Event Review  September 2000 will be remembered for a Film Festival which put together an eclectic mix of independent filmmakers and enthusiastic film watchers. Suddenly getting your fix in doses of film from all over the world, was just a ticket away. 

  It started for us with a series of Les Blanks' documentaries, including his brilliant jungle adventure "Burden of Dreams". "My Generation" a film about the Woodstock concerts by academy award winner Barbara Kopple & "Five Days in March" a study of American artists & musicians in Cuba by Haskell Wexler, a true artist with a camera in his hands, were but a few of the noted films in this category. We also enjoyed "The Gods of Times Square" (a focus on religious fanaticism that surrounded Times Square, as seen through the eyes of Richard Sandler who looked at those helping the sinners to repent, while somehow knowing that the end would fade away as Disney’s world brought forth a new light) - "Good Kurds Bad Kurds" - "Live Free or Die" (a year in the life of a New England doctor and the abortion rights issue that followed him) and "American Dreamer".

  Short categories included the Asbury Short Film Show/Best of the US Festivals, Midnight Shorts, American Shorts, Foreign Shorts and Short Docs. Our interest was peaked by "Last Request" (great twist ending) - "Dreamer" (revealing ancient dreams with modern themes) - "Black People Hate Me and They Hate My Glasses" (had the audience laughing from start to finish) - "Be Like Frank" (clever characters digest friendship & love via New York, New York my way) - Family Hour, a presentation of two films for kids revealed "Click Three Times" by Victoria Sampson a noted sleeper that had most adults drying their tears after the showing.

  Full-length features from foreign lands included Tomi Streiffs’ wonderful comedy "The Wedding Cow" a road moo-vie & "Black Milk" a satirical look at Greek media and pop culture through the eyes of a writer who has an unusual problem with self-perception directed by Nicholas Triandafylldis. "Radiation" by Suki Hawley & Micheal Galinsky depicts a modern day Spain through the travels of Unai, who tries too hard to bring rock & roll music on the road. "The Dream Catcher" a US road movie by Ed Radtke, looked constantly at the theme of abandonment resulting in a well-crafted film not to be missed.

  Festival producers deserve the highest praise for creating what I believe will become an important stop on the festival route for all those independents who need to tell a story. Thanks to all who participated in the Woodstock Film Festival especially the producers, volunteers and filmmakers. sj & mj