When transpersonal psychotherapist Bernard Corrigan made his short film, “The Handbook of Relationships” he hardly considered it a contender for the film festival circuit. After all, the 19 minute DVD was really designed to convey the seven stages of relationships that Corrigan counsels people through in his work.
With a series of black and white photographs of a hands in different positions accompanied by voice over and text, in the film, Corrigan addresses the emotions that humans experience in their personal relationships with others.
“I could see it screened at the Omega Institute or a yoga center where this could be part of a weekend workshop on understanding the true identity of the ‘I am’ self,” says Corrigan, who lives in Sag Harbor. “This was a way to provide a visual of the workshop, and explain who we are as part of a wave in the ocean and the relationship dynamics.”
“I thought about it on a broader scale, but never for a festival,” say Corrigan.
But Francis Leik, executive director of the Long Island Film Festival (LIFF), had a different take. Over Labor Day weekend, Leik came east in search of a venue for this fall’s 26th touring edition of the LIFF. While at a friend’s house in Sag Harbor, Leik saw a copy of Corrigan’s DVD lying on the table.
“I said, ‘That looks like an experimental film, let’s pop it in,’” he recalls. And though his friend hadn’t thought of Corrigan’s work as festival material, Leik did.
“I immediately saw it that way,” recalls Leik. “I’m seeing the text as it opens up, then watching the film as it morphs into visuals and continues with hand gestures. It clicked into my head, I said, ‘I’ve got to meet this guy.’”
Corrigan soon found himself on the docket for the 2009 Long Island Film Festival. Leik has since worked with Corrigan to re-edit the DVD into a film that is more cinematic in approach. The pair have also talked about turning it into a performance piece, with the addition of live actors. That’s the beauty of the festival — being open to all types of filmatic expressions has been a strong suit of the programming.
“We like to keep a good eye out for Long Island filmmakers,” explains Leik. “And they can be filmmakers who have moved somewhere else, but have roots on Long Island.”
Leik’s visit to Sag Harbor was fruitful in more than one way — not only did he get Corrigan on board as a filmmaker, he also lined up the festival’s newest venue. On Friday, November 13, the Long Island Film Festival’s 26th touring edition will offer a day of screenings at Bay Street Theatre. This is not the first time the LIFF has had a presence on the East End.
“In 1984 when it started as a touring festival, it came out here to the Parrish Art Museum,” notes Leik who took over directorship of the LIFF in 2005. “The festival was also at Guild Hall from 1986 to 1995 or so.”
But this is the first time the festival has been in Sag Harbor. Another festival first this year was a screening in Ireland.
“We took over a handful of short films made by Long Islanders and collaborated with the Kerry Film Festival,” says Leik. “This is our final tour stop — we started out here in the Hamptons years ago and I’m excited to be back. Bay Street’s a brand new venue and a whole other area to explore.”
The festival also has a segment called “CultureFest na Gaeilge USA” — an Irish language component instituted by Leik who has a keen interest in Irish heritage.
“This screening will feature two short Irish language films, prior to that two poems will be read on stage in the Irish,” says Leik.
Other local filmmakers whose films are on the program are Ross School student Alexa Barrett, winner of the festival’s best student director award and Carlos Ferrer a Southampton resident and SUNY Purchase film student.
Films begin at 4 p.m. Friday at Bay Street Theatre, Long Wharf, Sag Harbor and continue throughout the evening. The centerpiece is an 8 p.m. screening of Christopher Grimm’s feature “Goyband.” There will also be an awards presentation. Tickets are $12 and good for as many titles as desired. The schedule is online at www.baystreet.org.
Top: Sag Harbor filmmaker and psychotherapist Bernard Corrigan (left) with Francis Leik, executive director of the Long Island Film Festival.
