Big Eddy Film Fest returns with screenings, outdoors and online
Narrowsburg, N.Y. Tailgate at a pop-up drive-in, bring a lawn blanket to Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, and cozy up at home throughout the weekend of Sept. 24-26 and beyond with several brand-new films.
Bethel /
| 02 Sep 2020 | 12:47
The Bethel Woods Terrace Stage (Photo provided)
This year, the Big Eddy Film Festival is expanding beyond the movie theater for one-of-a-kind experiences, both outdoor and online.
Tailgate at a pop-up drive-in in Narrowsburg, N.Y., and watch a classic movie you’ve never seen on the big screen on Thursday, Sept. 24. Bring a lawn blanket to Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in Bethel, N.Y., on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 25 and 26, as the Big Eddy presents two unforgettable nights of films under stars at the picturesque Terrace Stage. You can also cozy up at home throughout the weekend and beyond, through Oct. 4, with several brand-new films, and filmmaker conversations, streaming through the new Big Eddy online festival platform.
“We’re so excited to be able to expand the Big Eddy Film Festival this year, through exciting new partnerships, and virtual streaming technology,” said festival director Tina Spangler. “Of course, the public’s safety is top of mind, so offering the option for our attendees to experience the festival from their own homes is important. Also, the outdoor venues we’ve lined up are not only unique spaces, but are also large enough to allow for ample social distance.”
The Delaware Valley Arts Alliance will calibrate final festival plans and audience sizes based on recommendations from the Center for Disease Control and New York State as the festival draws near.
“Now more than ever, we value collaboration and partnerships with neighboring organizations that seek to provide opportunities for our mutual audiences,” said Eric Frances, Bethel Woods CEO. “We are thrilled to share our space with a like-minded organization like DVAA and look forward to welcoming the community for a weekend of film and culture in a safe environment.”
Special all-access festival passes will go on sale in late August. Individual film tickets will be available in early September. For more information and tickets, visit BigEddyFilmFest.com or call the arts alliance at 845-252-7576.
● About the Big Eddy Film Festival: Produced by Delaware Valley Arts Alliance of Narrowsburg, N.Y., the Big Eddy Film Festival aims to advance the traditional art of storytelling by showing the newest and best independent films from around the world and our own backyard. To learn more, visit BigEddyFilmFest.com.
● About the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance: Founded in 1976, the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance serves as Arts Council for Sullivan County, N.Y. Its mission is to advance the arts in the region through the support and encouragement of artists, innovative programs, advocacy, and alliances with arts organizations, business, and government. To learn more visit DelawareValleyArtsAlliance.org.
Schedule:
Thursday, Sept. 24: “Grease,” at pop-up theater on a private farm outside Narrowsburg, N.Y., This exclusive event for Superstar Passholders only features the 1978 musical starring Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta. It’s California 1959 -- greaser Danny Zuko and wholesome exchange student Sandy Olsson are in love. But when the summer ends and school begins, things get complicated. Pop the tailgate and cozy up under a blanket, or bring lawn chairs to sit around a personal campfire in the field. Bring your own brown bag dinner, or enjoy snacks and beverages from the concession stand.
Friday, Sept. 25: “Jimmy Carter, Rock & Roll President,” Bethel Woods. The film chronicles the relationship that music played in Carter’s early life, his campaign for the White House, and his term as the 39th president (1977-81). Particularly relevant in this election year, director Mary Wharton traces how Carter’s genuine approachability became key to his political appeal, and allowed him to connect with voters. His embrace of music, particularly that of Bob Dylan, the Allman Brothers, and Willie Nelson, helped the peanut farmer from small-town Georgia reach out across racial and generational divides. The film, which was slated to open the Tribeca Film Festival in April (cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic), has been picked up for distribution by CNN Films.
Saturday, Sept. 26: ”Gossamer Folds,” Bethel Woods. This world premiere is a coming of age story set in 1980s Missouri. Ten-year-old Tate (Jackson Robert Scott, “It’) defies his transphobic father and develops a strong bond with his transgender neighbor Gossamer (Alexandra Grey, “Empire,” “Transparent”) and her father, a retired English professor who is still processing his child’s identity. The film’s creative team includes queer director Lisa Donato; transgender cinematographer, Ava Benjamin Shorr; cisgender producer Yeardley Smith (the voice of Lisa Simpson and an LGBTQ+ ally); and transgender actor Alexandra Grey. The Advocate calls it “a nuanced exploration of childhood, identity, friendship, and family dynamics, especially the formation of found families.”
Friday, Sept. 24-Sunday, Oct. 4: A lineup of new documentaries relevant to today’s world will be available on the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance’s new streaming platform. They will include a spectrum of women’s experiences: meet Minneapolis’s first female police chief, Janee Harteau, as she attempts to reform the force and recruit more women in the years and months leading up to George Floyd’s murder (“Women in Blue,” directed by Deirdre Fishel), four women working to demystify the female libido (“The Dilemma of Desire,” directed by Maria Finitzo), and the first Mrs. Johnny Cash, whose long overdue story is told by her four daughters (“My Darling Vivian,” directed by Matt Riddlehoover). Join online hosted conversations with the makers.