Cultural correspondent Bess J.M. Hochstein reports from Pittsfield: No one gushed about who they were wearing, and no one volunteered that they had to return their jewels to Harry Winston, but guests at the Berkshire International Film Festival’s Oscar night party at the Beacon Cinema had been asked to wear red-carpet-worthy attire, and, for the most part, they complied. There was indeed a red carpet leading to an interview/photo opportunity platform. After passing through that gauntlet, guests ascended an escalator to the second floor, where an Academy-Award-inspired buffet, prepared by clever caterer Kate Baldwin, awaited. Attendees sipped the evening’s special champagne cocktail, the Red Carpet Fizz, while nibbling on Vegetables Julienne & Julia, Jeff Bridges Mix, Steak Ava-Tartar, The Hurt Locker Habanero Hummus, The Blind Sliders, and The Lovely Boneless Buffalo Wings, plus desserts such as Inglorious Custerds and Coco Before Chanel cocoa-dusted beignets. The crowd filled out ballots with their best guesses for the top award winners, then filled the theaters broadcasting the 82nd Academy Awards Ceremony live via satellite, sneaking out for snacks during the commercial breaks. Next up for the BIFF is the announcement of the festival’s fifth anniversary program; the expanded schedule runs June 3 - 6 on screens in both Great Barrington and Pittsfield.
David Schecker, BIFF founder and director Kelley Vickery, and Vicki Bonnington; Lisa Newman on the red carpet with her mother, Leni Aronson.
Lisa Newman of Cookiehead Cookies with Jackie Gentile of the Provost’s Office at Simon’s Rock; Mary Parkman with artist and Berkshire Bank graphic designer Mark Tomasi.
Artist/designer Karen Beckwith and BIFF programmer Lillian Lennox; Matt Larkin and Aaron Dunn of Black Barn Farm.
Seven Salon & Spa's Maurice Peterson and Mark Johnson flank BIFF administrative assistant Lauren Ferin.
Barbara Newman, who is presently working on a film about cowgirls, with Diane Pearlman, executive director of the Berkshire Film & Media Commission; BIFF designer Amanda Bettis and Carrie Saldo.
Lauren Zivyak and Lincoln Russell; Lou Boxer, Emily Cohen and Molly Boxer.
Albany attorneys Samuel and Molly Breslin with Phil and Emily Cohen.
Anthony James Madrid, who tended bar at the event, with his mother Fedlina Madrid, VP of marketing at Berkshire Bank, a sponsor of the BIFF; Doug Schufelt and Nancy Kalodner.
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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
