It is known as the playground of the rich and famous. In fact, it is the preferred summer holiday destination for U.S. Presidents (including Barack Obama and his family just two weeks ago). It is the tony enclave of Martha's Vineyard, an island off Cap Cod, Massachussets, that is hosting its 5th annual film festival this weekend. The Festival is showcasing some of the strongest films from the festival circuit, bringing top flight independent and international films to both locals ...

  Film, at its most loftiest, can be a unifying force on the planet and the people who work in it, both in front and behind the camera, can be its "global citizens". That is the spirit that has inspired the Martha's Vineyard International Film Festival (MVIFF) to bestow their first ever Global Citizen Award to actor/activist Matthew Modine. The award, created by local sculptor Barney Zeitz, will be presented on Saturday, September 11, 2010, following the screening of TH...

DISPATCH FROM MARTHA'S VINEYARD | In Its Third Year, Festival Grows Beyond Local Event {C}{C} {C} by Cameron Yates (September 16, 2008) As September begins, Martha's Vineyard breathes a sigh of relief after 100,000 summer visitors have left, and the island's population returns to 15,000 year-round residents. The Martha's Vineyard International Film Festival, in its third year, is meant for those who remain, as Co-Directors Richard Paradise and Nevette Previd are quick...

Photos by David Welch...

Monday, September 18---After four days of film excitement, the Martha's Vineyard International Film Festival ended its inaugural session with an enthusiastic thumbs up from Festival audiences, visiting filmmakers and local businesses. The Festival, which was based in the harbor town of Vineyard Haven on the unique island resort of Martha's Vineyard, has now literally drawn a line in the sand and has the great potential to become a major destination site in years to come. Nearly all of the fil...

Sunday, September 17----After a full day of screenings that boasted a diverse program ranging from the South African Oscar winner TSOTSI to the Japanese samurai extravaganza THE HIDDEN BLADE to the French romantic comedy RUSSIAN DOLLS, Festival devotees headed to the Martha's Vineyard Airport for a night of samba music and dancing. The dance party was held at the Outerland Cafe, a legendary Vineyard nightspot (once known as The Hot Tin Roof) where such musical talents as James Taylor, Carly S...

Friday, September 15----A late, but welcome, addition to the film schedule of the Martha's Vineyard International Film Festival, is a fascinating look at the life and work of whale biologist Dr. Roger Payne. The film, A LIFE AMONG WHALES, features breathtaking underwater photography along with its ecological message of environmental activism. Dr. Payne, a MacArthur Fellowship winner and one of the leading oceanographic researchers in the field, has advanced the boundaries of science and activ...

Katharine Cornell Theater Thursday, September 14----It was standing room only at the Katharine Cornell Theater this evening, as the inaugural Martha's Vineyard International Film Festival kicked off a four day film celebration with its high wattage Opening Night Film, Michel Gondry's much anticipated THE SCIENCE OF SLEEP. The sold out screening brought out a mixture of locals, visting filmmakers and some of the cultural elite who call this beautiful island off the coast of Cape Cod home. The s...

The Danish Poet Tuesday, September 12----Short films from around the world will be heavily represented at the Martha's Vineyard International Film Festival, which kicks off this Thursday. First up, the Festival presents a Showcase of International Short Films, to screen on Friday evening at the Vineyard Playhouse, one of the Festival's key screening venues. The program highlights four films that have won awards and acclaim at previous international film festivals. The four superb short form fi...

Wednesday, September 6----With little over one week to go before the launch of the Martha's Vineyard International Film Festival, FEST21.COM's Festivals Editor Sandy Mandelberger sat down with Richard Paradise, the Festival's Co-Director (along with Nevette Previd), to discuss his goals and hopes for this year's inaugural event. Sandy Mandelberger: There are so many film festivals already on the calendar, and September is a particularly business month...what was your inspiration to launch an e...

Wednesday, August 23----It would be hard to find a more idyllic place than the summer resort of Martha's Vineyard, particularly during the sun-drenched month of September, its most beautiful season. This fabled enclave, known for its pristine beaches, historic towns, fine dining and elite residents, will host the launch of the debut Martha's Vineyard International Film Festival, an event dedicated to the showcasing of international film talents. Produced by the Martha's Vineyard Film Society, ...