IndependentFilm.com

Vineyard Haven, MA (September, 2007), You're invited to the perfect long weekend - the second annual Martha's Vineyard International Film Festival September 13-16, 2007. Imagine four days filled with amazing films from around the globe, fun parties, engaging conversation, great live music all within the downtown Walking Festival District - and oh, yes, enjoy some of the most beautiful beaches in America. Have the last weekend of summer be the best one of the year.

With the goal of distinguishing themselves from other festivals, The Martha’s Vineyard International Film Festival, produced by the Martha’s Vineyard Film Society and presented by Plum, looks to its ‘natural resources’ to create a weekend event unlike any other.

This year all of the MVI Film Festival screenings and events will be centralized around Vineyard Haven’s Main Street. Created and designed as a “Walking Festival District,” events that will include a Gallery Stroll on Saturday; live musical performances by local artists on Saturday and Sunday in a series dubbed Music on Main; and special events hosted at the English Butler such as Afternoon Tea, located in the historical lobby of the Vineyard Playhouse. Additionally, the historical Capawock Theatre has been added as a festival premiere-screening venue. The addition of the Capawock will increase the number of screenings and overall festival capacity.

The 2007 Martha's Vineyard International Film Festival celebrates an exclusive selection of films from around the globe by International filmmakers. The selections of Thirty (30) films from over 24 countries are being brought to the island to highlight the festival’s theme ‘About Other Places’. We also have the pleasure of hosting a number of inspiring film related workshops and fun evening events featuring world music.

Selections include:
v Opening Night, Owl and the Sparrow, a sweet story from Vietnam about complete strangers whose lives collide in the maddening streets of Saigon.
v Into The Wild - Written for the screen and directed by Sean Penn from Jon Krakauer's acclaimed bestseller, the film tells the story of 22 year-old Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch), a fresh college grad with a promising future ahead who walked out of his privileged life and into the wild in search of adventure.
v 10 Canoes, the humorous ‘walkabout’ adventure, tracing aboriginal story-telling history introduced by MV humorist Marty Nadler.
v Deep Water the infamous tale of a round-the-world boat race gone awry with UK director Louise Osmond.
v Mon Meilleur Ami, written and directed by Patrice Leconte, is a charming, introspective story about relationships - those human encounters which are most valued in life.
v Crossing the Bridge, Directed by Fatih Akin and introduced by singer/songwriter Kate Taylor. Infused with cultural and political concerns, this film weaves together a rich tapestry of musical styles that celebrate the diversity that makes up contemporary Turkish life.
v Manda Bala, the true-story of corruption and economic disparity in Brazil with producer Jared Goldman.
v East Of Havana presented by directors Juretsi Saizarbitria & Emilia Menocal, a fly-on-the-wall documentary about a cartel of up-and-coming hip-hop artists in modern Cuba.
v Amu, from India introduced by writer Shonali Bose, tells the story of a young Indian American woman who travels to Delhi to get in touch with her roots.
v Vitus, Switzerland’s official 2006 Academy Awards entry for Best Foreign Language Film, about a gifted 12-year-old pianist.
v Paprika, the award winning animated film exploring futuristic dream interpretation, presented by MV cartoonist Paul Karasik.
v Cinema16, celebrating the best classic, cult and award-winning shorts by some of today's most notable filmmakers and rising stars.
v Offside, directed by Jafar Panahi, Forbidden release in its own country, "Offside" is a return to the issues of rights for women in the Director's native Iran. Panahi tackles the fact that women are still refused entry into football matches, and handles a potentially serious subject with gentle humor and lightness of touch.
v Son Of Rambow, a hysterical and inventive valentine to the 1980’s.
v War/Dance, the powerful documentary story of Ugandan children who learn to express their pain, fear, happiness and everyday triumphs with music and dance.

MVI Fest Special Presentations include:
v Bill Plympton Animation Workshop with the internationally celebrated animator whose oblique, off-center sense of the ridiculous in everyday life is brought to hysterical extremes in his many feature and short animated films. Plympton presents his new and old shorts and a teaser from his new feature Idiots and Angels, September 15th @4pm.
v A Home for Us All by MV Filmmakers Liz Witham and Ken Wentworh, exploring the shattered dream of home ownership for islanders on Martha’s Vineyard. Saturday @5pm.
v Live music from the bluegrass sensation - Ballyhoo on Main Street Vineyard Haven, Saturday @ 1-5pm.
v Think Globally, Shot Locally presented by Film-Truth Productions and MVOL.com - MV Filmmakers showcase their work. Saturday @2pm.

MVI Fest Events toast the islands idyllic atmosphere and beautiful locations:
v Opening Night, September 13th: Rooftop cocktails at the historic Mansion House in Vineyard Haven. Toast the sunset via from the gorgeous 360-degree marina views with live acoustic folk sounds from musician Phil DaRosa. VIP premieres screening of Owl and the Sparrow at the Capawok Theater to follow.
v Friday, September 14th: Che’s, Main Street Vineyard Haven. Duck into our Parisian hideaway to the sounds of Balkin & Buddha Bar Beats.
v Saturday, September 15th : The Oyster Bar, Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs. Let’s dance! Music extravaganza led by the irresistible energy of master West African rhythm guitarist and drummer Mamadou Diop – MV International Film Fest and PLUM presents a world-class music and cultural experience,
v Closing Night, Sunday, September 16th : Classic Martha’s Vineyard Beach Bash on the beach or on board the classic Black Dog Tall Ship Schooner The Alabama. Groove to the tropical rhythms of the Beetlebung Steel Drum Band.

A complete listing of films, events and ticket purchase information can be found at http://www.mvflmfest.com, direct ticket purchase http://www.marthasvineyardtickets.com and September 13-16th @ Mansion House headquarters and box office from 10-5pm.

TicketsMV.com is the MVI Film Festival’s official online ticketing partner. The goal is to attract larger audiences and introduce more visitors to the Island in the beautiful Fall season.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

About the Martha’s Vineyard International Film Festival
The Martha’s Vineyard International Film Festival celebrates an exclusive selection of films from around the globe by American and International filmmakers. Spotlighting thirty feature, short or documentary films in all genres, the festival continues their theme “about other places”, focusing on stories about the world outside of America. http://www.mvfilmfest.com

About Plum
Plum is a new type of Media Company. Produced in, for and about some of America's most dynamic communities, Plum programming is honest, authentic and optimistic. It celebrates the natural beauty and character of its communities and spirit and intellect of the people who live and visit there. Plum currently operates television channels and websites in Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, the Hamptons, Vail, Aspen, Telluride, Sun Valley and Miami Beach. While the towns may be small, the reach and influence is not. Plum's markets are destinations of choice for over 14 million of the nation's most interesting and influential people each year. They are people who define the culture in the media, business, arts and politics. They are Plum's audience as well as its content. Increasingly, Plum is available to a broader audience beyond its communities through video on demand and the Internet at http://www.plumtv.com.