A Year in Review: Celebrating a Successful 23rd Season at the Woodstock Film Festival, Thanks to the Hudson Valley Community and Beyond
The end of the year is a time for reflection. We have so many people to be thankful for and so many special memories to look back on fondly.
As we prepare for the year ahead together, join us on our walk down memory lane, highlighting some of the best moments of 2022!
Hosted and Participated in Community-Centered Events:
The Woodstock Film Festival connected with numerous Hudson Valley film organizations and local businesses like White Feather Farm, Tinker Street Cinema, Upstate Films, the Rosendale Theatre Collective, Ulster County Performing Arts Center, Chronogram, Hutton Brickyards, the Greenville Drive-in, The Dutch Ale House, and more for a variety of events such as:
Film screenings with filmmaker Q&A sessions and receptions, including 6 free screenings throughout the Hudson Valley region
Month-long 2nd Annual Filmmaker Residency/Incubator in collaboration with White Feather Farm
5th Annual Year-Round Youth Film Lab
Chronogram Conversations - The State of Film/TV Production in the Hudson Valley and Beyond panel and networking event sponsored by Ulster County Economic Development
Producing 101 Virtual Masterclass hosted by indie super producer, film professor, and former Amazon Studios executive Ted Hope
Oscar’s Viewing Party
Joined our Hudson Valley community at The Rosendale Street Festival, Beacon Farmer’s Market, Woodstock Farm Festival, Kingston Farmer’s Market, Hudson Farmer’s Market, and MayFest at Walkway Over the Hudson
Our film screenings that took place outside of the annual festival included free premieres and special previews of well-received independent and impactful films:
Two-sold out screenings with director discussions at Hutton Brickyards, THE CAKE EATERS with Mary Stuart Masterson and CITY OF GHOSTS with Matt Dillon
A fundraiser for Ukraine, screening NATIONAL MUSEUM at the Rosendale Theater Collective with a Q&A with award-winning Ukrainian filmmaker Andrei Zagdansky, moderated by renowned Latvian filmmaker and animator Signe Baumane
I LOVE MY DAD at the beautiful Greenville Drive-In with Q&A with writer/director/actor, James Morosini
ENDANGERED at The Orpheum Theatre with Q&A with Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Rachel Grady, moderated by noted producer Wendy Ettinger
ALL THAT BREATHES at the Rosendale Theatre with Q&A with director/producer Shaunak Sen hosted by Academy Award-nominee Richard Rowley
Five screenings in the month of December in Woodstock, Rosendale, and Saugerties: THE JANES with Q&A with Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Tia Lessin, Emmy Award-nominated filmmaker Emma Pildes and Laura Kaplan (one of the original “Janes”), hosted by Award-nominated filmmaker Pamela Yates; RETROGRADE with Q&A with Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Matthew Heinemann, hosted by Academy Award-nominee Robert Stone; TO LESLIE with Q&A with producer Claude Dal Farra, hosted by film critic and journalist Thelma Adams; ALL THE BEAUTY AND THE BLOODSHED with Q&A with editor Amy Foote, hosted by the film’s additional editor Sabine Hoffman; and A24’s THE WHALE, which was shot locally
Updates at WFF HQ:
Completely renovated our festival offices at 13 Rock City Road. Renovations included the creation of two new offices, new kitchen, a box office facelift, and a more aesthetic, sustainable, and efficient work environment for our main headquarters for all year-round, seasonal staff and interns. Thank you to all who supported!
Welcomed 5 new members to our board of directors
In 2022, the 23rd Annual Woodstock Film Festival:
Presented some of the most powerful documentaries, talked about features, and highly anticipated works from filmmakers from all over the world, including 25 Feature Narratives and 25 Feature Documentaries, many of which are now being nominated for and receiving awards in the industry
Showcased 98 Short Films, with 3 of the winning shorts eligible for Oscar nominations (and 1 making the shortlist!)
Attendance topped 8,000 people from throughout the North East and beyond
Presented 6 industry-relevant panels, and worked in partnership with organizations such as New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT) and White Feather Farm
Registered filmmakers and industry members reached 300 who came from near and far
Attendees included Awkwafina, Ethan Hawke, Amanda Seyfried, Vera Farmiga, Judd Hirsch, David Strathairn, Fran Kranz, Karen Allen, Debra Granik, Ondi Timoner, Barbara Kopple, Joe Berlinger, Ramin Bahrani, Rodrigo Garcia, and many, many more incredible filmmakers and artists
Screenings, panels, concerts, and special events took place in 4 Hudson Valley towns: Kingston, Saugerties, Rosendale, and Woodstock
Hosted a glowing Maverick Awards Ceremony at UPAC in Kingston, winners included: AMERIKATSI for Best Narrative Feature, LAST FLIGHT HOME for Best Documentary Feature, HANNAH HA HA won the Ultra Indie award, MOSHARI for Best Short Narrative, AS FAR AS THEY CAN RUN for Best Short Documentary, and BUZZKILL for Best Animation
Collaborated with local Hudson Valley organizations such as HUDSY with a special shorts block showcasing their work, films from local filmmakers
All local hotels were booked solid, and restaurants were full
“Events like the Woodstock Film Festival are some of the few places where films aren’t viewed as units of sale, judged on their value of commerce. The community building, idea sharing, and celebration of film as a medium that the Woodstock Film Festival fosters is invaluable to the lifeblood of the film community. I’ve been to many festivals all around the world, but this is one of my favorites.”
“The Festival brings thousands of visitors to our County, but what’s more, it helps build awareness of the incredible talent that’s right here in our midst, which is ultimately what makes Ulster County such a great place for film and TV.”
“Thank you so much for the honor of being part of your beautiful festival. You put together such a special celebration of film out there it really becomes an unforgettable bonding experience of like-minded people. I can’t thank you enough for inviting me into your world. Thank you for all your hard work. I’m going to get to work on my next film now.”
Getting Ready for 2023:
As always, we would like to thank our film-loving friends and community for their continued support. We cherish the opportunity we have to engage with our Hudson Valley/Catskills film community and beyond and provide an outlet that fosters the work of and connection between independent artists.
Thank you for being a part of it. We’re lucky to have you! Join us as we continue to grow the Woodstock Film Festival in the years to come.
In 2023, be sure to look out for:
An Oscars Party
Masterclass Series
3rd Annual Filmmaker Residency/Incubator
Special year-round screenings throughout the Hudson Valley
Upcoming film premieres, award nominations, and wins from festival filmmaking alumni
The 24th Annual Woodstock Film Festival, taking place Sept. 27- Oct. 1 (passes are now on sale!)
New merchandise
If you’d like to continue supporting the Woodstock Film Festival in 2023 and beyond, please consider making a tax-deductible donation, sponsoring an upcoming event, or shopping in our WFF official merch store, and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok for festival news and updates!