Nantucket Film Festival

by
Vera Thornton

When: June 18 – 22, 2008
Where: Various locations on Nantucket

An independent film festival on Nantucket in its thirteenth year, this is
a film buff’s dream come true. Four straight days of movies of all
kinds - foreign, documentary, and short films in every genre, including
world and U.S. premiers. Films are selected with an eye for great
storytelling. Screenwriters, filmmakers, actors, film lovers, and
industry veterans gather to promote cultural appreciation for the art
of screenwriting, and celebrate the concept that it is the core of filmmaking. I'm told that

it’s a good mix of islanders and festival people, and the opening night party after the movies feels like a reunion every year. The
list of industry professionals is distinguished, and this year promises lots of celebrity watching along with the film screenings. Filmmaker PeterFarrelly (The Heartbreak Kid,
Shallow Hal, There’s Something about Mary) never misses these festivals. "I've never been to Sundance . . . and never done Cannes," said Farrelly . "But I love coming over to Nantucket. I love it here. I love that audiences can see these films and interact with filmmakers."

The opening night film this year is Transsiberian, co-written by Nantucketer Will Conroy. This action film, a martial arts police drama starring Woody Harrelson and Emily Mortimer, features “lust, murder, Russian cops, and lots of vodka.” Sign me up for this one!

In addition to the film screenings, there are daily featured programs which include

staged readings, where actors read from works-in-progress; the
late-night storytelling event, in which actors, filmmakers, islanders, and writers alike each tell their stories without benefit of notes, hosted by Anne Meara; the morning coffee hour discussion with prominent festival guests, hosted by film critic Leonard Maltin;
panel discussions; and beach screenings.
The beach screenings sound like crowd pleasers – bring a blanket and your dinner and watch free movies on the
beach!

This year Meg Ryan will attend to accept the first annual
Compass Rose Acting Tribute Award, and screenwriter
Judd Apatow, known for The 40-Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up will receive the NBC Universal Screenwriters
Tribute.

Several different tiers of passes are for sale, including the top-of-the-line Patrons Pass, which entitles one to everything that’s happening: all films, special events, parties, and priority ticket selection. The week pass will get you four films a day and one party, and a day pass buys four films.

The Nantucket film Festival is sponsored in part by NBC, Showtime, Comcast, American Airlines, and San Pelligrino.

For more information visit: http://www.nantucketfilmfestival.org
To purchase tickets on-line: https://www.ovationtix.com/trs/store/2071
If you need assistance placing your order, call OvationTix customer service
toll-free: 1-(866)-811-4111

Photo Credits:
All photos courtesy of The Nantucket Film Festival.