N.H. Film Festival previews 'best ever' program | SeacoastOnline.com

N.H. Film Festival previews 'best ever' program | SeacoastOnline.com




By Gina Carbone
gina_carbone@comcast.net
October 02, 2009 2:00 AM

PORTSMOUTH — The New Hampshire Film Festival is like Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon.




Everyone involved seems to have five different roles on 10 different films, many shot by friends and colleagues on the Seacoast.
Several of those filmmakers and organizers gathered Thursday night at The Page for the NHFF Media Party.

The NHFF started as a "film expo" in Derry with around 70 film submissions and a program of roughly 50 films. Now it's entering its ninth year with more than 700 submissions from around the world and a program of 80 films from Oct. 15-18 in downtown Portsmouth.

"It's the best ever. The deepest ever," said Zac Gregg, festival finance director. "Some years it's been hard to fill the program. This year, it was hard to say no to a lot of people."

Headlining films this year include "Serious Moonlight" with Meg Ryan, Kristen Bell, Justin Long and Timothy Hutton; "Paper Heart," featuring Michael Cera of "Juno" and "Arrested Development"; and "Mystery Team," a comedy shot in New Hampshire from Manchester filmmaker Dan Eckman.

Some bold-faced names acting behind the scenes include George Clooney and Steven Soderbergh, executive producers of the documentary "Playground"; and Morgan Freeman, executive producer of the documentaries "Delta Rising" and "Prom Night in Mississippi."

The festival will include around 30 New Hampshire films, with several shot at least partially in Portsmouth. Some of those hyper-local films include "Crooked Lane," "Ear Whacks," "Killing Dinner," "Drawing from Life," "Tweet" and "Mito-Kids."

Ann Cusack — sister of actors John and Joan Cusack and one of the stars of "Crooked Lane" — will be in attendance and serve on the Grand Jury.

NHFF Executive Director Nicole Gregg said the quality of the festival "improves exponentially every year."

"In addition to the headliners and probably our most accomplished New Hampshire Night ever, we have the most consistent program all the way through," she said. "Our most proud program through and through."

And there are new venues this year in which to showcase the films: Seacoast Repertory Theatre and the Moffatt-Ladd House have been added as screening locations.

"Part of the festival is to highlight Portsmouth," Nicole Gregg said. "It's really rounding out the program nicely."

Because the festival has reached out on a global level — with more than a dozen countries represented — Gregg said filmmakers are flying in from all over the world and putting themselves up in local hotels to attend the festival.

"Close to 90 percent of the films will be represented by filmmakers," she said.

On Thursday, at least 50 area filmmakers and supporters drank, talked and watched the debut of the 2009 NHFF trailer.

Among those mingling were City Manager John Bohenko; Marc Dole, writer/director/producer of "Mito-Kids," co-writer/director and actor in "Tweet," executive producer of "Ear Whacks" and producer of "Drawing from Life"; Alfred Thomas Catalfo, writer/director/producer and actor in "Ear Whacks"; Mark Constance, producer of "Killing Dinner" and executive producer of "Crooked Lane"; and Chase Bailey, who acted in "Ear Whacks," "Tweet" and "Killing Dinner," was an associate producer on "Mito-Kids," an executive producer on "Killing Dinner" and the Keira Knightley film "The Continuing and Lamentable Saga of the Suicide Brothers," and wrote/directed/edited "Crooked Lane," starring Brett Cullen and Ann Cusack.

Cullen, whom fans may recognize from "Lost" and "Apollo 13," has featured roles in three NHFF films: "Crooked Lane," "Killing Dinner" and "The Burning Plain."

Cullen also co-starred in "The Life Before Her Eyes," which played at the festival last year and which was co-produced by Bailey. The two are both starring in "Killing Dinner."

In addition to executive producing the Keira Knightley film showing on N.H. Night, Bailey was also an executive producer on the 2004 Johnny Depp film "The Libertine."

Bailey has been a supporter of the NHFF for years — serving on the Grand Jury at one point and currently a member of the Board of Directors, along with Constance and Dole. He spent Thursday night chatting with local peers.

"This is my hometown," Bailey said. "I love it. And it's so well run."

Of the films he's not involved in, he's most looking forward to: "Mystery Team" ("I've heard nothing but great reviews about it"), "The Burning Plain" ("I really want to see that") and the documentary "Food, Inc.," which will include an appearance by Stonyfield Yogurt CE-Yo Gary Hirshberg.

One of the strengths of the festival is its small-town location, and Bailey hopes it keeps that appeal while also continuing to grow in quality.

"I want it to be the East Coast Sundance," Bailey said. "It's got a lot of years (to get there), but it could."

MITO-KIDS: to premiere at the 25th annual Boston Film Festival

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MITO-KIDS: DOCUMENTING LIFE to premiere at the 25th annual Boston Film Festival

Boston, MA (Sept 15, 2009) The documentary film Mito-Kids will premiere on Sunday, September 20th at the 25th Annual Boston Film Festival. The film will play as part of a block of medical related documentaries covering Autism, Alzheimer's Disease and stem cell research. The festival is open to the general public and festival organizers will be extending a special invitation to the Boston medical and medical research communities.

Mito-Kids is about the struggles, triumphs and everyday life of a family in which four teenage sisters have grown up with disabilities that stem from mitochondrial disease, a chronic, genetic disorder that occurs when the mitochondria of the cell fail to function properly. Marc Dole is the father of these four special young women and the film’s director. Marc’s children face challenges that include seizures, deafness, diabetes, immune disorders and severe learning and developmental disabilities. Yet despite these many challenges, Mito-Kids is an inspirational and relatable film about perseverance and family.

"I am very proud that our premiere will be in Boston because our family's search for answers about mitochondria started at Childrens Hospital in Boston over 15 years ago." said filmmaker and father Marc Dole.


As a father and a filmmaker, Marc has shot close to 100 hours of home video, beginning with the birth of his first daughter 19 years ago. The story starts before mitochondrial conditions were even a mention at medical conferences, let alone an area of genetic study. Mito-Kids follows the family through holidays and family vacations, seizures and hospital stays. Interviews with medical experts explain the role of mitochondria in producing cellular energy and reveal what happens to the human body when these cellular powerhouses fail. The incidence of mitochondrial disease is estimated at 1:3000-4000 individuals in the US and yet the disease is relatively unheard of in the public sector and poorly understood in the medical community. Mito-Kids aims to increase the understanding of mitochondrial disease and its connection to epilepsy, diabetes, ALS, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Heart Disease and many other neurological disorders.

The screening of the film will take place September 20th at 11am at the Kendall Square Cinema along with the medical documentaries Hope Deferred, The Sundowners, and A Vision of Wholeness.

About Filmmakers

Marc Dole, Producer/Director/Father of 4 daughters with mitochondrial disease. Marc is the owner and founder of the award winning Hatchling Studios, an alumni member of the New Hampshire Film Commission, Speaker, Panelist and Filmmaker. His films, including Tweet, The Toll, Endurance Challenge, and The Norman Rockwell Code, have screened at over 100 film festivals, with 14 “best of” awards.

Karlina Lyons, Producer. Karlina has more than 15 years of experience working in international and domestic media production, focusing on producing educational content for children and families. From 1998 until 2005 she worked in the International Production Division of Sesame Workshop. She is currently a consulting producer for the Cambodian Educational Media Initiative (CEMI), a partnership between WGBH and the global NGO World Education.
www.Mito-Kids.com

About Boston Film Festival

The 2009 Boston Film Festival celebrates a Landmark year with a distinct program of films on September 18-24 at the Kendall Square Cinema. A schedule of feature films, documentaries and shorts will be presented at the 25th festival. Filmmakers, actors and supporters have the opportunity to network at various events hosted by Boston’s signature restaurants throughout the week. A variety of awards are given annually. As the origin of many illustrious storytellers, the region provides an idyllic setting to experience a festival of motion pictures. The BFF is "quickly finding its place alongside the great film festivals of America." The BFF has premiered 25 years of remarkable films such as; American Beauty, North Country, The Piano, Reservoir Dogs, Jesus Camp, The Ground Truth, Flash of Genius, Grace is Gone, Trade and many others. Additionally, a vast list of directors and talent have participated at the festival including; Greg Kinnear, George Clooney, Dane Cook, Sam Mendes, Sir Ridley Scott, Jerry Weintraub, Alison Eastwood, Robin Tunney, and many more. The Boston Film Festival is dedicated to supporting evolving filmmakers by providing a forum to showcase their artistic vision.
http://www.bostonfilmfestival.org

Press contact:
Karlina Lyons
mitokids@gmail.com
www.Mito-Kids.com

California Wine trips and some films too

In the past month I have been very fourtunate to have had business twice in Califonia's wine country.  My trips covered Napa, Sonoma, and Lodi.

The main thing I learned, which many wine lovers probably already know is that the wineries keep the good stuff for themselves. Even the best wineries send their lesser wines to the stores.

I toured at least 4 wineries in each county and I has only ever tried wines from no more than 2 of them, either they don't distribute outside of their own wine club or just not in the places I frequent.

I was amazed that my favorite winery was not in Napa or Sonoma but in Lodi. The Lucas Winery is a very small wine

ry with huge attention to detail and they sell 90% of what they make to their wine club. I would encourage anyone who loves finely crafted wine to visit there, not only for the taste but the prices are amazing for the quality.

I was in Sonoma for 2 days touring because of "The Toll" was in their film festival. And at the recommendation of a friend at the Tiburon Film Fest we started the day with Bubbles at Gloria Ferrer. We stuck to the bubblly and some chocolate for my dad. We sat out on the patio and looked over the vineyard and it was a great start to the da

y. Maybe too quick for Wanda because the bubbles went right to her head. Oops wrong time of he day to get her tipsy. Later that night we were accross the street at the Jacuzzi Winery who threw a great opening party and Wanda was a knockout in her black dress ( I wasnt the only guy starring at her).   We came back the next day for a great and economical tasting and left with a case of wine a club membership and a few tasty bottles of olive oil.
Benziger had the best tour by far ( bought a case of some real quality stuff and signed up for 6 bottles quarterly) Pay the extra couple of dollars and taste in the private room and do the tour that includes tasting in the caves we were only the 2nd tour allowed in the caves and while it was an extra $30 each it was a blast. Arrowhead (bought 1 very nice bottle) and Imagery were very good Mayo was a great surprise and I totally reccomend their pairing restaurant which is located north of the wineries store. I bought a case of heir Pinot Noor that as on sale for $13 a bottle. We didn't make it up to Wattle Creek but did their tasting in Ghiradelli square and they were a great value and taste. (bought a case and signed up for 4 cases within a year)
The biggest disappontment unfortunately came from Kenwood. They were a sponsor of the festival and each day i avoided Their festival tent because the wines wee outside in the sun. Well at the closing party they were the only wine in site and I said what the heck be went for their reserve ( Pinot or Syrah I forget ) I only had 2 glasses and got 1 headache, not good!

I was going to save the Napa trip for anothertime when I had more time. But I called my favorite winery that my brother in-law Derek enjoys and the could fit us in. A huge difference in Lodi to Napa is you need to schedule a tasting to get into the good places.

We decided to take the 35 minute over the mountains instead of the 1 hour trip around them ( well thats the at the GPS read at least ) mullholland drive in LA has NOTHING on the curves and steep dropoffs seen on this shortcut thru the mountain, its not a trek for the faint of heart an especially the buzzed driver!!!

We arrived at Honig Cellars 30 minutes early so we ventured back to the main road and tried Elizabeth Spencer, now I am not saying the wine was vinegary or had a bad nose and ugly body but it was the first place I elected to spit or dump any extra in the glass. We didn't even finish the tasting choices. We headed back to Honig just in time to restore my faith in Napa Valley. Honig was a very small tasting area that was off the beaten path. The parking area had huge rosemary bushes and I think even speariment you knew walking in that this was not a tourist trap, there should have been a sign along the quarter mile driveway that read quality wine ahead. Kelley guided us through a very relaxing tasting with great conversation and a reccomendation for a great dinner place in up the street ( Market, we all loved this place dispite a few mixed reviews on Yelp ) Honig was the first place we bought a magnum, I ask Wanda for it to celebrate my 40th in a few (couple) years. This place was not cheap but it was all delicious. Along with an order for a pretty decent wine club I left with a hat that reads "friends don't let friends drink chardonnay"

The next day I returned to Napa to visit the local Mac dealer ( Napa 1 ) and stopped in at V Sattui winery. I mailmy stopped because I finally saw a sign that matched more than just cheddar cheese with wine. I was delitefully surprised with an extremely drinkable rose "Gamay Rouge" which will be my new hot summer afternoon refresher.

I signed up for more wine to be delivered and wine clubs than just 2 of us can enjoy so I think we will host a few parties.

I will be adding reviews of each place to my yelp page soon

Very happy to have a designated driver! Thanks Mom!

and please forgive spelling and grammar this was my first post from an iPhone and i suffer from fat thumb syndrome.

The Toll screens at Tiburon

I try and use my cameraphone to videotape the screenings of the films I make. This proved very helpful the first few months of "The Toll" because we re-edited the open and re-timed a few other edits to allow for the laughs to play thru. W.C. Fields was a master at the re-edit to allow for comic timing.