Rachel Louchen reports from Great Barrington. On Thursday, May 29, a huge crowd turned out to screen the appropriately-titled film May In The Summer by Cherien Dabis (about a New York-based woman who returns to her homeland of Jordan for her wedding) and to celebrate the opening of the the ninth annual Berkshire International Film Festival. The mood was excited and upbeat as the park across from The Mahaiwe was transformed into a party plaza by a large white tent, huge food spread and the band, City Rhythm, who got all guests dancing. The four-day festival showcases 75 diverse works of independent feature, documentary, family films and shorts over multiple venues in Great Barrington and Pittsfield, with filmmakers and cast members on hand for discussion panels for many of the screenings. In less than a decade, the festival has become widely recognized, no doubt from its mission to showcase filmmakers from all over the world, and this year brings films from 18 different countries. Cherien Dabis joined the guests underneath the tent following her screening, where numerous filmmakers were also in attendance, mingling with all the Berkshire film buffs. (Above, BIFF Founder and Director Kelley Vickery with Hunter Runette of Jacob's Pillow).
BIFF Board Chair Al Togut, who was underwriter of the party along with his wife, Jacqueline Togut.
Berkshire Mountain Distiller'sTyler Weld with her mother, Shawn De Gunzburg; Roger Goldman and Tom Potter.
IS183's Amy Butterworth, Kate Baldwin and Anne McLaughlin; Carolyn Lancaster with BIFF Executive Assistant Lauren Ferrin.
Ethan James with Academy Award-winning visual effects master Doug Trumbull; Andy Clayman, board member Mary Mott and Casey Mott.
Emilie Spiegel, photographer and director Thierry Van Biesen, May In The Summer director Cherien Dabis, Kelley Vickery, producer Daniel Battsek and Luce Battsek.
Studio designer Amanda Bettis and Matt Hill; Dogs on the Inside directors Brean Cunningham and Doug Seirub.
Realtor Frosty Montgomery and actor Matt Penn; Morgan Whitehead with her mother, BIFF programmer Lillian Lenox.
Reflection producer Hazuki Aikawa with Ken Murphy, director of Reaching Home; Beth Eckert and Mike Boland, one of the stars of If I Tell You.
Shelly Friedman with board members Elissa Myer,Mary Mott and Nancy Clayman.
Written by
Matteline deVries-Dilling, founder of Lite Brite Neon, one of the evening's honoree of this year's Upstate Benefit adresses the gala from the Caboose's caboose.
- Karen Pearson. Courtesy Art Omi.
Olana senior vice president and landscape curatorMark Prezorski, president Sean Sawyer, The evenings honoree Kristin Gamble and New York State Assemblymember Didi Barrett.
- Oxygen House Photo
