MOST BEAUTIFUL FILMS AT WOODSTOCK FILM FESTIVAL

WOODSTOCK FILM FESTIVAL

We love the Woodstock Film Festival! And we’re presenting a curated selection of some of our favorite films presented there this year.

Hailed as "A True American Maverick Among Fests" and named among the top 50 film festivals worldwide, the WFF premieres exceptional films, hosts top film talent, presents A-list concerts, offers fascinating panels, and hosts cool industry parties.

Located in the Hudson Valley, just a 2 hour drive north of New York City, the Festival is surrounded by breathtaking landscapes. The northern Catskill Mountains are in their full autumn regalia, pumpkins and apples are ready for picking on the valley farms, and geese fly in chevrons over the mighty Hudson River towards their southern winter homes.

With all of that natural beauty vying for attention, it’s tough competition for WFF. But the films screened here are exceptional. There’s no problem luring film lovers inside the theaters to watch. WFF attracts sold-out audiences from all over the world.

In addition to drawing sold-out audiences from the 20 million people who live within a two-hour drive, the festival has attracted visitors from all parts of the country and the world.

Visit the 18th Woodstock Film Festival October 11-15, 2017 to see this year’s extraordinary lineup of fiercely independent films, panels and special events. And check out their year-round schedule of extraordinary film, music and art programs.

1. BOMBSHELL: THE HEDY LAMARR STORY

Hollywood Golden Age idol Hedy Lamarr was a bombshell -- and not just because of her beauty queen looks. She was the bombshell genius who invented the technology behind WiFi! And Bluetooth! Who knew?!

Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story,  directed by Alexandra Dean, intimately documents the surprising life of the incredible Austrian-born Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler, who fled a dangerous marriage in the middle of the night in 1933 and eventually landed a chance encounter with Louis B. Mayer who sparked her film career. While her passion for technology drove her, she met frustration in being taken seriously because she was a woman.

The film includes conversations with Lamarr's family, Hollywood notables, and the late star who longed to be recognized for her brains vs only for her beauty. Executive Producer Susan Sarandon and her production company Reframed Pictures are committed to telling stories that champion gender equality as well as transformational stories with lasting social impact. This film hits it out of the park!

2. THE BALLAD OF LEFTY BROWN

The Ballad of Lefty Brown is an old-fashioned Western, directed by Jared Moshé. It is a beautifully spun tale of loyalty and friendship.

Eddie Johnson (Peter Fonda) is elected senator in Montana and appoints his bumbling pal Lefty (Bill Pullman) to take over his ranch while he serves public office. It does not go over well with the community or Eddie wife (Kathy Baker). When Eddie is gunned down, Lefty is moved to avenge his death, rising up in strength and spirit far beyond what anyone ever expected of him.

3. HAPPENING: A CLEAN ENERGY REVOLUTION

Happening: A Clean Energy Revolution documents a 3-year exploration into our current energy technologies and the challenges we face, both with our common interests in a healthy planet and conflicting corporate interests. Directed by James Redford, co-founder of The Redford Center with his father, Robert Redford, looks at fossil fuel-related corporations, government, communities, entrepreneurs, and activists and reveals some exciting developments the nascent clean energy business. There’s hope!

4. THE TRAVELLER

The Traveller is a sweet story about a small-time Lebanese travel agent who never traveled on his own -- until now! After decades of selling travel dreams to others, Adnan ventures outside of his own country for the first time to attend a conference in Paris. He is both seduced and conflicted by the culture clash. He is torn between the new delights in the City of Love and his real family love back home.

5. BECOMING WHO I WAS

Becoming Who I Was is a beautiful film about a young Buddhist boy who discovers that he is the reincarnation of a Tibetan spiritual master. Directed by Moon Chang-Yong and Jin Jeon, the documentary follows his epic 8-year journey as he treks across Asia with his aging grandfather to reach the monastery where he will serve.

Love, compassion, perseverance and vision carry the boy and his grandfather -- they will carry you through the story too.

6. RAM DASS: GOING HOME

Ram Dass: Going Home is beautiful portrait of the most important spiritual teachers in modern history. The film, directed by Derek Peck, feels like a guided meditation, offering intimate access to Ram Dass in his private home on Maui.

Ram Dass, was a Harvard psychologist  who became Buddhist and wrote the seminal 1971 book Be Here Now.

Now partially paralyzed and otherwise challenged by a stroke,  he shares his latest thoughts about life and death. Composer Paul Cantelon’s score adds magical flow.

7. 40 YEARS IN THE MAKING: THE MAGIC MUSIC MOVIE

Magic Magic, a 1970s Grateful Dead-style jam band, developed a strong base of loyal fans in its hometown of Boulder, CA. University student Lee Aronsohn was one of their most ardent followers.

Although the band broke up in 1976 without ever releasing an album, Aronsohn was moved to track down the band’s members decades later.  Ahronson, now a successful television producer ("The Big Bang Theory", "Two and a Half Men") hoped to get them to play one last show. 40 Years in the Making: The Magic Music Movie is their magical story.

8. BEAN

Bean is tender yet powerful film about a new friendship that catapults quickly into the most important relationship ever for two young women who met by chance.

Lori and Alana found each other on Tinder. They soon became best friends and lovers. Lori discovers that Alana suffers from Lupus which has resulted in kidney failure and puts her at risk of dying.

It turns out Lori learns is the perfect kidney donor match and she immediately  offers her healthy kidney to Alana. If the transplant succeeds, Alana's life expectancy could be doubled or tripled. But it’s a risky operation for them both, and it might not solve Alana’s problem.  "How do you repay someone for something like this?" asks Alana. "You don't," says Lori. "It's a gift."

9. THE SONG OF SWAY LAKE

“The Song Of Sway Lake” captures the 1990’s at the resort town of Sway Lake with beautiful sense of nostalgia. Through the golden filter of age, a family drama unfolds when Ollie (Rory Culkin) and his duplicitous Russian friend (Robert Sheehan), visit his ancestral home to search for a rare record album owned by Rory's late father. Though Ollie is on a firm mission, haunted by his father's ghost, his grandmother (Mary Beth Peil) seeks to sell the album. In their tug of war, a complex story of loyalty, betrayal, love, and intrigue, unfold. Directed by Ari Gold.

Check out the trailer.

10. A REAL VERMEER

Han van Meegeren, one of the most talented Dutch artists of the 1920s fell in love with the wife of Holland’s most important art critic, actress Jolanka Lakatos. His life falls apart when the affair becomes public -- his wife and son leave him, and the art critic sets out to destroy him.

Van Meegeren escapes to the south of France where he becomes one of the most talented and cunning art forgers in history.  A Real Vermeer, directed by Rudolf van den Berg, is a beautifully rendered period piece that tells a fictionalized story of this real life drama.

Read more about Autumn Gatherings all this week on BeautifulNow.

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IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Image: “Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story.” Film directed by Alexandra Dean. Film still courtesy of Reframed Pictures.
2. Image: “Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story.” Film directed by Alexandra Dean. Film still courtesy of Reframed Pictures.
3. Image: “Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story.” Film directed by Alexandra Dean. Film still courtesy of Reframed Pictures.
4. Image: “The Ballad of Lefty Brown.” Film directed by Jared Moshé. Film still courtesy of Edward Parks, Neda Armian, Dan Burks, Jared Moshé.
5. Image: “The Traveller.” Film directed by Hadi Ghandour. Film still courtesy of Androma Pictures.
6. Image: “Becoming Who I Was.” Film directed by Moon Chang-Yong and Jin Jeon. Film still courtesy of Cargo Film & Releasing.
7. Image: “Ram Dass: Going Home.” Film directed by Derek Peck. Film still courtesy of Further Pictures.
8. Image: “40 Years in the Making: The Magic Music Movie.” Film directed by Lee Aronsohn. Film still courtesy of Lee Aronsohn.
9. Image: “Bean.” Film directed by Emilie Bunnell. Film still courtesy of Gigantic! Productions.
10. Image: “The Song Of Sway Lake.” Film directed by Ari Gold. Film still courtesy of Zak Kilberg, Michael Bederman, Iz Web, and Anne Bernstein.
11. Image: “A Real Vermeer.” Film directed by Rudolf van den Berg. Film still courtesy of Filmmore.
12. Image: “A Real Vermeer.” Film directed by Rudolf van den Berg. Film still courtesy of Filmmore.
13. Image: Melissa Delzio. “Woodstock, NY.” Woodstock, NY.
14. Image: by BN App - Download now!
15. Image: by Buffy May. “Cooper Lake.” Woodstock, NY.