Wind-up Fest #1 Attracts An Array Of Artists To Its Cocktail Gala

Amy Krzanik reports from North Adams.Wind-Up Fest (or Williamstown Film Festival 2.0) had big shoes to fill in a short amount of time this year when, in its 17th year, the fest’s founding artistic director Steve Lawson decided to retire. He handed the reins over to managing director Sandra Thomas and she in turn tapped Paul Sturtz to be its new creative director. All three of these film lovers were on hand Friday, Oct. 16 at Gramercy Bistro to celebrate the festival’s new name and its goal of celebrating all forms of non-fiction. Participants in this year’s festival mingled with Wind-Up board members and fans over cocktails and appetizers. The party moved next door to MASS MoCA for a screening of Very Semi-serious, a look at how New Yorker editor Robert Mankoff chooses which cartoons make it into the magazine each week. A “show and tell" with long-time published cartoonist Bruce Eric Kaplan and newcomer Liana Finck finished up the evening. Above, producer Robbie Saenz de Viteri with performers Monica Bill Barnes and Anna Bass.

Wind-Up's managing director Sandra Thomas with Maureen Baran of Adams Community Bank, the film fest's major sponsor, and Lucy Pavalock; Brendan Baker chats with Penny Lane.

Derek and Kate designed Wind-Up Fest's new website.; Williamstown town manager Jason Hoch, Wind-Up's Emily Watts who is the executive director of the Williamstown Chamber of Commerce, and Jonathan Swartz.

Rich Remsberg, musician Bill Nace and filmmaker Pia Borg; Paul Sturtz, Wind-Up's creative director, with David Rothenberg and Bruce Eric Kaplan.

Painter and board member Stephen Hannock, Tara Fitzpatrick, Mo Strype and the Fest's board president Joe Finnegan.

Cozette, William Force and Bonnie Bibas; Donna K. and David Rees.

Jennifer Zoltanski, Shawn Rosenheim and artist Lisa Nilsson; Orion Howard and Molly Kerns.

Jon Courtney, the Fest's technical director Greg Babush, Nick van der Kolk and Steve Witzig; board member Joan Hunter with Chip and Michelle Chandler.

Journalist Eric Hynes and film director Edward Lawrenson; Pastor Mark Longhurst, John Strachan, board chair of Images Cinema, Wind-Up board member Kristen Johanson and Janie Strachan.