WELCOME TO NFFTY 2015!
NFFTY 2015 features an unprecedented 248 films from 25 countries and 30 states. We are welcoming in the next generation of filmmakers from places such as Germany, Australia, China, Iran, South Africa and more. This year’s festival includes some notable additions. In the last year NFFTY has sought opportunities to address gender inequity in film with the launch of a multi-year initiative. This year, we’re thrilled that Cornish College of the Arts joins us in presenting the Closing Night Screening Event – Femme Finale – to support these efforts. This event features an incredible selection of strong female artists who have crafted stories in animation, documentary, music video and narrative fiction. Additionally, we continue to provide educational opportunities for all of our filmmakers, most notably through the launch of our first Works in Progress session with Relativity School.
Beyond the festival, NFFTY seeks opportunities to foster emerging filmmakers and showcase their stories – both through off-season events and production opportunities. As we evolve and grow, we have built a production company that connects brands with NFFTY talent to produce original content – from national TV commercials to original web series. And we’re thrilled with recent accolades for this work, most notably our Gold American Advertising Award (ADDY) for the NFFTY documentary – A Supporting Role. This documentary featured the work of three NFFTY alums – Alex Bohs, Joel McCarthy and Caleb Slain. We’re thrilled with how far we’ve come – from a oneday festival nine years ago to a world-class festival that showcases the best emerging filmmakers. We look forward to continuing to grow with you! Thanks for coming to NFFTY 2015! Enjoy the show! 5
As we enter our ninth year, we have a lot to celebrate and much to be grateful for! From the accomplishments of our filmmakers to the strides we have taken as an organization – this has been quite a year!
Stefanie Malone Executive Director, NFFTY
N F F T Y 2 0 1 5 S TA F F
S T E FA NI E M A L O N E Executive Director
TODD KAUMANS Program Manager
KY L E S EAGO Lead Programmer
L I N D S EY L ED UC Festival Manager
KAL EI GH WARD Festival Manager
D A N H U DS O N Outreach Coordinator, Venue Manager
A N IS S A A M A L I A Festival Coordinator Intern
WEN D Y Y U Public Relations & Social Media Intern
M AT T N GUY EN Filmmaker Relations Intern
O M AR RASHED Middle East Outreach Coordinator