The 19th Annual Martha’s Vineyard International Film Festival will be held at the Martha’s Vineyard Film Center.

Schedule of Events:

September 3, 2024:

4:00pm: Mighty Afrin: In The Time Of The Floods
Bangladesh, Greece | 2023 | 1 Hour 32 minutes | Rated PG-13 | Documentary

In the desolate wilderness of the disappearing islands along the Brahmaputra river, 12-year-old orphan Afrin is coming of age. Acclaimed director and cinematographer Angelos Rallis filmed over five years as heavy rainfalls and flood waters ravage Afrin’s island, and he captures her refusal to surrender to Bangladesh’s deadly tides. As Afrin rows herself in a wooden boat toward the teeming metropolis of Dhaka, she attempts to find her estranged father, only to find herself among the millions of new climate refugees. Forced to grow up fast, Afrin must confront the mysteries of a sinking world where her dreams merge with reality.

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7:30pm: Sabbath Queen
Israel, USA | 2024 | 1 Hour 45 minutes | Rated PG-13 | Animation, Documentary

A feature documentary filmed over 21 years, follows Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie’s epic journey as the dynastic heir of 38 generations of Orthodox rabbis including the Chief Rabbis of Israel. He is torn between rejecting and embracing his destiny and becomes a drag-queen rebel, a queer bio-dad and the founder of Lab/Shul–an everybody-friendly, God-optional, artist-driven, pop-up experimental congregation. SABBATH QUEEN joins Amichai on a lifelong quest to creatively and radically reinvent religion and ritual, challenge patriarchy and supremacy, champion interfaith love, and stand up for peace, ceasefire, and an end to the Occupation in Israel/Palestine. The film interrogates what Jewish survival means in a difficult rapidly changing 21st century.

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September 4, 2024:

4:00pm: Crossing
Turkey, USA | 2024 | 1 Hour 46 minutes | Not Rated | Drama

From acclaimed director Levan Akin (And Then We Danced), CROSSING is a moving and tender tale of identity, acceptance and unlikely connection that transcends borders and generations. Lia, a retired school teacher living in Georgia, hears from a young neighbor Achi that her long lost niece Tekla, a transgender woman, has crossed the border into Turkey. Hoping to bring Tekla home after a period of estrangement, Lia travels to Istanbul with the unpredictable Achi to find her. Exploring the hidden depths of the city, they cross paths with a transgender lawyer called Evrim, who helps them in their search. Humanistic and compassionate, Akin’s third feature is a heartfelt portrayal of overcoming the degrees of separation that divide us.

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7:30pm: Jokes & Cigarettes
In Spanish with English subtitles
Spain | 2023 | 1 hour 57 minutes | Not Rated | Comedy, Drama

Barcelona, late 1960s. A young jeweler named Eugenio meets Conchita on a bus and it is love at first sight. Eugenio learns to play guitar to follow Conchita in her musical career, and, despite stage fright, they start to play together as ‘Els dos’. When Conchita leaves Barcelona for two weeks, she convinces Eugenio to perform solo and Eugenio becomes a phenomenon in the city’s underground stand-up comedy scene. With her help, he creates his alter ego–the dark glasses, the black shirt, the barstool, the cigarettes and the high ball glass–the character that would soon become an unexpected success in a depressed Spain desperate to laugh.

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September 5, 2024:

Party at 5:30pm / Film at 7:30pm: Opening Night Party & Film: Lucky Winners
France | 2024 | Not Rated | Comedy

On Opening Night of the Festival, enjoy meeting fellow festival attendees and special guests inside a tented reception, from 5:30-7:00 PM, on the beautiful waterfront lawn adjacent to Lagoon Pond, just off Beach Road at the Tisbury Marketplace.  

We will be serving champagne, wine, beer and Goldie’s Rotisserie Truck provides the delicious locally sourced appetizers inspired by our French film to eat. And for an extra sweet treat, Mad Martha’s Ice Cream will be serving cones.

The wonderful Eric Johnson jazz quartet performs a lively mix of smooth jazz.

After the reception, guests will be invited to make their way by foot to the Film Center for a special Opening Night screening of Lucky Winners (France). The film begins at 7:30 pm.

Your ticket is good for both the OPENING NIGHT reception and the OPENING NIGHT FILM.  

There will be no tickets sold for the Opening Night film separately.

The chance of winning the lottery is one in 19 million – less likely than being struck by lightning, they say. But for the characters of Lucky Winners, this dream quickly turns into an explosive and hilarious nightmare. This rollercoaster of a black comedy explores themes of sudden fortune and its unexpected consequences. An all-star ensemble cast brings this thrilling tale to life. Renowned for her comic talent and performances in fims such as The Kitchen Brigade, Audrey Lamy brings her charisma to the role of Louise. Fabrice Eboué, known in France for his varied career in stage comedy and film, enriches the film with his verve and wit as Paul. Also lending their comedic talents to the cast are Anouk Grinberg (The Innocent) and Sami Outalbali (Sex Education). Famous for his ability to blend humour and emotion, director Maxime Govare’s collaboration with Romain Choay delivers a skillful exploration of social dynamics and reversals of fortune. Don’t miss the darkly comic twists and turns of Lucky Winners!

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September 6, 2024:

4:00pm: Sujo
In Spanish with English subtitles
Spain | 2024 | 2 hours 6 minutes | Not Rated | Drama

After a cartel gunman from a small Mexican town is murdered, Sujo, his beloved four-year-old son, is left an orphan and in danger. Sujo narrowly escapes death with the help of his aunt who raises him in the isolated countryside amidst hardship, poverty, and the constant peril associated with his identity. When he enters his teens a rebelliousness awakens in him, and like a rite of passage, he joins the local cartel. As a young man, Sujo attempts to make his life anew, away from the violence of his hometown. However, when his father’s legacy catches up with him, he will come face-to-face with what seems to be his destiny.

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7:30pm: Short Film Juried Competition

International | 2024 | 2 hours | Not Rated | Short Film

From more than 250 entries our festival selection committee has chosen 9 finalists. We will screen each short film and our jury will select the “Best Overall” film at the conclusion of the program.
 
Actress Debra Monk (Hold) and Filmmakers Josiah Spencer (Hold), Meredith Chin (A Thousand Cuts), Ray Santisteban (Savior) and Jay Zaretsky (Piano Man) will be in attendance

Our Jury:
Diana Barrett - Diana has been a long time festival jury member and president and founder of the Fledgling Fund, a philanthropic organization that supports documentary films that have a social impact.

Sarah Kernochan - Sarah is a two-time Academy Award winner for short documentary film, a director, and screenwriter.

David Helpern - David is an Academy Award nominated producer and director, most recently an executive producer of “Monsieur Spade” starring Clive Owen as the iconic private eye Sam Spade.  (David is a seasonal resident of Martha’s Vineyard).

Liam LoPinto - Liam’s breathtaking short film The Old Young Crow won the grand prize in last year’s shorts competition.

*** Extreme Thanks to our Short Film Selection committee: Anne Evasick, Jennifer Turner Smith, Steven Berry, and Deborah Alves for their work over the last six months to view, rate and select our finalists from close to 250 submissions. Bravo!

2024 MVIFF Short Film Competition finalists:

BARDO  (16:00)
Directed by Mishki Vaccaro, Canada
Bardo takes place over the three days after Steph’s mother’s death when she returns home to find a surprise visitor and wrestles with guilt over not being more present when her mother was alive.

MEAL TICKET (10:22)
Director Adrian B. Herrera, United States
A tough loving father with hoop dreams for his daughter, is hit with the harsh reality of their environment.

HOLD (13:40)
Director Josiah Junqueira Spencer, United States
An early morning phone call propels a mother and daughter on a path toward connection and the mysteries held in the act of letting go.

A THOUSAND CUTS (17:49)
Director Meredith Chin, United States
An elite college fencer grapples with an unspoken attraction to her teammate while training for her last competition. Pressured to be the best, and expected to win the team a national championship title, her emotions boil over in one vengeful final bout.

I’M NOT A ROBOT(20:00)
Director Victoria Warmerdam, The Netherlands
After several unsuccessful attempts to complete a Captcha, feminist Lara sets out to answer the disturbing question of whether she’s a robot, and therefore bought by her own boyfriend.

DAWN EVERY DAY (19:57)
Director Amir Youssef, Egypt
Set in 1956, 8 year old Nabil navigates through new social norms he cannot fathom that impact his next door best friend in post nationalized Egypt. Inspired by true events.

SAVIOR (3:51)
Director Ray Santisteban, United States
Featuring acclaimed Albuquerque, New Mexico poet Marcial Delgado, “Savior” is call to action, a cry for help, and ultimately a harsh indictment of U.S. Immigration policy. Part op-ed, part confrontational oratory, Delgado speaks his truth to a society that routinely vilifies immigrants.

MERMAN (14:35)
Director Madeleine Wynn, United Kingdom
Mari returns to her parents coastal home in rural England. There, through an unlikely acquaintance, she discovers the medieval legend of the Merman. The truth behind this seemingly innocent myth is darker than Mari could imagine. Are those who are ‘other’ destined to suffer as the Merman did hundreds of years ago? The message the myth bears across the centuries restores her resolve.

PIANO MAN (19:57)
Director Jay Zaretsky, United States
Having been struck with grief and loss, a legendary Jazz piano player retreats into an austere existence where he spends his days making music for his sick father and tuning the pianos of those who don’t truly appreciate the instrument. On this one day, Piano Man encounters Rosie, a saxophonist he used to play with back in the day. Convinced Piano Man was dead, Rosie persuades him to return to the stage one more time.

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September 7, 2024:

1:00pm: Agent Of Happiness
Bhutan | 2024 | 1 hour 34 minutes | Not Rated | Documentary

How can you measure happiness? The country of Bhutan invented Gross National Happiness to do just that, and Amber is one of the agents who travels door to door to meet people and measure how happy they really are. He is still living with his elderly mother at the age of 40, but is nevertheless a hopeless romantic who dreams of finding love: a happiness agent who is in search of his own happiness. We embark with Amber on a cross-country road trip meeting citizens from all walks of life, reminding us of the fragility and beauty of our own happiness. No matter where we live.

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4:00pm: The Quiet Maid
Spain | 2023 | 1 hour 32 minutes | Not Rated | Comedy, Drama

Ana has just arrived from Colombia and is the maid of a luxurious mansion on the Costa Brava, where a family of wealthy art dealers spends their summers. The young woman works tirelessly and without a contract, under the false promise of decent conditions at the end of the summer, if she remains obedient and discreet. When, thanks to the maid of the neighboring house, she discovers her own ways of enjoying the summer, the family decides to fire her. But before leaving, Ana will summon her wit and cunning to find her victory behind the 12 words that open a crypto wallet.

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7:30pm: Gondola
Georgia | 2023 | 1 hour 23 minutes | Not Rated | Comedy, Drama, Romance

Known for his unique no-dialogue style, Tuvalu and The Bra director Veit Helmer fantastically depicts the love-story between two women, set in the sky, who work on a ropeway running through the beautiful mountains of Georgia.

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September 8, 2024:

12:00pm: Adios Buenos Aires
In Spanish with English subtitles
Argentina, Germany | 2024 | 1 hour 33 minutes | Not Rated | Comedy, Drama, Music

Buenos Aires, November 2001. Argentina is embroiled in crisis, with the peso plunging deeper and deeper. Julio Färber, the charismatic bandoneon player of the “Vecinos de Pompeya,” a five-piece working-class tango band, is trying to keep his head above water, but every month he is earning less and less from their gigs as well as from the traditional shoe shop he inherited from his father. At the very moment, he takes the decision to leave his beloved Buenos Aires forever, it clearly appears that life is conspiring against him: overnight, the government freezes all bank accounts in the whole country, preventing Julio from purchasing the flight tickets and sparking violent protests throughout the town. And Mariela, a witty young woman, and feisty cab driver, bumps into his car at full speed, damaging Julio’s last possession of value before stealing his heart….

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2:15pm: Banel & Adama
Senegal's official submission to the Academy Awards
Senegal | 2024 | 1 hour 27 minutes | Not Rated | Drama

Banel and Adama are fiercely in love. The young couple lives in a remote village in northern Senegal. For them, nothing else exists except each other. But for the rest of their tight-knit village, duty dictates that Adama soon accept the role of chief. The two lovers have other plans… until something in the air changes. The rains do not come; the cattle begin to die; the men leave. A rare debut feature that premiered in competition at the Cannes Film Festival, and Senegal’s official submission to the Academy Awards®, Ramata-Toulaye Sy’s Banel & Adama is a lush and lyrical fable that soars to the heights of longing and descends deep into the realm of myth, sending its protagonists’ idyllic love on a collision course with their community’s customs. Because in this world, there is no room for passion, let alone chaos.

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Film at 4:30pm / Party immediately afterward: Closing Night Film: Sidonie In Japan & Party At Fish MV
France, Japan | 2023 | 1 hour 35 minutes | Not Rated | Drama, Romance

Join us to celebrate the final night of films and bring another wonderful festival to a triumphant end. Following the Closing Night Film SIDONIE IN JAPAN, we will reconvene on the porch at FISH MV, 80 Main Street in Vineyard Haven, for our closing Night Party. Your ticket includes both the closing night film, and admittance to the party at FISH MV. Enjoy wonderful food, libations and live music. 1 free drink per person with ticket at door, after that cash bar.

No tickets for the film will be sold separately.

Isabelle Huppert crafts a uniquely soft and vulnerable character in Élise Girard’s low-key charmer Sidonie In Japan. The eponymous Sidonie is a writer, predominantly known for an early novel that charted her grief after the deaths of family members in a car crash. Now grieving another loss, she agrees to a brief tour in Japan to celebrate a new translation of this book, accompanied by soft-spoken interpreter Kenzo (Tsuyoshi Ihara). What unfolds is a moving and gentle portrait of a woman slowly emerging from her protective carapace through probing conversations with Kenzo, a side trip to the famous art island of Naoshima, and the ghostly return of her deceased husband. Eschewing broad strokes of closure, Girard instead grabs at the heart with a beautifully nuanced look at a woman who finds a new lease on life.

Fish MV embraces the culture and love of the island of Martha’s Vineyard, with a dash of West Coast vibes. Here you’ll find some of the freshest seafood featured throughout our creative and vibrant menu. Our raw bar features island-harvested oysters shucked to order, fresh lobster, shrimp cocktail, and cherrystone clams. The main menu features poke bowls, tacos, ceviche, and many other seafood-inspired dishes. Pair it all off with our scratch-made cocktails and our impressive wine & beer list, for the perfect meal in Vineyard Haven.

We are located steps away from the Vineyard Haven Harbor, where the ferry docks. Stop by, enjoy a meal on our wooden deck, and be whisked away!

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Dates: September 3 - 8, 2024

Location:

Martha's Vineyard Film Center,
79 Beach Road,
Vineyard Haven, MA 02568.

Click here for more information.