Film festival to showcase talent and engage movie lovers

This fall, an exciting opportunity exists for filmmakers and movie lovers alike at the inaugural Twin Tiers International Film Festival scheduled at the Martin W. Kappel Theater in Norwich, N.Y. The festival will showcase multiple entries all inspired and created by up-and-coming filmmakers from all around the world, and will be presented on three consecutive days, Sept. 7-9, 2018.

Festival director, Christopher Pike, commented, “Plans are to show as many films as possible, across all genres and lengths, to include features and shorts,” adding, “We estimate showing between forty to seventy films across the three day festival.”

Pike explained that there have been over one hundred submissions to date from all over the world such as Mexico, Spain and Portugal, Australia, Canada and the U.K., as well as the U.S., among others. Submissions will be accepted until July 25.

Film categories cover a wide range such as documentaries, international and student entries, horror, thrillers and science fiction, and comedies and animation, to name a few. Unproduced written screenplay submissions are also part of the event.

A panel of industry professionals will judge each film submitted, and all filmmakers are encouraged to submit their work regardless of experience. Numerous awards will be given such as Best of Fest, Audience Choice Award and Best Unproduced Screenplay.

Binghamton native, Jon Donahue, a former WBNG-TV feature reporter and now actor, will be presenting the awards on Sept. 9. The awards, Pike said, are custom-made and unique to the Twin Tiers Fest.

Donahue has played roles in major motion pictures such as “Inferno,” “Bridge of Spies,” and “The Post.” He has worked with renowned directors Steven Spielberg and Ron Howard, to name just two, as well as costarred alongside Tom Hanks in several films.  

With multiple credits on his resume, Donahue’s television and film career has also led him to work with the likes of Ray Romano on the Emmy-nominated TNT comedy, “Men of a Certain Age,” and is the voice of Antonio, a K-9 German Shepherd in the popular Disney film, “Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2.” 

Media Arts Professor and award winner, Jack Bryant, of Ithaca College, is hosting a screenplay workshop at the festival on Sept. 8. Bryant previously taught screenwriting at the Rochester Institute of Technology, along with various courses at the New York Film Academy.  Bryant is also a professional screenwriter in New York City, his most recent feature film being, “Fair Haven,” released in 2016.

Pike, who is originally from the Sayre and Athens, Pa. area, lives in nearby Rome and is himself a filmmaker. With his company, Asylum Harbor Productions, Pike’s most recent endeavor is a film entitled, “Northern Limits” which will be released this fall. Among other projects, including a 2017 horror film called “The Hunted,” Pike’s 2016 film, “Exploring Seneca,” was a Best Documentary Short winner at the Endless Mountains Film Festival. 

The festival, to be held at the elegantly restored Kappel Theater, and home to the Chenango County Arts Council, is located at 27 West Main St. in Norwich. The fest runs from noon to 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 7, 2018, and from 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 8. On Sunday, Sept. 9, showings run from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the award ceremony following.

All day passes for the event cost $20. A VIP pass costs $45 and will grant access to every film and event all weekend, and also includes a 50 percent discount on admission to the Northeast Classic Car Museum in Norwich. Additional ticket options are available for $10, and a single event ticket for $5 will grant access to the screenwriting workshop or awards ceremony.

Tickets must be reserved online, while any remaining tickets will be sold at the door.

Pike also commented that he is seeking business sponsors and advertisers. Sponsorships and advertisements must be submitted by July 1.

Moviegoers, filmmakers and screenplay writers, sponsors and advertisers can find information at www.twintiersfilmfest.com. You can also find the event on Facebook.