BELLOWS FALLS-A story of obsession with singer-songwriter Ani DeFranco and a dark comedy about bungling criminals will be the first two indie films to screen as part of the Bellows Falls Films Independent Filmmaker Showcase at the Bellows Falls Opera House (BFOH) in September and October.
The Opera House, in the heart of the village, is a municipally-owned venue for films and live events. In an effort to provide accessible opportunities for independent filmmakers to screen their films in a fully operational theater, the BFOH has created BFFilms in special arrangement with Rockingham Entertainment Development.
BFFilms seeks to offer a variety of films to the public by inviting independent filmmakers from throughout New England to present commercially viable projects without the burden of excessive upfront costs. Ticket sales will be handled through BFOH at bellowsfallsoperahouse.com.
Dear Ani (dearani.com) kicks off the series on Saturday, Sept. 21, and will be presented by New Hampshire filmmaker, Keith Wasserman (keith-wasserman.com). Described as "an odyssey of music, art and mania," event promoters say the film is about an aspiring songwriter who, more than 20 years ago, began a "creatively obsessive correspondence" with music icon Ani DiFranco, believing her reply letters were encoded in the lyrics of her songs.
Three additional shorts will be shown, and Wasserman will be available for a Q&A and merchandise sales following the film. Reserve tickets online at bellowsfallsoperahouse.com/special-events.
Dead English (bit.ly/782-dead) will be presented on Tuesday, Oct. 8, with actor, filmmaker and musician Matt Munroe (mattmunroe.com). The dark comedy explores what happens after a bungled heist goes wrong, and two friends are forced to deal with the body of the individual they burgled.
Munroe is a (1)Vermont native who spent 20 years in Los Angeles and has returned home to live in southern Vermont. His film career includes having been cast in the film Independence Day: Resurgence (2016). Munroe will be available for a Q&A after the film. Reserve tickets are available online at bellowsfallsoperahouse.com/whats playing-2.
Additional films are booking throughout the end of the year and will be announced soon. Dates in 2025 may be reserved. For more information, or to explore booking your independent film, contact Susan MacNeil at [email protected].
This Arts item was submitted to The Commons.