In simply its second yr, the Vermont Movie & Folklore Pageant is already increasing its footprint in a giant method: the most recent Vermont movie competition and the one worldwide movie competition in southern Vermont, has at the moment introduced that its second annual occasion will likely be held Could 13-18, 2025, in Manchester and Brattleboro, Vermont.
Based by a pair of indie movie luminaries and up to date Manchester transplants in 2024 — MovieMaker Journal founder Tim Rhys and Filmmaker Journal co-founder Karol Martesko-Fenster — this yr’s version will embody occasions in each Manchester and Brattleboro. For these of you who usually are not Manchester natives (like this loud and proud author), the 2 cities are about an hour’s drive aside, that means that the occasions will now be out there to a completely new section of the Vermont inhabitants.
A part of the enchantment for the competition? A brand new partnership with Brattleboro’s Latchis Theater, which, per Friday’s announcement, will embody the usage of “4 devoted film screens, a renovated classic lodge, and an artwork deco lounge.”
Rhys, Pageant Director and Co-Founder stated in an official assertion, “We’re extremely proud to be increasing VFFF in solely its second yr and are gratified that folk have come out so strongly in help of this occasion. This can be a difficult time for the humanities generally and for movie festivals particularly, and lots of are struggling to maintain their programming strong, so it’s a credit score to the generosity of the individuals and companies of southern Vermont that we’re in a position to carry much more movies and filmmakers into our courageous little state this yr.”
The inaugural VFFF was held in Could 2024, and featured greater than 40 movies from around the globe, together with award-winning American and worldwide options, traditional Hollywood options on 16mm, and a powerful collection of shorts and options by Vermont filmmakers.
The founders’ aim for the 2025 version is to “characteristic much more concrete alternatives for Vermont filmmakers to supply and collaborate with one another on new work.”
Towards that finish, they’ve additionally introduced at the moment that VFFF is sponsoring the $20,000 “VFFF Storytelling Grant,” which, through money and in-kind help, will encourage one filmmaker/storyteller from Vermont or with robust Vermont ties to create a movie in Vermont. The grant is geared to facilitate storytelling and movie manufacturing within the Inexperienced Mountain State. Moreover, the competition has prolonged the ultimate deadline for submissions to March 24.
Pageant organizers are wanting ahead to expanded partnerships for 2025 and encourage anybody within the competition to get in contact with competition director Tim Rhys at [email protected].