Oscars’™ Eve Party, Black History Month Screenings,

Seymour: An Introduction Headline February Calendar

January 15, 2015 – The Montclair Film Festival (MFF) announced a slate of film screenings and events for the month of February. Kicking off with a special pre-release screening of Ethan Hawke’s new documentary Seymour: An Introduction on February 9^th with the film’s subject Seymour Bernstein in attendance, MFF programs include the festival’s annual Oscars’™ Eve party on Saturday, February 21^st, and a program of films celebrating Black History Month, which concludes with a screening of Lacey Schwartz’s documentary Little White Lie on Saturday, February 28^th at Glenfield Middle School.

Oscars’™ Eve Party

The MFF’s 5^th annual Oscars’™ Eve Party, celebrating a great year of films with champagne, food, dancing and fun, will take place on Saturday, February 21st at 8:00 PM at The Loft, located at 8 Lackawana Plaza in Montclair. The event will feature a gold theme and provides a unique opportunity to enjoy a fantastic evening with film lovers, industry professionals and festival leaders. Tickets are $75, include food and drink, and are available now atwww.montclairfilmfest.org for Members. Public tickets go on sale Saturday, January 17^th, 2015.

Black History Month Films

The Montclair Film Festival is proud to once again celebrate the contribution of African American filmmakers and artists with our annual Black History Month screenings. This year’s centerpiece screening is Little White Lie, Saturday, February 28^th at 5:00 PM at the Glenfield Middle School auditorium, located at 25 Maple Avenue inMontclair. The screening is free and open to the public on a first come, first served basis, but RSVPs are encouraged by visiting www.montclairfilmfest.org.

The celebrated film, directed by Montclair resident Lacey Schwartz, tells the story of Schwartz’s Jewish upbringing in Woodstock, NY, her discovery of her unexpected African American roots, and the impact this discovery has on her family and her identity. 

“As a new resident, I am so proud to be presenting my film in Montclair, “ said filmmaker Lacey Schwartz. “I look forward to meeting everyone and having discussions around the film with the community.”

In addition, the MFF has confirmed that writer/ director/ producer Leslie Harris will attend the MFF’s screening ofJust Another Girl On The I.R.T. on February 18^th at the Montclair Art Museum to participate in a post-screening Q&A.

Little White Lie and Just Another Girl On The I.R.T. join Basquiat (screening on February 11^th at the MontclairArt Museum) in the MFF’s Black History Month program.

Seymour: An Introduction Screening

The MFF will host a screening of Ethan Hawke’s new documentary Seymour: An Introduction on Monday, February 9^th at 7:30 PM at The Bellevue Theater in Montclair. The film’s subject Seymour Bernstein will attend for a post-screening Q&A.  Tickets are $14 for the public, $12 for Members and are available now atwww.montclairfilmfest.org.

Seymour Bernstein was a promising concert pianist whose career led him to transforming himself from performer into one of the finest piano teachers in the country. After meeting at a dinner party, Ethan Hawke and Bernstein embarked upon friendship that inspired Hawke to create this film, exploring the role of music, practice, and living a life of pure dedication to the craft of teaching and interpretation.  Hailed as one of the most beautiful, moving documentaries in recent years, Seymour: An Introduction is a transcendent story of an artist who discovers that his true gift lies in inspiring and teaching others. (A Sundance Selects release).

About MFF

The Montclair Film Festival, Inc. (MFF), a non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, nurtures and showcases the talents of filmmakers from around the region and world. MFF unites, empowers, educates and celebrates our region’s diverse cultural heritage and robust artistic community by presenting an annual spring festival and a growing assortment of engaging programs and events all year long. The fourth annual spring festival will take place from May 1 through 10, 2015. MFF 2015 is made possible through generous support from Investors Bank, Audi, HackensackUMC Mountainside, Chubb, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, among others. For information about MFF, visitwww.montclairfilmfest.org.