At VIFF’s Opening Night Gala, badge holders can mingle with filmmakers, and its Saturday Night Soiree features live music, street food, and a beer/wine garden. In addition, the VIFF two seminars/lectures will be led by industry professionals.
“From Script to Screen: The Evolution of an Edit” will be presented by born and bred on Vashon Island, director Anthony O’Brien who explores the significant metamorphosis a film undergoes before it is presented to audiences. Drawing from real-life experience while filming his epic western, The Timber, O’Brien deconstructs what can go right and wrong during each stage of film production and how to navigate the middle ground between.
“An Introduction to the Motion Picture Industry” will be presented by VFI President and veteran film producer Mark Mathias Sayre. It is a crash course in the business of filmmaking designed for any layperson who has ever wondered: “What does a film producer actually do?” Covering development through distribution, film fans and future filmmakers are offered an insider’s look behind the magic of the movies.
“As we meet our goals at VIFF, we hope to expand the ancillary events offered during future festivals,” says Sayre. “In addition to celebrating independent cinema, we hope VIFF can educate and empower. The best-case scenario is that our program helps motivate the creation of more art.”
Festival registration is open to the public with three tiers of badges available for purchase through VIFF’s website: a three-film, a six-film, and a ten-film package for the most dutiful cinephiles. In addition, patrons can purchase single day-of screening tickets if there are not enough badge holders to fill the theater capacity.
“Our motto is that we’re ‘putting the independent back in film festival.’ Whether good or bad, many festivals have moved away from showcasing independent films, instead preferring content produced and/or distributed by major studios or streamers,” says Sayre. “Our goal is to focus on programming a high-quality line-up of indeed independently produced films. We also think our visiting guests and patrons will find something residents already know: the island is one-of-a-kind. In addition, Vashon is one of the most beautiful settings in the country, if not the world.
Visit vashonislandfilmfestival.com to learn more about films or email vashonfilmfest@gmail.com
