The Martha's Vineyard Film Festival Welcomes in the New Year

The folks at the Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival (MVFF) are getting right to it with the start of their Winter Film Series for 2012 this weekend. Families are sure to be pleased with what the first weekend of the new year has to offer.

“This year we have created a double header out of last year's popular ‘Family. Film. Feast.’ Now calling our production, the Winter Film Series, the family portion of the evening is followed by a community meal at 6:30 and a feature film for adults at 7:30,” said Lindsey Scott, Director of Children's Programs for MVFF. “We have tried to craft an affordable and enjoyable evening for families to come together.”

Affordable and enjoyable may not have ever looked like this, as MVFF seems to have distilled the perfect Chilmark evening down to its essence.  Dinner, served at 5 pm, will be made by Chris Fischer of Beetlebung Farm with vegetables and meat from Beetlebung and Morning Glory Farms. It promises to have kid friendly options as well as delights for adult palates. There will be live music during the social time before the children’s film program begins at 5:30.

“This month's film program, "In the Thick of It," is a compilation of eight short films from around the world that kids of all ages (and parents) will enjoy. We have films from Australia, U.K., Germany, U.S.A., Hungary and Slovakia in this program,” said Scott.  And just in case the kids didn’t get enough dinner, there will be organic popcorn and treats from The Chilmark Cottage Baker.

The children's film program finishes at 6:15. “Parents have an hour to get the kids home and get back to the Chilmark Community Center to catch the adult feature. Or, for those crafty and organized parents, babysitters can collect the kids at the center and parents can simply sit back and enjoy the social dinner hour, free of their sleepy children.”

The feature this month is "The Hedgehog," a French film and adaptation of the best selling novel, "The Elegance of the Hedgehog” by Muriel Barbery. The film follows a highly articulate but deeply bored 11-year-old Parisian girl who has decided to kill herself on her 12th birthday. She documents her life with a video camera drawing trenchant and often hilarious observations on the world around her. But as her appointment with death approaches, she finally meets some kindred spirits who inspire her to question her rather pessimistic outlook on life. The film has won audience awards at the Seattle International, Palm Springs International, Washington DC International, and Cairo International Film Festivals.

For those parents who may have trouble staying up for the feature film (this is Chilmark after all), there is locally roasted coffee from The Chilmark Coffee Company.

“We try to create a relaxed atmosphere for families to come together in the dead of winter for a chance to chat, eat, enjoy each other and of course get a chance to see some great films from around the world,” said Scott.

It is an evening as could only be crafted by parents who love film, food and community, offered up for all their kindred spirits on the Island.

The Winter Film Series takes place at the Chilmark Community Center in Chilmark.

Kid Friendly Dinner and Films start at 5 pm. FREE for members, $5 for non-members.

Live Music and community dinner starts at 6:30 pm. $5 Kids, $10 Adults

Adult feature film, “The Hedgehog” starts at 7:30 pm. $6 for members, $12 for non-members

Plus, if you volunteer for a full shift during our Winter Film Series or March Film Festival you’ll get dinne and a movie courtesy of MVFF. To find our more, please contact Anna: anna@tmvff.org.