10 YEARS OF COVERING MFF
Montclair Magazine ’ s coverage of the film festival shows how this local institution has evolved .
NEW VIEW FOR AVENUE Now leased by Montclair Film , the Clairidge Theater has been remodeled , and is reopening in time for the 10th Montclair Film Festival .
CLAIRIDGE INTERIOR COURTESY OF MONTCLAIR FILM / RHG ARCHITECTURE + DESIGN
DO YOU SEE MONTCLAIR FILM EXPANDING GEOGRAPHICALLY ? Hall : Our next five-year plan is about expanding our reach beyond the boundaries of Montclair to the state . This fall , we ’ re launching a TV program with NJ PBS , New Jersey ’ s public television network , called “ Front Row Festival ,” that will feature six weeks of documentary and short films , with on-air conversations with the filmmakers . It will give people all over the state a little taste of what ’ s going onatMontclair Film .
Colbert : With virtual programming during the pandemic , we extended beyond our geographical boundaries and reached a different audience . So there ’ s a lot of conversation about how do you keep that , but continue in-person as well . It ’ s not just us ; the New Jersey Philharmonic , for example , has people watching their performances from all over the world . It ’ s areally interesting issue for nonprofits .
Feinberg : We ’ ve been very successful generating regional and national interest in the press , and we ’ re now attracting films that might not have thought about us as aplace to exhibit . But at heart it ’ s a community film festival , and I think that ’ s one of the things that separates us from larger festivals , and we ’ re going to continue in that vein .
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE FOR MONTCLAIR FILM AND FILM IN GENERAL ? Feinberg : I think arts and culture nonprofits are going to be challenged economically . Government has stepped in to help over the last 18 months , but I think it ’ s a one-time safety net . And the focus of philanthropy seems to be shifting toward existential threats like climate change and making sure people can eat . We will need to be prudent stewards of philanthropic funds .
I ’ m proud of the films Tom curates and the audience response , but at the end of the day , you ’ ve got to keep the lights on . Knock wood , our senior staff and board has really put the foundation in place to do that .
Hall : I think we ’ re going to see an in-person renaissance as soon as people feel safe to come back to the movies . The bigger Hollywood movies are going to continue to consolidate their release strategies around video on demand . I think that will open the door for independent and documentary film companies , which don ’ t have the resources to be using the same strategy as Disney or Paramount , to open in theaters again . The key is getting people to feel safe coming back . ■
@ montclairmagazine MONTCLAIR MAGAZINE FALL 2021
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