The 24th MVFF
Festival Calendar
All films are listed in chronological order.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20 | 4 PM | THE GRANGE HALL
UNDERWATER PROJECTS
Dirs. dream hampton and Liz Havstad | Documentary | U.S.A. | 2024
Followed by a discussion with director dream hampton and executive producer and climate activist Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr.
Home to the world’s largest naval base, Norfolk, Virginia, is sinking. It is more vulnerable than even New Orleans. The insufficient flood walls end where a housing project and a historic African American community begins. This film mixes animation with live action, to profile the area’s local leaders as they rush to create climate resilience plans while facing an uncertain future.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20 | 6 PM | THE GRANGE HALL
GREAT PONDS: Finding a Better Balance
Dir. Ollie Becker | Documentary | U.S.A. | 2023 | 40 min.
Followed by a discussion with director Ollie Becker, Vineyard Conservation Society executive director Samantha Look, Great Pond Foundation executive director Emily Reddington, and others. A reception with refreshments, including charcuterie and cheese by Nina Levin, will follow downstairs. Tickets for this MVFF ‘24 opening-night event are $125 each.
In the second episode of Circuit Films’ Great Ponds docuseries, Martha’s Vineyard’s coastal ponds continue to be adversely affected by the rising sea-level and temperatures of climate change, and an influx of nitrogen from septic systems and landscaping runoff. In response, the Great Pond Foundation, the Vineyard Conservation Society, the Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group, the Wampanoag Environmental Laboratory, and others make vital and cooperative efforts to revive the herring, shellfish, and eelgrass populations. While offering hope, this film urges the public to consider its nitrogen and carbon footprints, in relation to the ponds’ survival.
THURSDAY, MARCH 21
THURSDAY, MARCH 21 | 7 PM | MARTHA’S VINEYARD PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
THE FORGOTTEN KINGDOM
General-admission tickets for this special MVFF performance are $25, and $15 for students and faculty of the Martha’s Vineyard public schools
A tale woven through dreamlike sand animation, narration blending memoir and poetry, and a riveting musical score reframing Ottoman Jewish women’s song, this show by the Guy Mendilow Ensemble renders a mother’s letter to her daughter, bringing to life the vibrant Mediterranean world that existed before wars splintered the Ottoman Empire. Its music draws on Tango, Arabic percussion, and vocal harmonies layered on Western classical music’s harmonic roots. The ensemble is a cutting-edge, international group of Boston and New York-based musicians, composers, visual artists, writers, and theatrical designers which produces live, original multimedia performances that explore the choices people make in times of personal or societal upheaval.
FRIDAY, MARCH 22
12–1:30 PM | The Grange Hall
LUNCH - See Menu
FRIDAY, MARCH 22 | 4:15 PM | THE GRANGE HALL
ÀMA GLORIA
Dir. Marie Amachoukeli | Drama | France | 2023 | 1 hr. 23 min. | Kabuverdianu and French with English subtitles
Cléo, a six-year-old French girl, adores her nanny, Gloria. When Gloria must return to Cape Verde to care for her own children, Cléo is allowed to travel to the West African country and spend a last summer with her. Layered by issues of race, class, culture, and colonialism, this film delicately portrays both the plight of migrant women and the complex emotions of a child struggling to bid farewell to the person she loves and regards as mother.
FRIDAY, MARCH 22 | 1:30 PM | THE GRANGE HALL
CALL ME DANCER
Dirs. Pip Gilmour and Leslie Shampaine | Documentary | U.S.A. | 2023 | 1 hr. 24 min. | English and Hindi with English subtitles
Followed by a discussion with film subject Manish Chauhan
Manish, a street dancer from Mumbai, struggles against his working-class parents' insistence that he follow a traditional path. When he secretly attends an inner-city dance school he meets Yehuda, a curmudgeonly 70-year-old Israeli ballet master who recognizes the young man’s talent and helps him realize his dream to be a professional dancer. A story of hope, heartache, and hard work, this documentary has already won fifteen awards at other film festivals in the U.S. and Canada.
FRIDAY, MARCH 22 | 4:45 PM | CAPAWOCK THEATRE
IBELIN
Dir. Benjamin Ree | Documentary | Norway | 2024 | 1 hr. 41 min. | Norwegian with English subtitles
The winner of directing and audience awards at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, this film is the tale of Mats Steen, a young Norwegian gamer who died from a degenerative muscular disease at age 25. His parents mourned what they thought had been a lonely, isolated life—until they started receiving messages from his global network of online friends. Through a blend of reconstructed animated gameplay and interviews, Ree creates a vivid portrait of Ibelin, Steen’s avatar within the World of Warcraft community, illustrating how Steen was able to transcend the limits of the physical world.
FRIDAY, MARCH 22 | 5 PM | STRAND THEATRE
NAME ME LAWAND
Dir. Edward Lovelace | Documentary | U.K. | 2022 | 1 hr. 31 min. | Kurdish, British Sign Language, and English with English subtitles
Followed by a prerecorded discussion, via Zoom, with director Edward Lovelace
Lawand, a young Kurdish boy, has been deaf since birth. After he and his family make a treacherous journey and spend a year in a French refugee camp, a deaf volunteer helps bring them to the English city of Derby, where Lawand joins the Royal School for the Deaf. As he grows older, the film follows his dramatic progress learning British Sign Language, revealing a bright, charismatic, and inquisitive child who discovers friendship and a new way to express himself.
5:45–7 PM | The Grange Hall
MEET THE FILMMAKERS - All visiting filmmakers are invited to meet and dine with festivalgoers
DINNER - See Menu
Live music by David Stanwood
FRIDAY, MARCH 22 | 7 PM | THE GRANGE HALL
LUTHER: Never Too Much
Dir. Dawn Porter | Documentary | U.K. / U.S.A. | 2024 | 1 hr. 41 min.
Followed by a discussion with director Dawn Porter
American soul and R&B singer, songwriter, and record producer Luther Vandross started out as a backing vocalist for everyone from Diana Ross and Stevie Wonder to David Bowie and Bette Midler. In his solo career, he had many hits and sold over forty million records worldwide. Celebrating his life and work while also revealing his personal struggles, this is the latest film by documentarian par excellence Dawn Porter (The Lady Bird Diaries). It includes testimonials from Dionne Warwick, Jamie Foxx, Roberta Flack, Clive Davis, and Mariah Carey.
FRIDAY, MARCH 22 | 7:30 PM | CAPAWOCK THEATRE
GHOSTLIGHT
Dirs. Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson | Drama / Comedy | U.S.A. | 2024 | 1 hr. 55 min.
Dan, a melancholic, middle-aged Chicago construction worker, is grieving a family tragedy. Disconnected from his wife Sharon and fiery teenage daughter Daisy, he falls in with a troupe of charming, quirky misfits when he unexpectedly joins a community production of the Shakespeare play Romeo and Juliet. He doesn’t believe in therapy, but in the process of rehearsing and acting he confronts his personal loss and grief. This moving film, by the duo who created the award-winning indie favorite Saint Frances, is a tribute to the healing power of art and the magic of theater.
FRIDAY, MARCH 22 | 7:30 PM | STRAND THEATRE
A SECRET SCREENING
Followed by a discussion, via Zoom, with one of the film’s directors
Join us for a death-defying documentary film you won’t forget!
SATURDAY, MARCH 23
SATURDAY, MARCH 23 | 10 AM | CAPAWOCK THEATRE
76 DAYS
Dir. Joe Wein | Documentary | U.S.A. | 2024 | 1 hr. 47 min.
Gannon & Benjamin Marine Railway co-founder Nat Benjamin will moderate a discussion to follow with film subject Steven Callahan and executive producer Robert Sennott
On February 4, 1982, a whale collided with Steven Callahan's boat when he was just days into a solo voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. He was forced to abandon ship, without food or water, and spent more than two and a half months drifting over 1,800 miles in an inflatable raft. A tale of survival, invention, resilience, and seamanship, this gripping film is based on Callahan’s New York Times bestselling book, Adrift: 76 Days Lost at Sea, and brings his remarkable experience to life by interweaving found 8mm footage with first-person recreation as he takes us, moment by harrowing moment, through his life-altering adventure.
SATURDAY, MARCH 23 | 10 AM | STRAND THEATRE
NARRATIVE SHORTS
39 min.
Followed by a discussion with director Àlex Lora
This short-film program explores human connection in a variety of contexts. From comedic exchanges between an older homeowner and younger homebuyers, to addressing climate change through lighthearted animation, all of these films underscore the importance of empathy in navigating life's challenges and differences. Two also won awards at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, including the jury prize for best short film.
SATURDAY, MARCH 23 | 10:15 AM | THE GRANGE HALL
NAME ME LAWAND
Dir. Edward Lovelace | Documentary | U.K. | 2022 | 1 hr. 31 min. | Kurdish, British Sign Language, and English with English subtitles
Followed by a prerecorded discussion, via Zoom, with director Edward Lovelace
Lawand, a young Kurdish boy, has been deaf since birth. After he and his family make a treacherous journey and spend a year in a French refugee camp, a deaf volunteer helps bring them to the English city of Derby, where Lawand joins the Royal School for the Deaf. As he grows older, the film follows his dramatic progress learning British Sign Language, revealing a bright, charismatic, and inquisitive child who discovers friendship and a new way to express himself.
SATURDAY, MARCH 23 | 1 PM | THE GRANGE HALL
INTERPRETERS WANTED
Dir. Robert Ham | Documentary | U.S.A. | 2023 | 1 hr. 23 min. | English and Pashto with English subtitles
Martha’s Vineyard Times publisher Charles Sennott will moderate a discussion to follow with director Robert Ham and film subject Ismail Haqmal
Saifullah Haqmal and his brother Ismail, educated Afghans turned interpreters for the U.S. military, form a lasting bond with American soldier Robert Ham. When his deployment in their country ends, they remain, facing increasing threats from the Taliban. Desperate for Special Immigrant Visa approval from the U.S., they endure years of perilous waiting while communicating urgently with Robert. This film tells their story, from the Soviet-Afghan war in their youth, to Ismail’s final daring mission to escape as U.S. forces withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021.
SATURDAY, MARCH 23 | 12:30 PM | STRAND THEATRE
THE BODY POLITIC
Dir. Gabriel Francis Paz Goodenough | Documentary | U.S.A. | 2023 | 1 hr. 30 min.
Followed by a discussion with director and producer Gabriel Francis Paz Goodenough and film subjects Erricka Bridgeford and Dante Johnson
The youngest mayor in Baltimore’s history, Brandon Scott was elected in 2020, at age 36. Determined and passionate, he takes bold steps to confront chronic violence. Against the backdrop of nationwide unrest following the murder of George Floyd, this film follows Scott’s mayoral campaign and first year in office, as he unveils an ambitious plan to lower his city’s murder rate. When opposition mounts, commitment to his principles puts his political future in jeopardy. Will his holistic approach lead to healing and serve as a blueprint for the rest of the nation?
SATURDAY, MARCH 23 | 1 PM | CAPAWOCK THEATRE
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS
Followed by a discussion with producer Minoo Allen
Each of these short documentary films provides unique insight into the transformative power of nature. Through compelling and heartfelt stories, they illuminate the essential relationship between people and the environments in which they live.
SATURDAY, MARCH 23 | 3:15 PM | CAPAWOCK THEATRE
GREAT PONDS: Finding a Better Balance
Dir. Ollie Becker | Documentary | U.S.A. | 2023 | 40 min.
Followed by a discussion with director Ollie Becker and local environmental experts
In the second episode of Circuit Films’ Great Ponds series, Martha’s Vineyard’s coastal ponds continue to be adversely affected by rising sea level and temperatures due to climate change, and an influx of nitrogen from septic systems and landscaping runoff. In response, the Great Pond Foundation, the Vineyard Conservation Society, the Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group, the Wampanoag Environmental Laboratory, and others make vital and cooperative efforts to revive the herring, shellfish, and eelgrass populations. While offering hope, this film urges the public to consider its nitrogen and carbon footprints, in relation to the ponds’ survival.
SATURDAY, MARCH 23 | 3:15 PM | STRAND THEATRE
ÀMA GLORIA
Dir. Marie Amachoukeli | Drama | France | 2023 | 1 hr. 23 min. | Kabuverdianu and French with English subtitles
Cléo, a six-year-old French girl, adores her nanny, Gloria. When Gloria must return to Cape Verde to care for her own children, Cléo is allowed to travel to the West African country and spend a last summer with her. Layered by issues of race, class, culture, and colonialism, this film delicately portrays both the plight of migrant women and the complex emotions of a child struggling to bid farewell to the person she loves and regards as mother.
SATURDAY, MARCH 23 | 3:30 PM | THE GRANGE HALL
A SECRET SCREENING
Followed by a discussion, via Zoom, with one of the film’s directors
Join us for a death-defying documentary film you won’t forget!
SATURDAY, MARCH 23 | 5 PM | CAPAWOCK THEATRE
CALL ME DANCER
Dirs. Pip Gilmour and Leslie Shampaine | Documentary | U.S.A. | 2023 | 1 hr. 24 min. | English and Hindi with English subtitles
Manish, a street dancer from Mumbai, struggles against his working-class parents' insistence that he follow a traditional path. When he secretly attends an inner-city dance school he meets Yehuda, a curmudgeonly 70-year-old Israeli ballet master who recognizes the young man’s talent and helps him realize his dream to be a professional dancer. A story of hope, heartache, and hard work, this documentary has already won fifteen awards at other film festivals in the U.S. and Canada.
DINNER - See Menu
Live music by the MVRHS Jazz Trio
5:30–6:30 PM | The Grange Hall
SATURDAY, MARCH 23 | 5:30 PM | STRAND THEATRE
TUESDAY
Dir. Daina Oniunas-Pusić | Fantasy | U.K. / U.S.A. | 2023 | 1 hr. 51 min. | Rated R
In this fantastical feature directorial debut, a terminally ill teen, Tuesday (Lola Petticrew), is bedridden in London, mostly attended by a nurse because Zora, her single mother (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), is off in the park, avoiding reality. But when Death finally comes calling, in the form of a shapeshifting, talking parrot, it leads them on a wild, strange adventure. A contemporary fairytale, this film is a heartrending yet playful exploration of the ways people confront mortality and grief.
SATURDAY, MARCH 23 | 6:30 PM | THE GRANGE HALL
A TATTOO ON MY BRAIN
Dirs. Kate Davis and David Heilbroner | Documentary | U.S.A. | 2023 | 32 min.
In 2006, neurologist Daniel Gibbs first noticed early signs of Alzheimer’s disease in himself. This documentary, based on his book of the same name, details how he transitioned from healer to patient when he detected these changes in his own cognitive health. Meticulously monitoring his mental state, he illustrates how individuals can potentially mitigate memory loss and embrace the profound joy of living, even in the face of this challenging condition.
SATURDAY, MARCH 23 | 7:30 PM | CAPAWOCK THEATRE
BABES
Dir. Pamela Adlon | Comedy | U.S.A. | 2024 | 1 hr. 49 min.
After becoming pregnant from a one-night stand, aggressively single Eden (Ilana Glazer) leans on her married best friend and mother of two, Dawn (Michelle Buteau), to guide her through gestation and beyond. The feature directorial debut of Pamela Adlon, creator and star of the television series Better Things, this smart comedy was co-written and produced by Glazer, a creator and star of the series Broad City. Oliver Platt, Sandra Bernhard, Hasan Minhaj, John Carroll Lynch, and the Lucas Brothers are among the supporting cast.
SATURDAY, MARCH 23 | 8 PM | THE GRANGE HALL
GHOSTLIGHT
Dirs. Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson | Drama / Comedy | U.S.A. | 2024 | 1 hr. 55 min.
Dan, a melancholic, middle-aged Chicago construction worker, is grieving a family tragedy. Disconnected from his wife Sharon and fiery teenage daughter Daisy, he falls in with a troupe of charming, quirky misfits when he unexpectedly joins a community production of the Shakespeare play Romeo and Juliet. He doesn’t believe in therapy, but in the process of rehearsing and acting he confronts his personal loss and grief. This moving film, by the duo who created the award-winning indie favorite Saint Frances, is a tribute to the healing power of art and the magic of theater.
SATURDAY, MARCH 23 | 8 PM | STRAND THEATRE
LUTHER: Never Too Much
Dir. Dawn Porter | Documentary | U.K. / U.S.A. | 2024 | 1 hr. 41 min.
Followed by a discussion with director Dawn Porter
American soul and R&B singer, songwriter, and record producer Luther Vandross started out as a backing vocalist for everyone from Diana Ross and Stevie Wonder to David Bowie and Bette Midler. In his solo career, he had many hits and sold over forty million records worldwide. Celebrating his life and work while also revealing his personal struggles, this is the latest film by documentarian par excellence Dawn Porter (The Lady Bird Diaries). It includes testimonials from Dionne Warwick, Jamie Foxx, Roberta Flack, Clive Davis, and Mariah Carey.
SUNDAY, MARCH 24
SUNDAY, MARCH 24 | 10 AM | THE GRANGE HALL
76 DAYS
Dir. Joe Wein | Documentary | U.S.A. | 2024 | 1 hr. 47 min.
Gannon & Benjamin Marine Railway co-founder Nat Benjamin will moderate a discussion to follow with film subject Steven Callahan and executive producer Robert Sennott
On February 4, 1982, a whale collided with Steven Callahan's boat when he was just days into a solo voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. He was forced to abandon ship, without food or water, and spent more than two and a half months drifting over 1,800 miles in an inflatable raft. A tale of survival, invention, resilience, and seamanship, this gripping film is based on Callahan’s New York Times bestselling book, Adrift: 76 Days Lost at Sea, and brings his remarkable experience to life by interweaving found 8mm footage with first-person recreation as he takes us, moment by harrowing moment, through his life-altering adventure.
SUNDAY, MARCH 24 | 10 AM | STRAND THEATRE
THE OLD OAK
Dir. Ken Loach | Drama | U.K. / Belgium / France | 2023 | 1 hr. 53 min. | English and Arabic with English subtitles
In 2016, the year of Brexit, desperation and resentment have overtaken a village in the northeast of England. When Syrian refugee families arrive in the former coal mining community, xenophobia rears its head at the Old Oak, the local pub where the regulars drink and vent, but its owner becomes friendly with one of the newcomers and they devise a plan to bring everyone together. A plea for compassion and solidarity in times of division and strife, this is the latest film by the acclaimed director of the British social realist dramas I, Daniel Blake and Sorry We Missed You.
12–1:15 PM | The Grange Hall
SUNDAY, MARCH 24 | 12:45 PM | STRAND THEATRE
INTERPRETERS WANTED
Dir. Robert Ham | Documentary | U.S.A. | 2023 | 1 hr. 23 min. | English and Pashto with English subtitles
Martha’s Vineyard Times publisher Charles Sennott will moderate a discussion to follow with director Robert Ham and film subject Ismail Haqmal
Saifullah Haqmal and his brother Ismail, educated Afghans turned interpreters for the U.S. military, form a lasting bond with American soldier Robert Ham. When his deployment in their country ends, they remain, facing increasing threats from the Taliban. Desperate for Special Immigrant Visa approval from the U.S., they endure years of perilous waiting while communicating urgently with Robert. This film tells their story, from the Soviet-Afghan war in their youth, to Ismail’s final daring mission to escape as U.S. forces withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021.
SUNDAY, MARCH 24 | 1:15 PM | THE GRANGE HALL
THE BODY POLITIC
Dir. Gabriel Francis Paz Goodenough | Documentary | U.S.A. | 2023 | 1 hr. 30 min.
Followed by a discussion with director and producer Gabriel Francis Paz Goodenough and film subjects Erricka Bridgeford and Dante Johnson
The youngest mayor in Baltimore’s history, Brandon Scott was elected in 2020, at age 36. Determined and passionate, he takes bold steps to confront chronic violence. Against the backdrop of nationwide unrest following the murder of George Floyd, this film follows Scott’s mayoral campaign and first year in office, as he unveils an ambitious plan to lower his city’s murder rate. When opposition mounts, commitment to his principles puts his political future in jeopardy. Will his holistic approach lead to healing and serve as a blueprint for the rest of the nation?
SUNDAY, MARCH 24 | 3:30 PM | STRAND THEATRE
IBELIN
Dir. Benjamin Ree | Documentary | Norway | 2024 | 1 hr. 41 min. | Norwegian with English subtitles
The winner of directing and audience awards at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, this film is the tale of Mats Steen, a young Norwegian gamer who died from a degenerative muscular disease at age 25. His parents mourned what they thought had been a lonely, isolated life—until they started receiving messages from his global network of online friends. Through a blend of reconstructed animated gameplay and interviews, Ree creates a vivid portrait of Ibelin, Steen’s avatar within the World of Warcraft community, illustrating how Steen was able to transcend the limits of the physical world.
SUNDAY, MARCH 24 | 4:15 PM | THE GRANGE HALL
VINEYARD SHORTS
30 min. (approx.)
Followed by a discussion with directors J. Michael Hayes and Zack O’Connor, and film subject Alex Palmer
This program features the work of Island residents J. Michael Hayes, Zack O’Connor, and Simon Werdmüller von Elgg, whose three thought-provoking short films showcase the diverse voices and creativity of Martha’s Vineyard’s filmmaking community.
DINNER - See Menu
Live music by David Stanwood
5:45–7 PM | The Grange Hall
SUNDAY, MARCH 24 | 6:30 PM | STRAND THEATRE
THE MONKEY HOUSE
Dir. Avi Nesher | Comedy / Drama | Israel / Italy | 2023 | 2 hrs. 1 min. | Hebrew and Italian with English subtitles
In this witty literary thriller set in the 1980s and nominated for eleven Israeli Film Academy awards, a formerly bestselling novelist, Amitay Kariv (top Israeli standup comedian Adir Miller), makes a desperate bid to reignite his career and win the affection of a childhood love. He devises an audacious scam, enlisting a daring actress and training her to assume the somber identity of a graduate student. The narrative takes a wide turn, swinging from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Rome, and back, when a young documentary director arrives to make a film about the discrepancy between Israeli and Palestinian authors.
SUNDAY, MARCH 24 | 7 PM | THE GRANGE HALL
BABES
Dir. Pamela Adlon | Comedy | U.S.A. | 2024 | 1 hr. 49 min.
After becoming pregnant from a one-night stand, aggressively single Eden (Ilana Glazer) leans on her married best friend and mother of two, Dawn (Michelle Buteau), to guide her through gestation and beyond. The feature directorial debut of Pamela Adlon, creator and star of the television series Better Things, this smart comedy was co-written and produced by Glazer, a creator and star of the series Broad City. Oliver Platt, Sandra Bernhard, Hasan Minhaj, John Carroll Lynch, and the Lucas Brothers are among the supporting cast.