2nd Annual International Film Festival: Bringing the magic of movies to Manchester Aug. 10-12

• $20 per day pass (required for each day)
• An Evening with Kevin Pollak* (starting at $59)
• Blues Brothers Film + Blues Brothers Next Generation Live Band* ($29)

*Saturday day pass does NOT include Blues Brothers ticket. You must purchase a separate ticket for that event.

*Purchasing a ticket to Kevin Pollak or The Blues Brothers grants you a day pass to all 3 days’ worth of events.

MANCHESTER, NH – The 2nd Annual Manchester Film Fest is ready to roll offering up three days of local, national and international cinematic flavor.

Festival Director Warren O’Reilly has again curated a menu of 40 films and special events over three days, Aug. 10-12, especially for the hometown crowd.

“We chose the movies to be sure they’d play well in a group with other people,” O’Reilly says. “We wanted it to be a great live experience, to make it an in-person celebration which is why we’re premiering New Hampshire films as well as New England short films. It’s an international film festival but even more, it’s a celebration of talent we have on our doorstep.”

This year a new addition to the festival will be an afterparty each night at City Hall Pub at 8 Hanover St.

What to expect

THURSDAY

Building off of last year’s event O’Reilly has packed a lot into the three-day festival, with each day having a theme – starting off with something completely different.

“Thursday we open with our first-ever animation night based on the overwhelming reception we got last time working with a local animation person, Griffin Hansen, who’s a New Hampshire’-based animator and is serving as program director for the entire festival,” O’Reilly says.

Delivered in three “blocks,” animation enthusiasts will take in 20 films over the course of the first night culminating with two special showings and a “Best in category” local animation award presentation.

The first, “Breathe,” is a film that’s been winning film festivals all over the place, O’Reilly says, including the Provincetown Film Festival.

Also showing is “More,” the groundbreaking 1999 stop-action Oscar-nominated film by Mark Osborne, who will be in attendance.

“We’re excited about being joined by Mark Osborne who is coming, which signals that he’s not only showing support of the proceedings but recognizing that we’re trying to get this animation category off the ground, and he’s really excited to be part of it,” O’Reilly says. Following “More,” there will be a panel discussion with all the animators, including Osborne.

FRIDAY

Friday’s theme is New England Short Film and Comedy which kicks off with a presentation by a team of student filmmakers from Southern New Hampshire University using iconography from around Manchester.

The second block on Friday will be an homage to comedian Robin Williams through the work of performer and filmmaker Roger Kabler, who will premiere his feature film, “Being Robin.”

“What I’m really excited about is Roger’s film. He performed his one-man show at The Rex but has never premiered his feature-length documentary-comedy about his life and waking up one day and being visited by the spirit of Robin Williams and why it speaks to him,” O’Reilly says.  “Variety gave it a huge positive review and after the screening, Roger will be joining us for a post-film Q&A – and he said it’s possible ‘Robin’ might pop in to join him.”

SATURDAY

Saturday night will feature Audience Choice Awards, Best LGBTQ+ and several international/documentary submissions.

But the highlights include two special ticketed events to choose from (not included in the $20 individual day passes).

Option 1: Those who purchase a ticket for An Evening with actor and comedian Kevin Pollak at the Palace Theatre (you know him from his roles in more than 80 films and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) will have an all-access pass to the entire three-day festival; a VIP ticket includes a preshow meet-and-greet with Pollak at 6:45 p.m.

Option 2: If you are more musically inclined, The Rex is hosting a closing-night screening of the original 1980 hit “The Blues Brothers,” plus an appearance by the Blues Brothers Next Generation Band, performing songs from the original soundtrack. A ticket for this screening will also get you an all-access pass for the three-day festival.

Prior to the “Blues Brothers” screening festival-goers with a long memory for the Boston music scene will especially enjoy the 90-minute feature film “The Dogmatics: A Dogumentary.”

“Members of the original Dogmatics band will be here – they’ve been making the rounds on the heels of the film, which is a remarkable award-winning documentary,” O’Reilly says.

Capitalizing on the music theme was a great segue into celebrating the classic John Belushi, Dan Ackroyd, John Candy film.

“It is the first time since the 1980s “Blues Brothers” has been shown in a theatre – we got the licensing to show it and we’re excited to have the Blues Brothers Next Generation Band to introduce the film as Jake and Elwood, who will play a 45-minute set of all the songs from the movie,” O’Reilly says.

Attendees can purchase Orange Whips and the Rex lobby will be decked out “Chicago-style.”

“It’s a terrifically multi-generational film. I can remember bringing my 15-year-old sister to see it in the theater 13 years ago – it’s an incredible film with the likes of Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin – it’s a really great family-friendly movie with great music that has stood the test of time. And we’ll have a Bluesmobile parked out front for people who want to take some photos, and then we’ll go over to City Hall Pub and raise a few drinks to the festival,” O’Reilly says.

“We’ve built it all and whether it floats or sinks, we’re excited to see how it goes,” O’Reilly says. “Second years are always tricky – like a sophomore album. But we can’t believe the amount of people taking notice. We have well-recognized filmmakers taking notice and planning to come – real filmmakers, Academy Award nominee animators, and actors from Hollywood starting to notice our festival,” O’Reilly says.

His hope is that the festival will continue to grow until it can no longer be contained to just The Rex and The Palace.

“The expectation is it will grow to be the property of the city and expand to other locations and we can partner with other venues like The Factory or The Currier. And while we’re always excited to partner with anyone to host a screening or venue, we’re trying to make sure it remains a city endeavor – it’s a fledgling festival and needs a few more years to take flight.”

FULL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Thursday, Aug. 10:

Experience the first-ever Animation Night at The Rex Theatre – an evening exclusively dedicated to animated films as part of the Manchester International Film Festival. Come watch Animated Short Films from five countries, and the United States with a special focus on New Hampshire Animation!

Awards for Best Animation, Hippo Press Award for Best New Hampshire Animation plus a special screening of “More,” by Sundance Film Festival winner and Acadamy Award nominee Mark Osborne, director of Kung Fu Panda. Stick around for a Q&A and Animation Panel discussion with Osborne and New Hampshire Animators.

BLOCK 1

Directed by Anna Liakos, Alex Liakos

3 Mins – New Hampshire

On May 3, 2003, New Hampshire’s Iconic OLD MAN ON THE MOUNTAIN fell. For nearly two decades mystery surrounds the destruction of the beloved landmark…Until Now.

Directed by Brandon Hicks

3 Mins – Canada

We go along on a New Brunswick Bear Hunt.

Directed by Ting Zhou

2 Mins – China

A butterfly is born, the colorful world around it brought to life in vivid animation. From Hubei Institute of Fine Arts comes this student work. Music from Zen Xin.

Directed by Alexandra Dzhiganskaya

4 Mins – Ukraine

Alexandra is an award-winning Ukrainian illustrator and animator, currently in Vienna, Austria. “My childhood memories have acquireda special value for me since the outbreak of the full-scale war in Ukraine, my home country. For many children, this time will become a formative memory.”

Directed by Valentina Galdi

5 Mins – Italy

A boy is struggling with love, but how many fears really belong to him and how many are the daughters of the homologating and conformist society?

Directed by Anna Chavez

3 Mins – United States

Centuries after the reign of Greek gods, Zeus and his estranged wife, Hera, have been driven apart. Now, they have reunited at Jupiter Cove, for better or worse…

Directed by Ryotaro Sawada, Agatha Tiara Christa

3 Mins – United States

Goro Goro follows the story of Daigoro, a baby thunder god, who dreams of being as powerful as his father. Through his thunderous journey, he realizes that he can achieve his dreams in his own unique way.

Directed by Brandon Hicks

2 Mins – Canada

This animated film, in the format of a trailer, is a satirical look at military might and sci-fi heroes. A second exemplary entry from the up and coming Canadian Animator.

3 Mins – Uruguay

“Where are you from?” combines 3D animation and music creating an immersive cinematic journey, conveying the urgency of addressing environmental disasters and their consequences through realism and fantasy.

Directed by Jeremy Weinstein

3 Mins – United States

Heartwarming, family-friendly animated short that explores the power of friendship.

Directed by Brandon Russo

6 Mins – United States

A ghost hunting reality show from the early 2000’s, where one of the members, unbeknownst to the rest of the group, is in fact a ghost himself!

Directed by Skai Chow and Rebecca Lau

3 Mins – United States

In an underwater ocean of an alien planet, a diver named Bahri goes on adeep sea expedition, and accidentally brings back an alien parasite to his research base.

Directed by Takayuki Yoshikawa

5 Mins – Japan

A lonely robot is left behind in a closed, deserted old building. Director Takayuki Yoshikawa is a professor in computer graphics, and video game design at the Nagoya Zokei University in Nagoya, Japan. Takayuki’s previous work can be seen in the popular video game FINAL FANTASY.

Directed by Erica Travia

8 Mins – United States

Nominee for Best LGBTQ+ Short Film. Arcade is an animated short film that follows Milo as he is relentlessly pursued by a manifestation of his anxiety and self-doubt. Milo eventually finds comfort in the arcade,the arcade however, turns it into a psychedelic nightmare.

Directed by Lily Fairleigh

5 Mins – Unites States

A high school gymnast panics as she realizes she’s about to be the last competitor at the State championship meet. With the pressure mounting from all angles, Penelope must trust herself to stay on the beam with all eyes on her. From Connecticut based Animator Lily Fairleigh.

Directed by Aubrey Scott

3 Mins – United States

Enter Your Name is a surreal fantasy film that serves as an allegory to the experiences of a pre-transition trans person, with horror elements to allude to the complex emotions and inner turmoil that one can go through. Nominee for Best LGBTQ+ Short Film.

Directed by Alessandro Amaducci

5 Mins – Italy

An astronaut trapped in a cage made of data is looking for meaning.

Directed by Lara Parizek

4 Mins – Argentina  

A girl seeks out the help of a therapy pig who takes her through a surreal simulation.Lara Parizek is an Argentine animator living in Brooklyn, New York.

Directed by Molly Glackin

3 Mins – United States

Three middle school girls have to put their differences aside to stop a zombie outbreak from getting in the way of their 8th grade dance!

Directed by Polla Kozino

5 Mins – United States

A young girl suddenly finds herself in a beautiful imaginary world.

Directed by Loi Huynh, Jordan Waterworth

When a loud and energetic boy spends a day at a quiet Buddhist temple, he crosses paths with a fiery friend that leads him on a spiritual adventure.

Directed by Griffin Hansen – program director for film fest

8 Mins – New Hampshire

Jim, a lowly little banquet server, tries his best to survive a wedding from Hell. Unofficially based on experiences from The Bedford Village Inn. Starring voiceovers from Fritz Wetherbee and Ray Magliozzi from NPR’s “Car Talk”.

MAKING MORE – Trailer from Happy Product on Vimeo.

Directed by Mark Osborne

7 Mins – United States

“MORE”; The 1999 stop-animation film, winner of the Sundance Film Festival – Special Jury Prize for Short Films. Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, MORE tells the story of an inventor who lives in a drab, colorless world.

Post Screening Panel Discussion with Filmmaker Mark Osborne followed by “meet and greet” at City Hall Pub, 8 Hanover Street.

Friday, Aug. 11: “Being Robin”

It’s Comedy Night and a celebration of New England Short Films at The Manchester International Film Festival. Join us as we give the Awards to the Best Short Film and Best New England Short Film. Filmmakers and Directors will be present for post-screening discussions; the short films Nuclear and How to Open a Clam, both winning awards at festivals all over the country, both with New England Roots, will both be screened.

The Feature Presentation Friday Night will be the Comedy Film “Being Robin” Roger Kabler is a professional actor, comedian, and impressionist: He made a film about his life as a man who believes he is possessed by the spirit of Robin Williams. Director Roger Kabler will be there in person for the screening and give a post Screening Q &A.

BLOCK 1

Directed by Nicole Straussberg and Nicholas Biron

7 Min – New Hampshire

A Spaceman finds himself wondering down the street in Manchester, New Hampshire; when a light catches his eye. He decides to go see a movie. Made in collaboration with Southern New Hampshire University Video Production Department under the stewardship of Professor David Humphreys.This is the second year we have partnered with SNHU to work with emerging filmmakers and showcase their work.

Directed by Lisa Romagnoli

14 mins – United States

A young man (Adam) and his two friends are on a weekend beach trip at Adam’s family house, but the vacation becomes disrupted after a clamming expedition when Adam becomes frustrated by his inability to open a clam, and his growing obsession threatens to destroy friendships.

Directed by Matthew Beltz, Written by Jimmy Luc

15 Min – United States

With mom gone, dad in a pit, and the neighborhood watching, Randy is trying to hold it together before everything explodes.

Directed by Nick Crezula

2 Mins – New Hampshire

From the mind of 2022 MIFF Best Comedy Winner “Summer” comes a ridiculous short film set on a quiet morning in the suburbs. The team at CZ Video Production team are always welcome at our festival with their newest project! Shot on location in Concord, New Hampshire.

Directed by Roger Kabler

45 Mins – United States

A love letter to Robin Williams, based on true events. A film by Roger Kabler 2022. Fantasy, memoir, self-discovery is all wrapped up in Roger Kabler’s film about his and our love for the great Robin Williams. Variety called it “Fascinating”; Honorable Mention at Big Apple Film Festival.

In addition to being one of the country’s most talented comedy impressionists, Roger Kabler has experienced a career that has included the film Cluelesss, being Zima’s spokesman, appearing as a regular Carol Burnett’s last series in 1991, as well as staring in his own NBC sitcom, Rhythm, and Blues. Moreover, Roger wrote, produced, and starred in the new hit film “Being Robin” He is performing in sold-out showrooms across North America. Variety magazine describes him as an astounding impressionist. “Comic Genius” say Peter Keough of Arts Fuse. 

Post Screening Q & A with Director Roger Kabler moderated by Festival Director, Warren O’Reilly.

Saturday: “The Dogmatics” aka Boston’s 1980s House BandJoin us for a full day of screenings at The Rex Theatre. Starting at noon we will have the New Hampshire Premiere of the Best of the International Short Film Series, Narrative Short Film, LGBTQ+ short film Awards, Documentary Feature “The Dogmatics: A Dogumentary.” It’s an intimate glimpse into the genre-defining ’80s rock band from Boston who unwittingly pioneered the Boston sound of the 1980s.

Directed by Nicole Straussberg and Nicholas Biron

7 Min – New Hampshire

A Spaceman finds himself wondering down the street in Manchester, New Hampshire; when a light catches his eye. He decides to go see a movie. Made in collaboration with Southern New Hampshire University Video Production Department under the stewardship of Professor David Humphreys.This is the second year we have partnered with SNHU to work with emerging filmmakers and showcase their work.

Directed by Yevgeniya Regent

11  Mins – Ukraine

A 9-year-old refugee from Ukraine rethinks the experience of her childhood, now overshadowed by war. This film is a poetic exploration of the human spirit, resilience, and the transformative power of art in the face of unimaginable trauma.

Directed by Nuala Dalton

15 mins – Ireland

Folktales surrounding an ancient sacred site, hold within them a turbulent and painful history. Yet they also had carry messages of hope and possibility.

Directed by  Steve Melone

30 mins – United States

Sherman Kinsley is a “Laugh Coordinator,” the conductor for the last group of canned laughter artists in show business. Winner of Garden State Film Festival Lou Costello Award for Best Comedy Short

Directed by Joaquim Weibull and Paco Garcia

20 mins – Sweden

Olof Palme was Sweden’s Prime Minister from 1969–1976 and 1982–1986. Olof was a controversial politician who dominated Swedish politics for a long time. In 1986, Olof Palme was shot dead on an open street in Stockholm. The assassination has been an unsolved mystery that has plagued Sweden ever since. Winner of the Sweden Film Awards and Cannes Film Awards.

Directed by Paul Lewis Anderson

25 mins – United States

Last Laugh is a noir mystery comedy about a young man who moves into a slummy New York City apartment with an unexpected occupant, the intolerable ghost of Maury Zuckerman, a legendarily bad stand up comedian.

Directed by  Jacob Elliott Dufton

20 mins – United Kingdom

It’s 1963, a classical recital plays on British television – Edward Talbot, a composer, accompanies Alistair Percy, a Tenor, as they perform for a small audience. Hidden behind a strict veil of conformity, the two are deeply in love – the creator and his muse. Edward is wracked with fear. His love is illegal and vulturous dangers lurk for him around the corner, his only consolation is his lover and his music. They share poetic debate about music, the fear of an oppressive government and, most of all, their love, peppered with the beautiful music they create together.

Directed by Jason Bousssioux

15 mins – France

Paris by night, a taximan – former jazz saxophonist – drives a young woman to the place which appeared to her in a dream because she believes something very important will happen there.

Directed by Rudy Childs

90 mins – United States

See this intimate glimpse into the early 80s Boston music scene. “The Dogmatics: A Dogumentary” shares the untold story of the band that unwittingly pioneered and became emblematic of the genre.

BLOCK 2 (6PM – 10PM)

​Directed by Mark Albiston

15min – New Zealand 

A fourteen-year-old boy, whose Mum plans on selling his deceased Dad’s Datsun, decides to take his best friend and little brother on one last joyride.

Directed by John Landis

133 mins – United States

Jake Blues rejoins with his brother Elwood after being released from prison, but the duo has just days to reunite their old R&B band and save the Catholic home where the two were raised, outrunning the police as they tear through Chicago.

45 Mins