FILM SUBMISSION DEADLINES APPROACHING - DON'T MISS OUT!
Early deadline: Regular deadline: Late deadline:
April 2 April 20 May 11

Colleges: Please download, print, and post this PDF: PIFF07_call-for-films.pdf

Teen Filmmakers: You also are welcome to submit your film. Click here for details on the PIFF Future Filmmakers Felix Awards.
SPOTLIGHT: ANDREW ALEXANDER
Andrew Alexander
Delighting audiences since the age of five, Andrew's performing knows no bounds. From opera to improv and back again to Brahms, Andrew clearly delights in the music. This is what endears him to a broad range of listeners.

Andrew has performed for numerous dignitaries, including Senator Ted Kennedy, Boston Mayor Tom Menino, and former Mayor Ray Flynn. He has been featured on Boston's award-winning "Chronicle" and also on "CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood." Andrew's career has spanned more than 700 performances and includes venues such as Carnegie Hall, Symphony Hall, Jordan Hall, Tanglewood, Suffolk Downs, the Fleet Center, and the Wang Center for the Performing Arts.

A member of Boston Baroque for five years, Andrew also performed on the critically-acclaimed Midwest tour with the Mark Morris Dance Company. In addition, he has recorded seven CD's for the Telarc label, including the Grammy-nominated "Monteverdi Vespers of 1610" and "Bach's B Minor Mass."

Also at ease holding a baton, Andrew has conducted the Armenian Commemoration Choir at the Candlelight Vigil for Armenian Earthquake victims and survivors on the Boston Common; as well as serving as the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Boston Renaissance Chorus; a Buddhist mixed chorus of Soka Gakkai International; and directing the ensemble at regional meetings and events sponsored by the United Nations Association. He also has created the Svengali Cabaret, a long-running world folk and variety show.

Following Andrew's performance in Irving Berlin's "Watch Your Step," the Boston Globe's Richard Dyer said the performance was "delightful." We at PIFF agree. Don't miss the up-close-and-personal opportunity to revel in Andrew's artistry while enjoying a sumptuous meal at Cafe Strega on Monday, April 9.
FIRST PIFF POKER TOURNAMENT A SUCCESS!
The Poker Tournament and Casino Day Benefit for the Plymouth Independent Film Festival, at East Bay Grille in Plymouth, was a success. The proceeds from the event will be used to cover fees and the cost of equipment and other necessary expenses for PIFF '07.


PIFF's Steve Huntley (center)
Special guest, Actor/Producer John Fiore

For more information on Fiore's "Johnny Slade’s Greatest Hits", visit www.johnnyslade.com.

Special thanks to the management and staff at East Bay Grille.

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS
During the past few weeks, PIFF has been lucky to have several new volunteers join the team in many areas including video editing, marketing, grant writing, research, and accounting. We still need help from many people in these areas, as well as in the fields of sales, grant and copy writing, web producing, blogging, video editing, flash designing, videography, photography, and producing for a cable PIFF program. PIFF ’07 also needs help this summer managing Festival locations, selling and collecting tickets, and assisting special guests and theatre managers.

If you would like to join in the excitement of becoming part of the fastest-growing film festival, please contact Lisa Mattei lisa@plyfilmfest.org, or Arie Regan arie@plyfilmfest.org.
PIFF PARTNERS WITH PCDC FOR MUSIC EVENT, MAY 12
Board Members, Advisors, staff, and participants of PIFF are helping the Plymouth County Development Council (PCDC) with the upcoming benefit event at Memorial Hall on Saturday, May 12. Lisa Mattei, Grace Rudolph, Stan Strickland, Chuck Allen, Howie Altholtz, Jon LaMaster, Andrew Alexander, and Iris Gallagher are providing their skills as writers, designers, producers, advisors, and performers to raise funds for the first Plymouth Music Competition.

The benefit event stars the Police Experience, a Police tribute band managed by Miles Copeland, brother of Stewart Copeland (drummer for the Police), and manager of the original Police band (Sting, Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers). Miles Copeland also has sponsored the event by donating 10% of the sale of all original Police merchandise at the show.

The benefit performance will be held at Memorial Hall, Saturday, May 12. Doors open at 6pm. Performances begin at 7pm. Open to all ages. Tickets are $20 (general admission) or $50 (VIP).

Please visit www.seeplymouth.com/pmc for details.

Tickets will be available at the door on May 12 beginning at 6pm. Tickets are on sale now at Borders in the Independence Mall in Kingston, or on the web via Ticketweb. Click on the logo below to purchase online.

SAVE THE DATE! UPCOMING OFF-SEASON BENEFITS
APRIL
My Dinner With Andrew - April 9 at 6:00pm, Café Strega, Plymouth
Find out more about Andrew.

Hosted by Café Strega to benefit PIFF '07. Three-course dinner and entertainment $65 ($90 supporter-level) per person. Dinner tickets on sale at not simply BEADS. To order by phone, call Nicole at (508) 747-9222.

Download the flyer: PIFF07_stregaAA_flyer.pdf


MAY
Derby Day - May 6, BBC, Middle Street, Plymouth
Win raffle prizes including packages to Mohegan Sun and Rockingham Park. No Cover. Raffles $2 - $5.


JUNE
Reel Camp - TBD
Join filmmaker and MIT professor, Glorianna Davenport for a full-day workshop on filmmaking. Films created will be screened on the Waterfront during the Plymouth Independent Film Festival (July 18-22).


First PIFF Golf Tournament - TBD
Stay tuned!
PIFF PROFILES
Leslie Allen
Who:
Leslie Allen

Title:
Awards Designer, Special Events Director (Opening Night, Awards, Closing Reception)

Background:
Wife, glass artist, former time traveller, gardener, swimmer, true believer in moderating moderation.

Known for:
Big laugh, art, desperate need for acceptance.
See her art at www.bestglassartistintheworld.com.

Favorite Films…at least for today, and in no particular order:
1. PeeWee's Big Adventure
2. John Cassavettes' The Tempest
3. Gods and Monsters

Which filmmaker or actor would you invite to PIFF?
"Gena Rowlands. Gary Sinese."

If you could choose a theme for one of the festival years, what would it be?
“Pure joy.”

Why do you think a film festival is beneficial?
“It is extremely important that well considered, intelligent, and provocative self expression has a venue, whatever form it takes. Most who create art do so because they must. It is society's obligation, therefore, to provide a forum for that which has no choice but to exist. Well, that's what I think, anyway.”
PIFF PLUG: BOSTON UNIVERSITY
Boston University announces its Summer Screenwriting Program.

For more information, download this PDF: BUscreenwriting.pdf
PIFF PLUG: PIFFNOTES BLOG SITE
Dear All,

In the fall of 2006 I started a blog to encourage the people we know and love best to blog for the purpose of spreading the word about the cinema verite tradition, both to inform the younger generation and to establish a greater presence in the blogosphere for those in our tradition.

http://piffnotes.blogspot.com/

For those unfamiliar with PIFF Notes, please take a look. I hope you can all start your own blogs and link to PIFF Notes. And, if you wish, I would welcome you as a guest poster.

Please comment in the "comment" section and send your links for me to include in the "links" section.

As Ricky said, "We've got to keep this going".

Enjoy.

- Don Schaefer
PIFF PLUG: PLYMOUTH PHILHARMONIC
The Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra is looking for volunteers to assist with marketing and fundraising, including their annual summer Gala. If you are interested, please contact Sash at 508-746-8008 or email at serskine@plymouthphil.org.