This past summer at our annual Board Meeting in July, the Film Society welcomed to its board three new members: Philip Mercier, Michelle Vivian-Jemison, and Susan Kantrowitz.

Philip Mercier

Phil is a regular film-goer at the MV Film Center and loves Martha's Vineyard and its beaches, having raised his family here with his spouse Susan. A long-time banker with the Martha’s Vineyard Savings Bank since 2005, he currently serves as Vice President, Commercial Lending

Prior to MV Savings Bank, Phil worked for the Edgartown National Bank, May 1989 to May 2004 –Vice President, Senior Loan Officer

Phil has served on a number of Island boards, including the Martha’s Vineyard Builder Association, Board Member 2019 - Present and

Martha’s Vineyard Ice Arena, Board of Trustees 2004 – 2013

Michelle Vivian-Jemison

Long-time Access Coordinator & Instructor at Martha's Vineyard Community Television, Michelle has an extensive background in broadcast media, content creation, and educational training.

She has also been the primary instructor of the MV Film Society's SUMMER CAMPS for youth filmmaking at Featherstone. She has led our student workshops for the last 7-8 years.

She recently finished a 3-year board term with Island Housing Trust.

Susan Kantrowitz

Sue is Vice President and General Counsel for GBH, one of the nation's leading public broadcast services. She has been at GBH since 1981 and became General Counsel in 1986.

Sue Kantrowitz is responsible for all legal matters affecting GBH, including all aspects of the production contracting process and the negotiation and administration of national collective bargaining agreements with actors, writers, and musicians. She also oversees the GBH Media Archives and Library, which she founded almost 25 years ago.

Long-time Board Members are honored

Pictured above (l. to r.) - Robert Epstein and Jennifer Blum

Both Bob and Jennifer have worked tirelessly over the past nine years in supporting the MV Film Society, especially during the early years of the MV Film Center, when our success was still uncertain. They believed in our mission and the programming we were doing in the community enough to join our Board.

They were both surprised to receive a parting gift of gratitude, original prints by Island photographer Allison Shaw.