Middlebury Features Prominently in Film Festival
MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – Those seeking connections between this year’s Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival (MNFF) and Middlebury College won’t have to look far. Now celebrating its fifth anniversary, the festival will offer numerous films that feature the work of alumni, faculty, and staff, from producing and acting to composing. The festival, which runs August 22–25, is completely dedicated to the work of first- and second-time filmmakers. There will be screenings of more than 100 films—a diverse array of features and shorts across all genres.
Below are the films that feature the work of Middlebury alumni, faculty, and staff.
- MacPherson Christopher ’17 - Lonnie, a character piece on Lonnie Holley, a found object artist and musician based in Atlanta, Georgia.
- Daniel Houghton ’04, director, writer, and producer, in collaboration with the Middlebury College Animation Lab - Estrellita, an animated film following one girl growing up on a Vermont dairy farm as she discovers a tragic reality about her family.
- Beth Levison ’91, producer - Made in Boise, a documentary about the surge of maternity surrogates in Boise, Idaho.
- Andy Mitton ’01, director, and Alex Draper ’88, producer, lead actor, assistant professor of theatre - The Witch in the Window. When Simon brings his 12-year-old son, Finn, to rural Vermont to help flip an old farmhouse, they encounter the malicious spirit of Lydia, a previous owner.
- Assistant Professor of Music Matthew Evan Taylor composed original music for the Vermont Symphony Orchestra to play live over a new short film, The Greatest Night. A screening with live music will take place Sunday, August 25, at 1 p.m. at the Mahaney Arts Center, Robison Hall, Middlebury College.
- Demetrius Borge ’16, director, writer, and producer - Carol Street, a documentary exploring the Black experience at Middlebury College. The film was produced for Middlebury Magazine.
- Qian Li ’19, director, writer, and producer - Nothing to My Name, a documentary following a young Chinese woman’s discovery of the covert persona of her beloved grandfather.
- Cece Wheeler ’19, director, writer, and producer - Goodnight, a short animated film about trying to sleep amidst anxiety.
- Mia Fichman ’19, director, writer, and producer, and Asher Brown ’19, cinematographer - Twenty, a film following the breakdown of a family as seen through the perspective of a 12-year-old boy who must come to terms with his parents’ separation.
- David Lally ’78, producer and cowriter - Dream House, Middle-aged, gay Mark lives with his elderly mother, Ginnie, in the grand manor of their youth. When Ted is hired to restore the house to its former glory, he jolts Mark into a decision that will change their lives forever.
- Simeon Hutner ’81, editor - When We Walk, Disability activist and filmmaker Jason DaSilva confronts the abrupt end of his marriage and the departure of his wife and young son from New York to Austin, Texas, where he encounters a Medicaid system that would force him – because of his disabilities – to live in a nursing home in order to be near his son.
For more information about the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival, visit https://middfilmfest.org/.