[caption id="attachment_46200" align="alignnone" width="800"] Nicholas Vreeland is "Monk with a Camera"[/caption]
By Dawn Watson
In good storytelling, the action continues to slowly build upon itself as the narrative progresses. In film, that journey usually culminates in a dramatic scene somewhere near the end of the movie. When the tale is told well, the payoff is well worth the wait.
Though it’s nowhere near the end of the story for the Hamptons Take 2 Documentary Film Festival, the hoped-for payoff has already started to appear, says Founder and Executive Director Jacqui Lofaro. Now in its eighth year, the festival has really begun to hit its stride.
[caption id="attachment_46206" align="alignleft" width="300"]
Misty Copeland in "A Ballerina's Tale."[/caption]
“I think we’ve turned a corner,” she says of what started as a passion project for the Bridgehampton-based documentary film maker. “We’ve got a nice mix of features and shorts, the audience has come to really love the festival, our ticket sales are robust, and we’ve been able to attract some real icons in the documentary filmmaking world. It’s one of the strongest programs that we've ever had.”
Some of the more noteworthy films that will be featured during this year’s festival, which will be held from Thursday, December 3, through Sunday, December 6, at Bay Street Theater, include “A Ballerina’s Tale” by Nelson George, “What Happened, Miss Simone” by Liz Garbus, “The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution” by Stanley Nelson, “Harry and Snowman” by Ron Davis, and “Since: The Bombing of Pan Am Flight 103” by Phil Furey. But there’s a whole slate of extraordinary viewing packed into the four-day festival, says Ms. Lofaro, and she recommends catching more than one.
Kicking off on Thursday, the documentary-only destination event runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Nearly 30 films will be screened this year, reports Ms. Lofaro, who adds that there will be lots of standouts during the four-day event, including a “Focus on Locals Day,” which highlights documentary filmmaking on Long Island; a “Young Voices Program” from students at the Springs School, East Hampton High School and the Ross School; Q&A sessions with many of the filmmakers in this year’s festival by emcees Bonnie Grice and Andrew Botsford; and a gala on Saturday night, honoring the achievements of legendary documentarian, Stanley Nelson.
This year’s Opening Night Film will be “A Ballerina’s Tale,” which will be screened on Thursday at 8 p.m. The highly-acclaimed documentary shines the spotlight on the dramatic rise of African-American ballerina Misty Copeland, the first African American woman to be named as a principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre. Mr. George, the director, will attend the Q&A after the screening.
The Spotlight Film and Filmmakers Choice Award is “What Happened, Miss Simone,” which screens on Friday at 8:30 p.m. Detailing the life of legendary torch singer Nina Simone, the film explores her complex life and struggles. The director, Ms. Garbus, will be joined on stage for a Q&A with producer Amy Hobby and Ambassador Attallah Shabazz, the daughter of Malcolm X and a personal friend of Ms. Simone.
On Saturday, the evening will include a tribute to Mr. Nelson, who will attend via Skype, with a cocktail reception at 7 p.m. His film, “The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution,” screens at 8:30 p.m. and will be followed by a Q&A with his sister, journalist Jill Nelson and producer Laurens Grant.
The Closing Night Film will be “Since: The Bombing of Pan Am Flight 103,” which will screen on Sunday at 7:15p.m. The film recounts the bitter fight for the truth waged by the 270 victims’ families, including that of a Montauk local, after the flight went down over Lockerbie, Scotland, in December 1988.
Documentary films contain a range of stories, says Ms. Lofaro. They aren’t only focused on investigation and the darker side of life. This year’s festival contains a number of appealing and entertaining films that celebrate the lighter and inspiring sides of humanity.
For example, there’s “Outermost Radio,” which screens on Friday at 4 p.m. The film by multiple Emmy Award-winning director Alan Chebot takes an intimate look at the quirky and unique community of Cape Cod’s Provincetown, where independence and freedom of expression rules at the community radio station WOMR.
“Far from the mainland and out of the mainstream, they are committed to keeping their freedom of expression and their non-profit community radio station alive,” says Mr. Chebot of his entertaining and insightful look into the lives of some of P-Town’s more colorful characters.
East Enders might be particularly interested in “Modern Tide: Midcentury Architecture” by Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker and director Jake Gorst. This film, screening on Saturday at 12:15, presents a comprehensive history of the region’s best postwar architects and designers, including Frank Lloyd Wright, Philip Johnson, Charles Gwathmey and Andrew Geller, who happens to be the filmmaker’s grandfather.
“Long Island's midcentury modern architecture is an important, yet generally unrecognized cultural asset,” says Mr. Gorst. In ‘Modern Tide’ we sought to tell the story of many notable structures, and the people who brought them about, therefore encouraging an appreciation for the work and the need to preserve it.”
Another film that is sure to move its audience is “Big Voice,” which screens on Saturday at 4 p.m. Directed by Varda Bar-Kar, the film follows the year-long journey of visionary Santa Monica High School choir director Jeffe Huls as he pushes his teenaged ensemble to achieve one mighty voice.
“Big Voice” came from my desire to make a film that honors the dedicated art teachers of my youth whose lessons continue to enrich my life,” says Ms. Bar-Kar, whose film was honored with the "Best U.S. Premiere Documentary" Award.
Lastly, what is sure to be a huge favorite here is “Harry and Snowman,” which screens on Sunday at 1:15. This film is about East Hampton horse farm owner Harry deLeyer, who purchased a white Amish plow horse for $80 on its way to the glue factory and turned him into an internationally-known Triple Crown show jumper winner in the late 1950s.
"The story of Harry & Snowman is probably the most beautiful story of friendship between a man and his horse and one that I feel privileged to tell," says Mr. Davis, who directed the documentary with the help of his subject.
“This Amish plow horse wins the competition,” sums up Ms. Lofaro.
Tickets to the Hamptons Take 2 Film Festival are $15 for each screening, and $13 for senior citizens. Tickets for the Saturday night Gala reception, film and Q&A, is $45. A full festival pass for all four days of films, including the Gala is $125. Learn more and purchase tickets at www.HT2FF.com. Tickets may also be purchased at the Bay Street Theater box office from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, online at www.baystreet.org, or at the door.
