Welcome Letters

Dear Friends:

It pleases me to extend a warm greeting to all those gathered for the 10th Annual Montclair Film Festival .

Our state is fortunate to have events like the Montclair Film Festival that provide a platform for talented filmmakers and emerging artists from around the world to gather and tell their stories . Stories build empathy and connect us to our community and each other, and this non-profit arts organization excels at entertaining, educating, and engaging diverse audiences through the power of visual storytelling . I am proud to acknowledge those who dedicate their time to the arts, and I am delighted that the Montclair Film Festival showcases so much artistic talent for all to appreciate . I applaud all those who have committed their time, talent, and efforts to take part in the festival, furthering New Jersey’s reputation for excellence in the arts .

Best wishes for a successful and memorable event .

My very best,

Philip D. Murphy Governor

Dear Friends, It is an honor to extend my warmest greetings as you gather for the 10th Annual Montclair Film Festival .

Since 2012, the Montclair Film Festival has captivated audiences and celebrated the work of emerging filmmakers. This festival is part of the many contributions that Montclair Film makes to our state’s arts community, from supporting the dreams of young artists to expanding arts education for New Jersey students . Over the past decade, your efforts have uplifted countless people around our state, and as you celebrate another year’s worth of achievements, please accept my heartfelt appreciation for all that you have done and continue to do . Once again, congratulations! Best wishes for a successful event . Sincerely,

Cory A. Booker United States Senator

Dear Friends, On behalf of the citizens of the great state of New Jersey, it is an honor to welcome you to the 10th Annual Montclair Film Festival . This unique event allows filmmakers to showcase their work to audiences and highlights their creative work to the community. Now entering its 10th year, this amazing film program has grown to become one of the top regional film festivals in the United States. It is great to be able to recognize the valuable contribution of the Montclair Film Festival . It truly provides a unique opportunity for New Jersey residents to fall in love with film, especially in light of the challenges we face during the ongoing pandemic . Sincerely,

Robert Menendez

United States Senator

Dear Movie Fans, I want to welcome everyone to the 10th Annual Montclair Film Festival! This extraordinary event allows attendees to enjoy stories from a wide variety of producers, directors, and actors in their own community . This 10-day festival gives these filmmakers a chance to showcase their work to a diverse audience of fans and critics . In addition, it provides a stage to highlight the incredible creative talent we have in New Jersey . I know Montclair Film Executive Director Tom Hall and his amazing staff have created some truly unique experiences in a safe environment for viewers this year . But the festival is just one part of Montclair Film’s commitment to increase and expand the community’s love of cinema . I would encourage everyone to sign up for one of the workshops, such as screenwriting, that Montclair Film + Education conducts every year. Also, it has a competition for emerging film directors as well as a children’s art project . If you cannot make the festival, feel free to contact them to rent out the Investors Bank Film and Media Center and have a private screening of your favorite film for friends and business associates. So, stay safe and enjoy the festival . Sincerely,

Donald M. Payne, Jr. Member of Congress

Dear Friends, It is my pleasure to welcome all of you to the 2021 Montclair Film Festival! This annual Festival provides a platform for talented filmmakers from around the world to share their work with the local community and beyond . I want to extend my gratitude to the Montclair Film Festival’s board, staff, and members for their hard work putting together another entertaining program and ensuring we can safely enjoy it . I am especially excited to recognize this tenth anniversary year of the Montclair Film Festival . Even through the challenges presented by the pandemic, the festival found creative ways to continue to bring this cultural staple to our community . For ten years, the Montclair Film Festival has supported a diverse array of artists, engaging its audience with educational and entertaining programs . I look forward to this year’s event and eagerly anticipate what the future holds .

I hope everyone enjoys this year’s Montclair Film Festival and I encourage you to appreciate all that Montclair has to offer as you visit our town! Stay safe and be well .

Sincerely,

Dear Friends:

Welcome to the 10th Annual Montclair Film Festival!

This dynamic event is a wonderful opportunity to view high-quality films from veteran, emerging, independent, and cutting-edge artists. Whether you are a film enthusiast or come to watch just one movie, the broad and extraordinary lineup offers something for everyone . But Montclair Film has evolved into more than just a festival to watch movies . Montclair Film has grown by leaps and bounds, organized a year-long schedule of events, programs, and educational workshops, making it a dynamic resource and year-round asset for the community . We are even more excited about their announcement earlier this year to take over the operation of The Clairidge, which further cements the organization’s role in and commitment to Montclair. We thank the committee for highlighting the extraordinary artistic talents of the filmmakers and actors, the importance of film as an art form, and for adding a generator of economic development to our vibrant community . Essex County knows that the arts are a cultural and economic driver, and strongly supports efforts like the Montclair Film Festival . Together we will continue Putting Essex County First . Sincerely,

Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. Essex County Executive

Welcome to the 2021 Montclair Film Festival!

We have been through so much and still find ourselves navigating a global pandemic . But through it all, we have remained the community we all love because of the resiliency of our residents, our businesses, and our community partners . It is with a thankful return to a new normal that we excitedly welcome the start of the 10th Annual Montclair Film Festival!

WIth the success of each year’s festival, dating back to 2012, every year offers unique opportunities and the promise of an amazing experience. The Montclair Film Festival, the signature event of Montclair Film, is part of the fabric that makes Montclair special, and we know you are as excited as we are to take part in this year’s October festival . I congratulate and thank all those who have worked so hard to bring the 10th Annual Festival to us again this year . Sincerely,

Dear Friends, On behalf of the Board of Trustees, staff, and volunteers of Montclair Film, it is our pleasure to welcome you to the 10th Annual Montclair Film Festival . Looking back over the past decade, we could not be more proud of the incredible growth of the festival, which has blossomed from an idea shared among friends and supporters around a kitchen table over eleven years ago into one of the region’s leading film non-profits, providing year-round film and education programs to thousands of patrons and students every year . This past year, our community has faced unprecedented challenges, from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which required us to reimagine the 2020 Montclair Film Festival as a virtual and drive-in event, to the recent flooding from Tropical Storm Ida that severely damaged our education center and headquarters at 505 Bloomfield Avenue. We have been overwhelmed by the positive messages of support from so many of you, and they have given us the resolve to work harder than ever before to deliver world-class programs that continue to bring our community together . We know that the COVID-19 pandemic has not ended, and so we continue to prioritize the health and safety of our community first. We are taking the following measures to ensure that patrons can enjoy the festival in the safest conditions possible: we’re requiring proof of vaccination and masking for all staff, volunteers, guests and patrons at all of our indoor events; and we’re taking longer breaks between films, allowing us to create social distancing, fewer lines and time for the thorough cleaning of our theaters . We are grateful to all of our patrons for their patience and understanding, and for their shared commitment to the physical and mental health of everyone attending . As we embark on our second decade, we are thrilled to be re-launching the newly renovated cinemas at The Clairidge, which has been a home for our festival and programs for the past decade . We look forward to welcoming you to The Clairidge year-round, with the high-quality independent, international, and non-fiction films that you have come to expect from the region’s leading arthouse cinema . As Montclair Film continues to grow, the support of our patrons and community is more important than ever before . We hope you will join us as we celebrate ten years of bringing you the best in film, conversation, storytelling, and education . It has been an incredible decade, and we look forward to building the future together . See you at the movies!

Bob Feinberg Chairman and Founder Montclair Film Evelyn Colbert President Montclair Film