The eighth annual YoFiFest Film Festival is online this year! Their Virtual Cinema opened last Friday, with all of the movies being offered on demand, so audience from around the globe can watch all the great films in the festival when and where they want. Then, starting on November 7th, audiences can also join the live, online Red Carpet Kick-Off Party, interactive Q&A’s with the filmmakers, free workshops ranging from crowdfunding to screenwriting, an Audience Choice Award Ceremony, and more!
Although they’re showing 142 fantastic films from 16 countries around the globe that showcase a wide variety of stories and styles, the festival has always had a soft spot for local filmmakers and has made an effort to showcase their work and help it find an audience.“It’s exciting to see the increase in the number and quality of films from the lower Hudson Valley, Westchester and Yonkers that are submitted,” said Patty Schumann, the festival’s co-founder and programmer, “And it’s always a treat for us to be able to show off our hometown filmmakers.”
This year, filmmakers from the YO include Alana Barrett-Adkins, with her feature film “Asunder, One Flesh Divided”, which focuses on the life of a successful, prospering, yet distant married couple who is thrust into the den of conflict after an incident changes their relationship forever; Donald Wilson, with his short film “Our Day” about a couple who find a silver lining during a difficult time in their Iives; Anthony Colon, with his spoken word piece “His-Story” about the day to day deplorable conditions that New York City Housing Authority residents endure; and Carlos Renaso, with his
Spanish language short film “Soledad” about a young woman who, after arriving in the United States from her home in the Caribbean, makes a phone call to her older sister and learns her marriage might be a lie.
“In 2017, YoFiFest was the first film festival I attended. Everyone was kind to me & I watched as many films as I could,” said filmmaker Donald Wilson, “I knew afterwards that not only did I want to make films, but I wanted to be a part of YoFiFest. As crazy as 2020 has been, being a part of YoFiFest is a dream come true. I’m truly honored.”
“I have lived in Yonkers for over 20 years. A graduate from Lincoln High School and a Northside native of Yonkers, this city is a part of my soul,” said Anthony Colon, adding “For me, creating is the closest thing to true freedom, and art is the bridge that closes the gaps. My art is activism and its purpose is to bring a voice to the social injustices our people have endured.”
When asked if she had any advice for aspiring filmmakers, Alana Barrett-Adkins said “JUST START! Don’t worry about whether or not you’ve done this before. Don’t worry about if you think your work is good enough or if you think people may not appreciate your voice. Don’t worry if you’ve never done it before. Just. Start. And surround yourself with people who know what you don’t know.”
Carlos Renaso added “Find stories you want to tell and be relentless.
Plan ahead before you shoot. Be prepared. And when you think you’re ready to shoot, prepare some more.”
YoFiFest provides a unique opportunity for audiences to watch films that they might not see anywhere else and gives students skills they can use in all aspects of their lives. Details and tickets at YoFiFest.com. Yonkers Rising readers can use code “YoYR20” to get 20% off Full Festival Passes.
