Hundreds of film enthusiasts, critics and aspiring directors filed into the University at Albany’s New York State Writers Institute Film Festival on Saturday.
“It’s all about stories, what we’re are doing today is stories on film. And I think it’s essential that we grasp storytelling. Whether it’s in book form or film form,” Michael Huber, a member of the New York Writers Institute, said.
Attendees were glued to their seats and watched a number of films debut for the first time.
Organizers say an event like this is more than a screening party, it’s an opportunity to inspire.
“We may be looking at a future filmmaker right here, anyone who has a cell phone now and internet connection can be a filmmaker,” Paul Grondahl, an event organizer, said. “These tools are amazing.”
The impressive list of debuting films included works from Stanley Nelson, D.W. Young and even Karen Allen --a face many might remember from Raiders of the Lost Ark -- who made her directing debut.
But one film caught the eye of many.
“This film, The Hard Places, it’s a first time ever,” Grondahl said. “It’s a world premiere. That’s another film that I’m excited to see today.”
The Hard Places, is a film based off a local optometrist, Tom Little, who spent 30 years of his career serving underprivileged groups in Afghanistan.
Little tragically passed in an ambush more than 10 years ago, but the film's director Daniel Swinton was able to capture the doctor's impact in a breathtaking 90-minute film.
“Understanding his 30-year journey and his life,” Swinton said. “What an amazing feat that is, ith all the difficulties that country has had.”
Through recovered footage and trips to Afghanistan, Swinton conveys how Little’s work touched the lives of the countless individuals he served.
“I hope it helps them to remember the huge humanitarian needs of Afghanistan and other countries from around the world that are really just struggling with internal conflict and war and those kinds of things,” Swinton said. “Hopefully some people will get involved.”
Among the crowd that gathered to watch the film was Little's family, who after 10 years are excited to share his story.
“It’s a hard life, and as the title implies in hard places, “Fred Little, Tom’s brother, said. “It involved a lot of sacrifice. But with sacrifices comes personal reward and spirituality.”
Having not seen the film before Saturday, the family knows when the film rolls, it will be a tough day.
“I hope the lights are very dim,” Little said. “Bad things happened over there but a lot of good things happened over there. I’m trying to focus on the good memories of my brother.”
Article From & Read More ( Albany Film Festival celebrates local directors, producers - Spectrum News )https://ift.tt/y53ZD6E
Film
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Albany Film Festival celebrates local directors, producers - Spectrum News"
Post a Comment