It is good to see a globe united.
Indie filmmakers from about the globe have when once more joined their New York counterparts and will quickly be sharing their compelling operates with film lovers everywhere throughout the eagerly anticipated 12th annual Queens Planet Film Festival (QWFF).
The well-liked festival is back and a lot more thrilling than ever — following its short pandemic hiatus — thanks to the tireless efforts of executive director Catha Cato and her group. By featuring compelling operates from maverick filmmakers of all orientations, ethnicities, nations and cultures, QWFF “is creating confident inventive expression and a passion for truth is alive and properly in Queens,” Cato mentioned.
In the course of the reside fest (Nov. 1 – six), 157 films from 27 nations will be screened at 5 Queens venues the virtual festival filmfestivaflix.com (Nov. 20 – Dec. four) will showcase extra films not integrated in the reside occasion. Opening evening will take location at Queens Theatre Spirit of Queens Honorees events will be held at Queens Theatre (Nov. two) and Museum of the Moving Image (Nov. three) and Queens Planet Awards (Nov. six) will be presented at MoMI as properly. Attendees will incorporate a ticketed audience, filmmakers, elected officials and other folks.
“We had been overwhelmed by the response we received twice as lots of submissions than we anticipated! It just proves to us that absolutely everyone in the globe desires to screen in Queens,” Cato mentioned. “It’s simply because of QWFF’s commitment to delivering their exhibiting filmmakers with a good and effective screening practical experience.”
On Oct.1, neighborhood filmmakers gathered for QWWF’s Annual Potluck Kick-off Celebration at The Neighborhood in Lengthy Island City. “We bring neighborhood filmmakers collectively as early as we can, so they have the likelihood to partnership-make just before the festival. Then when it starts, they’re aspect of the festival neighborhood and are prepared to enable us welcome international filmmakers to the occasion,” Cato mentioned.
QWFF’s will have to-see operates will be screened at Flushing Town Hall, Museum of the Moving Image, The Neighborhood, Kaufman Astoria Studios and Queens Theatre. There are more than 35 blocks (groups) of thematically programmed shorts and functions. Prizes and awards will be provided in a selection of categories, such as path, screenplay, acting, cinematography and a lot more.
“We had been the initial festival in the globe to jump on the net in response to the pandemic on March 19, 2020, with 191 films from 32 nations. We ran for 11 days and got more than 30,000 views. Then we launched a weekly reside broadcast that celebrated all the [community-based] organizations in Queens that had been undertaking excellent perform,” Cato mentioned.
QWFF’s no cost on the net screenings and shows featured discussions with these CBOs and filmmakers about their films’ themes and how they associated to the perform the CBOs had been undertaking.
Rockaway Sunset. (Photo courtesy of PJ Landers)
In 2021 (June 23 – July three), viewers enjoyed 198 films on the net, though 143 films had been screened reside in 5 neighborhood venues. It was a significant results. Then, as the globe began to open up in earnest, QWFF volunteered at other organizations’ events, according to Cato.
Do not miss this year’s offerings: There are 27 films from Queens, two from the Bronx, 18 from Manhattan, 11 from Brooklyn and two from Staten Island. And international filmmakers hail from Spain, India, Canada, Ukraine, Korea, Poland, Turkey, Nepal, Mexico, Italy, Puerto Rico, Croatia and Armenia, to name a handful of.
Yashodhara the buddha’s wife. (Photo courtesy of Neha Lohia)
“It is astounding to us to hear from so lots of filmmakers all more than the globe who want to screen in Queens!” Cato mentioned.
This year’s intriguing blocks incorporate: “Moving into Identity: Seven films celebrating the dance of self-discovery” “Remarkable Females: Six films about girls just getting who they are” “It’s Difficult: 5 films that dive into who we are” (LGBTQIA+ films) “Voices of India: Two films that speak to our hearts” and “WTF? (What the Film?): Six films that are complete of surprises.”
QWFF will honor 5 outstanding girls as their Spirit of Queens Honorees: Sandra Schulberg, president of IndieCollect Taryn Sacramone, chair of the Cultural Institutions Group and executive director of Queens Theatre Sade Lythcott, National Black Theatre’s CEO and chair of the Coalition of Theatres of Colour Lucy Sexton, executive director of New Yorkers for Culture & Arts and Ellen Kodadek, Flushing Town Hall’s executive and artistic director.
“While lots of of the arts are supported in the region, and have stages, studios or galleries, filmmakers do not have a centralized location to show their perform,” Cato noted. “QWFF requires pride in bringing neighborhood filmmakers to the globe stage by way of curated programming that involves thrilling and provocative films from about the globe and about the corner.”
For tickets and a lot more information, stop by queensworldfilmfestival.org.