Monday, September 18---After four days of film excitement, the Martha's Vineyard International Film Festival ended its inaugural session with an enthusiastic thumbs up from Festival audiences, visiting filmmakers and local businesses. The Festival, which was based in the harbor town of Vineyard Haven on the unique island resort of Martha's Vineyard, has now literally drawn a line in the sand and has the great potential to become a major destination site in years to come.

Nearly all of the film screenings were sold out...quite a feat for a first-time event that only announced its program barely two weeks ago. Of course, the Festival was building on the reputation and consistency of the Martha's Vineyard Film Society, which has been presenting quality independent and international films to discriminating audiences for the past four years.

No small measure of this first session's success is the personality and enthusiasm of its co-Director Richard Paradise. A consummate film lover and a respected longtime resident, Paradise is the Festival's master showman cum cheerleader, a man of great humor and enthusiasm. He is someone who delights in the preparations and the operations of the film events that he produces, and is never more exhilirated than when a "difficult" film plays to a sold out house.

Richard Paradise

"I am really pleased with the outcome this year", Paradise exulted on the Monday following the four day event. "We had tremendous support from all concerned, and I think that we created a unique atmosphere in and around the town of Vineyard Haven."

With the Festival coming at the end of high season, the breakneck pace of social and cultural events on the Island was in definite tranquil mode. Paradise has positioned the Festival as a way of extending the summer season, giving full-time residents, late summer tourists and small businesses something to celebrate as the weather begins to change.

And the weather was nothing if not changable. The first two days of the event were rain-drenched affairs, shrouded in the mist and fog that is a hallmark of the Island. By Day 3, the sun returned, with two of the most delectable late summer days once could hope for. The jury is still out as to whether less than perfect weather is better for film attendance than brilliantly sunny skies, but the level of support did not wane as the Festival continued through its inaugural weekend.

The quality of the films was high, the program quite diverse and the response very strong. Technical restrictions and limitations of the venues aside, the Festival scored a home run on all counts. For future years, larger venues, more special events, a greater number of filmmaker guests and a deeper cooperation with area businesses will assist with plans for expansion of the event.

"We don't want to move too quickly and destroy the intimate feel that we have created", Richard Paradise added. "We want to continue basing ourselves in the town of Vineyard Haven, and create a true festival atmosphere that will spill over from the screenings and parties into patronage of local businesses and dining in local restaurants." The idea of making Main Street the main Festival thoroughfare is a decided strategy that makes economic and strategic sense.

"Having everything taking place in one central location creates a sense of excitement", co-director Nevette Previd reinforced. "We want to do even more events in the town of Vineyard Haven, and make it the center of the Festival experience for residents and visitors alike".

Nevette Previd

With 364 days left on the calendar to plan for next year's event, Paradise and Nevid promised an even bigger celebration next year. "The main film theater in town has been closed for almost two years", Paradise explained. "Once it is open later this year, we can plan to use it as our main Festival screening theater, more than doubling the capacity for seating. Of course, it also doubles the challenge, but we are up for it."

There is a long tradition for resorts to attach a film festival as a way of extending the "high season". This is certainly the case in such long established resort/festival venues as Deauville, San Sebastian and The Hamptons...all of whom have created substantial Festival events during the late September/October months.

This recipe will service the Martha's Vineyard International Film Festival as well.....a beautiful and magical location with a sophisticated local population, that is also a major draw for visitors, tourists and nature lovers. This has the potential to become a major "festival destination" in the coming years.

Sandy Mandelberger
Festivals Editor