson, Television-Radio '14, FLEFF Blogger, Ashland, Massachusetts

Happy first day of FLEFF, everyone!

Filmmaker Jon Bowermaster will be bring his film "Dear Governor Cuomo" to FLEFF later this week. He was kind enough to answer some of my questions and give some insight into his film.  Read on for what to expect from "Dear Governor Cuomo"!

Chloe Wilson: For those who are unfamiliar, can you give a brief description of “Dear Governor Cuomo”?

Blog posting written by Erica Moriarty, Documentary Studies ’16, FLEFF Intern, Houston, Texas

No color. No sound. No movie?

How about we add in a live orchestra… Sounding a little better?

And have the event at the home of silent films… You interested yet?

Did I mention the film is showing at one of the best festivals to hit this side of the Finger Lakes?

In the upcoming week, FLEFF is bringing back some of the Ithacan silent film culture of the 1920s with October. In the 1920s, the natural beauty of Ithaca inspired silent filmmakers to create works of art often in the form of the cliffhanger serial. Although October does not take place anywhere near Ithaca, the town’s history is easily seen in the form of the silent film.

The classic Russian film premiered in 1928 under the direction of Sergei Eisenstein and Grigori Aleksandrov. October celebrates with dramatization the 1917 October Russian Revolution. To add to the drama, the Cloud Chamber Orchestra will accompany the film with live music.

Perhaps, there will be no color, but there will definitely be sound and a movie you do not want to miss. So what do you say? Put on your Sunday best and join FLEFF Sunday, April 7^th at Cinemapolis for October featuring the Cloud Chamber Orchestra.

Which other films are you interested in seeing this year? 

Blog post written by Amber Thibault, Cinema and Photography ’15, FLEFF Intern, Lewiston, Maine.

My apologizes for such a late response to this week's event. The week before break was crazy busy with work and getting myself ready to leave. I miss Ithaca but I'm happy to be home for the week with my family and to wrestle up some much need relaxation.

The kick-off event had a beautiful turn out! The line to get into the theater ran almost all the way down the hall! People stood, talked and munched on popcorn, all anxiously awaiting the opening of the doors to Cinema 5 and the start of our kick-off event. I talked to one guest who's daughter was interning. He said he was very proud of her and that he was looking forward to seeing the films.

It was heart-warming to see parents there supporting their interns. I'm from Maine so it's a little more difficult for my parents to be physically present at everything I do but I know they always are thinking of me and wishing me the best.

Seeing all of my fellow interns moving around Cinemapolis in our FLEFF shirts was a lot of fun. We seemed to swarm the theater with black and white. Every where I turned there was black and white, like a sea of penguins.

After I had found my seat, my friend and I were talking about Becky Lane's film "Hens and Chick" and a woman in front of us, Alicia, said "That was shot at my bed and breakfast! Are you film students? If you ever need somewhere that looks like a house, let me know. It's called Amazing Grace Bed and Breakfast. And spread the word!" She proceeded to give me her contact information. I thought it was very cool that at my first film festival event I was already making connections.

When the films started to roll and I experienced a sort of Wizard of Oz moment: beautiful colors after all that black and white! (If you're not familiar with the movie, there is a point when the movie goes from black and white to technicolor and was quite a spectacle for the film world at the time.) The most important part of the night was finally here. As the films played on the screen, I thought about how lucky I was to be see the work of Ithaca professors and other community filmmakers who's films can have rather exclusive showings.

Featured filmmakers (in order of appearance on the program):

     Jason Harrington showing "My Mind" and "Tree With Lights In It"

     Vincent Grenier showing "Armoire"

     John D. Scott showing "One Art" and "Notes On Liberty"

     Arturo Sinclair showing "The Half-Century Song"

     Becky Lane showing "Hens and Chicks" and "Happy Hour: The Chanticleer"

The works were an interesting collection. Some danced on the screen and others made you laugh while still others took you for a wild ride. Like any good film, all of them made you think in such a way that trying to explain them here would not do them justice. 

The talk back after spent a lot of time focused on the filmmakers opinions on the film and digital and their thoughts on the digital conversion. However, this was to be expect as the focus of the night was a fundraiser for the Cinemapolis digital conversion. 

I really enjoyed hearing what the filmmakers had to say about this conversion. I first heard about the conversion from a friend of mine who is not a film major but works at a cinema and is definitely what you would call a film junkie. Now, since the transition is so close, it's interesting to see how the dialog as begun to penetrate my conversations at Ithaca.

Now that you've heard what my favorite part of the night was, I'm interested to know what your favorite part of the evening was?

Blog posting by Kimberly Capehart, Documentary Studies and Production ’16, FLEFF Blogger, Cherry Hill, New Jersey

March 3^rd is only a few days away, which means that in just five days, the Upstate Filmmakers Showcase will be occurring downtown at Ithaca’s local, independent movie theater, Cinemapolis.

For those who don’t know, all profits from the showcase will go to support Cinemapolis in its complete digital conversion. Sadly, the days of 35 mm film projection in theaters are extremely numbered, and every theater that wishes to survive in the modern multiplex business needs to make sure they’re ready to compete in the digital marketplace. For Cinemapolis, this means equipping all five of their theaters with brand new digital projection systems. You can read more about the technological aspect of it here.

As suggested by its name, the Upstate Filmmaker’s Showcase will be featuring work exclusively from filmmakers in Upstate New York. I recently spoke to Carol Jennings, an upstate filmmaker herself, and the director of the Park Media Lab at Ithaca College, about Park Productions’ contribution to the showcase. 

Park Productions is a media production company stationed on the IC campus that is staffed exclusively by Park students. The company primarily works on collaborative projects with non-profit organizations within the Ithaca community. Through their client-driven work, Park Productions gives students professional experience in media production.   

In 2011, in collaboration with the Visitors Bureau and the Chamber of Commerce, Park Productions produced a series of webisodes that “showcases popular destinations” and “highlights the unique natural beauty of the Finger Lakes Region” in order to promote tourism in the region. Finger Lakes Uncorked! “follows the adventures of a fictional character Craig Vinholtz, a magician and wine enthusiast living in the Finger Lakes region of New York.”

The production team for the project was composed of students, faculty, and alumni who worked closely with the Visitors Bureau and the Finger Lakes Wine Country to produce all nine webisodes. The series, which was intended to be a “social media release,” as Jennings puts it, premiered at FLEFF in 2011 and hit the web shortly after.

Jennings says her favorite part of the festival is seeing the “continuity of students, alumni, and professionals,” much like the combination that worked on Finger Lakes Uncorked! “It’s great to see former students come back as alumni, and then to come back even later on as professionals. Everyone looks at the work of current students and can offer suggestions and talk about their past work at Ithaca.” 

Episodes one, two, and four will be shown this Sunday at the Upstate Filmmakers Showcase. They are also available for viewing on YouTube and on the project’s official website.

Jennings says she is “honored that Park Productions is included in the group of incredibly talented filmmakers” who will be showing their work at the showcase. “We have an amazing pool of talent in the area,” she concludes.

Be sure to come out to Cinemapolis this Sunday, March 3^rd to support your fellow Ithacans, Cinemapolis, and Upstate New York art!

 Blog posting written by Dorothea Hinman, Cinema and Photography '15, FLEFF blogger, Rochester, NY

When asked to reflect upon my FLEFF experience thus far, I don't know where to start. 

So far, I've had to the opportunity to interview and write about significant and influential artist, participate in countless flash mobs, Skype with international names such as Enrico Aditjondro, talk to fellow filmmakers at Cinemapolis about FLEFF and work with a close knit group of fellow bloggers.

And that's only what I've done so far.

The festival is coming up in about a month, but this Sunday, March 3rd, is the Upstate Filmmakers Showcase at Cinemapolis! The lineup was just released, check it out here! After that we will continue preparations for the festival from April 1st to April 7th. Only time will tell exactly what I have to look forward to, but if it's anything like the past two months, it will be engaging, fruitful, and flat out enjoyable. 

With all these things I have been engaged in, I have hardly had time to look back and realize how much more knowledgable about FLEFF. This time last year I heard whisperings of FLEFF from my friends and from the various social medias college students take advantage of. Little did I know that in a year I would be an important part of the blogging team, constantly receiving updates about the festival and assignments to push it out. I now feel as though I am part of something much bigger, and yet it still feels very personal and intimate. 

My time in festivals has been full of excitement, speed, social media, and conversations. I cannot wait to see what else I see in the coming months! What have you learned from FLEFF?

Blog post written by Amber Thibault, Cinema and Photography ’15, FLEFF Intern, Lewiston, Maine. 

This past week, I had the privilege of interviewing Becky Lane. Becky Lane is a part time TVR professor at the Roy H. Park School of Communications. She has submitted two works to next week's March 3rd kick-off event happening THIS SUNDAY at Cinemapolis! The event starts at 4pm and tickets are $8. 

Now a little bit from Becky Lane...

Amber Thibault: How did you hear about FLEFF?

Becky Lane: Ithaca is my home so I've followed FLEFF from it's inception. When Karen Rodriguez, the curator of the Upstate Filmmakers Showcase, program invited me to present my work, I was honored. Ithaca College has been an instrumental part of my education as a filmmaker, and I was so excited to become a part of FLEFF and screen alongside the other fantastic pieces.

AT: What is your project that you are presenting at the March 3rd kick-off event?

BL: Well I'm actually presenting two works "Hens and Chicks" and "Happy Hour."

AT: Can you tell me a little bit about those films?

BL: "Hens and Chicks" is a family film about a young girl who is a sperm donor offspring who begins to question who her father is. "Happy Hour" is teaser for a dramatic series I'm working on entitled "The Chanticleer." It's set in 1955 and one of the storylines involves underground gay and lesbian culture.

AT: I know there is going to be a whole collection of different types of works at the event this on March 3rd. Can you tell me about the kind of work you are presenting?

BL: Well, "Hens and Chicks" is a short film while "Happy Hour" is a more of a performance piece with dance and music. It tells a story about how two women make a connection that only they can see, reflecting the invisibility that was required at that time period. The series that follows will have a broader scope, reflecting the cultural and political shifts occurring at that time period, which were significant. The goal is to have distribution with some episodes exclusively made for the web.

AT: What made you interested in doing films like these? 

BL: I like to portray strong women characters, families and gender and sexualties that are usually unrepresented, misunderstood, and/or not favorable. In the first film, Hens and Chicks, I wanted to show that there are different types of well-adjusted families. For "Happy Hour" I wanted to highlight the oppression many people faced then [during the mid-twenty century in regard to their sexuality]. in regard to their sexuality]. People are resilient, though, and will find ways to live their lives the way they want. I wanted to honor that. I see these women as courageous and subversive.

Having already been aware of the suppression of women during this time period, I am anxious to see Becky Lane's physical representation of these circumstances. Also, having been involved in theater before coming to college, I can't help but loving the melding of dance and music to create an emotionally charged scene. I hope you all found this interview as intriguing as I did. Please come out and support Becky Lane and all the other filmmakers as we raise money to help Cinemapolis with it's conversion from film to digital. 

One final question: What interests YOU most about Becky Lane's projects?

Blog posting written by Andrew Ronald, Film, Photography & Visual Arts '15, FLEFF Social Media Manager, Mahopac, NY

Although FLEFF is just a little over a month away, there is so much that has yet to happen. And there is so much to be excited for. At this point in my FLEFF-tastic journey, I have had a lot to reflect upon.

One of these upcoming events in particular is the Upstate Filmmaker's Showcase premiering at downtown Ithaca's independent art cinema, Cinemapolis. On March 3rd, the entire staff will come together and converge with fellow audience members consisting of local professors, other interns, and of course, the entire Ithaca community. 

People will converge. Ideas will collide. And conversation will occur.

Because isn't that what festivals are all about anyway?

Of course there are other very exciting events that the interns have been preparing for, including our efforts to revamp urban exploration in a new was using the Derive app and our positive stories that we will be covering through an exciting partnership with EngageMedia. But we will save these for later. In the meantime, let us reflect.

My role as a Social Media Manager has truly allowed me to ascertain a newfound perspective towards the idea of film festivals, and FLEFF was the perfect vehicle to explore this attitude. Festivals are fast-paced, and the only way to respond to this celerity is through the ability to adapt. You have to be pliable. The fellow interns and bloggers have understood this, and they are all so willing and eager to contribute to the festival's success.

And what a successful festival it is going to be.

Working with their enthusiasm has given me the passion to work harder, strive to serve as a positive role model, and also have a lot of fun on this journey!

What can you take away from your own FLEFF-tastic experiences?

Blog posting by Karly Placek, Documentary Studies and Production '15, FLEFF Social Media Manager, Monroe, Wisconsin 

The countdown is on. We are a little over a month away from FLEFF and the excitement among the blogging staff is palpable. 

Working as a Social Media Manager this year constantly keeps me on my toes. I'm always learning more about the personalities and passions of my fellow bloggers and my admiration for the team grows with each day. While we've only assembled as a team about two months ago, the feats we've accomplished and the bond we've created as a micro-community are truly remarkable. 

Our journey hasn't been easy. We've faced a few roadblocks with our flash mob strategies. In the beginning of the semester, we determined that many small, on-the-fly flash mobs would be effective in getting the word out about FLEFF. Theories often differ from practice. Upon hitting the streets and assembling for flash mobs, we discovered that careful planning and a larger amount of flash mob participants would actually be more beneficial. Spreading information on the streets via word of mouth does indeed work, but large, organized group events can work wonders. I've always believed that success is comprised of one part knowledge and two parts mistake. We've made some mistakes but we've learned immensely from them. We now have an arsenal of surprises for the public - so watch out! 

As the festival draws closer, I'm eager to see how the blogging staff and intern staff will collaborate together. On March 3rd, the entire staff's skills will be put to the test as we attend the Upstate Filmmakers Showcase  at downtown Ithaca's premiere movie theater,Cinemapolis. I hope all of the interns engage with other audience members and take advantage of the intellectually stimulating conversation that will take place. I have faith in the passion of my fellow interns and am expecting the showcase to be a moving experience! 

The road to come on our FLEFF 2013 adventure is sure to be bumpy - but our staff knows how to enjoy the ride. What are you eager to see the FLEFF interns overcome this year? 

Blog posting written by Chloe Wilson, Television-Radio ’14, FLEFF Intern, Ashland, Massachusetts.

Getting excited for the FLEFF March 3rd Kickoff Screening? I know I am! I'm even more excited for the screening after getting the chance to speak with Karen Rodriguez, the curator for this year's screening.  Read on to learn about the purpose of the screening, the filmmakers you can expect to meet, and the works you can expect to see!

Chloe Wilson: For those who aren't very familiar with FLEFF, can you give a quick description about what this year's Kickoff Screening is for?

Karen Rodriguez: This screening is for two things.  It starts the FLEFF season is comprised of films that have already been screened at FLEFF in the past years and that are made by local filmmakers. The second reason is that it’s a also a fundraiser for Cinemapolis.  The theater is in the process of transitioning to digital projection and we’re helping to raise money for them for their purchases of new digital projectors.

CW: Are the filmmakers from the entirety of upstate New York or specifically Ithaca?

KR: Some of them are faculty at IC, some of them are faculty at other colleges in the areas - like Hobart and William Smith Colleges.  It’s an opportunity to highlight local filmmakers and to get the FLEFF season off to a start.

CW: As the curator of this year's screening, can you tell me about your role in organizing this event?

KR: As the curator, I look at work and talk to people about what is new, what do they have available to be screened. Then once I have a list of potential films, I try to choose films that work together and that compliment each other as well as show diversity in the subject matter and also in the approach.  Then I coordinate information and such – working with the filmmakers and figuring out how to get the files from them to Cinemapolis.  I also contacted Leah Shafer and I asked her to moderate the discussion after the screening.

CW: Each year, FLEFF has a new theme, and this year it's mobilities.  Does the Kickoff Screening also have a theme?

KR: I didn’t choose a theme for the screening.  I think there are some approaches or stylistic approaches that have emerged from this group and I think there’s a strong emphasis on the visual overall, but there is no explicit theme.

Blog posting by Kimberly Capehart, Documentary Studies and Production '16, FLEFF Blogger, Cherry Hill, New Jersey 

As FLEFF is quickly approaching, it's time to start giving some thought to the films YOU want to see downtown at Ithaca's very own independent movie theater, Cinemapolis. 

The full lineup of films is posted here. And while you may have high ambitions to see all 20+ films playing at Cinemapolis, due to time, space, and physical restrictions of your own body failing to be in two places at once, you're going to have to pick and choose eventually. I know, it sucks. 

It was hard enough for me to pick ONLY 3 films to put on this list, but here are my top three choices.

#1: Anak-Anak Srikandi / "Children of Srikandi" (Indonesia, 2012) - As a Documentary Studies and Production major, there's a special place in my heart for documentaries all of kinds. This documentary tells the stories of eight young queer women in Indonesia as they face various challenges in "coming out." In addition to being the first film about queer women from Indonesia, it is also the first film made by queer Indonesian women: two huge milestones from a rather conservative country. Both the film's distributor, Vanessa Domico, and producer, Laura Coppens, will be attending the festival. 

#2: On The Road (Walter Salles, USA, 2013) - Based on the novel by Jack Kerouac, On The Road tells the story of three young people as they escape the confines of everyday life by traveling across the country. Featuring hunks Garrett Hedlund (Troy (2004), Tron: Legacy (2012)), Sam Riley (Brighton Rock (2010)), and lady-hunk Kristen Stewart (The Twilight Saga (2008-2011), The Runaways (2010)), the film promises to win over pop culture fanatics and Kerouac-lovers alike. I once saw a documentary about writer Ken Kesey's trip across the United States in which Neal Cassady, the person who inspired the character of Dean Moriarty in Kerouac's novel, led Kesey's "merry band of pranksters." Seeing his real life persona in a very similar context makes me excited to see how Salles represents it in On The Road. 

#3: The Water Front (USA/Canada, 2008) - Another documentary, but very different from Anak-Anak Srikandi. This film explores "the story of an American city in crisis." Highland Park, Michigan, the birthplace of the auto-industry, is very close to facing financial collapse. In order to resolve this problem, one politician has raised water rates. Now, residents must deal with soaring costs of waters bills and having their water shut off. The film not only confronts the problems associated with the water distribution, it takes a look at the politics behind the entire situation, and in that way, reminds me of Dear Governor Cuomo (a film that will also be playing at Cinemapolis). The film's director, Liz Miller, will be in attendance. 

Be sure to check out the rest of the lineup so you have your FLEFF game plan all set when the festival rolls around. Also make sure to keep checking back to see the lineup of films and events that will take place on the IC campus. 

What are you looking forward to at this year's FLEFF? 

Blog posting written by Dorothea Hinman, Cinema and Photography '15, FLEFF Blogger, Rochester, NY

FLEFF is looking better than ever. 

Perhaps I'm biased because this is the first year I've been involved in the festival, but it doesn't make the assertion that this is going to be the best festival yet less true. FLEFF's partnership with everyone's favorite movie theatre, Cinemopolis, has allowed for an incredible line up of films to be screened during the festival. More than twenty films and I have to pick the three I am most excited for? It was hard, but here's the verdict:

1. Sherlock Jr. (Buster Keaton, USA, 1924) with Fe Nunn and Friends and Cynthia Henderson

Who doesn't love the classic, old Hollywood comedian? The hilarious tale of an underdog trying to prove his innocence in a crime he did not commit is guaranteed to bring the laughs as well as a trip back to the golden days of Hollywood.

2. Upstate Filmmakers Showcase, with filmmakers Vincent Grenier, Jason Harrington, John Scott, Becky Lane, Arturo Sinclair, and others TBA

If patience is a virtue, then I'm not very virtuous. At least when it comes to waiting for FLEFF! April 1st may seem a far way off, but March 3rd is just around the corner. It's the festival's kick off event, featuring works form artists in and around the Ithaca area, mentioned above. Certainly an event to look forward to!

3. Couples (Korea, 2011) with Director/Writer Yong ki Jeong

Maybe I'm on a comedy kick, but I don't speak Korean, and this movie still looks hilarious. This being a comedy film from Korean just shows the versatility of the 2013 festival.

Make sure to check out these films and the slew of others being featured at Cinemapolis this year! Can you pick your top three out of the list? I challenge you! 

Blog posting by Erica Moriarty, Documentary Studies and Production '16, Houston, Texas

Great music? Beautiful cinematography? Compelling stories? Name just about anything, and FLEFF will have it this year.

Personally, my list of interests is insanely eclectic. Yet, this year’s line up includes at least one movie covering nearly every interest. Somehow, I managed to narrow them down to my top three.

1. Wild Style

This 1983 hip hop film produced by Charles Ahearn, covers everything a hip hop dancer like myself would want to know about the genre. The film showcases quite a few big names from the decade such as Fab Five Freddy, Lee Quinones and Lady Pink. Love any part of hip hop culture from MCs to b-boys to graffiti? This is one film any hip hop lover won’t want to miss.

2. Silenced Voices :Tales of Sri Lankan Journalists in Exile

Here in the United States, I know I can be a journalist with very little repercussion. Freedom of speech allows me to print and upload essentially anything on my mind. Sri Lanka is a very different case. This film explores journalists risking their life to practice their profession. Silenced Voices is a must-see for any budding journalist.

3. Habibi 

I am one sucker for a love story. Habibi does not fall short of the ultimate “chick flick”, but the film also presents the interesting human rights issues surrounding traditional and religious environments. As Qays and Layla fight for their love, they must choose between their people and their heart. Habibi is perfect for those who root for the star-crossed lovers.

Be sure to check out the rest of this year’s line up! Which films are you most excited to see? 

Blog posting written by Andrew Ronald, Film, Photography & Visual Arts '15, FLEFF Intern, Mahopac, NY

Anyone with an interest in film and independent cinema should certainly take the time to get to know Karen Rodriguez, the curator of the Upstate Filmmaker Showcase for FLEFF at Cinemapolis. I recently had the opportunity to interview Rodriguez and learned a lot about her.

Background

Rodriguez has had outstanding experience with production, videography, cinematography and lighting as her academic career has spanned across the historic country of Germany and the bustling city of Boston. As she studied photography, Super-8 and film analysis, her passion for film exploded and led her to independently produce features and shorts, followed by working at the Thaw festival where "we screened narrative, experimental and documentary short films and videos and it was a complete blast! My favorite parts of filmmaking are the actual production and attending the film festivals!" 

Production Work

"I think of myself as a bit of a generalist when it comes to production work...My own work that I'm most excited about falls into the personal/experimental form. While I love the camaraderie and focus of a large crew, my ideal mode of production would be analogous to a singer-songwriter writing a song where the filmmaker has an idea, picks up a camera and makes it happen." To me, this sounds like a beautiful sentiment as art forms are often compared to each other and it is interesting to think of film on such a microscopic scale.

What Are Microtopias?

"Microtopias is a rich metaphor and brings up for me many ideas. Most concretely, it reminds me of the idea that all politics are local meaning that sometimes it is difficult to think about affecting the world on a large scale, but that small efforts, local efforts can make a difference. It's connecting these local efforts to one another that is important for making large scale change."

Advice For Future Filmmakers

A strong recommendation Rodriguez deploys in her interview address the need to stay independent and work outside of the industry. This singularity, even if you are an independent documentary producer tackling corrupt politics and popular culture through a critical lens, facilitates the arduous process behind developing your own voice and artistic aesthetic that differs from corporatized media.

FLEFF 2012

"In addition to the two Upstate Shorts screenings, I'm looking forward to Patrick Winter's talk on sound design, the talk with Laura Kissel and Matt Podolsky on new forms of environmental documentary, "Veins in the Gulf," and "100 Short Films about Water," anything with live music accompaniment, and of course, the parties!"

Blog post written by Colleen Ryan, Television-Radio '12, Anthropology Minor, Lansing, NY

This week, I had the pleasure of speaking with Chris White, an extremely talented musician, and one of FLEFF's returning performers.

On Sunday, April 1st at 7:00 p.m., Chris will be performing an improvisational live score to Nanook of the North with trio members Robby Aceto and Peter Dodge at Cinemapolis.  

White is classically trained on the cello, and also plays the guitar and harmonica.

It was Dr. Patricia Zimmerman's (co-director of FLEFF) idea to bring together the three musicians for FLEFF several years ago, and the trio has been doing live improv film scores ever since.  "It was easy from the get-go," he said.  "We just flowed so easily. We each have our own bag of tricks, but a common vision and language that works well together."  

White told me that the trio watches the films by themselves, and then together practice improvising. They converse about the mood of the film and its transitions. Each time the score is played differently.  The trio doesn't practice too much so the day of the performance is fresh and well, improvised! 

"Every experience with FLEFF has been great," he said.  To him, playing and improvising with a film is a much different experience as a musician.  "It's liberating," he remarked.

Although the trio has only performed for FLEFF, and one other event for the Ithaca Motion Picture Project, White revealed to me that the trio is considering putting out a CD of their scores, perhaps in time for next year's FLEFF.  (I've heard samples from their work, and believe me, it's a must have!)

To listen to Chris's personal work with the Cayuga Jazz Ensemble, you can click here.

Although I, personally, could never fathom a career in professional music, to young musicians who wish to dip their toes into improvising, Chris's greatest advice is to listen to a favorite genre of music and imitate it. Practice the style, and put a lot of time into it. "It happens more naturally than you might think," he said.

With that being said, I'm excited to watch White and his cohorts perform.  It's something that indeed comes extremely naturally to them, while enjoying and appreciating their talent, is something that comes naturally to me. 

If I had longer arms I'd save you all seats, so get there early, it's going to be a happy and full house. See you Sunday night!    

Blog posting written by Andrew Ronald, Film, Photography & Visual Arts '15, FLEFF Intern, Mahopac, NY

It is evident that Karin Ash has consistently demonstrated a fusion between dedication and a hard-working personality to get where she is today as president of the Cinemapolis Board of Directors. Cinemapolis itself is an independent theater "...dedicated to providing a sophisticated community with the best in new international and independent cinema." I recently had the opportunity to interview Karin Ash and receive some insightful information about her and her interaction with FLEFF 2012.

Background

Karin Ash worked for thirty-eight years as a professional in university higher education administration including state universities in Florida and California and even Ivy League schools. Although these locations were very dynamic, one thing remained consistent: "I always focused on helping students gain experiences that would assist them in deciding upon a career direction, gaining relevant internship experiences and finding post-graduate employment." And in a way, this emphasis on helping students was actually symbiotic. Not only were college students being shaped into future denizens of the "real" world, but Ash claims that she "...gained a better understanding of the...challenges that are of concern to students [and] developed a fairly good overview of the career opportunities where students could make a difference. And, for many students making a difference in the environment, as defined by FLEFF, is paramount. Many students want to work in a field where they will have a positive impact on water, energy, health, international development, the food industry and education."

Advice For Students

In order for students to gain entry into the art and media world, Ash commented on the significance behind students expressing their interest in the art and media world as opposed to just verbalizing it. In order to become engaged and demonstrate this expressivity, students must construct a vast canon of experience during college, volunteer their time if they cannot find paid internships, especially during nights and weekends, and hold perspicacious dialogues with professionals.

FLEFF 2012

"I'm most excited about FLEFF's theme this year of microtopias. The theme is very much in line with the Board of Directors vision for Cinemapolis, 'a premier art cinema, where people of all ages broaden their horizons through artistically significant films, cultural camaraderie, and educational programs.'" Not only are the movies shown during FLEFF week inspiring and intergenerational, but they are accessible and invite patrons to learn about different environments - the whole principle of FLEFF in the first place.

Closing Words

"The Cinemapolis Board of Directors is extremely grateful to Ithaca College, and especially to Patty Zimmerman and Tom Shevory, who work so hard all year long to host this fabulous multimedia event."

Carlos Gutiérrez met his business partner Monika Wagenberg back in 1997 when they were both students in the Cinema Studies program at NYU. At the time, Latin American cinema was not very prevalent in the United States. Carlos and Monika wanted to find a way to "promote cinema from the region, locally," and thus, Cinema Tropical was born. Now, Cinema Tropical (CT) is the leading presenter of Latin American cinema in the U.S.

I got the chance to talk to Carlos about Cinema Tropical, Latin American cinema and how it all ties in to FLEFF.

Q. How would you say that Cinema Tropical has impacted the distribution and awareness of Latin American films in the US?

A. It’s hard to assess, but I think one of the key aspects of Cinema Tropical has been creating a community of film professionals and an audience. We’ve been here for almost 11 years, really pushing hard. We can now see it’s a very different world from when we first started. There are more films getting released and more attention is paid to Latin American cinema, with many more Latin American films in the film festival circuits. 

 Q. What are some advantages and disadvantages of promoting “Latin American cinema” as a genre, rather than promoting by nation of origin ('Argentinian films' or ‘Mexican films’)?

A. I frankly think, as a more personal opinion, that the national cinema approach is outdated; cinema is such a trans-national endeavor. I think national cinema theory is very limited in understanding what is happening in the world.

Film is going through an amazing time right now. Cinema has enabled a lot of different art forms and social activities, like journalism, to thrive. But film theory is still shortsighted. We’re still discussing film in terms of who made it and where it was made, which is limiting.

Cinema Tropical has a more flexible way to go about it, without just focusing on the distinction between art house and commercial, but showing the potential beyond categorization. We’ve been experimenting a lot to present film in a more general way, for people to enjoy film and get closer to the film offerings from Latin America.

Q. How do you think the mission of FLEFF ties into what Cinema Tropical is trying to do?

A. FLEFF has become such an important platform locally. We are both on the same wavelength of trying to redefine and to understand cinema. The festival has opened up a more scholarly way of looking at cinema. Sometimes, academia is kept separate from practical film, but FLEFF combines the two.

Q. What aspect of FLEFF are you looking most forward to?

A. First of all, I'm thrilled to visit Ithaca, as it'll be my first time there. In regards to the festival, I particularly look forward to seeing some great film programs- it looks like a terrific lineup. I also look forward to meeting some of the special guests in person. 

***Interested in Latin American cinema? Make sure to check out Marimbas from Hell (Las Marimbas del Infierno) at Cinemapolis. It's a "narrative film about marimbas, gangs, heavy metal and rock bands in Guatemala." Here's the trailer too. 

Blog posting written by Jennifer Barish, Communication Management & Design ‘14, FLEFF intern, Skokie, IL

When Lynne Cohen moved to Ithaca, NY, she noticed that the community needed film—not just commercial blockbusters, but substantial pieces of art that could infuse a small town with big city culture.

In 2000, current Executive Director, Lynne Cohen, co-created The Seventh Art Corporation of Ithaca, Inc. The non-profit currently owns and operates Ithaca’s Cinemapolis with the goal to bring the best international and independent film to the community.

After chatting with Lynne, I learned how a small community cinema could become an epicenter of new thought and multi-generational conversation.

This year Cinemapolis will host the 2012 Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival. When Patricia Zimmerman approached Lynne Cohen about partnering with the festival, Lynne welcomed the idea because holding the festival would strengthen Cinemapolis’ mission to “encourages central New York residents to explore the power of film.”

FLEFF gives Cinemapolis a chance to screen a unique array of international films only available through the festival. And Cinemapolis gives FLEFF a beautiful facility to present poignant films in a venue loved by the entire community.

During Cinemapolis’ reopening in 2009, the community flocked to build the new theatre. The location is truly a reflection of the passionate, Ithacan patrons who support art in the local community.

Starting March 29^th at the Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival, Cinemapolis will open its doors to community members, students, and guests from around the world to discuss complex ideas in a new, equally passionate micro-topic community.

And Lynne’s advice to initiate your own, artistic microtopia?

“Be passionate….find a need that’s not being met….take a risk, be thoughtful, and be brave.”

Dr. Gordon Rowland is a member of Lil Anne and Hot Cayenne, which will be playing live music for the showing of Keaton Shorts. 

MM: What are you presenting at FLEFF 2012 and how does it fit into the theme of microtopias?

GR: I play tenor sax and scrubboard with Lil Anne and Hot Cayenne, a northeast zydeco band. We'll be playing music to accompany a series of Buster Keaton silent shorts from the 1920s. The FLEFF website defines microtopias as "small .. imagined cooperative systems of harmony" and  states that "microtopias propose temporary, dynamic, shared worlds." Musical performance can can certainly be seen as "imagined cooperative systems of harmony," and in connecting our music with the visual imagery of the films, and with the audience in the moment, we seek to create a "temporary, dynamic shared world." 

MM: What is your background?

GR: You can find my story here. My other band, Common Railers, accompanied Buster Keaton's Steamboat Bill Junior a couple years ago. 

MM: What aspect of FLEFF are you looking foward to?

GR: The silent films with live music are always fun, of course. Other than that, I look forward to seeing as many films as I can. Patty and Tom do a terrific job on selection, and we get to see films on the wide screen that normally would not make it into our theaters.

MM: What advice would you give to college students about FLEFF and how to be engaged in festivals?

GR: FLEFF brings in guests who have a very wide range of backgrounds. Don't be shy. They love talking with students, and there is much to learn from them.

Hear Dr. Rowland play with Lil Ann and Hot Cayenne Saturday March 31st, at 4 p.m. at Cinemapolis! 

 Top 5 Movies to see at Cinemapolis

1.     Cotton Road- Systems thinking fascinates me. The idea of globalization and the connectedness of everything together is something I cannot wait to learn more about- especially when I am learning from Ithaca College alum Laura Kissel!

2.     Arlit: Deuxieme Paris- This film about uranium mining and environmental racism in Niger completely embodies the beat I hope to cover in my future of journalism: social justice and environmental issues.  I am specifically interested in how these issues apply to Africa so this documentary will be super interesting for me! I am also thrilled to introduce myself to filmmaker Idrissou Mora-Kpaï. I want to learn what inspired him to investigate into this topic and her experiences while filming.

3.     Veins of the Gulf- I believe we need to acknowledge social justice and environmental justice issues domestically. I think many try to pretend it is not happening in our own backyard, but we need a more local mindset. I am interested to see how this film portrays Hurricane Katrina, an event I have seen covered extensively in media but not through an environmental lens.

4.     Bejing Besieged by Waste- Currently, there has been such a focus on China as a growing global economical power. Yet, we don’t think of the impacts this has on the impoverished Chinese people every time we look at a “made in china” sticker. I am excited to see the questions and discussion this unknown narrative provokes at the after parties at the Wine Center.

5.     Nanook of the North- Robby Aceto. Live improvisational music to the silent film on its 90^th anniversary? Enough said.

What movie are you most excited for and why? 

Blog posting written by Andrew Ronald, Film, Photography & Visual Arts '15, FLEFF Intern, Mahopac, New York

Attention all cinephiles! The FLEFF 2012 Film Descriptions and Trailers page is up!

Now of course every film that will be screened during FLEFF week is fantastic and everyone should come see as many as possible, but here is just a laconic list featuring the top five movies I am most excited for:

1. Art & Copy

Can creativity really solve anything? This documentary directed by Doug Pray draws on a struggle any artist can relate to: finding inspiration. Creating a dynamic binary between the advertising industry and the most influential creative visionaries of our time, this film aims to expel the stigmas associated with a supposedly "manipulative business." And it has a really pretty movie poster.

2. Buster Keaton Shorts

Calling all film enthusiasts! If you never got the opportunity to see the infamous "stoic man" of the 1920's on the big screen, then head over to Cinemapolis to check out this cinematic classic. Specializing in vaudeville comedy and dominating the silent film era, Buster Keaton proved that shorts could be just as satisfying as feature-length films, all while hilarity ensues (even in something as simple as Keaton's desperate flight from the police in his short Cops.)

3. The Fairy

"A whimsical comedy featuring a shoeless fairy and the hotel night clerk." With a description like this, how could you not want to see this movie? Through this film's jovial narrative, a seemingly realistic atmosphere manifests into a fantastical romance. Spoiler alert: the fairy can grant wishes too!

4. Sushi: The Global Catch

Let me clarify: I didn't pick this film just because it's about one of my favorite cuisines (although it certainly did help me refine my list). The film traces the origin of sushi back to Japan, as I'm sure you all already knew, and documents the evolution of this delicacy in its attempt to please the hungry public to something as mass-producing as fast food restaurants themselves. This transition, however, occurred with such celerity that it upset the ocean's ecological balance, and this issue is touched upon as well.

5. Tuesday After Christmas

Brought to you by the director of 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, the film marries elegance and drama by integrating the all-too familiar issue of marital infidelity into the narrative. The husband has a clandestine affair with his daughter's dentist and must now choose between this unstable, yet exciting relationship with his lover and the stable romance he has shared with his faithful wife for ten years. Emotional. Sensational. Engaging. Go see it.

I wish I could have written about every film as they all sound exciting and satisfyingly establish their own microtopia, but I am more interested in knowing which movies you FLEFFers are most excited for!

Blog posting by Isabel Galupo, Cinema and Photography '14, FLEFF Intern, Towson, MD

Tonight, Robby Aceto visited the intern staff to discuss his role at FLEFF 2012.

Aceto is an internationally recognized "color" guitarist. He explained that the term "color guitarist" allows him to signal that he uses his instrument in unexpected, non-traditional ways.

He explained, "there's an expectation of what you hear from a guitar, especially an electric guitar...it's used in very narrow ways...[but] the capabilities of the instrument are really much broader than that."

This year will mark his fourth year performing at FLEFF. 

Aceto will be performing on the closing night of the festival at Cinemapolis, the local independent art cinema and long-time FLEFF partner.

He will be scoring the silent film "Nanook of the North," which is considered the first feature-length documentary film. 2012 marks the 90th anniversary of the release of the film. 

Scoring silent films is a crucial part of film history. Before synchronous sound technology was developed, it was very typical for orchestras to accompany the screening of silent films in theaters. 

In explaining the integrity of scoring silent films in modern times, Aceto also stressed the importance of active audience attendance and participation in these performances:

"Being there, you have an effect on the outcome." 

Many interns inquired about the process and technique behind improvisational film scoring. Some of his tips included: 

"Embrace the accidents that occur."

Ask yourself: "What did the filmmaker want? If he was here now, what would he think?"

"You've got to embrace the silence, as well as the noise." 

And, above all, "You've got to make it happen." 

The one thing that struck me the most about Aceto's presentation is the almost cautionary statement he made as soon as he stood up before us:

"I'm not an academic. I'm a person who is always doing things." 

The nature of Aceto's improvisational work for FLEFF is doing. He does not glue himself in front of his television watching and re-watching films, completing hours and hours of preliminary research before he performs. He sees, experiences, and feels the film, and then translates those raw emotions into uncensored musical language. 

In today's society, are we encouraged to process information by doing as Robby Aceto does? 

How does FLEFF create a safe space for artists and academics alike to explore ideas through action, through doing? 

Blog posting written by Hana Raskin, Communication Management & Design '12, FLEFF intern, New York City 

Something that Dr. Zimmerman said resonated in my mind- "the best advertising for a festival is word-of-mouth." This brought me back to last summer when I interned at SummerStage, New York's largest free performing arts festival.

While all of our different forms of advertising worked symbiotically to get people to talk about and to attend our events, there was nothing like word-of-mouth marketing.

Our intern team would street team before the events by walking around the neighborhood, talking to people and handing out brochures. I can’t tell you how many times we would go up to someone and say, “did you know EPMD is playing in Betsy Head Park in half-an-hour?” and they would say “what! No way, I love EPMD!”

We would see them later on at the concert, dancing and singing along, and would feel great that we were the reason they got to see their favorite group perform in their neighborhood park.

Word-of-mouth marketing.

This is why this Friday at Gallery Night, some of our blogging team will be downtown, talking to Ithacans about FLEFF.

This is why we table at Cinemapolis and tell moviegoers about all that our festival has to offer.

This is why we should talk about FLEFF in coffee shops, at lunch in the dining halls, on the supermarket line and while working out at the gym. 

I can’t wait to see familiar faces at the FLEFF events, as they wait to see a film or attend an event for something they care about, and know that they’re there because they heard about it from me.

Are you talking about FLEFF?

Blog posting written by Chloe Wilson, Television-Radio ’14, FLEFF Intern, Ashland, Massachusetts.

Doesn't 2008 seem so long ago?

It's so weird to think that FLEFF has been around for four years, let alone fifteen.  And so much has changed since FLEFF 2008!  We had a different president, The Dark Knight hadn't premiered yet, and I had no idea where I was going to go to college. (Spoiler alert:  I chose IC!)

So looking at information and schedules from past years of FLEFF, I was expecting to see a lot of differences.   You can find the website for FLEFF 2008 here, but here's a quick rundown of the differences between FLEFF 2008 and FLEFF 2012.

• FLEFF 2008's screenings took place at Ithaca College, Cinemapolis, and Fall Creek Pictures.

• FLEFF 2008 focused on four content streams: Camouflage, Counterpoint, Games, and Gastronomica.

• FLEFF 2008 did not have a Checkpoints Story Contest. 

• Buffalo Street Books was not an official partner of FLEFF 2008, but they're working with us for FLEFF 2012!

It's cool to see how FLEFF has progressed over time.  With FLEFF celebrating its fifteenth year anniversary this year, FLEFF has taught us about so many topics, ranging from environmental issues to electronic music to the science of food. This only makes me more excited for this year's events!

What's your favorite FLEFF memory?

Blog posting written by Andrew Ronald, Film, Photography & Visual Arts '15, FLEFF Intern, Mahopac, New York

Alright, here's the scene: you are finally about to see the film you have been begging all your friends to sacrifice ten bucks for and go see with you. You get there, overcome with excitement for this movie. You are sitting in the middle of a packed theater with about one hundred other people who are as excited as you for the lights to dim and the previews to start rolling. Suddenly, this unfamiliar, yet bittersweet feeling of claustrophobia overcomes you. And for some reason, you love this feeling. We all do. And that is what we call community.

Community is ubiqituous. The sensation that is shaped through cliques of texting teenagers. The harmonious brotherhood that materializes in college fraternities. The cohesion between families that is created in neighborhood culdesacs. No matter where this dynamic manifests, it's undeniable that community is bliss. 

This was exactly what it felt like during the screening of Oka! at Cinemapolis, a film that jumpstarted the fifteenth anniversary of FLEFF. The theater was saturated with incredible passion, palpable energy and, of course, a feeling of togetherness. Audience members even expressed promising feelings that the amount of energy will only escalade as the festival quickly approaches. 

It's funny to think about how total strangers can be thrown together in a room and generate a better viewing experience than the one that would be created by being alone in a theater. But that's what communities do. It's astonishing to see how the idea of a communitiy can achieve so many rewarding effects. It creates a lingering sense of unity while still promoting diversity. It enhances companionship while preserving identity. It's basically what we would call a microtopia. 

Now here's some questions I will leave you all with:
Do you agree with the sensation of being in a packed theater?
What does it feel like before a film starts for you? 
What are your thoughts on the establishment of a community?

(And in case you didn't get the title, check this out. Save Community!)

Perusing all of the blogger introductions I realized that while we as FLEFF interns are united by a common purpose, our reasons for working for the festival are varied. Those reasons are shaped by our different experiences, our passions and our aspirations for the future. I was intrigued by my fellow intern's stories and wanted to know more, so I sat down with Freshman Television and Radio major Julia Manchester. Julia is from Orlando Florida, but don't ask her if she goes to Disney World all the time; she's more of a Universal Studios person. That isn't to say that she doesn't like Mickey Mouse.

Hana Raskin- Why did you decide to intern with FLEFF?

Julia Manchester- I'm interested in broadcast news journalism, but I think the environment is such an important part of news today. It's important to learn about, and FLEFF will give me the opportunity to do that.

HR- Can you talk a little bit about your experience so far?

JM- I tabled at Cinemapolis, which was cool because we got an inside look at how a movie theater works and how a festival fits into that.

HR- Do you feel like this internship has made you more a part of the downtown community?

JM- I definitely think so, I've gotten to speak to lots of people who live in Ithaca when I've been tabling at Cinemapolis or at events.

HR- What are you looking most forward to?

JM- I'm interested in seeing the films and meeting the directors. I'm more of a newsperson, so I'm interested in learning about the film side.

Blog posting written by Chloe Wilson, Television-Radio ’14, FLEFF Intern, Ashland, Massachusetts.

Hello!

My name is Chloe.  I am a sophomore Television-Radio major with a concentration in scriptwriting.  I have a triple minor in Legal Studies, History, and the Humanities and Sciences Honors Program.

I grew up in Ashland, Massachusetts (the original home of the Boston Marathon!) and was determined to spend my college years in New York City.  I ended up not in New York City, and I couldn’t be happier.  Ithaca is the place that I’m supposed to be. 

As introductions go, I don’t do labels.  I find it impossible to identify myself without elaborating on why I used the words I did.  And yet, blog posts can only take so much space, so I’m going to do my best to introduce myself. (Concisely, of course.)

I love telling stories.  I love discovering characters in real life and I love creating them in my screenplays.  I believe that everyone and everything has an enthralling story.  It just may have not been found yet.

I love working with people.  I have a strong passion for peer advising, which rose out of my desire to discover the stories of others.  I also love helping people and enjoy working to make a difference.

I believe that we can learn from people just as much as we can help them.  This is why I was attracted to FLEFF.  It’s unique position as a curated and interdisciplinary film festival lets me partake in the dynamic intellectual engagement that no other festival offers.

I can’t wait for FLEFF 2012! I’m excited to become more active with downtown Ithaca through FLEFF. This year, The Finger Lakes Wine Center will host all of our after-event parties.  Try to tell me that that’s not awesome.  Go on. I dare you! 

As they did last year, Cinemapolis will host our film screenings.  The official film schedule for FLEFF is TBD, but Cinemapolis is screening OKA! at 4:30 PM on Sunday, Febuary 12^th.  FLEFF is co-sponsoring the event and a Q&A with director Lavinia Currier. 

Again: it's going to be awesome.

FLEFF 2012 is going to be the opportunity of a lifetime.  FLEFF challenges us to broaden what we know and immerse ourselves in what we don't, and this year's theme of microtopias only furthers that.

Personally, I'm really excited in learning about new media technologies through FLEFF.  What about you FLEFFers"  What are you most excited for in FLEFF 2012?

Blog posting by Brian McCormick, Film & Photo '12, FLEFF Intern, Wilbraham, MA

The last two nights have been very exciting for FLEFF! Now that the Cinemapolis screenings are underway it feels everyone has really gotten amped up!

The crowds down at the theater are very lively and energized. Every post-screening discussion has been full of energy and passion, since these issues and ideas are so important to the filmmakers and their audience. That's what makes seeing a film at FLEFF so unique -- the chance to talk to the filmmaker after the viewing.

Thursday night I saw "Even the Rain", a fiction feature film about a Spanish film crew making a movie in Bolivia amidst the Water Wars. In the film, the director casts a local Bolivian to play a major role. He soon finds out that this local is one of the prominent activists fighting for water and his rebellion throws the director and his crew through the biggest obstacles imaginable. I personally loved this film -- it really showcases the passion and determination put into filmmaking, as well as the passion of the locals to fight for water and essentially their lives.

Attending the screening was the film's casting director Rodrigo Bellot, an IC alum who it has been an absolute pleasure to have at FLEFF. Following the screening, Bellot conducted an enlightening Q&A, and he also spoke at the "How to Get Your Break" panel discussion yesterday evening.

Bellot will be at FLEFF again today -- don't miss the chance to meet him and the other FLEFF guests!

Last night, I then saw F. W. Murnau's "The Last Laugh" with live music performed by John Stetch. Really incredible. It felt very experimental in the way he would transition from scene to scene by isolating one sound or bringing a new one in, or just by changing the way he hit the drums or which keys he played. Keep in the mind the movie's original soundtrack is composed of an entire orchestra -- Stetch performed it by himself!

There will be two more silent film screenings with live music performances: Tonight, 7pm "Siren of the Tropics, and Tomorrow, 7pm "Storm Over Asia."

"Even the Rain" will also be screening again today -- go see it if you haven't!

Also, don't forget to head down to Delilah's for the after parties if you want to chat it up will all of the FLEFF guests!

Blog posting written by Lindsay Harrop, Cinema & Photography '13, FLEFF Intern, McMinnville, Oregon

Can you believe that FLEFF week is halfway over? But there are still a ton of screenings and events to come - especially downtown at Cinemapolis!

One of these films is Bastards of Utopia, which will be screening at Cinemapolis Sunday, April 17 at 4:00pm, followed by a Q&A with filmmaker Maple Razsa. I recently had the opportunity to ask Maple some pre-festival questions. If you're interest is piqued - and I know mine is - then be sure to come to Cinemapolis to see the film and ask Maple some questions of your own!

LH: What originally drew you to studying Yugoslavia? And after the collapse, what made you seek out (or how did you discover) the individual subjects of the Bastards of Utopia?

MR: I’ve been traveling and researching in Croatia and the former-Yugoslavia for almost twenty years, since I was an exchange student in high school in 1990-1991.  Originally I went, in part, because I was curious to see what a communist state looked like first hand. Later I became involved in labor and globalization activism in the USA and so I was seeking out ways to combine my interests in activism and my interest in Croatia in my next project. While I was wrestling with these questions I was invited by friends to go to the big globalization protests in Genoa in 2001.  I was surprised to find that the train from Trieste, Italy had a few dozen activists from Croatia.  That’s when I first met the anarchists that I’d work with in making Bastards of Utopia. 

LH: What were some of the difficulties with having such political extremists as your central subjects?

MR: They forced me to ask some hard questions of myself: Was I living in accordance with my own political values? Was I contributing to struggles against injustice?

LH: How do you connect your dual roles as anthropologist and documentary filmmaker?

MR: During my anthropological fieldwork I collaborated with a variety of activist groups of quite different orientations, not only the militant and anarchist-punk scene that came to be at the center of Bastards of Utopia.  We chose to make a film about this scene, and these three activists in particular, because more than any others I met, they were willing to remake their everyday lives on the basis of their ethical and political principles.  Because both Pacho (my co-director) and I are commited to observational filmmaking, we felt this made them the most compelling subjects.  Beyond this ethnographic interest in the everyday aspects of life, we were also committed to long term fieldwork, to really getting to know the people and context we were filming, rather than the quick and dirty journalistic approach (no offense!).  So the film took a long time to make—220 hours of footage shot and edited over 7 years.

LH: How did you choose FLEFF as a venue for the film?

MR: Ithaca College professor Chip Gagnon, who also does research in the former Yugoslavia, learned of my film and brought Bastards of Utopia to the attention of the festival. In any case, I've heard good things about FLEFF for years so I was happy to be invited to screen my documentary.

Thanks to Maple for taking the time to talk to me. Bastards of Utopia promises to be a really great documentary. I look forward to seeing everyone at the screening Sunday!

Blog was written by Kelsey Greene, Documentary Studies and Production, '13, FLEFF intern, Buffalo, New York

Now, we are discussing the issues brought up in the film.  Some of the main topics involved are hazardous chemicals and oil drilling in the Arctic. 

This has been so fast paced!  Now, he is informing us why he went to the Arctic in the first place and his lifestyle up there.  

I don't want to give too much away because he is going to be at Cinemapolis on Sunday at 2:10 p.m.  You should go to his screening and ask questions you want answers to!  

He is very interesting and very passionate about his work.     

Blog was written by Kelsey Greene, Documentary Studies and Production, '13, FLEFF intern, Buffalo, New York

I am now in the front row watching Helen DeMichiel's presentation. 

She is telling us about how she started Lunch Love Community in 2009 with co-producer and director Sophie Constantinou.  To emphasize her great character she says, "You can't do it alone, you have to have teams of people and lots of skills," in reference to the new media documentary approach.  

Helen has had lots of experience in the media field.  She's made a feature film, made lots of installations, and knows a lot about different aspects of media.

After a brief introduction she is now showing us a short webisode called The Whole World in a Small Seed, which is about a gardening program in one of the schools in Berkley.

The main focus of her presentation is to tell the story of why and how she started Lunch Love Community.

She says they started with the idea of a feature length hour documentary, but due to different challenges faced, they decided to "become part of the media revolution as artists."  She is telling us about their decision to use webisodes (she chuckles after saying the new word).  

An interesting discussion she makes is the comparison of a webisode to a segment.  

• a news segment goes in gets story and that’s it
• with the webisodes they are trying to work against that
• She is interested in slow media as a filmmaker rather than "fast media" (segments) 

She now is showing us a slide that has a chart titled "Connectors."  The chart shows shows the increase in active website users throughout four months.  She says a layering effect of sharing, offering, gifting and promotion lead to the increase in an interactive dialogue with the community and a growing internet audience.  

To wrap up, she summarizes some of the things she has learned through the project.  She said she has learned simple architecture works best for outline and it is important to recognize that not one size fits all.  

She said she is starting to see the issues the project addresses in a much deeper way.  

In her final concluding mark she says "the viewers are not viewers anymore they are users,."  Her push is to tell people to watch and share, watch and share!  

Make sure you get involved in as many ways as you can!  You can visit the Lunch Love Community website, become a fan of Lunch Love Community on Facebook, and/or see more of Helen and learn about the issues and the project here at FLEFF!  She will be participating in a discussion with Laura Deutch tomorrow at 1:10 in Park 220 and presenting at Cinemapolis on Saturday at noon.   

Blog posting written by Lindsay Harrop, Cinema & Photography '13, FLEFF Intern, McMinnville, Oregon

FLEFF is upon us! We had a terrific kick-off last night with the world premiere of the Finger Lakes Uncorked! webisode series and grand opening gala at the Finger Lakes Wine Center in downtown Ithaca. Since then, I've run into a lot of people on campus asking, "Just what is FLEFF?" Besides AMAZING, here's a quick catch-up on some of what FLEFF is all about:

FLEFF stands for the Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival, but it goes beyond what you'd expect. The documentaries and narrative films shown at the festival all revolve around the idea of how people relate to their environments and how our environments relate to us.

There are films with topics ranging from environmental exploitation (like End:Civ showing at Cinemapolis Friday, April 15 at 9:00pm with director Frank Lopez) to the recent economic breakdown (Fixing the Future showing at Cinemapolis Saturday, April 16 at 4:00pm with director and journalist David Brancaccio). There are also silent films with live musical accompaniment, new media presentations on campus and live music events at Delilah's April 14-16th.

A lot of the artists, musicians and filmmakers associated with FLEFF events will be present at their events to answer questions and interact with the audience - especially students.

The last live FLEFF festival in 2009 attracted over 10,000 people and this year is going to be even BIGGER. Most of the on-campus events are free but if you want to attend a Cinemapolis screening (and I'm sure you do) you can buy a Festival Five Pass for $45 ($35 with college ID) or an individual screening ticket for $9.50 ($8 with college ID).

So what are you waiting for? Check out the schedule of events this week on-campus and downtown at Cinemapolis and see what all the excitement is about!
 

^{Blog posting written by Brian McCormick, Film, Photo & Visual Arts '12, FLEFF Intern, Wilbraham, MA}

What an exciting (and warm!) day to kick off FLEFF 2011!

Today was the premiere of the Uncorked! webisodes at Cinemapolis and the Opening Gala for FLEFF at the Fingers Lakes Wine Center.

I showed up at Cinemapolis around 6:40PM and the theater was PACKED (the premiere scheduled for 7:00PM). There were students, faculty, actors and actresses, members of the community -- a fantastic turn out.

Once there was a "seat" in every seat of the theater, the webseries kicked off with a bang -- the audience was rolling with laughter within a minute. Having personally worked as crew on these webisodes, I was very ecstatic with the warm reception it received. The webseries is certainly a great visual example of the beauty and allure of the Finger Lakes.

After the first five episodes were screened, the cast and crew stood up to do a Q and A with audience, followed by a screening of the remaining four episodes.

I got a real taste of the unique FLEFF experience when supervising director of Uncorked! and Park Productions Carol Jennings announced to the crowd: "This is the only time someone will tell you to do this, but please, take out your cell phones!" By this she meant to get online and go to the webseries' website, and to send that link out to people -- a certain kind of viral, social media approach that we will keep on seeing variants of during this festival.

Following the Uncorked! screening was the FLEFF Opening Gala at the new Wine Center. This was a great hour or two for people to mingle, eat food and drink fine wine. Meanwhile, a large HD monitor set up in the corner of the room projected the number of hits the Finger Lakes Uncorked! website was receiving. I watched as a few children sitting by the screen yelled out the numbers "998 ... 999...1,000!"

Can't wait for tomorrow's events!

Blog was written by Kelsey Greene, Documentary Studies and Production, '13, FLEFF intern, Buffalo, New York

The Lunch Love Community webisodes will be screened on Saturday April 16 at Cinemapolis.  To match the subject of lunch, the event will be held at noon and food will be sold for those hungry just thinking about the topic!  Film director Helen De Michiel is coming all the way from California to take part in discussions about her website and the issues it addresses.  To deepen the discussion, chef and cookbook author Julie Jordan will be present along with Ithaca College public health professor Stewart Auyash.  If you like food and love to take part in intellectual engagement this event is for you!  

Blog post written by Gena Mangiaratti, Journalism ‘13, FLEFF Intern, Feeding Hills, Massachusetts

Film editor Tom Swartwout will be featured in two FLEFF events this week. At 5:25 pm Wednesday, April 13, in Friends 205 (Ithaca College campus), Swartwout will be addressing Professor Tom Shevory’s class about Environmental Documentaries and Persuasive Storytelling. Then at noon on Saturday, April 16, at Cinemapolis, Swartwout will be leading a Feature Film Editing Workshop.

Swartwout has been an editor for director Sidney Lumet, who, sadly, passed away on Saturday at the age of 86.

Recently, Swartwout took the time to speak with me a little about what he will be doing at FLEFF, and also about his work as an editor.

GM: Can you tell me a little about the two FLEFF events you’re involved in?

TS: I have a couple of documentaries that I’ve edited: some that deal directly with climate change, some with green technology, some with restoration of the delta. I’ll be bringing clips to [Dr. Shevory’s] class, and talking about some of the strategies the producers, writers and myself developed in order to try to persuade people that what we had to offer was valuable and worth listening to.

I think it's clear that it's very difficult for people to hear opinions that they don't agree with, and, how [to] persuade someone that your position is valid is tricky in this world. Everyone is remarkably polarized in their position around climate issues and conservation issues.

So when we make these documentaries we're not just speaking to people that agree with us; we're trying to talk to people that maybe don't agree with us, to persuade them that our position is worth listening to. I'll be asking students what strategies they use when they argue, and talking a little bit about strategies that we use and what we think sometimes work.

I’ll be down at Cinemapolis talking about editorial decision-making.

Many decisions that are made while making a film, I consider editorial decisions. They're not all just decisions that an editor makes after everything is shot, but the steps and the process of making a film involve editorial decisions along the way... Then we'll talk about how once those decisions are made, how they end up in the lap of the editor, and how the editor's end is kind of the final filter in the decision-making process.

GM: How can the editing process differ when being done for differing filmmakers?

TS: I’m an editor for Sidney Lumet, and he’s a very traditional filmmaker. So in a sense, how we cover a scene might be classic Hollywood style where we start wide and slowly work your way into close-ups…

If you go to someone like David Fincher, whose not as worried about those things — or Michael Mann or someone like that — where as long as the audience has gone along for the ride they're not as worried about the classic structure of photographing. So the editorial decisions are slightly different in their approach. The end result is hopefully the same, but the process is different.

GM: How did you end up in editing as your career?

TS: Mostly by accident. When I got out of school, I was making my own short and wasn't quite sure how to make a living being a filmmaker.

I had to spend more time editing than I did in production. That's the nature of how that process worked. So when I needed to get a paying job, [I started] a job as an apprentice in a commercial house in New York City. I then slowly worked my way up from apprentice editor to assistant editor, and then got work on a feature film.

I kind of took a step back in title, but it was a step forward in my career. I became an assistant again on features and then from there made my way up.

GM: What are some of the purposes you keep in mind when editing film?

TS: The main purpose of editing is to get the audience to focus at any given moment on something purposeful, something with meaning — I use that loosely, because obviously sometimes you just have to be on a person talking.

But the decisions that we make are all geared toward focusing an audience's attention…

Sometimes it’s very purposeful: You need to see the perspectives well; you need to see the car driving down the road. But sometimes it’s about emotion and humor and using an audience’s personal experiences to inform what they’re seeing, sort of counting on the fact that we all have common experiences that we can rely on when the story is being told.

-----

Save the date!:
5:25-6:40 pm on Wednesday, April 13 in Friends 205, Tom Swartwout will be giving a talk on Environmental Documentaries and Persuasive Storytelling
12 pm on Saturday, April 16, at Cinemapolis, Tom Swartwout will be leading a feature film editing workshop.

Blog posting written by Abby Sophir, Television/Radio '14, FLEFF Intern, St. Louis, Missouri.

Ask yourself: “If your homeland was invaded by aliens who cut down the forests, poisoned the water and air, and contaminated the food supply, would you resist?”

This is the questioned posed by END:CIV, one of the many must-see documentaries airing during FLEFF week. 

Even better, if you’re like me and avoid Friday classes, take advantage of the afternoon and head on over to Park 220 at 2 PM on April 15 for conversation with Franklin Lopez, the director of the film. END: CIV is a fast-paced critique of our culture’s addiction to systematic violence and environmental exploitation. It is based in part on Endgame, a best-selling book by Derrick Jensen. 

You can then catch the movie at 9 PM that night at Cinemapolis. 

For anyone interested in documentary production, environmentalism or politics, this FLEFF lab is a great, intimate opportunity!

Blog posting written by Abby Sophir, Television/Radio '14, FLEFF Intern, St. Louis, Missouri.

Overwhelmed by the number of great films coming to FLEFF? Here are a couple you'll want to be sure to catch!

Good Fortune

Why? 

• Directed by Ithaca College alum Jeremy Levine
• Forces viewers to question international humanitarian efforts: How are massive efforts to alleviate poverty in Africa undermining the very communities they aim to benefit?
• Captures a vibrant Kenyan culture
• Two showings (Sunday, April 17 at 2pm and 9:30pm at Cinemapolis) means twice the opportunity to catch this film!
• Q & A with Jeremy Levine after both showings
• NOTE: Get there early! This film has quite the buzz and will like sell out!

Workshop on Environmental Docs and Persuasive Storytelling-- Wed., April 14 5:25-6:40, Friends 205

Why?

• Presented by Tom Swartwout, a highly-regarded industry professional. His wide-range of experience in feature films, documentaries, televisions, commercials, and music videos provides something for everyone.
• Great learning experience for any Park student or aspiring filmmakers and storytellers
• Offers a break from films without having to miss out on anything!

Blog was written by Kelsey Greene, Documentary Studies and Production, '13, FLEFF intern, Buffalo, New York

As the FLEFF week approaches, my calendar is filling up with events I want to attend.  There will be so many different opportunities to take part in!

If you have been following the intern blog, you may notice several of the interns have written blogs about their top five film choices on campus or down at Cinemapolis.  Since I am studying different forms of documentary and new media in Dr. Zimmerman's class this semester, I have a strong interest in the new media artists who will be visiting.  

To go along with the concepts involved with new media, I do not want to stick to the traditional "top five" list.  Instead, I have chosen four new media artists that I am looking forward to.  I also will not number them because I do not believe I have the right to rank them at this point without attending their presentations or discussions.  

• Helen De Michiel- I am fond of her Lunch Love Community project because I have academic interests in the fields of agriculture, nutrition, and education.
• Laura Deutch- Her project Messages in Motion seems very appealing to me.  I love the notion of teaching youth how to use use film in a positive and productive way.
• Phillip Mallory Jones- Based on his bio, he seems very educated and experience in the new media field.  I believe I could learn a lot from listening to him.  
• Monica Haller- Her project Riley and His Story has an interesting concept and goal.  The intellectual preparation behind her works seem intriguing to me.  

This list is merely a small, categorized sample of the guests I am looking forward to seeing at FLEFF.  I believe every experience I am able to have with the film festival will expand my intellectual horizon.  I cannot wait for the events to begin!  

Blog post written by Brian McCormick, Film, Photo & Visual Arts '12, FLEFF Intern, Wilbraham, MA

With FLEFF almost two weeks away, I'm prepping myself for the films and events that I really want to see. I am especially excited for the wealth of documentaries being showed by internationally recognized filmmakers.

I am drawn to "human documentaries," which focus on human subjects' personal stories in order to speak to a whole, larger truth. Do you have a favorite kind of documentary?

I've focused my top five exclusively on the films being shown downtown at Cinemapolis -- for a larger list of documentaries and other films, make sure to check out our listings.

1) GOOD FORTUNE - a film by Landon Van Soest and Jeremy Levine

I had the privilege of interviewing Van Soest about his film and it sounds phenomenal. In Good Fortune, they explore the negative repercussions of efforts to alleviate poverty in Africa, honing in on the stories of Jackson and Silva who live in Kenya.

This is an extremely controversial subject. We are asked always to send money to these causes, but how do we know where that money is going? And also, is power always inevitably going to corrupt? Do we sacrifice good intentions for the "greater good"?

I think Jackson and Silva have an important story for us to hear.

(Showtimes: Cinemapolis, Sun. April 17 @ 2:00PM w/ Jeremy Levine, and 9:30PM)

2) AGRARIAN UTOPIA - a film by Uruphong Raksasad

The trailer for this film was the first piece of FLEFF that I saw, and I was blown away by the beauty and power in those images. This film shows two families working together on the same farm, trying to get through the season while adjusting to the country's changing economy, politics and society.

This documentary asks, does development and progression always mean increased happiness?

(Showtimes: Cinemapolis, Fri. April 15 @ 7:30PM; Sat. April 16 @ 9:30PM)

3) BUDRUS - a film by Julia Bacha and Ronit Avni

The Israeli village Budrus, with Palestinians and Israelis, Hammas and Fatahs, men and women, unite in non-violent protest against Israel's Separation Border, otherwise known as "the Fence." They are led by local community organizer Ayed Morrar, who brings the people together to save Budrus from destruction.

This is an inspiring story of unification against a common enemy, highlighted by Morrar's 15-year-old daughter Iltezam, who launches a contigent of women that quickly moves to the front lines (father and daughter side-by-side). The film chronicles this movement, which is still continuing today.

As said by a Fatah Party Member in the film: "I felt that, in order to succeed, we had to empty our minds of traditional thinking." This speaks wonderfully to the new environments and new ideas we are looking to explore here at FLEFF.

(Showtimes: Cinemapolis, Thur. April 14 @ 7:10PM; Sat. April 16 @ 9:30PM)

4) PEACEABLE KINGDOM: THE JOURNEY HOME - a film by Jenny Stein and James LaVeck

This documentary takes a hard, powerful look at how farmers are beginning to question traditional practices of handling animals and treating them as commodities. This is a very moving film that will give you the kind "inside look" into a way of life we don't think twice about. I think this is a very important film for us to see.

(Showtimes: Cinemapolis, Thur. April 14 @ 7:00PM; Sat. April 16 @ 9:30PM)

5) LOS HEREDEROS - a film by Eugenio Polgovsky

A look at child labor in rural Mexico, and how it has become a condition passed down from generation to generation. If you watch the trailer, you see it is a continuous cycle of labor: collecting water, shoveling, harvesting, sculpting, and so on. These children inherit these duties and are trapped in this cycle. Is it fair that our duties are determined by birth?

(Showtimes: Cinemapolis, Thur. April 14 @ 9:30PM; Fri. April 15 @ 10:00PM)

Well, there's MY list. I hope you're all looking through the films and finding out what you want to see.

The best part is that we have both the films AND their filmmakers -- any questions you have can be answered the same night you see it. Looking forward to it.

Blog posting written by Lindsay Harrop, Cinema & Photography '13, FLEFF Intern, McMinnville, Oregon

Fellow FLEFF Intern Abby Sophir has already highlighted her Top 5 films to check out on the Ithaca College campus for FLEFF week. For those interested in heading into town, here are five of the films I'm most excited to be seeing at Cinemapolis! 

1: Bastards of Utopia by Maple Razsa: As a politics student, I love learning about areas of international conflicts and the Balkan States are one of my favorite corners of the world. Bastards of Utopia is about three leftist-Croatian-activists who continue to fight for their political views after the collapse of Yugoslavia. As an added bonus, the filmmaker Maple Razsa will be at the 4:00 showing too! (Screening: Sunday, April 17 @ 4:00pm & 9:30pm)

2: The Last Laugh by F.W. Marnau:  Ithaca College's own award-winning pianist John Stetch will be performing live improvised accompaniment to this 1924 silent expressionist film. This is literally a once in a lifetime event that can never be recreated so make sure to be there! (Screening: Friday, April 15 @ 7:00pm)

3: Plunder: The Crime of Our Time by Danny Schecter: We hear about the financial crisis all the time but this film from "the news dissector" Danny Schechter explores the criminal activities that lead to the collapse of the housing market. Plus Danny Schecter will be present at the 2:00 showing on April 16th so it's definitely one to check out! (Screening: Saturday, April 16 @ 2:00pm & 7:30pm; Sunday, April 17 @ 7:30pm)

4: Four Lions by Christopher Morris: If you're in the mood for a narrative film, Four Lions is the story of an incompetent terrorist cell in the UK. It's a black comedy that's garnered a lot of critical attention and one I'm definitely interested to check out as something different from the mainstream. (Screening: Thursday, April 14 @ 9:30pm; Saturday, April 16 @ 4:10pm; Sunday, April 17 @ 7:40pm)

5: Agrarian Utopia by Uruphong Raksasad: Back to the documentaries, this is a gorgeous film from Thailand following two families trying to get through one more season of rice-farming despite facing seizure of their land. This is an important issue we don't often hear about and I'm interested to look at it from a non-American perspective. (Screening: Friday, April 15 @ 7:30pm; Saturday, April 16 @ 9:30pm)

What other films are you guys excited to see?

Blog posting written by Lindsay Harrop, Cinema & Photography '13, FLEFF Intern, McMinnville, Oregon

One of the awesome things about FLEFF is not only that it incorporates so many different visual and artistic styles (from documentaries at Cinemapolis to performing arts to live music at Delilah's), but that there are so many unique people supporting behind the scenes.

I had the opportunity to catch-up with FLEFF intern Jackie Nedorezov and hear about her FLEFF experience thus far. Jackie is a sophomore Cinema & Photography major from Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. She's been able to integrate FLEFF into the Ithaca College campus in her own way. Here's what she had to say:

"On campus, I am the Film’s Chair for Student Activities Board (SAB), which is the second largest organization on campus. In this position, I am responsible for showing the films played on campus every other week.

We recently added a promotional video as previews before each film showing to highlight other areas of our organization. Because a lot of people who come to our films are interested in films, I added a little segment about FLEFF to encourage college students to attend. Hopefully that got the word out there!

In terms of operations for FLEFF, there is far more planning and preparation required for these events than I ever accounted for. I never really thought about how much work goes into getting the rights to book certain films and invite certain performers.

With all the work that goes into this, I know I’m extremely excited to help run this festival smoothly when it comes time in April!"

Thanks for sharing Jackie! Now for everyone else: what are you doing to spread the FLEFF word?
 

Blog posting written by Shawn Steiner, Film and Photography ’14, FLEFF Intern, Elkridge, Maryland

Welcome back to the FLEFF blog! Glad to see you are still checking in!

Today we have some proof of how this festival is truly international. Here at FLEFF, within our group of interns, we have Neli Gacheva. She is a freshman here at Ithaca College who hails from Bulgaria. She’s pretty far from her hometown. But she’s here working with the festival.

Here's Neli describing what her FLEFF experience has been like to date:

February is already over. March is already here. April is just around the corner. Now, FLEFF week is approaching with the speed of light.

My name is Neli Gacheva from Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Currently, I am a freshman Cinema & Photography major at Ithaca College.

A week ago, I was tabling at Cinemapolis as part of my internship at the festival. Sitting at a small table, I had to convince people to come see movies at the festival.

At the interns practica course, they taught us the importance of appealing to a large group of people. Focusing on the pros and cons of tabling and what was at stake if we do not fill the house.

When I first heard about my assignment, I thought it was going to be an easy job. First, because I was going to be talking to people at the cinema, already known moviegoers. Second, because I knew FLEFF was already well known in the area.

However, as it turned out people were not willing to stop for very long. So I had to come up with a strategy to get as much information out as fast as possible. (Shawn: As the other intern that afternoon I can vouch that Neli did an excellent job.) 

But, the people who actually had time to stop by the table demanded to know as much information as possible. (Shawn: Here's some!) Hence, I came to understand the importance of one of the key points always made at the FLEFF practica: “Learn, read and know everything that has to be known in order to be a trustworthy employee and to attract as many people as possible.”

*  *  *  *  *  *

Thank you, Neli,  for sharing your voice. Now, if you see her walking around campus or at Cinemapolis,  ask her about FLEFF. She’s ready.

Finally, check back in at FLEFF INTERNS VOICES as much as possible. All of our interns are working really hard to get the information out. Make sure to buy a pass for the festival!

P.S. If you have a good story idea check out our FLEFF Story Contest! And if you don't: think one up and write it down.

You still have plenty of time for this chance to win $500 dollars!

Blog posting written by Matthew Reis, Cinema and Photography, '13, FLEFF Intern

Hello FLEFF sponsors, participants and guests. My name is Matthew R. Reis. I want to welcome you to the “Intern Voices” blog.

So, a little bit about me:  I am a sophomore Cinema & Photography major with a minor in Art History. I write for “The Ithacan,” Ithaca College’s award winning newspaper. I specialize in reviewing films, art installations, and previewing upcoming plays. I also am involved with Ithaca College Television and the Art History Society here on campus. When I am not working with groups on campus, I enjoy promoting media literacy, following current events, reading, and playing video games on campus.

Getting off campus is even better.

There are some things I really enjoy doing in town. I love going to the movies. Ithaca has a large amount of movie theaters existing in a relatively small area. Cinemapolis the home of FLEFF, Cornell Cinema and Regal Cinemas are all great places to go and enjoy film.

Here are a few more things I like about Ithaca: its acceptance of alternative lifestyles, the wealth of community owned businesses, and an vibrant, engaging art scene.

So why did I want to work with FLEFF?
 
I find that all forms of media have the potential to be more than just commodities a person rents or buys. Media is transformative and can bring small issues to the forefront of today’s complex world.

So the simple answer is this: I became an intern to prove that media can change lives. Additionally, being a part of FLEFF is an exciting experience. So many people from all walks of life, in places all around the world, are effected by what takes place at FLEFF.

I am honored and proud to be a small part of this festival's continued growth and success.

When I applied to be a FLEFF intern, I had two goals: to learn more about the nuts-and-bolts of the film industry and to network.

I met both of these goals in just over a month--and discovered new goals to strive for. 

The vast array of networking opportunities available to interns is another substantial perk of FLEFF. So far, I have met and talked to a variety of artists, including documentary filmmaker Albert Maysles and emerging media artist/college professor Evan Meaney, a 2007 IC graduate. 

Plus: I enjoy collaborating with my fellow interns and working together towards a much better future.

Ithaca and the greater Central New York region are lucky to have a plethora of artists, activists, and hard working people contributing FLEFF. Without these people, FLEFF would have a decidedly weaker foundation. And, my college experience would be much less fulfilling.

Along with fellow interns, I have already helped with FLEFF’s ad campaign. On February 6, 2011, also known as Super Bowl Sunday, we held our first event. We managed to sell out a screening of Gimme Shelter. Mr. Maysles, one of the directors of the film, was on hand to answer any questions the audience had about his 41-year-old classic. Hopefully, this strong start will carry over into FLEFF week.

It only takes one person to go to a festival and come away with a variety of new ideas, opinions, and stories to share.

So why not come out to Ithaca, New York in April and experience FLEEF, a different environment for yourself?

Just be sure to dress warmly.

Blog posting written by Shawn Steiner, Film and Photography ’14, FLEFF Blogger, Elkridge, Maryland

Welcome to the Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival! I’m Shawn Steiner and I am among the interns who will be bringing you the scoops, behind-the-scenes, profiles, and Q & A’s throughout the festival. I hope you will be joining us here and at Cinemapolis during these fun times.

Here at Ithaca College I am a first-year student majoring in Film and Photography with a minor in Writing. It’s a pretty far distance from my home in Elkridge, Maryland, but believe it or not I love the weather up north. Also, the school itself is fun! I am fortunate enough to be using 4x5 view cameras, a 16mm Bolex, and spend hours in the darkroom with my film. It’s amazing. Also, I'm able to work on ICTV shows such as Panorama and go out and shoot profiles of interesting events and people.

Things like FLEFF are adding to my love of Ithaca. Through these events I have had the opportunity to see and talk to numerous people I never would have seen otherwise. Just a couple weeks ago I saw Albert Maysles and his documentary Gimme Shelter at a sold out screening at Cinemapolis as the opening event of FLEFF and it was amazing.

As a film and photography major seeing all these films and people has been just a great opportunity to learn. Which I believe ties greatly into the idea of FLEFF.

FLEFF is an environmental film festival, “a different environment” from other types of festivals. It is here to teach as we are here to learn. And there is always something that we can learn from others.

We aim to bring together as many people from as many different backgrounds to do as many different activities as possible. I was surprised to hear that there were so many new media artists, musicians, and others along with the filmmakers coming to the event as well. Even that one of our partners is a venue for music, Delilah's on Cayuga.

This is one huge experience everyone should learn from because the environment isn’t just the trees outside. It includes society, the people, the arts, and all the other happenings of the world. But perhaps most importantly with this festival, we are to have fun.

I’m having a lot of fun so far, so why don’t you come join us? FLEFF isn’t just a week in April, it has already begun.