(photo by Alexis Garcia
The seventh annual YoFiFest film festival opens on November 1st, and this year it’s screening over 200 films from eighteen countries around the world, as well as from right here in Westchester.
The international submissions come from all over the globe, with some of the foreign filmmakers even planning on making the trip to visit the area and attend their screenings and take part in the Q&A’s and parties. However, the high filmmaker turnout isn’t just reserved for those coming from outside the area; local filmmakers are showing up in record numbers as well!
“It was a record year for submissions, so we decided to expand our programming to try and accommodate all the great films we received,” said Patty Schumann, the festival’s co-founder and programmer, “It’s exciting to see the increase in the number and quality of films from the lower Hudson Valley that are submitted, and it’s always a treat for us to be able to showcase our local filmmakers.”
Local talent is appearing throughout the festival, including the World Premiere of Mamaroneck resident Evan Gardner’s “Finding Our Voice”, a documentary he shot in White Plains and Yonkers, “Tumble Dry”, a comedy by Dobbs Ferry residents Stephen Riscica and Delia Kelly shot in Mt. Kisco, and the drama “The Rest Is Just Noise” by Hartsdale resident Christopher Hall. “Everyone in our community is very open to the film making process and encouraging,” said Hall, who shot this film in Hartsdale and Scarsdale, but has shot other films in Westchester before, adding
“I will film in Westchester for the rest of my life.” White Plans resident Anthony Desiato seems to feel the same way, since he not only shot his most recent film, “My Comic Shop Country”, in Yonkers, Harrison, and White Plains, but also having shot his three previous films in the area as well.
“There is an excitement about filming in Westchester,” said Matt Sullivan, the director of “Dead Air”, who shot in his home town of Harrison, as well as in Mamaroneck and Valhalla, “People seem to be enthusiastic and willing to pitch in with helping you make your film.” Seanie Sugrue, an Irish director and screenwriter who choose to film his movie “Misty Button” on and around McLean Avenue in Yonkers agreed, adding “The locals were amazing and very welcoming,”
Film friendly locations are a big part of what draws filmmakers to Westchester, as well as the wide range of locations. “Each city offers a completely different look and feel,” said director Liam McKiernan, who shot in Pelham, Yonkers, Tuckahoe and Hastings-on-Hudson for his two films in this year’s YoFiFest, “Daps” and “Living With Obi Wan”, adding “Local film offices are responsive and easy to work with.”
“We could get a city feel or a country feel within a few minutes drive of each other” said producer Alex Torres, who both lives in Cortlandt Manor and shot his thriller “The Nothing”, which will be making its world premiere at this year’s festival, there as well. Torres produced several films in the area before and feels that it is getting easier. “In the past, getting the right cast and crew [locally] was sometimes a challenge,” Torres noted, “but it’s become easier, thanks to YoFiFest connecting filmmakers.”
Besides the attraction of diverse locations and helpful film offices, there is nowhere else with the natural beauty of the Lower Hudson Valley. “Westchester is a beautiful tapestry of nature and suburbia with hints of urbane New York,” said Yonkers resident Gamliel Wernick, who not only directed his comedy “Happy Hanukkah” there, but will also be premiering it in Yonkers at YoFiFest. “There is a beauty and range to the area, but also a convenience to NYC,” said Yonkers native Loring Murtha, who filmed his comedy “Oh, Boy…” in Scarsdale.
Jessica Michael Davis, who shot her film “Jane” in Croton Harmon and Cortlandt Manor, was struck by the beauty. “The scenery is unbelievably beautiful. It allows for naturally sourced lighting and gorgeous cinematography.” While not an area resident, she is looking forward to coming back to Westchester for the festival. “YoFiFest has such a high quality lineup, so I’m extremely excited to be screened alongside amazing films,” Jessica added, “I’m also excited to meet talented artists, which YoFiFest has many events set up for us to do just that.“
Other local filmmakers screening at this year’s YoFiFest include Dobbs Ferry’s Rishi Gandhi (Arcade Oratory), Hasting on Hudson’s Alanna Morton (Monuments), New Rochelle’s Steven Bennett (Power Forward) and Vagabond Beaumont (Baron Saturday of Coney Island) Tarrytown’s Patsy Di Leo (Duped), Mamaroneck’s Alanah Rafferty (Mutiny) and Gregory Stern (Letters From Long Binh), Peekskill’s Christopher Fox (The Last Fishing Trip), South Salem’s Kyle Romanek (F.A.M.) andYonkers’ Ben Fraternale (Joyride) and Christian Igbinovia (The Love Between Us).
YoFiFest provides a unique opportunity for audiences to watch films that they might not see anywhere else. The industry website FilmFreeway has repeatedly listed YoFiFest as one of the “Top 100 Best Reviewed Festivals” on their platform of over 8,000 film festivals.
The festival is presented by YoFiFest, Inc. a 501c3 Non-Profit charitable organization with a mission to change lives through arts and education and to provide a cultural opportunity that might not otherwise exist. It gives filmmakers an opportunity to screen their work, gives audiences a chance to see movies they won’t be able to see anywhere else, and gives students skills they can use in all aspects of their lives.
YoFiFest takes place in Downtown Yonkers every evening and select days from November 1st to 11th. Information, schedules and tickets are available at YoFiFest.com.
