The BIFF has been busy this year! With our new film society, the REEL FRIENDS in full swing and the addition of our young professionals group, the BIFF BFFs underway we have had some great events this past fall and look forward to upcoming screenings and fun this spring.
In October, we kicked off with a sold-out screening of David Brancaccio’s ON THIN ICE, which looks at the impact of global warming on glaciers and the world’s drinking water. WGBY brought along Brancaccio himself who had a lively Q&A after the film (partnered with Hal Clifford, executive editor of Orion Magazine), and enjoyed a private reception at Castle Street Café. 
From left: Host of Now on PBS David Brancaccio and BIFF Director Kelley Vickery (Photo by Bess Hochstein www.besshochstein.com for Ruralintelligence.com)
Later in the month, BIFF traveled to New York City to launch the festival’s fifth season with a preview screening, prior to the national release, of Spike Jonze’s highly anticipated WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE. The evening brought together industry professionals and REEL FRIENDS at the Academy Screening Room at Lighthouse International. The excitement surrounding the film mirrored the BIFF’s as we celebrate our fifth anniversary. As BIFF board member, Al Togut, put it at the pre-show cocktail party, “I got involved because it’s lively, it's happening, it's hip, and it's fun.” 
From left: Actor David Rasche and wife Heather Lupton with Casting Director Ellen Lewis
From left: BIFF Board Member Fern Portnoy, Lighthouse Board Member and Producer of Frozen River Charles Cohen, Writer and Director of Frozen River Courtney Hunt and husband and Producer of Frozen River Donald Harwood with BIFF Director Kelley Vickery and New York President of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences Bud Rosenthal (Photos by Kevin Sprague)
On October 30th the REEL FRIENDS had another opportunity to speak with a director at a private reception held at Napa Restaurant following a nearly sold out screening of Peter Callahan’s AGAINST THE CURRENT starring Joseph Fiennes and Mary Tyler Moore. The film, a compelling and uncompromising exploration of sorrow and loss, follows a man who sets out to swim the entire length of the Hudson River — all 150 miles, from Troy, NY to Manhattan.
THE YES MEN FIX THE WORLD, previously premiered at Sundance and nominated for the coveted Grand Jury Prize, was also a hit at our festival last May, winning the BIFF Audience Award. In November, BIFF partnered with WBCR to bring the celebrated Yes Men to the Berkshires for a screening of their film followed by a Q&A with the writer-director-producer-troublemakers, Andy Bichlbaum and Mike Bonanno. During the evening, which brought out over four hundred people, REEL FRIENDS enjoyed priority seating and an invite to a private reception following the screening at WBCR radio.
On Valentine’s Day, the REEL FRIENDS and BFFs joined us for an exclusive cocktail party and a movie at the Beacon. We watched Garry Marshall’s VALENTINE’S DAY, a star-studded film about the ups and downs of a day in the life of love.
Advisory Board Member Tom Weman, BIFF Board Member Michael Zivyak and wife and Fifth Anniversary Committee Member Lauren Zivyak with REEL FRIENDS Karen Beckwith and Scott Barrow and Kristine Sprague (Photo by Kevin Sprague)
We’re keeping the ball rolling as we head towards spring. The festival and summer will be here before we know it, but in the meantime we’ve got some great things coming up. The BIFF partners with Berkshire Bank to bring you our Academy Awards night bash March 7th which promises glamour and excitement. We plan to take full advantage of the Beacon’s brand new high-tech, all-digital theater, broadcasting the awards live via satellite. Do not miss this red carpet evening that will kick off with a special video appearance by Tom Sherak, President of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences!
(Photo by Kevin Sprague)
In March we are launching what is soon to be a great monthly event, Sunday morning REEL FRIEND/BFF film and brunch at Allium in Great Barrington. Each month REEL FRIENDS and BFFs will be invited to a private screening at 10:30 at the Triplex, and afterwards head over to Allium for a specially priced brunch exclusive for our members. Our first film will show in March, so REEL FRIENDS and BFFs check your emails soon for the invite! Once April rolls around, and spring is in the air, we will all be looking towards summer. Here at the BIFF, we will have our films ready to announce. Haven will host our announcement party on April 15th, and our Star, Director, and Producer REEL FRIENDS will all receive invites. Our events will culminate June 3-6 at the Triplex and the Beacon as we celebrate this “best little film festival’s” fifth anniversary with more visitors, theaters, and films than ever before! During what promises to be a wonderfully hectic festival weekend, we will not forget our film society members, who will all receive invites to a private party thanking the generous support of the REEL FRIENDS. About BIFFMA The Berkshire International Film Festival aims to create a world-class festival as an integral part of the cultural fabric of the Berkshires. BIFF will showcase not only the latest in independent feature, documentary, short, and family films but also lively panel discussions and special events focusing on filmmakers and talented artists from both sides of the camera.
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