The Woodstock Film Festival is an American film festival that was launched in 2000 by filmmakers Meira Blaustein and Laurent Rejto with the goal to bring high quality independent film to the Hudson Valley region. The festival takes place each fall in the towns of Woodstock, Rosendale, Rhinebeck, Saugerties and Kingston, in the height of fall foliage. The Woodstock Film Festival is a not-for-profit, 501 organization. Their sister organization, the Hudson Valley Film Commission, promotes sustainable economic development by attracting and supporting film, video, and media production.
History
With offices located in the heart of Woodstock, NY, the first fiercely independent inaugural festival ran September 21–24, 2000. It included workshops, documentaries, concerts and films from all over the world. Speakers at the inaugural festival's workshops included actor Aidan Quinn, documentary filmmakers Albert Maysles, Barbara Kopple and D. A. Pennebaker, filmmaker Les Blank and Ron Nyswaner, who wrote the screenplay for Philadelphia. The second annual event was held despite falling only nine days after the terrorists attacks of September 11, 2001, despite some initial concerns. The festival's co-founder, Meira Blaustein said of the decision not to postpone the festival, "This is such an incredible event, so many dreams are realized here – it must continue," and noted that the event was dedicated to "the men, women and children who lost their lives in the September 11 tragedies." Now in its 10th year, the Woodstock Film Festival has garnered the praise of the film industry and is noted as being "one of the top 50 film festivals in the world." Programming approximately 125 films, concerts, panels and parties each year, WFF draws films from the far reaches of Siberia and Kazakhstan to locally shot films right in the Hudson Valley, NY. With categories of programming such as; shorts, animation, music videos, focus on music, exposure, world cinema and Hudson Valley films. The 2019 Woodstock Film Festival took place from October 2–6, 2019.
The Woodstock Film Festival is a competitive festival that offers cash and in-kind prizes in a variety of categories. The festival's "Maverick Awards," held the Saturday night of the festival are given for:
The Honorary Maverick Award is given each year to a fixture in the world of film, typically veteran directors, actors or industry professionals who have left their permanent mark on entertainment. Past recipients have included: Director of Theater and Film Julie Taymor, Actress Susan Sarandon, Director Alejandro Gonzālez Iñárritu, Director Atom Egoyan, Director Darren Aronofsky, Director Peter Bogdanovich, Director Jonathan Demme, Director Tony Kaye, Director Bruce Beresford, Director Richard Linklater, Comedian, Director Kevin Smith, Producer Christine Vachon, Filmmaker Barbara Kopple, Actor Steve Buscemi, Director Mira Nair, Actor Woody Harrelson, Actor Tim Robbins, D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus, Filmmaker Les Blank Trailblazer recipients have included professionals in the entertainment industry who have made an impact in their craft. Past recipients have included Robin Bronk CEO of the Creative Coalition, marketing and distribution guru Bob Berney, Ted Hope, James Schamus, Ted Sarandos, Jonathan Sehring, John Sloss. The last award was given out in 2011.
Year-Round Programming
The Woodstock Film Festival continues the spread of independent film year round with film screenings and events like the annual Taste of Woodstock Event. 2018 was the inaugural year of the Woodstock Film Festival's Youth Film Lab. The festival holds a yearly Career Day, focused on bringing direct insight from the film world to aspiring students.
Award Winners 2018
Best Feature Narrative: Wheels
James K. Lyons Award for Editing a Feature Narrative: Unlovable
Best Feature Documentary: The Feeling of Being Watched
James K. Lyons Award for Best Editing of a Feature Documentary: The Feeling of Being Watched
The Haskell Wexler Award for Best Cinematography: Spell
