ALUMNI NEWS
Filmmaker Pamela Yates, whose film STATE OF FEAR screened at the 2005 Woodstock Film Festival and then again in March of 2008 as part of the Hudson Valley Programmers Group, recently received the highly prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship in order to produce a sequel to WHEN THE MOUNTAINS TREMBLE, her first feature length documentary film.. Pam is currently directing THE RECKONING, a feature length documentary film about the International Criminal Court. Filming is taking place on 4 continents and in 6 languages.

On April 29th, Renew Media, which recently announced it had merged with the Tribeca Film Institute, announced the recipients of the prestigious Media Award Fellowships for 2008 funded by the Rockefeller Foundation. The awards recognize the artistic excellence of 22 film, video, and new media artists in the United States. Three time Woodstock Festival Alum Hugo Perez was the recipient of a 2008 Emerging Artist Fellowship in support of IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, a feature screenplay he is developing as his narrative feature directorial debut. IMMACULATE CONCEPTION is a Spanish language Latino dark comedy in the same vein as Hugo's short BETTY LA FLACA (Woodstock 2006). Hugo has most recently participated in the 2007 Woodstock Film Festival with a sneak preview of his documentary NEITHER MEMORY NOR MAGIC.

"It's an honor to be recognized by RENEW Media and to find myself in the company of some of the great indie filmmakers. Especially as I try to get my first narrative feature off the ground," said Hugo. "When you spend months and years at a time locked up in an edit room, sometimes you start to forget that there are people out there that appreciate your work and receiving the Emerging Filmmaker Fellowship was a very pleasant reminder."

TAKING WOODSTOCK IN DEVELOPMENT
AS NEXT FILM FOR OSCAR-WINNING DIRECTOR ANG LEE

Focus Features is developing the 1969-set true story Taking Woodstockas the next project for Academy Award winner Ang Lee to direct. Focus Features CEO James Schamus confirmed the comedy’s active development today.

Mr. Schamus is writing the screenplay, which is an adaptation of Elliot Tiber’s memoir Taking Woodstock: A True Story of a Riot, A Concert, and A Life. The book, published last year by Square One Publishers, was written by Mr. Tiber with Tom Monte.

Mr. Tiber played an unexpected but pivotal role in making the 1969 Woodstock Music and Arts Festival into the famed happening it was. Working as an interior designer in Greenwich Village during culturally and politically exciting times, Mr. Tiber felt empowered by the gay-rights movement. But he was also still staked to the family business – a Catskills motel. As its part-time manager, he had become the local town’s issuer of event permits, granting himself one annually for a small music festival. When he heard that the planned Woodstock concert had had its own permit denied by a neighboring town, he called to offer his own. Soon half a million people were on their way to Mr. Tiber’s neighbor’s farm in White Lake, New York, and Mr. Tiber found himself swept up in a generation-defining experience that would change his life, and American culture, forever.

Mr. Schamus commented, “Elliot’s exuberant and heartfelt story is a perfect window onto the Woodstock experience, exploring an inspiring historical moment when liberation and freedom were in the air.” (read more in the Times Herald Record or Poughkeepsie Journal)

Help us find the ideal Hudson Valley / Catskill location for this film.
See HVFC Blog for details

IN THEATERS

SURFWISE
A Film by Doug Pray
from Magnolia Pictures

Now on HDNet ultra VOD and in theaters May 9

Like many American outsider-adventurers, Dorian “Doc” Paskowitz set out to realize a utopian dream. Abandoning a successful medical practice, he sought self-fulfillment by taking up the nomadic life of a surfer. But unlike other American searchers like Thoreau or Kerouac, Paskowitz took his wife and nine children along for the ride, all eleven of them living in a 24 foot camper. Together, they lived a life that would be unfathomable to most, but enviable to anyone who ever relinquished their dreams to a straight job. The Paskowitz Family proved that America may be running out of frontiers, but it hasn’t run out of frontiersman. Surfwise is not a hippie idyll but an unsettling depiction of a family raise, like puppies. View Trailer

DVD

Julian Schnabel's The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is now available on DVD.

If you haven't seen this masterpiece, which opened the 2007 Woodstock FIlm Festival, go out and buy three or more copies. One for you and the other for friends and family because you'll want to share this courageous and life affriming film that won the coveted Best Director Award at Cannes.

"Yes, it's in French and it's arty (in good ways) - but I promise you won't have a more viscerally emotional experience at the movies this year."
Lou Lumenick, New York Post

3 ANIMATED SHORTS
This week, Indiepix is offering a selection of three animated shorts by long time WFF supporter and animation programmer Signe Baumane... for free!
Check out the download online at Indiepix

Dentist
I grew up in the Soviet Union where drilling teeth or getting root canals were usually practiced without anesthesia. Needless to say because of bad nutrition we all - the prisoners of the Soviet System - suffered from bad teeth and had to go quite often to the dentist with a swollen cheek and in agonizing pain. The only relief from pain was by getting more pain...

Woman
WOMAN is a visual poem about the Creation of a woman and her two ways of encountering a man. In one way she has a potential to bring Death to a man. In the other she can give him her Love. It all depends on man's actions. A woman by herself is neither good nor evil. Neither she is a passive object of man's desires. It is all about interaction.

The Witch and The Cow
A tiny witch tries to milk an immense cow. Things get out of control...

MUSIC NEWS:

A Movie and a Concert!
Presented by the Bearsville Theater and Co-Sponsored by the Woodstock Film Festival

Kasim Sulton (Todd Rundgren's Utopia, Meat Loaf) performs with special guest, guitar player extraordinaire, Jesse Gress (Todd Rundgren, Tony Levin Band) and long time band mate, Doug Kennedy at the Bearsville Theater on Saturday, May 17th.

In addition to the concert, there will be a screening of the new Meat Loaf documentary movie In Search of Paradise. Produced and directed by Bruce David Klein, this intimate and highly-entertaining theatrical feature documentary, which premiered in NYC in March 2008, reveals surprising sides of actor, performer, and multi-platinum rock icon Meat Loaf whose fertile creative mind are in constant flux . It contains concert footage and band interviews.

In addition to living and getting married in Woodstock, Meat Loaf’s 1977 history-breaking release Bat out of hell was produced in town by Todd Rundgren.

The movie is FREE with the purchase of a ticket to the concert. Doors open at 6:30pm. Movie: 7:30pm. Kasim Sulton Show Time: 9:30pm
Click here to puchase tickets or call (845) 679-4406

BOOK NOOK

AWAKE AT THE WHEEL
Getting Your Great Ideas Rolling in an Uphill World

“A superb catalyst for anyone with the urge to bring their best ideas into reality.”
Tim Gallwey, Author of Inner Game of Tennis and Inner Game of Work

If you are looking for a powerful way to jump start innovation and get your creative juices flowing, Awake at the Wheel is for you. Written by Mitch Ditkoff, Co-Founder and President of Idea Champions (and Woodstock resident), Awake at the Wheel is a book about BIG IDEAS — where they come from, how to attract them, and what you can do to radically increase your chances or manifesting them in a world not always ready for the new and the different. Part fable, part creative thinking toolbox, it's the perfect innovation catalyst for anyone attempting to "get out of the cave" and accomplish extraordinary results.

BLACK POSTCARDS – A Rock'n'Roll Romance
by Dean Wareham (Galaxy 500/Luna/Dean & Brita) is now available at a bookstore near you. The book has received rave reviews.

FRONTMAN
By LIZ PHAIR
Published: April 6, 2008 (The New York Times)
Freddie Mercury once said, “I want it all and I want it now.” This appetite might aptly be called the rock ’n’ roll disease, and Dean Wareham seems to have caught it. Or is in recovery. Or is somewhere along the road. Part confessional, part unsentimental career diary, Wareham’s “Black Postcards– A Rock'n'Roll Romance” reads like good courtroom testimony: to the point, but peppered with juicy and unsolicited asides. Dominick Dunne would make sure his seat was saved before excusing himself to use the restroom. (Read the entire interview online)

CALL FOR ENTRIES

The WOODSTOCK FILM FESTIVAL (Oct 1-5, 2008) is currently accepting submissions in all categories. Maverick Awards are presented for Best Feature, Best Documentary, Best Short Documentary, Best Short Film, Best Student Film, Best Cinematography, Best Editing and Best Animation. Cash, prizes and/or services are given out in each category. Audience Awards are presented for Best Feature and Best Documentary. Award sponsors have included Lowel-Light, Apple Computers, Final Draft, Post Factory, A&E Indie Films, Docurama, Kodak, Baseline, Markertek, and others.

Industry participants have included Steve Buscemi, Peter Saraf (Big Beach Films), Jonathan Sehring (IFC), Ted Sarandos (Netflix), Bob Berney (Picturehouse), Eamonn Bowles (Magnolia Pictures), Mark Urman (THINKfilm), Bingham Ray (Kimmel Entertainmen), James Schamus (Focus Features), Fisher Stevens (Greenstreet Productions), John Sloss (Cinetic Media), Ira Deutchman (Emerging Pictures), Ron Mann (Films We Like), John Pierson (Grainy Pictures), John Anderson, Ryan Werner (IFC), Tom Quinn (Magnolia Pictures), Christine Vachon (Killer Films), Andrew Hurwitz, Ira Schreck, Mira Nair, Todd Haynes, Woody Harrelson, Tim Robbins, Marcia Gay Harden, Lili Taylor, D.A. Pennebaker, Albert Maysles, Barbara Kopple, Leon Gast, Liz Garbus, Brett Morgen, Thelma Adams, Robert Downey, Zachary Sklar, Kevin Bacon, Tim Robbins, Ethan Hawke, Matt Dillon, Rosie Perez and many others.

To apply online, and for details, visit ENTRY FORM

CÎROC VODKA

CÎROC Vodka is an ultra-premium vodka that celebrates the uncommon on every level; from the distilled Mauzac Blanc and Ugni Blanc grapes, grown in the historic Gaillac and Cognac regions of France, to the innovative cold fermentation and maceration techniques usually found in winemaking, t its subtle aromatics and smooth, naturally refined tastes.

CÎROC Vodka releases the true flavors of every cocktail. The sweet complexity f the distilled grapes draw out and complement the flavors of Whatever CÎROC Vodka is mixed with. Add to the CÎROC Vodka's distinctly clean finish and absence of alcohol burn, and you have a most uncommon vodka cocktail experience.