The 5th Annual Beacon Independent Film Festival Celebrates Its Community
Cinematic talent, passion and pride empowers the spirit and integrity of the city of Beacon.
“The thing we have to do here in Beacon is make sure that it does not become like the city,” said volunteer Jean Noack. She along with the rest of the local community strive to maintain the uniqueness and independence of their city mainly to avoid the gentrification of its southern neighbor, Manhattan.
The Beacon Independent Film Festival (BIFF) plays a great role in ensuring the preservation of Beacon. It has become a highly anticipated event attracting the attention of locals, creatives and others from across the nation. Now entering their fifth year, the local community has become more actively involved than ever before.
“This year is different because we have a lot more local filmmakers,” said Maureen Neary, Director of Operations. “The Beacon Rec Center is showing their PSAs of a BIFF afterschool program where we taught kids how to be filmmakers. We also have an artist in residence, Donna Mikkelsen and she is coming on Sunday. She does ambidextrous art and it’s collaborative.”
Students from Marist College who are a part of North Road Communication, a student-run integrated marketing communication firm, volunteered at the festival. In preparation for this event, account representatives working with BIFF produced press releases, calendar listings and pitches to local media outlets.
The sanctuary-like setup was at the Theater at University Settlement, surrounded by the lush thicket at the foot of Mount Beacon. The auditorium sat atop a hill leading down to the Barb’s Butchery concession stand that was illuminated by strings of lights. The crickets’ chirping began to crescendo as the sky darkened.
Filmgoers trickled in and mingled amongst each other. A photographer sported an eclectic look wearing a Mets baseball t-shirt under a neon aloha shirt, high-top vans and a fedora. Nearby, a Beacon resident who goes by the name Ms. Flora, playfully tapped on the keys of the piano, a public, interactive installation by Mikkelsen. The low hum of mellow chatter filled the scene as viewers conversed over refreshments of burgers and locally brewed beer before the start of the film.
“Tonight’s block is themed: New York State of Mind,” said founder, Terry Nelson. Beacon Independent Film Festival started as an idea pitched by Nelson when he noticed that film seemed to be absent in a city that has such a thriving art scene.
When the theater doors opened, viewers flowed in and the house was nearly full. Following the opening night of the festival were panels, a Filmmaker Breakfast and Fright Night at The CineHub, which according to Neary, always sells out.
“Every year we’re growing. It’s year 5,” said Neary. “It’s really fun and it’s beautiful. People come out to see each other and sit at the foot of Mount Beacon all weekend.”
