Editor

Let s keep those around us busy and engaged. Here’s to whatever the new normal is and hoping for our theaters to open one day soon.

Film Fest 919, founded by industry veterans Randi Emerman and Carol Marshall, along with Program Director Claudia Puig

Film Fest 919 has kicked off a special Social Distancing Film, Song, & Photo Festival as well as a Virtual Film Series with live Q&As featuring filmmakers and friends.

Stuck at home and craving a creative outlet?  Film Fest 919’s Social Distancing Film, Song & Photo Festival is looking for works written, produced and starring their stay-at-home crews.  Have you always wanted to make a film yet have had no time to fulfill this dream?  Participants are invited to enter short films, reenact a scene or song from a favorite film, create a music video or create a photo montage that tells a story.  Entries should be posted to personal social media pages using the tag #FF919 now through May 15, 2020.  Film Fest 919 will be on the lookout and share it on their social media channels.

The 10 entries with the most likes, shares and comments will be presented at a special event during the annual Film Fest 919 set for October 14 – 18, 2020.

“We will be watching!  We only ask that participants are staying at home, following social distancing guidelines and creating content suitable for all ages and audiences,” said Randi Emerman and Carol Marshall, Founders of Film Fest 919.

And in the meantime, if you’ve  already binged every series on Netflix, Hulu and Amazon, we invite you film aficionados to join Film Fest 919’s Virtual Film Series. and catch some favorite picks on Amazon Prime or Netflix leading up to scheduled interactive live Zoom Q&A sessions with filmmakers and friends. 

“We are very excited about bringing this unique in-home experience to the Film Fest 919 community of film lovers and encourage all to watch the film prior to our scheduled Zoom chats,” added Emerman. 

Film Fest 919’s Virtual Film Series selections include:

Week One:  THE LITTLE TRAITOR, directed by Lynn Roth, starring Alfred Molina

The first selection is The Little Traitor, a film based on the novel, Panther in the Basement, by world-renowned author Amos Oz.  The movie is a coming-of-age tale about the unlikely bond between a kindly British soldier and a spirited Jewish boy set against the backdrop of the birth of the State of Israel.  The film’s director, Lynn Roth, also directed Shepherd: The Story of a Jewish Dog, that was showcased at last year’s Film Fest 919 and will be coming to theaters soon.  

Catch the film on Amazon Prime prior to the Zoom chat with the film’s director, Lynn Roth, on Thursday, April 16 at 7 p.m. ET  

Week Two:  THE FLORIDA PROJECT, directed by Sean Baker and written by Baker and FF 919 mascot, Chris Bergoch. Starring Willem Dafoe

The Florida Project was showcased at Film Fest 919’s launch event on October 25, 2017.   The film went on to receive several Academy Award Ò and Golden Globe nominations and awards.  The Florida Project, starring Willem Dafoe, follows precocious 6-year-old Moonee (Brooklyn Prince, in a stunning breakout turn) as she courts mischief and adventure with her ragtag playmates and bonds with her rebellious yet caring mother, all while living in the shadows of Disney World. 

Watch the film on Netflix prior to signing into a Zoom Q&A with writer, Chris Bergoch, on Thursday, April 30 at 7 p.m. ET

Week Three:  BOTTLE SHOCK, starring Chris Pine, Alan Rickman and Bill Pullman

Bottle Shock is the story of the early days of California wine making featuring the now infamous, blind Paris wine tasting of 1976 that has come to be known as “Judgement of Paris.” 

Watch the film on Amazon Prime prior to the virtual wine social hour with Film Fest 919 founders, Randi Emerman & Carol Marshall via Zoom on Thursday, May 14 at 7 p.m. ET

Participants are asked to pre-register for the FREE Zoom sessions and can receive information by subscribing to the Film Fest 919 newsletter at: www.filmfest919.com or on their social media pages: Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

About Film Fest 919:

Film Fest 919 is a film festival based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina that highlights the best feature films the year has to offer. Founded by Randi Emerman and Carol Marshall, the festival not only showcases great films, but the artists behind them and giving audiences the opportunity to engage with them. In the festival’s inaugural year its films went on to win seven Oscars including Best Picture and looks to continue to bring films of this quality to Chapel Hill every year. The town has a strong community of people with discerning tastes and a passion for the arts and the festival aims to serve as a celebration of these qualities as well as a way of introducing people from around the country to this small corner of the south.

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