By GWEN OREL
orel@montclairlocal.news
It’s right there in the title: the word “Montclair.” And though Montclair Film Festival has more than 150 films and events in the festival this year, there’s still a strong local connection. Here is our round-up of hometown films and events for you:
- “Abe”
This film about Abe (Noah Schnapp) a young man who dreams of being a chef stars Montclair resident Dagmara Dominczyk as his Jewish mother. Arian Moyed plays his Palestinian father. Then Abe apprenctices with a Brazilian chef.
Saturday, May 4, 2 p.m., Clairidge 1; Sunday, May 5, 11:45 a.m., Clairidge 5, 486 Bloomfield Ave.
2. “For They Know Not What They Do.”
Elliot Porcher, one of the subjects of Daniel Karslake’s documentary about Christian families who have an LGBTQ child, is a Montclair resident.
Saturday, May 4, 6:45 p.m., Clairidge 1; Sunday, May 5, 6:45 p.m., Clairidge 2.
3. “Life with Layla”
Ken Spooner and Mike Mee, directors of this documentary about the effects of heroin addiction on one New Jersey family, met at Montclair State University when they were students of Steve McCarthy.
Saturday, May 4, 7:30 p.m., Montclair Kimberley Academy Upper School, 6 Lloyd Road.
4. “Olympia”
Olympia Dukakis, the subject of this documentary by Harry Mavromichalis, was a long-time Montclair resident.
Sunday, May 5, 2:30 p.m., MKA Upper School.
5. “Montclair Improv Presents: The Movie.”
Veteran improvisors will perform live onstage, creating a movie with “inventive camera angles, real-time direction, and improvised action,” inspired by audience suggestions.
Friday, May 10, 8 p.m., Cinema505, 505 Bloomfield Ave.
- MSU BFA New Visions Shorts
Short films from students in the filmmaking BFA Program at Montclair State University’s School of Communication and Media.
Friday, May 10, 8 p.m., Clairidge 2.
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READ: 2019 MFF; NATIONAL REPUTATION, LOCAL GOALS
READ: 2019 MFF; DON’T MISS PICKS FOR YOUR FESTIVAL LIST
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- Emerging Filmmaker Competition 2019
Filmmakers from 6th through 12th grades have won awards from a jury in narrative, comedy, documentary and experimental films.
Saturday, May 11, 11 a.m., Wellmont Theater, 5 Seymour St.
- “A Winding Road: A Ramble with Richard Thompson.”
“A Winding Road” looks at the career of legendary folk guitarist Richard Thompson, now a Montclair resident.
Saturday, May 11, 5 p.m., Cinema505.
- “All That You Leave Behind: A Conversation with Erin Lee Carr.”
“I Love You, Now Die: The Commonwealth Vs. Michelle Carter”
Erin Lee Car, daughter of Montclair resident, New York Times resident David Carr, will talk about her new memoir, and sign books following the conversation.
Saturday, May 11, 1 p.m., Cinema505.
- “I Love You, Now Die: The Commonwealth Vs. Michelle Carter”
Erin Lee Car’s documentary looks at the suicide of Massachusetts teen Conrad Roy, and trial of his girlfriend Michelle Carter, who texted and phoned him to carry it out.
Saturday, May 11, 4 p.m., MKA Upper School.
- Montclair Shorts
Six short films by Montclair filmmakers Maureen Towey, Peter Colbert, Paola Ossa, Susan Skoog, Anna Jones and Haley Finnegan.
Sunday, May 12, 12:15 p.m., MKA Upper School.