Woodstock Film Festival announces 25th anniversary lineup

WOODSTOCK, N.Y. (NEWS10)-- The Woodstock Film Festival, celebrating 25 years, has announced its main lineup for films to screen and the directors, actors, actresses and the supermodels that will be in attendance. The festival will run from Oct. 15 to Oct. 20 at venues in Woodstock, Rosendale, Kingston and Saugerties.

More than two decades since the start of the festival, the mission is still the same. The festival showcases films from all over the world, hosts emerging and established movie professionals, presents concerts, talks, workshops and paves the way for local filmmaking.

The 2024 festival will include movie showings, panel discussions and will honor the best-of-the-best in an award ceremony. This year's Honorary Maverick Award will be presented to writer and director Paul Schrader, best known for his work on "Taxi Driver," "Raging Bull," and "Bringing Out the Dead."

The Trailblazer Award will be awarded to producer Ira Deutchman and the Art of Activism Award will be given to two filmmakers and human rights activists. This festival will be the third year that winning short films for Best Short Narrative, Best Animated Short and Best Short Documentary categories will automatically be eligible to be nominated for an Academy Award.

"On this 25th anniversary of the film festival, and at this pivotal time in our nation and the world, I’m thrilled to welcome the many talented filmmakers who will be arriving from near and far to attend with their extraordinary work," Meira Blaustein, Woodstock Film Festival co-founder and executive director said. "Their diverse voices shine a light on the complex fabric of our lives, and their gathering here will once again bring storytellers of all stripes together in celebration of creativity, innovation, and the fierce independent spirit."

Festivities:

Panel Discussions:

• The Future of Documentary, sponsored by Netflix
  • With Sandi DuBowski, Yance Ford, Benjamin Ree, and Barbara Kopple moderated by Jessica Edwards.
  • Amidst the softest distribution market in decades, at the peak of its popularity, documentary filmmaking has reached an inflection point. In this wide-ranging conversation with some of the most prolific filmmakers in the industry, we take a “bird's-eye” view of the challenges and opportunities. Addressing audience engagement and career sustainability while contextualizing our current climate in broader documentary history, the panel discusses how docs will survive and thrive into the future.
• State of the Industry and How to Break into It, co-presented by Chronogram
  • With William Horberg, Blair Breard and Gill Holland moderated by Chronogram’s editorial director Brian Mahoney.
  • Join a group of accomplished veteran filmmakers as they discuss the state of the film industry today, and the projects they are currently working on. Some of the in-depth conversation will focus on the why and how their recent projects were getting done – from concept and funding, to production, postproduction and distribution. The conversation will also focus on the humble beginnings of the panelists' careers, with an eye toward advising aspiring filmmakers how to get into the film and media industry in today’s ecosystem.
• The Women in the Driver's Seat, co-presented by New York Women in Film and Television
  • With Yvonne Russo, Christine La Monte, Heidi Ewing, Rebecca Miller and Ondi Timoner moderated by NYWIFT’s executive director Cynthia Lopez.
  • Today’s women filmmakers are calling the shots, whether with a movie camera on their shoulder, a pen in their hand, an idea in their head, or a computer and a desk at their feet. In this conversation co-presented by New York Women in Film & Television, meet some of today’s most inspiring filmmakers, all current participating filmmakers or alumni of the Woodstock Film Festival, as they discuss the trajectory of their careers.
• AI and the Creative Process, produced by Janet Grillo
  • With Runway AI Creative Team member Nicolas Neubert, Philip Shane, Kris Lefcoe, and Eunice Lau moderated by Filmmaker Magazine Co-Founder / Editor in Chief Scott Macauley
  • Artificial Intelligence is quickly infiltrating many aspects of society, including the creative arts. To channel wildly imaginative ideas at next to no cost; a dream come true for a DIY indie filmmaker. While the Hollywood industry is already promising to cut costs – meaning jobs, livelihoods and entire careers – by replacing crafts and labor with technology. This lively, candid panel will include the founder of Runway AI, artists who are already using AI to realize their visions, as well as those who forswear it.
• Actors Dialogue: A Conversation with Amanda Seyfried and Jennifer Carpenter
  • With Amanda Seyfried and Jennifer Carpenter.
  • A frank and in-depth conversation with actors Amanda Seyfried and Jennifer Carpenter, focusing on their storied careers and their acting craftsmanship. As successful actors who work separately, but also together (A Mouthful Of Air), the two will discuss teamwork (actors with actors, actors with directors), and share anecdotes from some of their more well-known films. A not-to-be-missed glimpse into the behind the scenes of the career trajectory of award-winning actors.
• Trans Storytelling
  • With Alex Hedison, Noah Schamus and others TBA
  • Trans Storytelling will feature exciting voices in queer cinema whose authentic visions are shaping the perception of trans communities.

World Premieres:

• "Beyond the Gaze: Jule Campbell's Swimsuit Issue" followed by a Q&A with Director Jill Campbell, and supermodels Tyra Banks, Carol Alt and Stacey Williams. Following the Q&A, the audience is invited to a reception at Woodstock Playhouse with the film team.
• "A Life in Rhythm: The Ray Conniff Story" co-presented by BMI followed by Q&A featuring director Jonathan McHugh, producer and Ray Conniff’s daughter Tamara, and Woodstock-based composer David Kitay, moderated by BMI’s Vice President, Creative, Film, TV & Visual Media, Tracy Mcknight. Following the Q&A, the audience will be treated to live orchestral and DJ sets of Ray Conniff’s discography.

Feature Films:

• "Blitz" directed by Oscar®-winning director Steve McQueen
• "A Real Pain" directed by Oscar®-nominee Jesse Eisenberg
• Sean Baker’s "Anora"
• "Emilia Pérez" directed by Jacques Audiard
• "Oh, Canada" by Honorary Maverick recipient Paul Schrader
• "Ernest Cole: Lost and Found" by Raoul Peck
• "The Seed of the Sacred Fig" by Mohammad Rasoulof
• "The End" directed by Joshua Oppenheimer
• "All We Imagine As Light" directed by Payal Kapadia
• "Sabbath Queen" directed by Sandi DuBowski
• "Nightbitch" directed by Marielle Heller
• "The Remarkable Life of Ibelin" directed by Benjamin Ree
• "The Uninvited" directed by Nadia Conners
• "The Piano Lesson" directed by Malcolm Washington
• "The Battle for Laikipia" directed by Daphne Matziaraki and Pete Murimi.

For the full schedule of films and locations, visit the Woodstock Film Festival website. Tickets are currently on sale, for Woodstock Film Festival Deluxe, Weekend passes and Individual tickets at their website. The Box Office opens on Sept. 19.