SUBMISSION DEADLINES APPROACHING FOR FILMMAKERS
The Plymouth Independent Film Festival, now entering its third year, is a compelling success story. If you are a filmmaker, this is your opportunity to get your film out there to be seen. Attendance has reached nearly 5,000 in each of PIFF’s first two seasons. This year the Festival expects the number to grow. Previous Festival attendees included award-winning filmmakers, Oscar-nominated animators, and international documentarians, as well as film producers, production staff, actors and the media.

In 2006, 110 films were shown, and six films earned awards in the categories of Best Feature, Best Short, Best Environmental, Best Diversity, Best Student (Long) and Best Student (Short). The Plymouth Independent Film Festival also confers an annual Spirit Award and an Honorary Award.

This year, your film could take home one of these coveted PIFF awards!

If you’ve been thinking of creating a film or are in production, now is the time to mark these dates on your calendar. Submissions will be accepted by April 20, with an early entry discount for films submitted by April 2. A $20 fee is required for late entries until the deadline of May 11.

PIFF’07 will again accept works in progress from regional, national, and international filmmakers. Foreign language films without subtitles will be eligible to be screened only as works in progress. All genres will be considered.

From July 18 through July 22, there will again be opportunities to study the filmmaking process during workshops and master classes led by professionals; to attend discussion groups and panels, as well as Q&A sessions following screenings; and chances to network with filmmakers and film buffs.

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.
ACTOR/PRODUCER JOHN FIORE, SPECIAL GUEST AT CASINO DAY BENEFIT
The Poker Tournament and Casino Day Benefit for the Plymouth Independent Film Festival just sweetened the pot. Players can still win up to $5,000 value (bank card), and PIFF '07 decided to make you an offer you can't refuse.

Entry into the Texas Hold 'Em Poker Tournament is now only $100, including admission. General admission into Casino Day is $10. Side-gaming entry varies. The tournament begins at 1:00pm, but doors open at noon. Come early and enjoy free hors d'oeuvres while rubbing elbows with festival-goers and surprise celebrity guests! (Celebrity updates to follow. Stay tuned.)

Among our special guests will be John Fiore, whose movie Johnny Slade's Greatest Hits was a hit during PIFF '06. Fiore played Gigi Cestone on The Sopranos and Detective Tony Profaci on Law and Order, but on March 18, he'll play a cool hand at the tables. Mingle with Fiore and other surprise guests who will be shuffling cards, rolling dice and cheering players on.

Tickets will be sold at the door, but space is limited, so don't wait! Purchase tickets in advance at not simply BEADS in Village Landing, Plymouth; or, call Nicole to order by phone: 508-747-9222. (MC/VISA/DISCOVER accepted.)

Participants must be 18 or older to play. Winnings will be based on player attendance. For more information, contact Lisa at 508-801-2530 or email lisa@plyfilmfest.org, or call Mike at East Bay Grille at 508-746-9751. East Bay Grille is at 173 Water Street on the Plymouth Town Wharf.

For more information on Johnny Slade’s Greatest Hits, visit www.johnnyslade.com.
PIFF (FINALLY) UNVEILS ITS NEW WEBSITE!
Festival volunteers have been busy designing, writing, and editing elements of our website re-design. Thanks to Glorianna Davenport, Jon LaMaster, Erico Gerenia, and Iris Gallagher for redefining our architecture. Thank you to Connie DiLego for jumping in on video editing. Special thanks to Iris Gallagher who tirelessly designed the new interim site and is now working on our new theme for the 2007 season. Visit www.plyfilmfest.org to check out PIFF ’07!
PIFF PARTNERS WITH PCDC FOR MUSIC EVENT
In order to support a more vibrant cultural scene in the Plymouth area, PIFF will be lending marketing support, advice, assistance, and programming to the new Plymouth Music Competition.

The inaugural Plymouth Music Competition will take place from April 22 through May 12, engaging Plymouth residents as well as visitors and participants from outside the area. The winners of the competition will receive cash and music-related prizes. Competition events will be augmented by select performances by local, regional and nationally-respected musicians.

"Plymouth holds international importance due to its place in the history of our country, but history alone is no longer enough to help us grow. We need to develop unique events to brand Plymouth as an innovative and cultural gateway. The spillover effect these events will have on our business will inevitably play a role in giving the local economy a boost."

- Paul Cripps, Executive Director, Plymouth County Development Council & Visitor’s Bureau

Please visit www.seeplymouth.com/pmc for details.
PIFF PARTNERS WITH PETER GABRIEL'S WITNESS
WITNESS will offer special programming on the impact of video for social advocacy. In addition, PIFF is working with WITNESS to develop a panel and workshop. Stay tuned for further details as PIFF unveils this year’s programs and sessions.

WITNESS was founded in 1992 by musician and activist Peter Gabriel and the Reebok Human Rights Foundation as a project of the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights (now Human Rights First).

WITNESS uses video and online technologies to open the eyes of the world to human rights violations. We empower people to transform personal stories of abuse into powerful tools for justice, promoting public engagement and policy change.

Over the past decade, WITNESS has partnered with groups in more than 70 countries, bringing often unseen images, untold stories, and seldom-heard voices to the attention of key decision makers, the media, and the general public -- serving as a catalyst to grassroots activism, political engagement, and lasting change.

For more information about WITNESS, visit www.witness.org.
PIFF JOINS MASSACHUSETTS FILM OFFICE
Jen Heffernan from Dream Alley and Lisa Mattei (PIFF President/Director) at the MFO Breakfast Launch
PIFF has become a member of the new Massachusetts Film Office. By invitation, members of PIFF attended the unveiling of the new film office and the special reception held to introduce its new Executive Director, Nick Paleologos. As a member, PIFF will attend meetings and continue to work on synergies between the Film Office and the Plymouth Independent Film Festival.

The Massachusetts Sports & Entertainment Commission (MSEC) is a not-for-profit organization which serves as the Commonwealth's official agency dedicated to attracting and supporting world-class entertainment events and film productions for the Bay State.

For more information on the Massachusetts Film Office, visit www.masports.org.
SAVE THE DATE! UPCOMING OFF-SEASON BENEFITS
MARCH
Poker Tournament and Casino Day Benefit - March 18, East Bay Grille
Tournament begins at 1:00pm; doors open at noon

Join celebrity guests for an afternoon and evening of gaming. Win up to $5,000 value (bank card). Proceeds go to the Plymouth Independent Film Festival. Entry in the Texas Hold 'Em Poker Tournament is $100. Entry into other gaming events is $10 at the door, plus the cost of chips. Tickets on sale at not simply BEADS. Call Nicki at (508) 747-9222 to order by phone.

Download the flyer: PIFF07_casinoday_flyer.pdf


APRIL
My Dinner With Andrew - April 9 at 6:00pm, Café Strega

Andrew Alexander
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


Brattle Trailers - Plimoth Plantation
Special Screening at the Plantation. Stay tuned for further details.


MAY
Derby Day - May 6, BBC, Middle Street
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!
ON THE WATERFRONT
PIFF ’07 will again host a Comedy Evening, the Annual PIFF Awards, screening receptions, special filmmaker events, and outdoor movies on the lawn at downtown Plymouth’s historic waterfront.

Friday, July 20: On the Waterfront
Saturday, July 21: Star Wars (30th Anniversary)
Sunday, July 22: An Inconvenient Truth (2007 Academy Award-winner for Best Documentary)
A LOOK BACK ( SEE MORE IN OUR GALLERY )

Opening Night
La Conja
Chris Cooper

Bill Plympton
Frank Santorelli and John Fiore
Richard Leacock, D.A. Pennebaker, Albert Maysles, and Robert Drew
CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS
PIFF ’07 needs you! We are looking for film buffs with experience in the fields of marketing, sales, grant and copy writing, web producing, blogging, video editing, flash designing, videography, photography and producers 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@plyfilmfest.org.
PIFF PROFILES
Jim Curran
Photo by Cheryl DalPozzal
Who:
Jim Curran

Title:
Branding Design, Art Director, Designer

Background:
Jim graduated from Butera School of Art, which lead to a career in graphic design. He spent eleven years as a newspaper designer and illustrator, where he worked with a number of talented photographers and editors who inspired him to shoot and share his work. When Macintosh computers came along he was hooked from the beginning, enabling him to blend his design, illustration, and photography skills.

While taking a filmmaking class at the Museum School in Boston, he took in a film at the Human Rights Film Festival at the MFA. It was then that he knew he wanted to make documentaries -- to use his lens to let others tell their stories.

Known for:
Beautiful photography and for being droll and pithy. Our “pithmeister.”
Check out some of his work at http://jimcurran.smugmug.com

Favorite Films…at least for today, and in no particular order:
1. Brazil
2. The Godfather
3. 8 1/2 "This film inspired me to shoot in black and white."
4. A Hard Day's Night
5. Blazing Saddles
6. The Great Escape
7. Love Story
8. Summer of 42
9. Cal
10. All the President's Men
11. The Hunger

Which filmmaker or actor would you invite to PIFF?
"Terry Gilliam. Fredrick Wiseman. Kevin Smith."

If you could choose a theme for one of the festival years, what would it be?
“Films that start with the letter K.”

Why do you think a film festival is beneficial?
“A great movie doesn't end when the credits roll. Critics criticize, and patrons share their thoughts and praise. And when you can cluster a group of films, and those responsible for them as well as those willing to watch them, it creates an incredible buzz. That's beneficial to all.”
PIFF PLUG: BOSTON UNIVERSITY
Boston University announces its Summer Screenwriting Program.

For more information, download this PDF: BUscreenwriting.pdf