FilmFest Screenings 2024

Friday Evening:Sound of Metal

Friday evening’s event featured the award-winning and locally-grown film Sound of Metal about a heavy-metal drummer whose life is thrown into freefall when he begins to lose his hearing. Co-written and directed by Ashfield resident, Darius Marder, the film stars Riz Ahmed (nominated for an Oscar for this performance) and Olivia Cooke (Alicent Hightower in House of the Dragon) The film was followed by a lively Q&A with Darius.

Saturday Evening: Local Shorts Competition

A fun screening of twenty-one short films by local filmmakers was followed by the glamorous and exciting awards ceremony! Here are the award winners of this year’s FilmFest:

  • Bet Documentary — “Home” by Clara Delacruz.

  • Best Natural World — “A Year on the Dam” by Sarah Welch and the Hilltown Land Trust.

  • Best Music Video — “I Was a Fool” by Brendan Leowolf.

  • Best Animation — “The Valley” by Peter J. Moser.

  • Best Original Concept — “Waiting for Sea Serpents” by Ben Tobin.

  • Best Local Humor — “Play It Again Sam” by Stewart “Buz” Eisenberg and Mary Patierno.

  • Grand Prize — “Deep Sea” by Cole Whitaker (not yet available online)

  • Audience Choice Award — “Deep Sea” by Cole Whitaker