News

February 28, 2020

Become an Albany Film Festival VIP

A limited number of VIP passes are available for $75 each for the Albany Film Festival.

The Albany Film Festival, to be held Saturday, March 28, at the University at Albany uptown campus, will feature panel discussions, conversations with actors, filmmakers and authors whose books have been made into movies, screenings of feature-length films, a contest for film shorts, and an awards ceremony.

While all of the above is free and open to the public, VIP pass holders will receive:

  • A colorful lanyard and VIP badge to identify you as an Albany Film Festival supporter.
  • Advanced, priority seating for all Albany Film Festival events, including workshops, screenings, panel discussions, presentations, and evening award ceremony.
  • Access to a private reception with food and beverage following the evening award ceremony that will allow you to mix and mingle with award recipients, featured filmmakers and special guests.

Guests are still being added to the Albany Film Festival. Previously announced special guests include:

  • Kasi Lemmons, director of HARRIET, EVE’S BAYOU, THE CAVEMAN’S VALENTINE, actor in THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, CANDYMAN
  • James Ivory, co-founder of Merchant Ivory Productions (A ROOM WITH A VIEW, HOWARD’S END, THE REMAINS OF THE DAY). At age 89, he became the oldest-ever Oscar winner for his screenplay adaptation of CALL ME BY YOUR NAME.
  • Charles Brandt, author of I Heard You Paint Houses (the basis of the film THE IRISHMAN)
  • Jake Bernstein, author of Secrecy World (the basis of the film THE LAUNDROMAT)
  • William Kennedy, Pulitzer Prize-winning author who wrote the screenplay for THE COTTON CLUB,
  • Douglas A. Blackmon, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Slavery by Another Name;
  • Samuel Pollard, director and film editor (THE HARVEST, MO’ BETTER BLUES, JUNGLE FEVER, CLOCKERS)
  • Jonathan Lethem, author of MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN, made into a movie directed by and starring Edward Norton
  • Rosie Perez, Oscar-nominated actress (FEARLESS, WHITE MEN CAN’T JUMP, BIRDS OF PREY, DO THE RIGHT THING)
  • Darnell Martin, director of THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD, I LIKE IT LIKE THAT
  • Lizzie Gottlieb, documentary filmmaker (ROMEO ROMEO)
  • Michael Mayer, Tony Award winning theater director, and director of the film adaptation of THE SEAGULL
  • Don Rittner, director, producer, and director of the autobiographical feature film KAREN OR BUST, which will be screened at the Albany Film Festival,
  • Stephen Soucy, documentary filmmaker (MERCHANT IVORY)
  • Stephan Talty, co-author of A Captain’s Duty (basis of the film CAPTAIN PHILLIPS), and author of The Black Hand (2017), being made into a movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

VIP festival passes are limited and the cost is $75 each. To purchase your Albany Film Festival VIP pass, visit www.albanyfilmfestival.org or call 518-442-5620.