Williamstown Film Festival enters 14th year

WILLIAMSTOWN – In its 14 years, the Williamstown Film Festival has grown from its start as a two-day, five-film event.

“We had no idea it was going to go on beyond one year,” said Steve Lawson, WFF executive director.

This year, the festival is screening 41 films (nine features and 32 shorts) over five days (Oct. 17-21).

While the festival officially started last night with a screening of a short film program, tonight has been labeled as “opening night” by organizers. The opening film, Dreamscapes, is sold out, mainly due to a WFF appearance by restaurateur/celebrity chef Tom Colicchio (who appears in the film).

“Our opening night is a big deal,” Mr. Lawson said.

After the film, ticket-holders are invited to attend a tasting party and conversation with Chef Colicchio at Mezze Bistro.

Other highlights

For Mr. Lawson, other highlights of the festival include Knuckleball (with featured commentator Jim Bouton of Great Barrington in attendance), Any Day Now (“the acting is just magnificent”) and Arcadia (written and directed by Williams College alumna Olivia Silver).

On Saturday night, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Richard Russo (Empire Falls, Nobody’s Fool) will be at the Clark Art Institute to discuss the process of adapting novels into films. Panelists include writer/Williams Professor Jim Shepard and filmmaker Brad Silberling.

“It’s going to be a very interesting weekend,” he said.

Mr. Lawson added one of the key features of the WFF is the filmmaker appearances.

“If there’s no one there to talk about it, it’s just a movie,” he said. “That’s the fun of it.”

For more information and to buy tickets, go to williamstownfilmfest.com.

Posted by Catherine M. Krummey on October 18, 2012. Filed under Arts and Entertainment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry