Full Film Schedule:  >click here<

Party Line-up: >click here<


Now in its fourth consecutive year, the The Martha’s Vineyard International Film Festival returns to Martha's Vineyard September 10-13 with an amazing line-up of international features and documentaries from every corner of the globe including Palestine, Russia, China, India, Norway, France, Israel, Germany, Spain, Japan, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan.

Opening Night at the Martha's Vineyard International Film Festival
American-made (but India-inspired),  Sita Sings the Blues (“The Greatest Break-up Story Ever Told”) opens the 2009 Festival off with a winner. Its creator, Nina Paley,  was inspired to created this, her first feature,  following her time in India and the end of her marriage to an Indian. The film  was the recipient of the Cristal grand prix for best feature at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival. Nina Paley will speak at the opening night screening.

Film & Filmmakers
Some of the other notable films are:

• Rudo y Cursi, one of the top-grossing Mexican films of all time, and winner of the audience award at the Newport Beach Film Festival.
   
• Waltz with Bashir, from Israel, an innovative animated drama and was nominated for a 2009 Oscar (Best Documentary).
   
• Lemon Tree is based on the true story of a Palestinian widow who battles with her new neighbor, the Israeli defense minister, over the survival of her lemon grove, but finds a friend in his wife. Its star, Hiam Abbass, won Best Actress and the film received an audience award at the Berlin Film Festival. 

• From Kazakhstan comes Tulpan, winner of the Cannes Film Festival Prix Un Certain Regard. It’s the tale of a dreamer who makes his way from the Russian navy to his hometown and, he hopes, a future with a mysterious local woman. 

• The award-winning The Pope's Toilet (Argentina) is a comedy about the 1988 papal visit to a Uruguayan border town, whose residents anticipate great bounty from the anticipated 50,000 visitors. 

• One of the most anticipated films of the festival is Munyurangabo. It explores the Hutu-Tutsi genocide from the point of view of an orphaned teen and is the first film ever in the Kinyarwanda language. Among its many awards is the Grand Jury Prize at the American Film Institute festival.

• Cherry Blosoms, directed by Doris Dorrie comes courtesy of the Goethe Institute in Boston. When he loses his adored wife, Rudi discovers she once longed for a life in Japan. Off-balance, he leaves Germany for Tokyo. This  film won Best Actor and Best Production at the Bavarian Film Festival. 
  
  Click here for a PDF of the complete schedule

Popular Event Draws Film Lovers from Near & Far
Now in its fourth year, the MV Intl Film Festival has become a destination in the Northeast, with over 50% of festival 3000+ attendees coming in from off island.

Filmmaking- a Global Enterprise
We hope,” says Festival director Richard Paradise, “everyone will be challenged to think broadly—about how huge the world of film is—and deeply, about the universal concerns and desires that unite us.” This year, Paradise adds, "10% of profits will be donated to causes depicted in the screened films, such as Pray the devil Back to Hell (from Liberia) and Garbage Dreams(Egypt).

Vineyard Haven Welcomes Film Festival
The films will be screened at various theaters, all within walking distance from Main Street in Vineyard Haven. In addition to the films, numerous events have been planned in support of the festival.  
"The festival succeeds because of this community," says director Richard Paradise. "It's the unpaid volunteers, from the board members to the dozens who help out festival weekend, that make this happen." Some of the Vineyard's best-known locals will be front and center: Pulitzer Prize-winner Geraldine Brooks and comic genius Marty Nadler will introduce films; nationally known cartoonist Paul Karasik designed this year's poster and famed animator Bill Plympton curated a collection of international animated shorts. Plus, stage and film star Brooke Adams will premiere her new short film Pet Peeves, co-produced with her husband, "Monk" star Tony Shalhoub.


Opening Night and Beyond: 
The opening night cocktail party on the Mansion House roof offers the island’s best harbor view and includes live jazz by ALB Trio, Southeast Asian-inspired food by Chef Robert Lionette, and drinks by Festival sponsors French Rabbit wines, Charles de Fere Sparking wine, Sapporo Beer, and San Pellegrino waters.

Reel Food MV, a special party/dinner/screening event will include a menu of locally grown cuisine at sumptuous Saltwater restaurant and a screening of international short films curated by Festival director Paradise.

Che’s Lounge will be the nighttime hot spot: on Friday, DJ Phillipe Borde provides the music for a Parisian theme party; on Saturday, DJ Cartel brings in a Caribbean beat. Boisset American and IDOL Vodka host the open bars.

The Festival continues through Sunday and wraps up with The End of the Line, a British independent film and a party on the harbor with live blue grass by Ballyhoo, food from Blue Canoe and Net Result, and beverages again by the festival sponsors.