RECORD CROWDS THRONG NINTH WFF SEASON

INDIE PREMIERES, SEMINARS, REEVE AWARD ARE HIGHLIGHTS

With record attendance of 3,500 and thirty-six filmmakers in residence, WFF's ninth season was by many accounts its strongest yet. Artists and moviegoers alike praised the schedule, which included many feature premieres - world (Anamorph), East Coast (Stay Away... a little closer), New England (Dark Matter, Purple Violets, Day Zero, Anita O'Day: The Life of a Jazz Singer), and Berkshire (The Good Night, Running Funny, Teeth). Not to mention panels, parties, a memorable lineup of shorts, and special off-season screenings of Rocket Science and God Grew Tired of Us.

Featuring a superb central performance by John Cusack, Grace Is Gone (don't miss the film when it's released December 7th) wowed the audience at WFF's first-ever Benefit, with the film preceded by a sold-out dinner at Cafe Latino. The Clark Art Institute was packed for the haunting Dark Matter and an in-depth Q-&-A with director Chen Shi-Zheng. For the 15th time the Festival teamed up with MASS MoCA, this year on the vampire classic Nosferatu with live original score by the Alloy Orchestra. WFF also hosted two provocative seminars: Weekend I with cast, writers, and director of Running Funny, and Weekend II with Tribeca Film Festival co-founder Craig Hatkoff. With the prize of an original artwork by Board member Stephen Hannock, the Christopher and Dana Reeve Award was presented by Hannock, executive director Steve Lawson, Board president Bob Ware, and Advisory Board member (and Chris' older son) Matthew Reeve to the short film Validation. Kurt Kuenne's droll musical romance very narrowly edged Paco Farias' Fool Me Once and Kohl Glass' Der Ostwind in the audience balloting.

Save the dates for WFF's Tenth Anniversary Year: October 17- 26, 2008.