Introducing Our Media Partner Cognac Wellerlane
PopImpressKA Journal Presents Cognac's Corner Column:
The 24th Hamptons International Film Festival www.cognacscorner.com
Above: Cognac Wellerlane
This year the 24th Hamptons International Film Festival took place from Thursday October 6th through October 10, 2016 at various venues in East Hampton, Southampton and Sag Harbor, NY.
The Hamptons International Film Festival (HIFF) is a year-round 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
Each year the Hamptons International Film Festival features events, screenings, film workshops, comprehensive summer programs and an annual film festival in October. The Festival is the premiere film event on New York State’s east end and is an intimate showcase of some of the year’s best offerings in contemporary cinema from around the world. The Hamptons International Film Festival presents cash and in-kind prizes handed out totaling more than $165,000. HIFF continues to attract some of the best films of the year. Selections from all of their programs continue to play an important role during awards season. 2015 marked the 7th time in the last 8 years that a film at the Festival has become the eventual Best Picture winner at the Oscars, making HIFF the only Festival on the East Coast with such a distinction.
This year I had the pleasure of interviewing Actor Alec Baldwin who is on the board and is a big supporter of the Hamptons International Film Festival.
Hamptons International Film Alec Baldwin
Actor Alec Baldwin reveals, "Created in 1993, the Hamptons International Film Festival has grown significantly since I was introduced to it a few years back. I had always shunned such programming out on the East End as being too duplicative of what could be found easily in New York. A few years ago, however, I bought a pass….and I was hooked.
A few years back, I joined their board. HIFF has become not only a venue of growing importance on the circuit of international film exhibition and distribution, it is one of the most important cultural events that is held in that media-centric area at the end of Long Island. David Nugent, HIFF’s Director of Programming, and I produce the SummerDocs series each year between Memorial Day and Labor Day. It has been one of my favorite projects that I’ve worked on, ever."
This year the Festival was honored to partner with Variety for the fifth time and the New York Film Critics Circle for the 8th year.
“HIFF continues to focus on showcasing an entertaining, diverse and provocative slate of films each year. We are thrilled with the warm embrace of the films in our 24th edition and are thankful to the filmmakers for allowing us to share the films with our audiences,” said David Nugent, HIFF Artistic Director.
“We are proud of the diverse slate of programming from this years festival, and are appreciative of all the support of our community, audience members, filmmakers, actors and staff who were part of such an incredible and successful weekend,” said Anne Chaisson, HIFF Executive Director. “We look forward to celebrating our 25th anniversary next year.”
HAMPTONS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL CONGRATULATES THE 2016 WINNERS:
The HIFF Award Winner for Best Narrative Feature presented by the Wall Street Journal
GLORY “Slava,” directed by Kristina Grozeva & Petar Valchanov
Honorable Mention for Narrative Feature presented by the Wall Street Journal
DIVINES, directed by Houda Benyamina
HIFF Award Winner for Best Documentary Feature sponsored by ID Films
THE EAGLE HUNTRESS, directed by Otto Bell
Honorable Mention for Documentary Feature sponsored by ID Films
THOSE WHO JUMP, directed by Estephan Wagner, Moritz Siebert & Abou Bakar Sidibé
The HIFF Award Winner for Best Narrative Short Film presented by the Wall Street Journal
THE SILENCE “Il Silenzio,” directed by Ali Asgari & Farnoosh Samadi
HIFF Award Winner for Best Documentary Short Film presented by ID Films
IRREGULARS, directed by Fabio Palmieri
Tangerine Entertainment Juice Fund Award
WAKEFIELD, directed by Robin Swicord
Suffolk County Film Commission Next Exposure Grant
BLACK SWELL, directed by Jake Honig
The 2016 Brizzolara Family Foundation Award for a Film of Conflict and Resolution
DISTURBING THE PEACE, directed by Stephen Apkon & Andrew Young
The Zelda Penzel “Giving Voice to the Voiceless” Award: Dedicated to Those Who Suffer in Silence
UNLOCKING THE CAGE, directed by Chris Hegedus & D.A. Pennebaker
And as previously announced:
Victor Rabinowitz and Joanne Grant Award for Social Justice
LOVING, written/directed by Jeff Nichols
Variety's Creative Impact in Acting Award
Aaron Eckhart, BLEED FOR THIS and SULLY
HIFF Career Achievement Award
Edward Norton, BUNKER77 (executive producer), BIRDMAN OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE), COLLATERAL BEAUTY
HIFF Narrative Feature Jury
David Edelstein, Chief film critic for New York Magazine, NPR’s Fresh Air, and regular commentator for CBS Sunday Morning; Chairman of the New York Critics Circle
Mariska Hargitay, Emmy® and Golden Globe® Award winning actress known for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
John Krokidas, writer/director, KILL YOUR DARLINGS
HIFF Documentary Feature Jury
Alexis Alexanian, President of Production at Locomotive & NYWIFT Board of Director
Jason Janego, former Co-Founder and Co-President of RADiUS
Julie Goldstein, President of Production at Endgame Entertainment & formerly of HBO and Miramax
2016 VARIETY 10 ACTORS T0 WATCH
Riz Ahmed, UNA & The Night Of
Mahershala Ali, MOONLIGHT, House of Cards, Luke Cage
Rachel Brosnahan, PATRIOTS DAY, BOOMTOWN, House of Cards
Ana De Armas, HANDS OF STONE, WAR DOGS, BLADE RUNNER
Alden Ehrenreich, HAIL, CESAR!, RULES DON’T APPLY
Tavi Gevinson, The Crucible (Broadway), ENOUGH SAID
Kara Hayward, MANCHESTER BY THE SEA, PATERSON
Lucas Hedges, MANCHESTER BY THE SEA, THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
Aja Naomi King, THE BIRTH OF A NATION, How to Get Away With Murder
John Legend, LA LA LAND, Oscar®-winning songwriter (SELMA)
Here is their link: www.hamptonsfilmfest.org
Above: Cognac Wellerlane and Actor Aaron ECKHART , talking about the Film "Bleed"
