In the Spotlight today is the 14th Annual Woodstock Film Festival (WFF), named by IndieWire as one of the "Top 50 Film Festivals in the World." Characterized by its fierce independence and relaxed, inviting atmosphere, WFF is focused on the talents who are ready to reshape the world of cinema. Set in the Hudson Valley Catskills, WFF is a unique opportunity to unwind, explore, and network with some of the most intriguing voices in the industry including illustrious advisory board members, distributors and producers.
Beloved Hollywood talents-including Ellen Barkin, Richard Linklater, Woody Harrelson, Bruce Beresford, Jonathan Demme, and Kevin Smith-have taken home some of WFF's prestigious awards. The roster of festival panelists has been no less impressive and has included Emmy winner Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie), Academy Award nominees Mark Ruffalo (The Kids Are All Right) and Vera Farmiga (Up in the Air), as well as indie staples such as John Sloss and Christine Vachon, and even acclaimed futurist Ray Kurzweil. Great conversation and invigorating celebration are the cornerstones of the WFF experience, year after year.
Over the past three years, WFF has selected three Oscar nominees for best live action short. Two -- Curfew by Hudson Valley native Shawn Christensen and God of Love by Luke Matheny -- won at WFF, before collecting their Oscar. In 2012, two WFF short docs were also nominated for Oscars. Full length feature narratives and docs at WFF are no strangers to the Academy Awards either. From The Sessions to Up in the Air and from Chasing Ice to The Betrayal (Nerakhoon), WFF's films and filmmakers go on to walk the red carpet at the Dolby Theater vying for top awards.
Beloved Hollywood talents-including Ellen Barkin, Richard Linklater, Woody Harrelson, Bruce Beresford, Jonathan Demme, and Kevin Smith-have taken home some of WFF's prestigious awards. The roster of festival panelists has been no less impressive and has included Emmy winner Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie), Academy Award nominees Mark Ruffalo (The Kids Are All Right) and Vera Farmiga (Up in the Air), as well as indie staples such as John Sloss and Christine Vachon, and even acclaimed futurist Ray Kurzweil. Great conversation and invigorating celebration are the cornerstones of the WFF experience, year after year.
Over the past three years, WFF has selected three Oscar nominees for best live action short. Two -- Curfew by Hudson Valley native Shawn Christensen and God of Love by Luke Matheny -- won at WFF, before collecting their Oscar. In 2012, two WFF short docs were also nominated for Oscars. Full length feature narratives and docs at WFF are no strangers to the Academy Awards either. From The Sessions to Up in the Air and from Chasing Ice to The Betrayal (Nerakhoon), WFF's films and filmmakers go on to walk the red carpet at the Dolby Theater vying for top awards.