Berkshire International Film Festival

With the deft direction of Eric Hill, and the fabulous choreography of Gerry McIntyre, Berkshire Theatre Group is staging a terrific production of Michael Bennett's ground breaking, 1975 musical , A Chorus Line. This is the thrilling Berkshire summer sensation we've all been waiting for. Don't miss this one.

On Thursday, June 28 the Williamstown Theatre Festival launches its season with the opening night of two shows. Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest" directed by David Hyde Pierce with Tyne Daly is on the Main Stage. The more intimate Nikos Stage will feature the world premiere of The Deep Blue directed by Bob Balaban with Becky Ann Baker and a return to Williamstown after a long absence of a perennial favorite, Blythe Danner. Yesterday WTF artistic director Jenny Gersten hosted a meet an greet with the directors and their stars.

This past week the Chinese artist and dissident Ai Weiwei was absent from the Serpentine Gallery in London for a new work created in collaboration with the architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron. Previously he worked with them on the renowned "Birdsnest" design for the Beijing National Stadium for the 2008 Olympics. Since release on bail following months of interrogation in June, 2011 the artist has been forbidden to communicate with the media or leave the country.

After the opening night of Ethel on Thursday we continue coverage, Friday through Saturday, of the seventh annual Berkshire International Film Festival. Yet again there was a stunning mix of features and unique documentary films.

A matriarch of the Kennedy dynasty, Ethel, the widow of Robert and mother of eleven, is a sporty, fun loving but guarded private individual. When HBO decided to commission a documentary they asked her daughter Rory. Everyone was shocked when Ethel consented to be interviewed by her youngest daughter. What Ethel declines to discuss is warmly fleshed out for her nine surviving children. It provided a stunning launch to the 7th annual Berkshire International Film Festival

The 7th Annual season of The Berkshire International Film Festival (BIFF) will celebrate this year with the latest in independent feature, documentary, short and family films. The festival runs from May 31 – June 3, 2012 in Great Barrington and June 1 – June 3rd in Pittsfield, MA and will be showcasing over 70 films in independent filmmaking.

The 7th Annual season of The Berkshire International Film Festival (BIFF) will celebrate this year with the latest in independent feature, documentary, short and family films. The festival runs from May 31 – June 3, 2012 in Great Barrington and June 1 – June 3rd in Pittsfield, MA and will be showcasing over 70 films in independent filmmaking.

Highlights include comedic evenings with the Sing-a-Long-a Sound of Music (July 14) and Freddie Roman's Friars Club Comedy Festival (July 15), performances by legendary modern dance troupes MOMIX (July 6 and 7) and Paul Taylor Dance Company (July 26, 27, and 28), musical concerts by Tony winner Faith Prince (July 21), Kennedy Center Honors recipient Barbara Cook and Grammy nominee John Pizzarelli (August 4), and by Grammy Award winners Judy Collins and Jimmy Webb (August 26)

The Berkshire International Film Festival and the Beacon Cinema join together for the Berkshires’ first-ever Smartphone Film Festival – a new take on the film festival scene, as part of the 10x10 On North Festival taking place February 16-26 in downtown Pittsfield. Films were shot using the iPhone, iPad and various alternative cinematic "apps" to create a desired look or effect.

During the benefit screening of the Wim Wenders film Ella Baff, the artistic director of Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, shared memories of the renowned German choreographer Pina Bausch. It seems she performed just once at Pillow in 1968 in a program created by Ted Shawn.

Wim Wenders started filming Pina in 2009 just a short time after the sudden death of the innovative German choreographer Pina Bausch. Accordingly the film which was shot in 3D includes only a brief archival sequence of her performing. There is little or no information provided about her as an individual in this documentary. But the magnificent film provides almost two hours of total immersion in her unique work. It sets a new paradigm for the genre of films about dance.

10X10 On North announces the schedule of events for the Berkshires’ first-ever winter contemporary arts festival, creatively enlivening downtown Pittsfield February 16-26 with art, dance, film, music, theatre, and more

It is that time of year when we look back at the highlights and insights of the past season. Take a deep breath and anticipate what lays ahead for 2012. There is much to remember as well as look forward to.

10x10 On North, the Berkshires’ first-ever winter contemporary arts festival, will creatively enliven downtown Pittsfield February 16 through 26, 2012, with a dynamic mix of new art, dance, music, theatre, and more.

Free movie-making discussion series begins Tuesday, July 19, with panel of film industry professionals on "Pre-Production." This collaboration will also include a specific course on the Art of Storyboarding and an intensive Screenwriting workshop.

Karen Allen who runs Karen Allen Fiber Arts in Great Barrington has been busy in the Berkshires. Recently the film "White Irish Drinkers" which she directed and stars in was screened during The Berkshire International Film Festival (BIFF). She has directed the Michael Weller play "Moonchildren" which remains at Berkshire Theatre Festival through July 16. It's a win win for Allen and Berkshire audiences.

The Berkshire International Film Festival announced the winners of the annual BIFF Juried Prize Award and the BIFF Audience Award. In the Juried documentary category, the winner was CRIME AFTER CRIME directed by Yoav Potash, the powerful documentary film on the legal battle to free Debbie Peagler, a woman imprisoned for over a quarter century due to her connection to the murder of the man who abused her.

Concluding our attendance at the sixth annual Berkshire International Film Festival yesterday we attended three films: Part Time Fabulous, On the Ice, !Woman Art Revolution. While problematic for different reasons the films were consistent with the remarkable quality of the festival organized by founder and artistic director Kelley Vickery.

Now in its sixth year under founder Kelley Vickery, screened at multiple venues the Berkshire International Film Festival, which opened on Thursday June 2 and ran in Great Barrington and Pittsfield closed on Sunday, June 5. Cinematic treats and surprises were in store for the enthusiastic crowds who attended. A film festival may be the second best thing to do in the dark. BIFF seems to get better each year.

Never Stand Still, a new documentary directed by award-winning producer and director Ron Honsa and narrated by Tony Award-winner and Kennedy Center honoree Bill T. Jones will be screened during BIFF on June 4. Never Stand Still is an inspiring film about dance and the extraordinary performers who have dedicated their lives to it; filmed on location at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, a National Historic Landmark and America’s longest running international dance festival.

On Saturday, June 4, Pittsfield native Kent Jones, one of the world’s most notable film critics and historians, will appear at the Beacon Cinema to screen and discuss his latest film collaboration with Martin Scorsese, A Letter to Elia, in a Berkshire International Film Festival special event sponsored by the Berkshire Film and Media Commission.

Filmmakers Jules Bruff (TIXE Films), Alethea Root and Don Presley (Truth 13 Productions), in partnership with Eleonore Daily, and Cheryl Stewart (howUNoriginal Productions) will make their U.S debut at the prestigious Berkshire International Film Festival (BIFF) on June 3rd and June 5th with PART TIME FABULOUS. Great Barrington native and independent filmmaker, Alethea Root, returns home for her directorial debut of PART TIME FABULOUS and Berkshire’s own award-winning, folk singer Meg Hutchinson lent her poignant song Being Happy for the trailer. No U.S. distributor is attached at this time.

Douglas Trumbull, will receive the annual BIFF Achievement in Film Award at the Festival’s 6th Anniversary held June 2 – 5, 2011 in Great Barrington and Pittsfield, MA. His career included the Special Photographic Effects Supervisor for 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968); Visual Effects Supervisor for such classics as Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979), and Blade Runner (1982), each of which earned him an Academy Award nomination.

The annual Berkshire International Film Festival will run from June 2 through 5. The film festival will feature some 70 US and international independent feature films, documentaries, and shorts.

The Berkshire International Film Festival and the Mahaiwe present a screening event of Karen Allen’s new critically acclaimed film, WHITE IRISH DRINKERS on Saturday, February 5 at 7 pm with Karen Allen, Peter Reigert, writer and director John Gray and other cast members in attendance.