Movie Mania Reigns at the Hampton International Film Festival
by Evelyn J. Mocbeichel

Every October movie buffs have an opportunity to enjoy the latest releases the film industry has to offer by coming out to this cinematic experience. The 15th annual Hampton International Film Festival (HIFF) is five days long and features premieres, screenings, panel discussions, “conversations with” and events designed to entertain, awe and educate the thousands of fans that flock to the Hamptons. This festival was founded to celebrate independent and international films as well as “spotlight” films already scheduled for commercial release. Film choices include documentaries, foreign language films, conflict and resolution films, shorts, student films and youth media programs. An added bonus is the long list of celebrity attendees that join the panel discussions or movie screenings. After some movies, there is a question and answer session with those that made the film. It might be the director, author, producer or one of the stars there to meet the audience. The filmmakers are ready to answer any questions raised about the movie just shown. With 109 movies this year, there was certainly a variety of topics to interest and appeal to a wide range of audience tastes! Before selecting a film, guests can read a brief description of each movie in the official guide that gives a summary to help viewers decide which films they want to attend. The only problem is narrowing the choices. So many films to pick from, so little time…

This year’s HIFF event was as spectacular as ones in the past. The beautiful fall weather finally appeared after one day of dreary, rainy weather. Then it was more pleasurable to stroll along the avenues and browse the shops and boutiques between showings. The unusually warm temperatures felt more like late August rather than mid October. Autumn out on the East End is a magnificent time of year and the perfect way to have a mini getaway, enjoy the fine dining and see some of the most talked about and entertaining movies being released. Many of the guests came for a few days and others were close enough to take a day trip in from other parts of Long Island or the city. Restaurants were busy with patrons catching a quick meal between showings and chatting with nearby diners to inquire about the movies they had seen. Friendly comparisons of notes, praise and positive critiques were easily exchanged across tables or waiting in theatre seats before the house lights dimmed.

We had the pleasure of attending an unbelievable four or five movies a day. Weeks before the festival, a schedule was calculated that allowed us enough time between selections for a bite to eat and to regroup between showings. Moviegoers have the option of selecting the movies they want to see by way of the internet or by calling the HIFF box office weeks ahead of the opening date. Some guests just came out and attended what was available or waited on the “rush line” for last minute seating. HIFF planners thought of everything and getting from the various theaters was made possible by a complimentary shuttle bus via the Hampton Jitney. Theaters were located throughout the Hamptons and convenient pick up and drop off locations were easy for guests to maneuver. The Montauk Sun was grateful to have had the assistance of Springer Associates Public Relations firm to help with movie selections and arrangements for press coverage. Thanks to Gary Springer’s staff, consisting of D’Arcy Drollinger, Ethnee Lea and Yvette for the invaluable help and assistance they provided over the five days they were at the Press Office. Compliments also to The Hunting Inn/Palm Restaurant for the area they provided for the Hampton location press office. Being centrally located made it much easier to keep up with the latest schedule changes and events. At the culmination of the festival, the final day features the winning films of the five-day event. Golden Starfish Awards and Audience favorites are announced and these features are shown to viewers in specially prearranged presentations. Attending the HIFF movie marathon can become an obsession. As one theatergoer expressed with a smile on her face, it is an “an adrenaline rush” that only increases each time you encounter an extraordinary film. You just cannot wait to go into the next movie to continue the experience.

Some of our favorites during the five-day festival ranged from the light hearted, romantic “ELVIS AND ANABELLE”, which was in the Golden Starfish Award Narrative. In its East Coast Premiere, directed by Will Geiger and starring Blake Lively and Max Minghella, this is a story about Elvis, a mortician that works in his family’s funeral parlor. Anabelle is a beauty queen who has dropped dead. An innocent kiss brings the corpse back to life, and romance ensues for Elvis and Anabelle. On a very different level, a powerful documentary, “To Die in Jerusalem” made its debut in the Conflict & Resolution Competition. This was a gripping drama depicting the agony both sides face during the turmoil in the Middle East. Directed by Hilla Medalia, the storyline follows a mother who has lost her teen daughter in a suicide bombing as she meets the parents of her daughter's killer. The bomber was also a teenager, only a year younger than her victim was. Can differences be set aside to grieve? "To Die in Jerusalem" shows us just how hard that can be.

Another foreign film, which was immensely popular, was “Valerie”, directed by Birgit Moller. Winner of the Golden Starfish Best Feature, it received an awards package of over $185,000 of in-kind production services. “Valerie” is a story of a “young woman’s struggle at the margins of society while maintaining her dignity”. Tight story editing, and fine acting by star Agata Buzek, takes the audience along her downhill spiral and makes us sympathize with her desperate plight every step of the way. “The Shell Seekers”, starring world famous actor Vanessa Redgrave, is an ultimate love story that went back in time to trace the life of an older woman and what she endured during the tragic days World War II. Throw in a lost love, greedy siblings fighting over the family fortune and a young orphan that comes to live with the main character, and you find an absorbing film of beauty, intellect and longing. A Hallmark presentation, the quality of this company continues to shine through with this latest production. Known for its focus on family values, look for it to be shown on the Hallmark network in the near future. On the last day of the festival, we had the pleasure of seeing one of the most moving and beautiful filmed movies we have seen in a long time. Scheduled for commercial release this November, “August Rush”, is not to be missed. Music plays a vital part in every movie, but in this case, it is equally as significant as the story, acting and script itself. Starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Keri Russell, this is a story about a young orphan and his quest to find his mother that he thinks is still alive. Both parents were musically gifted, a cellist and young Irish guitarist, and is that a coincidence the young boy “hears” music in every part of his life? Music Director, Anastasia Brown, has provided heart wrenching, encompassing music that leaves the audience in awe as they are swept away by every frame of music that sets the tone. Be sure to catch this one when it comes to New York for its premiere! Television trailers have already started to herald its arrival.

Information: To learn more about the films featured in this year’s HIFF or to read the list of winners for the 2007 Hampton International Film Festival, visit their website at www.hamptonsfilmfest.org Be sure to put this website in your “favorites” and check back early spring for dates and entries for the 2008 festival. Mark your calendar and plan to be there for a wonderful cinematic event that you will be talking about for a long time afterwards!