NHFF Announces 2016 Panelists

The New Hampshire Film Festival is excited to announce the 2016 Panel Discussions & Panelists

WHY IS NEW HAMPSHIRE A POLITICAL FILMMAKER’S PARADISE?

Fri. Oct. 14 – 12:00 p.m. — 1:00 p.m.
Discover Portsmouth Center

Join a panel discussion with documentary filmmakers who chased down the next Leader of the Free World across New Hampshire during the chaotic 2016 election and in past NH primaries. The Granite State is famous for its up-close-and-personal presidential campaigns, and that same in-your-face style enjoyed by voters is also a huge advantage for filmmakers. Panelists will share their experiences and strategies for getting access to the campaigns, as well as their stories from the political front lines.

MODERATOR:

• MATTHEW NEWTON — DIRECTOR, NEW HAMPSHIRE FILM & TELEVISION OFFICE

Newton is the Director of the New Hampshire Film and Television Office, and Co-Founder of the New Hampshire High School Short Film Festival. He is also proud to be a 2011 New Hampshire Union Leader “40 Under Forty” honoree.

PANELISTS:

• KEVIN BOWE — FILMMAKER

Bowe is the director of the upcoming film Democracy Through the Looking Glass, a media critique of the 2016 presidential race and how it has been covered thus far by mainstream media. He is also the creator of the Stories from New Hampshire political web series and has shot more than 125 campaign events during this election cycle alone.

• DARREN GARNICK — JOURNALIST/FILMMAKER

Garnick is a journalist and filmmaker who has written and produced three election specials for PBS and who has covered six New Hampshire primaries since 1996. He will share the backstory behind Why Can’t I Be President? – a film about “fringe candidates” on the NH ballot – and also discuss his 2016 piece Dinosaur Primary, an offbeat effort to photograph his plush Dino Flintstone doll with every presidential candidate.

• ROD WEBBER — FILMMAKER/MUSICIAN

Webber, a filmmaker and musician better known as “Flower Man” on the 2016 campaign trail, is the director of the upcoming film Dangerous Flowers. In this documentary, he attempts to give every presidential candidate a flower to encourage peace. He was shunned by some campaigns and embraced by others – but his persistence was unmatched.

INSIDERS: DISTRIBUTION & MARKETING

Sat. Oct. 15 – 11:00 a.m. — 12:00 p.m.
Discover Portsmouth Center

Each year, NHFF hosts industry representatives from some of today’s most successful and cutting edge companies in the independent film and television business. Join this year’s insiders for a special panel discussion on the trends and future of distribution and marketing.

MODERATOR:

• MATT GRADY — FOUNDER, FACTORY 25

Recently named “One of the Most Influential People in Brooklyn Culture,” Grady is the founder of Factory 25, an independent film distribution company with recent titles including Uncle Kent 2, Stinking Heaven and Christmas, Again.

PANELISTS:

• NICK CAMACHO — DIRECTOR OF MARKETING, OSCILLOSCOPE LABORATORIES

Nick Camacho is the Director of Marketing at Oscilloscope Laboratories. Nick oversees the releases of all feature films, creating unique marketing materials and branded ad campaigns for each film. Nick also runs all of Oscilloscope’s social media accounts, which you should definitely subscribe to for a good film-themed laugh every day. Nick previously has worked in marketing and publicity at Brigade Media and IFC Films.

• JUSTIN DIPIETRO — DIRECTOR OF THEATRICAL SALES & DISTRIBUTION, IFC FILMS

Justin is the Director of Theatrical Sales and Distribution for IFC Films’ three labels, IFC Films, Sundance Selects and IFC Midnight.

•  SEAN MCDONNELL — DIRECTOR OF THEATRICAL SALES, A24 FILMS

Sean McDonnell is the Director of Theatrical Sales for A24, the independent entertainment company responsible for such recent hit films as Ex Machina, Room, The Lobster and The Witch.

• CHRIS WHITE — DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS AFFAIRS & DELIVERY, MAGNOLIA PICTURES/MAGNET RELEASING

Chris White is the Director of Business Affairs and Delivery at Magnolia Pictures/Magnet Releasing, handling business and legal administration as well as delivery, documentation and promo material negotiation for all titles.

ANNUAL COMEDY PANEL

Sat. Oct. 15 – 9:00 p.m. — 10 p.m.
The Loft

With a format that is one part Inside the Actors Studio and one part talk show, come prepared to listen, laugh and pose questions to our entertaining special guests as they share stories and anecdotes from their experiences about any and all things comedy.

MODERATOR:

• GREG KRETSCHMAR — HOST, GREG AND THE MORNING BUZZ

Greg Kretschmar is the host of popular morning radio show Greg and the Morning Buzz, heard on 100.3 WHEB, Rock 101-WGIR FM, The Hawk- 104.9FM, WWOD-93.9FM and KOOL 96.3FM during weekdays from 5:30-10 a.m.

PANELISTS:

• TOM BERGERON — HOST, DANCING WITH THE STARS

Tom is the Emmy-winning host of ABC’s longtime hit Dancing with the Stars and the author of I’m Hosting as Fast as I Can! Zen and the Art of Staying Sane in Hollywood. 

• RAE DAWN CHONG — ACTRESS, WRITER, PRODUCER

Born in Canada but raised between Los Angeles and Vancouver, B.C., she has been in entertainment as an actor/writer/producer/director for over 40 years. Rae Dawn is best known for her roles in Commando, The Color Purple and Soul Man. Most recently she can be seen in the Duplass Brothers’ Jeff Who Lives at Home and currently in Pam Adlon’s Better Things. She is also trying to find a home for her self-produced pilot The Celebrant and has just completed writing her memoir while caring for her father, Tommy Chong, as he recovered from cancer. An activist and social media expert, she has a new podcast called “Only Always” where she tackles current affairs and all things that annoy or inspire her. She hasn’t given up on the fight for more diversity in Hollywood and has high hopes for the future. Rae Dawn is a board member of the New Hampshire Film festival and is anxiously awaiting the arrival of her first granddaughter.

• JOHN MICHAEL HIGGINS — ACTOR

John Michael Higgins is a screen and voice actor, best known for his work in Pitch Perfect and Pitch Perfect 2, Bad Teacher, The Ugly Truth, Yes Man, Fred Claus, The Break Up, Fun with Dick and Jane and Christopher Guest’s mockumentaries Best in Show, A Mighty Wind and For Your Consideration.

•  JOSH MEYERS — ACTOR, WRITER, STAND-UP COMEDIAN

From Boom Chicago, Josh was hired into the cast of MADtv, where he became known for his celebrity impressions such as Owen Wilson and Matthew McConaughey. The sketch “A Football Thing,” which he wrote and performed with frequent partner Ike Barinholtz, is historically one of MADtv’s biggest viral hits, with over 5 million views on YouTube. Meyers left MADtv for another Fox show, when he starred in the final season of That 70s Show, replacing Topher Grace. Recent television roles include The Mindy Project and a regular role on The Awesomes, an animated superhero series where he plays the insufferable “Perfect Man.” Film works include Sacha Baron Cohen’s Bruno, in which he played Kookus, and the role of Liberace’s attorney in the Emmy-winning Behind The Candelabra. Josh can currently be seen in the Amazon series Red Oaks as Barry.

WOMEN IN FILM

Sun. Oct. 16 – 10:30 a.m. — 11:30 a.m
Discover Portsmouth Center

Join us for a lively discussion about the current environment of women in film, television, and media with a group of extremely intelligent, talented, and highly successful women. This panel will address how women are working hard to level the playing field and reinvent female stereotypes in a male driven industry.

MODERATOR:

• ERIN TRAHAN — EDITOR, THE INDEPENDENT

Erin Trahan edits The Independent, where she has overseen the publication of two books on film distribution and spearheaded the preservation of the Association of Independent Video & Filmmakers’ organizational archive and print magazine. She’s a regular contributor to WBUR (Boston’s NPR news station) and has written about movies for The Boston Globe, MovieMaker Magazine, NewEnglandFilm.com and other publications. She has served as series moderator for The DocYard and created or led film discussions for the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Boston Public Library, and served on juries for several film festivals. She is a past president of Women in Film & Video/New England and currently serves on the board of the Alliance of Women Film Journalists.

PANELISTS:

• RAE DAWN CHONG — ACTRESS, WRITER, PRODUCER

Born in Canada but raised between Los Angeles and Vancouver, B.C., she has been in entertainment as an actor/writer/producer/director for over 40 years. Rae Dawn is best known for her roles in Commando, The Color Purple and Soul Man. Most recently she can be seen in the Duplass Brothers’ Jeff Who Lives at Home and currently in Pam Adlon’s Better Things. She is also trying to find a home for her self-produced pilot The Celebrant and has just completed writing her memoir while caring for her father, Tommy Chong, as he recovered from cancer. An activist and social media expert, she has a new podcast called “Only Always” where she tackles current affairs and all things that annoy or inspire her. She hasn’t given up on the fight for more diversity in Hollywood and has high hopes for the future. Rae Dawn is a board member of the New Hampshire Film festival and is anxiously awaiting the arrival of her first granddaughter.

• KATE KAMINSKI — PRODUCER

Kate Kaminski is an independent filmmaker living and working in Southern Maine. As Gitgo Productions, she and partner Betsy Carson have together produced four low-budget features, as well as short fiction and non-fiction works that have screened around the world. In 2010, Kaminski founded the Bluestocking Film Series, a one-of- a-kind, curated short film festival that requires female protagonist and Bechdel-Wallace Test compliance. Kaminski holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a master’s in Film Production. In addition to serving as Bluestocking’s Artistic Director, Kaminski teaches part-time at University of Southern Maine and Maine College of Art.

• CAROLINE VON KUHN — MANAGING DIRECTOR, POINTS NORTH INSTITUTE

Caroline serves as Managing Director of the Points North Institute, coming from the Tribeca Film Festival where she worked in Industry and Publicity, after starting her career at the Film Society of Lincoln Center (NYFF) and the Doha Tribeca Film Festival (Qatar). von Kuhn is a narrative filmmaker – most recently producing Ian Olds’ The Fixer (Tribeca Film Festival 2016). She holds an MFA from University of Manchester (UK) and a BA in Financial Economics from the University of Virginia.

Stay tuned for more detailed information on workshops, panels and more. To purchase tickets, please visit our Passes page. We look forward to seeing you at the Festival!