Rachel Louchen reports from Williamstown. The 14th Williamstown Film Festival opened with an introspective bang last Thursday, October 18, at Images Cinema . The party began with a film close to home, literally. Dreamscapes, a documentary by Wolfram Hissen looks in on the life and career of Williamstown’s own, Stephen Hannock. World famous for his landscape paintings that, at a closer glance, reveal text inscriptions, the film details his incredible work process as well as how his family and hometown have influenced that creativity. Attending the screening of the film amongst a jam-packed audience was chef and host of the popular television show Top Chef, Tom Colicchio (pictured at left with with fellow chef Deborah Gallagher). Although he appears in the film, he had never seen it before and was as excited and inspired by the finished product as the other audience members. Addressing the crowd, who gathered afterward at the opening reception party at Mezze, Colicchio spoke of why he chose to display his friend's paintings in his restaurants: "The inscriptions give you a glimpse into his life, you learn about the person."
Ellen Burnstein and Lisa Avery; Teacher Michael Scaffer with wife, Angela, and Michael Eisenberg.
Board member Joan Hunter with Williamstown residents Chip and Michelle Chandler; Lisa Cushman with Mezze Proprietor Nancy Thomas.
Mezze co-founder Bo Peabody , Festival Executive Director Steve Lawson and, Stephen Hannock.
Board member Merry Ann Simon with husband, Brad; Musicians Liz Stell and Bill Matthiesen.
Tom Colicchio and Stephan Hannock take questions from the party-goers at Mezze.
Dan Conway with his stepmother and longtime film festival supporter, Linda; Eric Kerns and Nancy Fitzpatrick .
Film festival member, Tom Greenwood with JJ Coneys; Recent Williamstown transplants, Brooke Blair and husband, Jimmy.
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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
