The second annual Montclair Film Festival in Northern New Jersey runs from April 29 to May 5 and will screen more than 80 films — many of them directed by women. Here’s just a sample of what not to miss:
Begin your festival week on Tuesday with Gideon’s Army. Directed by NYWIFT member Dawn Porter, the documentary follows three young, idealistic public defenders in the Deep South. Thursday evening, enjoy the grown-up rom-com Love Is All You Need by Oscar-winning director Susanne Bier. It’s back to docs on Friday, with Shola Lynch’s Free Angela and All Political Prisoners about Angela Davis’ struggles in the 1970s.
Saturday afternoon, see Best Kept Secret, chronicling teacher Janet Mino as she prepares students who have autism for life after high school; directed by Samantha Buck. That evening, explore movie trailer-making with Lake Bell’s comedy In a World… Late night, head to NJ Shorts: Passions, which includes Gillian K. Willman’s The New Woman: Annie “Londonderry” Kopchovsky, the story of an extraordinary bicycle journey in 1894; and Elissa Pellegrino’s Photo-Journal-Isms, a profile of Ed Kashi.
Sunday morning, catch Oscar-nominated director Deepa Mehta’s Midnight’s Children, “intertwining magic realism with the history of modern India.” End a splendid festival week with Sundance hit Concussion, directed by Stacie Passon, which follows a married, lesbian housewife who, after a blow to the head, searches for adventure.
For a full schedule and tickets, go to montclairfilmfest.org. (Tickets are now on sale for the general public. Member tickets went on sale Friday, so some films are already sold out. However, tickets to sold-out shows will become available on April 15.)
nywift
Related Posts
NYWIFT Member Spotlight: Karen Goeller
Karen Goeller is a gifted storyteller whose work spans literature, film, television, and live performance. Since launching her film career in 2012, she has contributed to more than 100 productions both in front of and behind the camera. As a long-standing member of NYWIFT, Karen has built a reputation as a talented actor, script supervisor, writer, and producer. And as a writer, she’s earned awards for three screenplays — Escape Artists, Best First Dates...NOT, and Missy’s Voice. Also the author of 20 published books spanning gymnastics, fitness, and children’s literature, Karen continues to inspire across multiple platforms. With a unique background in law, health sciences, and athletics, her work reflects creativity, strength, and authenticity — qualities that define her as a dynamic and enduring force in storytelling. Karen’s latest project, Missy’s Voice, highlights themes of resilience and triumph through the story of a bullied young singer who eventually finds her voice. She spoke to us about exciting new developments for Missy’s Voice and what we can look forward to next.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Rita Marcocci
Welcome to NYWIFT, Rita Marcocci! Rita Marcocci is founder of Verus Studios, LLC a female-owned, award-winning production studio based in Westport, CT. She is a former executive at FOX Television with an accomplished background in revenue growth and strategic partnerships. Her most recent project, the Oscar and BAFTA shortlisted film The One Note Man, is currently available on Amazon Prime. Next up is a short film collaboration with award winning director, Daniel Deville and the Oscar-winning team at Slick Films. Rita brings a strategic perspective to projects, offering a full understanding of successful operational knowledge as well as diverse, hands-on experience in the entertainment industry. In our interview, Rita discusses her current projects and the process of running Versus Studios!
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Cassie Rubio
Welcome to NYWIFT, Cassie Rubio! Cassie Rubio is a Brooklyn-based screenwriter, educator, and community organizer. Whether it’s running free art labs for QTBIPOC youth or teaching guerrilla filmmaking workshops aimed at documenting climate change, Cassie believes in the transformative power each of our creative voices have. A recent graduate of Stony Brook’s MFA in Television Writing program and a 2024 Television Academy Drama Writing Fellowship Finalist, they use their voice to author stories about the harm and healing found in collective spaces. In our interview, Cassie discusses the intersections between activism and filmmaking, their writing inspiration, and an upcoming project!
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Ellie Nix
Welcome to NYWIFT, Ellie Nix! Ellie Nix is a recent graduate from the University of Texas at Austin, where she played key roles in over 25 short films during the three years it took her to complete her degree. With a growing passion for assistant directing, Ellie brings a unique blend of efficiency and diplomacy to the fast-paced, ever-evolving world of media production. Ellie is most inspired when surrounded by people who challenge their perspective and a passion for those perspectives, and hopes to spend a lifetime pushing boundaries and helping bring bold visions to life. In our interview, Ellie discusses her experience as an assistant director, finding film community, and her short film Barreling Down!
READ MORE
