FIRST-EVER VIRTUAL GIFF | MAY 1-3, 2020 www.greenwichfilm.org |@ greenwichfilm #GIFF2020 T:8.25” What impact do you want to make? It’s time for a financial partner who understands you. At J.P. Morgan Private Bank, we believe that finances planned and managed with intent can help you realize your goals. Let’s connect. T:10.75” 100 West Putnam Avenue, 4th Floor Greenwich, CT 06830 jpmorgan.com/connecticut ctfilm.com “ J.P. Morgan Private Bank” is a brand name for private banking business conducted by JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its subsidiaries worldwide. INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: • NOT FDIC INSURED • NO BANK GUARANTEE • MAY LOSE VALUE Office of Film, Television & Digital Media Office of Film, elevisionT & Digital Media TABLE OF CONTENTS 49 GIFF honors Gretchen Carlson as a 2020 Changemaker 6 Virtual Festival FAQ 10 A Letter From Founders & Executive Director 12 Festival Team 13 Tribute to our Top Donors 14 Sponsors & Partners 40 2020 Jury Spotlight on Director/Producer/ 16 Cinematographer/Editor, Documentary Features Matthew Heineman 20 28 Narrative Features 33 Connecticut Short Film Program 39 Film Awards 40 Spotlight on Matt Heineman 49 GIFF Award Winners: Gretchen Carlson and Will Reeve 6 First-ever GIFF Virtual festival comes to life! Your questions answered. Content as of April 8, 2020 Designed by Lauren Clayton 4 | Greenwich International Film Festival Greenwich International Film Festival | 5 VIRTUAL FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE Website: Main Office Telephone: Social Media: www.greenwichfilm.org 203-717-1800 @greenwichfilm #GIFF2020 FAQ What is the Virtual Greenwich International Film Festival? The Virtual GIFF is a new way for our audience to enjoy films they can’t see anywhere else from the comfort and safety of their homes. The 2020 Festival will take place online from May 1 to 3, and will include 29 Narrative & Documentary Features and Short Films from 8 countries, along with exclusive video messages from our filmmakers, and other special content. How do I attend the Virtual Fest? It’s simple – purchase a Virtual Pass or VIP Pass at www.greenwichfilm.org. Approximately one week before the Festival takes place, our team will reach out to set you up with a unique user log-in which will be activated May 1 to 3. No need to conform to a schedule - you can stream all of our Festival content day or night, at whatever time works best for you, from May 1st until 10pm on May 3rd. Will my pass help support GIFF? Yes, a portion of proceeds from the pass helps to make the arts more accessible in our area. It allows GIFF, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization to attract top talent to the area, support filmmakers with cash awards, host free community events, and support charity partners. How do I view the films? You can experience the Virtual Festival on your computer, smartphone, or tablet using the secure log-in website information we’ll send you. If you want to stream the Festival films and content on your TV, no problem - you’d simply cast from your device to your Smart TV. If you have an Apple TV device, just enable AirPlay to stream on your TV. The Ashforth Company 6 | Greenwich International Film Festival Ashforth Greenwich Film Festival Print Ad.indd 1 4/18/19 12:02 PM Proud to support the Greenwich International Film Festival A Letter From GIFF Founders & Executive Director elcome to our first-ever virtual Greenwich International Film Festival! While we wish we could be with you in the theater, we feel blessed to be able to deliver an entertaining and inspiring selection of films and filmmaker interviews to enjoy from the comfort and safety of your home. Our theme this year is, “Knowledge is Power.” Though we could not have imagined the situation we are currently facing globally, we hope that it will lead us to a place where we all do better, because we know better. The same philosophy that Wdrove us to start GIFF over six years ago holds true today: Film is an incredibly powerful medium that can enlighten us and create positive social change. We can all use that perspective now more than ever. GIFF remains committed to year-round programming and was thrilled to partner with Avon Theatre, Bedford Playhouse, Blue Sky Studios, Saboteur Media, and Bleecker Street to offer five special advance screenings which supported charity partners such as Honor Bound and Breast Cancer Alliance. Advance screenings included Danger Close, Spies in Disguise, The Assistant, Ordinary Love, and From the Vine. GIFF’s Call for Entry launched in early November and ran through January. After reviewing hundreds of submissions, GIFF’s programming team traveled to Sundance to curate the best selection of films for our audience. We are proud to share that our Festival line-up includes 29 films from 8 countries. The films cover a variety of important issues such as PTSD, bullying, self-empowerment, criminal injustice, music therapy, substance abuse, and healing. The filmmakers we showcase are trailblazers, not just for the broad range of issues their films take on, but also for being bold and flexible in times of change, and for participating in the first-ever virtual GIFF. GIFF is dedicated to supporting film talent and is excited to offer three awards with cash prizes this year, including the Best Social Impact Film Award (presented by the Bill & Ann Bresnan Foundation), the Best Connecticut Short Film Award (presented by the Connecticut Office of Film, Television & Digital Media), and new-this-year the JP Morgan Chase Audience Award. Thank you to our steadfast community of supporters and to our Board members, many of whom have been with us since the beginning, encouraging us every step of the way. Thank you to Shari Angel, Samantha Ryan, and to the rest of our team, who have had to adapt and adjust in the face of the public health crisis to keep GIFF going. Thank you to our sponsors who allow us to be able to offer filmmaker awards, special screenings, and much more. Thank you to Greenwich International Film Festival is Proud to Support our filmmakers for entrusting us with their work. Thank you for giving us hope even in the darkest of hours. We can’t wait to eat popcorn next to you and feel the collective response to an epic movie sequence, to hear a theater full of people laugh and cry at the same time. We are thankful for the hundreds of times this has happened GREENWICH HOSPITAL throughout our years at GIFF and know it is just a matter of time before we see you at the theater again. and their In the meantime, be safe and enjoy GIFF 2020. INCREDIBLE MEDICAL STAFF With gratitude, Colleen deVeer Wendy Stapleton Ginger Stickel Director of Programming, Founder Chairwoman, Founder Executive Director, COO 10 | Greenwich International Film Festival FESTIVAL TEAM Executive Team Founders Host Committee TRIBUTE TO OUR 2020 Wendy Stapleton, Carina Crain Stacy Messina, Chair Chairman of the Board, Founder Colleen deVeer Jill Schecter, Chair Colleen deVeer, Wendy Stapleton TOP DONORS Director of Programming, Founder Kim Barnes Courtney Belhumeur Ginger Stickel, Executive Director, COO Sue Bodson Board of SUSTAINERS CINEPHILE SUPPORTERS Directors Marisa Brown Virtual Festival Staff Ginge Cabrera ($25,000+) ($10,000 – $24,999) Ashley Bekton Samantha Ryan, Office Manager Courtenay Carella Alison Davis Shari Angel, Programmer Kate Clark Colleen deVeer Kate & Jim Clark Sue Moretti Bodson & Mike Bodson - Emboss, LLC Bears Rebecca Fonte, Programming Consultant Jacqueline Cohen Pamela Ford Alison Davis Kenny & Kim Habul Ann Bresnan Young Antoine Bancharel, Print Traffic Coordinator Andrew Karpen Caitlin Davis Elizabeth and Gene Hall Lauren Clayton, Graphic Designer Joni Kimberlin Steele Julie & Clarke Futch Ashley DeSimone Dale & Laura Kutnick Foundation, Inc. Shamika Pandit, Social Media Coordinator James Matthews Gabriela Dias Joni Steele Kimberlin Amanda DiCicco, Development Coordinator Clay Pecorin Graci Djuranovic Craig & Debbie Stapleton Jim & Jenny Matthews Lauren Stannard, VIP Concierge Wendy Stapleton Ilona Eken Wendy Stapleton Christian Simonds Charles & Deborah Royce Laura Schroeder, Volunteer Coordinator Ayla Farnos Mark & Leigh Teixeira Matt Stellwagen, Website Developer Kevin Sneddon Kristina Gabelli Nancy Seaman Elaine Ubina, Photographer and Mark Teixeira Kim Habul Victoria Ershova Triplett Editor in Chief, Fairfield County Look Claire Haft Erica Abrams, Falco Ink Team Ren Harman PREMIER SUPPORTERS Janice Roland, Falco Ink Team Melissa Hawks ($2,500-$9,999) Executive Board Susan Hinrichs Shannon Treusch, Falco Ink Team Richard Brener Elizabeth Hopley PKF O’Connor Davies, Accounting Firm Jenna Bush-Hager Samantha Knapp T.J. & Courtenay Carella Brad & Hadley Palmer Danielle Allen, Bookkeeper Jim Cabrera April Larken Alison D. Davis Clay & Eva Pecorin Kate Clark Eliza Niblock Kimberly Clarke Robert & Elissa Friedman - Bungalow Media + Entertainment Mary Jo Riddle Marketing Interns Romona Norton Gabriela Dias Nancy Ozizmir Darrell & Robin Harvey Michael & Krystal Sachs Elizabeth Buckley David Duchovny Hadley Palmer Andrew & Pam Karpen Matt & Jill Schecter Alyssa Sirani Doug Ellin Bina Park Christina Vittas Susan Smith Ellis Marjorie Pastel Megan Kearney Jane & Paul Shang Julie Fareri Zielinski Serena Perlman Cricket & Jim Lockhart Michael Smith Bobby Friedman Sarah Pribyl Sue Mandel Riann Smith Programming Interns Craig Gering Jordan Rhodes Andrew & Stacy Messina Kevin & DeAnne Sneddon Sarah Foster Kathie Lee Gifford Mary Jo Riddle Julia Reeder Jared Ian Goldman Abby Ritman Linda Zwack Munger Dr. Tom Wilson & Elisa Gabelli Wilson Kim Habul Jennifer Roach Beth Hall Danielle Robinson GREENWICH SUPPORTERS Pre-Screeners Colin Hanks Kim Salib Lottie Abrahams Peter Hedges Annette Schuster ($1,500-$2,499) Oona Carroll Michael Imperioli Kristyna Sipko Jermaine Charles Laura Kutnick Riann Smith Ilona & Onur Eken Chris Gala Ann Lamont Marissa Swann Jonathan & Meg Hock Jenn Giardinia David Levien Nikol Thompson Beverly Johnson Mark Lindsay Kyja Kutnick Laura Tobias Ann Lamont Linda Munger Victoria Triplett Varyk Kutnick Howard Levy Clea Newman Robyn Wasserman Abigail MacLaren Deborah Royce Rebecca Anikstein Mark and Donna Lindsay Anne St.