What a weekend! Thank you to everyone who made BIFF’s Fifth Anniversary year such a great success!
And it doesn't have to end here! Join the REEL FRIENDS and live the BIFF twelve months a year! Starting next month we are back in full swing with monthly screenings and events.
It's been a full year since BIFF 2009! REEL FRIENDS who joined last year and would like to continue recieving invites to screenings and parties this summer and fall renew your membership on biffma.org or by calling 413-528-8030.
This year saw the introduction of BIFF’s annual Juried Prize sponsored by GWFF. The jury was headed by actress Karen Allen, and included actors Scott Cohen and Peter Riegert, past president of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences, Sid Ganis with his producing partner and wife Nancy Hult Ganis, Peter Herbst of the Lincoln Center Film Society Board, Ken Regan of Camera Five, and Award-Winning First Assistant Director and Producer, Mike Haley. The Jury had eight films in competition; four films in the feature documentary category and four in the narrative feature category. In the documentary category were AHEAD OF TIME, CLIMATE REFUGEES, FAMILY AFFAIR, and THE OATH. ATLETU, GAIA, MAD BAD SAD, and MY YEAR WITHOUT SEX were up for best feature. In the documentary category, Robert Richman’s AHEAD OF TIME won the award sponsored by GWFF. Having been to Berlin, Sundance and Toronto Richman described his time at BIFF as “one of my favorite festival experiences…an intimate and supportive atomosphere.”
Peter Riegert presents Jason Lehel (GAIA) with his award photo by Kevin Sprague
Jason Lehel’s GAIA won the award for best narrative feature. Lehel commented, “I feel very privileged and honored that GAIA received the Jury award for best feature film at this year’s BIFF. This is a very special festival that's living up to its reputation”. He described BIFF’s programmers having “the courage to select diverse films that not only entertain but also challenge the film-goer. This is not just a ‘film makers’ festival, it's a festival that will enrich and educate lovers of art and those who understand and believe in the power and potential of inspirational film making.”
BIFF Board Member Karen Allen and BIFF Director Kelley Vickery congratulate Robert Richman and producer Zeva Oelbaum (AHEAD OF TIME) photo by Kevin Sprague
The annual Best of Fest Audience Award in the documentary category, went to PEACEABLE KINGDOM directed by Jenny Stein, a touching portrait of five animal farmers struggling with the ethical tensions inherent in their way of life. Rasselas Lakew and Davey Frankel’s ATLETU won in the narrative category, a film which tells the story of the Ethiopian sports legend Abebe Bikila.
The winner of the Berkshire Bank “Next Great Filmmaker Award” was Dennis Connors’ short film BREAKING BOUNDARIES: THE ART OF ALEX MASKET.
photo by Kevin Sprague
BIFF Board Members and Opening Night Sponsors Al and Jacqueline Togut photo by Kevin Sprague
Berkshire Bank's Fedelina Madrid, Mark Pedrotti, and Mark Tomasi photo by Kevin Sprague
Highlights of the 4 day festival include the Opening Night Presentation of the documentary JOAN RIVERS: A PIECE OF WORK. The film was greatly received by a packed house at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, who enjoyed a wonderful Q&A afterwards with directors Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg.
 Directors Annie Sundberg (left) and Ricki Stern photo by Kevin Sprague
BIFF Director Kelley Vickery and Jacob's Pillow Director Ella Baff present Marge Champion with the Lifetime Achievement Award photo by Kevin Sprague
Elizabeth Aspenlieder with Studio Two's Kevin Sprague and Berkshire Living's Creative Director Mary Garnish
Opening Night Q&A with ATLETU directors Davey Frankel (left) and Rasselas Lakew photo by Scott Barrow
Friday evening BIFF opened in Pittsfield with ATLETU. The evening kicked off with a cocktail party at Ferrin Gallery catered by Mission. Later, the sold-out Beacon Cinema theater was treated to a Q&A with the star and co-director Rasselas Lakew along with his directing partner Davey Frankel.
Atletu Directors Rasselas Lakew (left) and Davey Frankel pose on either side of John Valente of the Beacon and Triplex Cinemas and BIFF Executive Assistant Lauren Ferin at the Pittsfield Opening Night Party at Ferrin Gallery on North Street photo by Scott Barrow
From left: Peter Hedges, Lauren Ambrose, 2010 BIFF Honoree Patricia Clarkson, Ruba Nadda, and Chris Noth photo by Kevin Sprague
That evening in Great Barrington, the Mahaiwe was yet again filled for the Patricia Clarkson Tribute and the presentation of Ruba Nadda’s film CAIRO TIME. The speakers were Ruba Nadda, long-time friend and actor Chris Noth, actor Lauren Ambrose who worked with Ms. Clarkson on Six Feet Under, and director Peter Hedges whose film PIECES OF APRIL won Ms. Clarkson an academy award nomination.
Fifth Anniversary Committee Member Gundula Brattke, 2010 BIFF Honoree Patricia Clarkson, and BIFF Board Member and Tribute Evening Sponsor Ronald Frohne photo by Kevin Sprague
BIFF Board Member Dan Mathieu of Max Ultimate Food, 2010 BIFF Honoree Patricia Clarkson, and BIFF Director Kelley Vickery photo by Kevin Sprague
Great Barrington Town Manager Kevin O'Donnell with BIFF director Kelley Vickery and CLIMATE REFUGEES director Michael Nash photo by Kevin Sprague
2010 BIFF Honoree Patricia Clarkson accepts her award photo by Kevin Sprague
BIFF Director Kelley Vickery with CAIRO TIME producer Daniel Iron, director Ruba Nadda, 2010 BIFF Honoree Patricia Clarkson, Fadia Nadda, and Festival Programmer Lillian Lennox photo by Kevin Sprague
Screening 75 features, documentaries, and shorts, BIFF also offered free children’s programs, Berkshire filmmakers, the BIFF annual collaboration with Jacobs Pillow, BIFF’s collaboration with Berkshire Grown, the annual award ceremony for the Berkshire Student Film Festival, and parties in the Old Great Barrington Firehouse and throughout downtown Great Barrington and Pittsfield.
BIFF would not have been possible without the integral support of certain individuals and groups. We give special thanks to:
Ronald Frohne and GWFF for the underwriting of the Tribute Evening Gala
Al and Jacqueline Togut for the underwriting of the BIFF Opening Night Gala and REEL FRIENDS Party
Berkshire Bank for the underwriting of the Academy Awards Party and the “Next Great Filmmaker” Competition
Karen Allen for the underwriting of the BIFF flags and banners
Fern Portnoy and Roger Goldman for the underwriting of the floral décor
Richard Stanley and the Triplex and Beacon Cinemas
Kevin Stanley and Studio Two
Micheal Zivyak and Berkshire Living
Dan Mathieu and Max Ultimate Food
Nancy Fitzpatrick and the Red Lion Inn
Medoff Inc
Berkshire Mountain Distillers
Stella Artois
Stonover Farm
Kwik print
Oyster Bay
Blantyre
Crocus Hale Flowers
The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center
Abbott’s
Nestle
Domaney’s
David Carlino & Sons
William Caligari
Blue Q
Barrington Coffee Roasting Company
Anne McLaughlin
The BIFF Fifth Anniversary Committee
Kevin O’Donnell, Great Barrington Town Manager
and our incredible volunteer corps!
BIFF 2011 will be held June 2-5, and submissions will open October 1, 2010!
For those who missed out on Opening Night....
About BIFFThe 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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